⚕️ Diarrhea & IBS-D Management: Key Molecules & Brands in India
🔹 Introduction
Diarrhea ek common GI problem hai jo infections, food intolerance, ya IBS-D (Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Diarrhea) ki wajah se ho sakta hai.
- Goals of therapy:
- Fluid & electrolyte balance maintain karna
- Symptoms relieve karna
- Severe ya chronic diarrhea ke underlying cause ko treat karna
🔹 1. Antimotility Agents
✦ Loperamide
- Brands: Imodium, Lopamide
- Use: Symptomatic relief in acute & chronic diarrhea, IBS-D
- Note: Reduces bowel movements by slowing gut motility, but not recommended in infectious diarrhea (can worsen illness)
🔹 2. Antisecretory Agents
✦ Racecadotril
- Brands: Racedot, Hidrasec
- Use: Acute secretory diarrhea (especially in children & adults)
- Note: Acts as an enkephalinase inhibitor, reducing intestinal fluid loss without affecting motility
🔹 3. Oral Rehydration Therapy (ORT)
✦ ORS (Oral Rehydration Salts)
- Brands: Electral, ORS-WHO formulation
- Use: First-line therapy in acute diarrhea for fluid & electrolyte replacement
- Note: Life-saving in dehydration; universally recommended by WHO
🔹 4. Probiotics
- Examples / Brands: Sporlac (Lactobacillus), Darolac, Vizylac
- Use: Restores healthy gut flora in antibiotic-associated diarrhea, IBS, infectious diarrhea
- Note: Safe and supportive therapy, often combined with ORS or antibiotics
🔹 5. Other Supportive Therapies
- Zinc supplements – Zincovit, Zinconia (especially in children, reduces duration & recurrence of diarrhea)
- Antibiotics – Used only when indicated (e.g., bacterial dysentery, traveler’s diarrhea) like Ciprofloxacin, Azithromycin (not routine in all cases)
📝 Conclusion
- Acute diarrhea → ORS + zinc supplementation are first-line, with probiotics as supportive therapy.
- IBS-D / chronic diarrhea → Loperamide & Racecadotril helpful.
- Severe / infectious cases → Antibiotics only under doctor’s supervision.
Effective treatment always depends on cause identification, hydration, and correct drug choice.
⚠️ Disclaimer
This article is for educational purposes only. It does not replace medical advice. Always consult a gastroenterologist before starting or changing diarrhea/IBS-D treatment.