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medicine to cure loose motion
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Digestive Health
Question #15430
45 days ago
91

medicine to cure loose motion - #15430

Fatima

I am really worried about my dad right now. For the last few days, he’s been having this really bad loose motion. At first, we thought it was just something he ate, but it hasn’t stopped. Like, he’s been to the bathroom every couple of hours. It’s crazy. I even looked up some home remedies and tried some ginger tea, but honestly nothing seems to be working. Last night he couldn't sleep and kept saying his stomach was killing him. I called his doctor, and they mentioned something about hydration and said to monitor his symptoms but didn't suggest any medicine to cure loose motion. I get that sometimes it can just be a wait and watch approach but I’m scared it might be something serious. He looks really drained and tired, way more than usual. Shouldn't he be taking some kind of medicine to cure loose motion instead of just waiting around? What do you all think? Are there any good over-the-counter options that actually work? Just feeling a bit helpless here and my mom is stressed too. Would really appreciate any advice on what kind of medicine to cure loose motion or even what signs we should really watch for. Thanks!

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Doctors’ responses

In cases of loose motion, or diarrhea, the first priority is often managing dehydration and identifying if it’s due to something more serious. For your dad, considering it’s been a few days now, it’s wise to ensure he’s staying hydrated — solutions like oral rehydration salts (ORS) are beneficial because they help replace lost fluids and electrolytes. Encourage drinking fluids steadily throughout the day; water, clear broths, or sports drinks can also help, but ORS is specifically formulated for rehydration in such cases.

When it comes to medication, most over-the-counter options, like loperamide (Imodium), are aimed at slowing down bowel movements and can temporarily relieve symptom but it isn’t always recommended especially if there is an infection involved. It’s wise to be cautious here as suppressing diarrhea can sometimes prolong infections if they are involved, so it is often best used short-term and according to product instructions if needed at all. However, persistent severe stomach pain could signal something more serious, such as a bacterial infection or inflammatory bowel condition, so medical evaluation becomes quite important to rule these out.

Pay attention to red flags like blood in his stools, high fever, or if he seems to be getting progressively weaker. Symptoms like these warrant prompt medical attention. Additionally, it’s worth checking if he’s taking any current medications or has any underlying health conditions, as these might affect his symptoms or response to certain treatments.

While it’s understandably stressful, seeing a doctor for a more comprehensive evaluation is the best course since they can determine if a stool test or further investigations are needed. In the meantime, focusing on hydration and gentle diet changes—like eating bland foods such as bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast—are sensible steps. This kind of diet helps to gently bind stools and avoids irritating the digestive tract further. If he continues to have significant symptoms, be sure to follow-up with your healthcare provider promptly.

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