Fact or fiction?
Sorting out the facts from fiction
There are some common misconceptions about diarrhoea and we are here to sort out what’s true and what’s not...
“Diarrhoea is better out than in”
False
Diarrhoea is a sign of irritation in the bowel, which causes an imbalance in fluid absorption. Treating diarrhoea with an anti-diarrhoeal medicine can help you feel better and allow you to carry on with your everyday life.
Contrary to popular belief, diarrhoea treatments containing loperamide, such as IMODIUM® do not work by stopping you from passing stools. They actually help restore your body’s bowel movements back to normal by normalising the amount of fluid absorption from your digestive system.
As long as they’re over 12 years of age, children can be treated with Imodium. And since they are less able than adults at coping with the loss of fluids and nutrients, oral rehydration treatments may also be recommended by your pharmacist. If a child’s diarrhoea continues for longer than 48 hours, it may be advisable to see your doctor. For children younger than 12, oral rehydration solutions may be used when needed.
Because diarrhoea can be caused by an infection (bacteria or viruses), it is possible to ‘catch’ it. Infections can be passed on through contact with people, surfaces or objects, or by eating or drinking contaminated food or water.
As your body is losing more fluids than normal, it’s important to keep thirst and dehydration at bay by drinking plenty of water – but steer clear of undiluted fruit juices or milk, which could further irritate your already sensitive digestive system. Oral rehydration treatments can also help rebalance the natural level of salts in your body. Food wise, just eat small, simple meals if and when you’re hungry – avoid rich or spicy foods until you’re back to normal. Drink bottled water if tap water is not recommended.
You can treat short-lived bouts of diarrhoea yourself, unless you are experiencing any additional symptoms such as fever or blood or mucus in your stools, when you should see a doctor. Symptoms of diarrhoea can be relieved by using IMODIUM®, IMODIUM® Instants or IMODIUM® Plus, which can often provide relief in just one dose. IMODIUM® has a range of products to suit you:
| Product | Available on the shelf in most pharmacies and supermarkets | Available over the counter in pharmacies |
| IMODIUM® Original capsules 6 | Yes | No |
| IMODIUM® Classic capsules 8, 12, 18 | No | Yes |
| IMODIUM® Instants 6 instant melt tablets | Yes | No |
| IMODIUM® Instant Melts 12 instant melt tablets | No | Yes |
| IMODIUM® Plus Caplets 6 | Yes | No |
| IMODIUM® Plus Caplets 6 and 12 | No | Yes |
For more information, visit our Which IMODIUM® do I need? section.
Children are less able to cope with losing body fluid through diarrhoea than adults; so the most important step is to replace fluids quickly. Your pharmacist can provide oral rehydration treatments to help with this, but if the problem continues, or the child is under 5 years old, it is advisable to see your doctor.
Children over the age of 12 can be treated quickly with the most appropriate type of IMODIUM® product.
Constipation is unusual with IMODIUM® as it works with the body to help restore ‘harmony’ to your digestive system, providing effective relief from diarrhoea. It is important you follow the recommended dosage.
No. Some people believe that diarrhoea is the body's way of 'flushing out' the bugs that they think are causing the diarrhoea, and that anti-diarrhoea medicines act like a cork, keeping the bugs inside.
However, in reality, this is not how it works.
Although diarrhoea is often caused by bugs (bacteria or viruses), in many cases the cause can be non infectious such as stress and anxiety, IBS or menstrual symptoms. If an infection is present, the body’s immune system will normally get rid of it in a day or so. But in the meantime, IMODIUM® products can relieve your diarrhoea, help you feel better and carry on as normal. If symptoms persist, you should seek the advice of your doctor or pharmacist...
| Bowel |
Another name for the intestine; also known as the gut.
|
| Constipation |
Infrequent, and often incomplete, bowel movements; the opposite of diarrhoea. |
| Loperamide |
A drug used in diarrhoea treatments, which slows the contraction of the muscles in the gut. |
| Stools |
Also known colloquially as ‘poo’; this is the solid waste matter that passes through the rectum, in the form of bowel movements. Stools are made up of undigested food, bacteria, mucus, and dead cells. |
| Rehydration |
The process of restoring lost water to the body, either by drinking fluids or by intravenous drip. |
| Bacteria |
Can also be known colloquially as bugs; these single-celled microorganisms are often linked with infections but some are harmless and/or beneficial to humans.
|
| Dehydration |
When the body loses an excessive amount of water. Prolonged vomiting or diarrhoea can lead to dehydration, as can heat exposure, prolonged vigorous exercise. |