Most diarrhea stops on its own within a few days. Acute diarrhea typically lasts less than a week and rarely needs more than fluids, simple dietary changes, and possibly an over-the-counter medication. The priority while it runs its course is replacing the water and electrolytes your body is losing, then avoiding foods and drinks that make things worse.
Stay Hydrated First
Diarrhea pulls water and salts out of your body fast. Even mild dehydration (losing just 1% to 3% of your body weight in fluid) causes thirst, dry mouth, and fatigue. At moderate levels (4% to 6% loss), you may feel dizzy, get muscle cramps, or feel lightheaded when standing up. Severe dehydration brings confusion, very little urine output, and cool or clammy skin.
Drink water, broth, or an oral rehydration solution throughout the day in small, frequent sips. Sports drinks work in a pinch, but oral rehydration solutions have a better balance of sugar and salt for absorption. Avoid relying on fruit juice, soda, or other sugary drinks, which can pull more water into your intestines and make diarrhea worse.
What to Eat and What to Skip
You don’t need to force yourself to eat if you have no appetite, but when you’re ready, stick with plain, easy-to-digest foods. White rice, toast, bananas, plain crackers, and boiled potatoes are gentle starting points. Once your stools firm up, you can return to your normal diet.
While diarrhea is active, avoid these common triggers:
- Caffeine (coffee, tea, energy drinks, some sodas)
- Alcohol
- High-fat foods like fried food, pizza, and fast food
- Dairy products containing lactose, since your gut may have trouble digesting lactose for up to a month after a bout of diarrhea
- Sugary foods and drinks high in fructose, including candy, packaged desserts, and sweetened beverages
- Sugar alcohols found in sugar-free gum and candies
Over-the-Counter Medications
Loperamide (the active ingredient in Imodium) is the most widely used anti-diarrheal. It slows intestinal movement so your body has more time to absorb water. The standard adult dose is two tablets or capsules (4 mg) after the first loose stool, then one tablet (2 mg) after each additional loose stool, up to a daily maximum of 8 mg for the over-the-counter tablet form. Don’t exceed that limit.
Bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol) is the other common option. It coats the lining of your stomach and intestines and can help with both diarrhea and nausea. Follow the package directions for dosing.
One important exception: if your diarrhea is caused by antibiotics, skip loperamide and similar medications that slow gut movement. These can trap bacterial toxins in your intestines and make the situation worse. If antibiotic-related diarrhea is mild, the standard approach is to stay hydrated and talk to your prescriber about whether to switch to a different antibiotic or adjust the dose.
Probiotics and Gut Recovery
Probiotics can shorten a bout of diarrhea, though the effect is modest. The best-studied strain is Saccharomyces boulardii, a beneficial yeast. A meta-analysis of seven trials found it reduced the duration of acute diarrhea by about one day compared to placebo. It also lowered the risk of diarrhea dragging on longer than expected. In adults, two trials showed it significantly reduced diarrhea severity scores.
For antibiotic-associated diarrhea specifically, several probiotic strains have shown promise in prevention, though the evidence for treating it once it’s started is less clear. Probiotics are generally safe with few side effects, but people with weakened immune systems should be cautious, as rare cases of bloodstream infections have been reported with S. boulardii in immunocompromised patients.
You can find S. boulardii and Lactobacillus-based probiotics at most pharmacies. Look for products that list the specific strain on the label, not just a generic “probiotic blend.”
Diarrhea in Children
Children dehydrate faster than adults, and the approach is slightly different. The best treatment for kids with viral diarrhea is an oral rehydration solution (like Pedialyte), an age-appropriate diet that limits fatty and sugary foods, and rest. Small, frequent sips work better than large amounts at once, especially if the child is also vomiting.
Watch for signs of dehydration in children: no wet diaper for three or more hours, no tears when crying, sunken eyes or cheeks, a dry mouth or tongue, or skin that stays pinched rather than flattening back when you release it. If a child’s diarrhea hasn’t improved after 24 hours, or if they develop a fever above 102°F, bloody or black stools, or become unusually sleepy or unresponsive, they need medical attention.
When Diarrhea Lasts Too Long
Acute diarrhea clears up in under a week. If it stretches past two weeks, it’s considered persistent. Anything lasting four weeks or more is chronic diarrhea, which often points to an underlying condition like irritable bowel syndrome, food intolerance, or an inflammatory bowel disease that needs evaluation.
For adults, certain signs warrant a call to your doctor even in the first few days: diarrhea that isn’t improving after two days, signs of dehydration (excessive thirst, very dark urine, dizziness, little to no urination), severe abdominal or rectal pain, blood or black color in your stools, or a fever above 102°F. More than 10 bowel movements a day, or losing fluid faster than you can drink it, is considered severe and may need medical treatment beyond what you can manage at home.