Stomach Pain and Diarrhea - What to Take to Stop Diarrhea

travelers diarrhea

Nobody’s pleased to get hiccups, but at least you have the option of making sure you keep your mouth shut until they subside. When your guts are acting up it’s not possible to cover it up the same way and get on with your day. Sometimes that’s a workday but for some people it may be a day sightseeing in a different part of the world, and nobody wants traveler’s diarrhea getting in the way of enjoying a vacation. Part of that can be trying local food, and some parts of the world are worse for traveler’s diarrhea than others. So, what can I take to stop diarrhea? Xifaxin is the best medicine for diarrhea.

Try as you might to be as safe as possible when travelling, but it is sometimes inevitable to ‘pick up a bug’. It’s not just contaminated food that can get you, it’s possible to get a bug from the water too. Bug means a bacterial infection, and some are worse than others. The type that will give traveler’s diarrhea isn’t the hardiest of bugs. That’s the good news for why medicine for traveler’s diarrhea works quickly when it is taken as indicated.

The risk if you get a really bad case of traveler’s diarrhea is that you will become dehydrated and that can really sap your strength and make it hard to do everything you have in your itinerary. Being jet lagged can make the problem worse, but there are ways to overcome jet lag more quickly. When it’s an intestinal issue though you need to take the meds as soon as possible and then tough it out for the brief time until they start to work and knocking out the bug that is causing you gastro distress.

We’ll go on in more detail about traveler’s diarrhea and what else you can do to either avoid it or get rid of it as fast as possible. The last thing you want to do when on vacation is be fixated on finding a washroom rather than enjoying the experience. Xifaxin is also prescribed as a SIBO treatment medication for people who have excessive bacteria buildup in the intestines because of surgery complications, but that is not as common as it being used as a medicine for diarrhea.

Local Advantage

You would think that what makes one person ill would make another person ill. When it comes to traveler’s diarrhea, that’s not always the case. It makes sense to ask why the locals don’t get sick the same way the visitors do, but that’s because their immune system is already geared to deal with the bugs found in that part of the world. Long story short, they might well get traveler’s diarrhea if they were to travel to where you’re from the same way you’re more susceptible to bugs from their part of the planet.

People who have irritable bowel disorder may be prone to greater levels of irritation and pain to go along with the need to go regularly when they’ve got traveler’s diarrhea, and in these cases, it may be a good idea to get a prescription filled before you go. Be prepared with diarrhea medication when you are travelling to a central American country or another region where there are statistically higher numbers of cases for traveler’s diarrhea. This can also be a consideration for people who are recovering from surgery as the dehydration and exhaustion effects may be more of a risk.

Best Practices

Naturally the most desirable outcome is to avoid traveler’s diarrhea in the first place. As mentioned that’s not always easy to do and it’s not as simple as deciding to choose one restaurant over another because it looks better or more cleanly. But what you can do is follow this list of guidelines that should reduce the likelihood of you getting this unpleasant and annoying condition.

Avoid food from street vendors
Don’t consume unpasteurized milk and dairy products - including ice cream
Don’t eat raw or undercooked meat, fish and shellfish.
Moist food at room temperature may not be a good choice
Foods that are well cooked and served hot are best
Choose fruits and vegetables that you will peel yourself like bananas, oranges and avocados. Fruits you can't peel like grapes and berries may not be a good choice

One last mention is that in some places it may be best to drink bottled water only and keep your mouth closed when showering.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The above information is intended to increase awareness of health information and does not suggest treatment or diagnosis. This information is not a substitute for individual medical attention and should not be construed to indicate that use of the drug is safe, appropriate, or effective for you. See your health care professional for medical advice and treatment.

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