Most cases of diarrhea resolve on their own within one to two days, and the single most important thing you can do is replace the fluids you’re losing. Beyond that, a combination of dietary changes, over-the-counter medications, and knowing when the situation is more serious will get you through faster and more comfortably.
Replace Fluids First
Diarrhea pulls water and electrolytes out of your body quickly, and dehydration is the main risk, not the diarrhea itself. Signs you’re getting dehydrated include dark urine, urinating less than usual, extreme thirst, dizziness, and fatigue. In more serious cases, you may feel confused, or your skin won’t flatten back right away after being pinched.
Water alone isn’t ideal because it doesn’t replace the sodium and potassium you’re losing. Oral rehydration solutions (sold as Pedialyte or store-brand equivalents) work best. Broth, diluted juice, and coconut water are reasonable alternatives. Sip steadily rather than gulping large amounts, which can trigger nausea. For young children, watch for dry mouth, no tears when crying, no wet diapers for three hours, sunken eyes, and skin that stays tented when pinched. These all signal the child needs fluids urgently.
What to Eat and What to Avoid
You don’t need to starve yourself. Bland, low-fiber foods like white rice, toast, bananas, and plain crackers are easy on your gut and help firm up stools. Small, frequent meals tend to be better tolerated than three large ones. As your symptoms improve over a day or two, gradually add back normal foods.
Certain foods and drinks actively make diarrhea worse. Caffeine from coffee, tea, cola, and chocolate stimulates the gut and increases stool frequency. Dairy products can be a problem because the inflamed lining of your intestine temporarily loses some of its ability to digest lactose, even if you’re not normally lactose intolerant. High-fructose corn syrup, found in soft drinks, processed snacks, and commercially prepared sweets, draws extra water into the intestine. Naturally high-fructose fruits like apples, pears, and dried fruits can do the same. Sugar-free gums and candies sweetened with sorbitol or xylitol are particularly notorious for triggering loose stools. Greasy, fried, and heavily spiced foods are also best set aside until you’re feeling normal again.
Over-the-Counter Medications
Two OTC options are widely available: loperamide (Imodium) and bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol). They work differently and suit different situations.
Loperamide slows down the contractions of your intestine, giving your body more time to absorb water from stool. It’s the stronger option and works well for urgent situations like travel days or work meetings. The standard approach is 4 mg initially (two caplets), then 2 mg after each loose stool, up to a maximum of 16 mg in 24 hours. Don’t use loperamide if you have a high fever or bloody stools, because in those cases slowing the gut down can trap a harmful infection inside.
Bismuth subsalicylate is gentler. It reduces inflammation in the intestinal lining and has mild antimicrobial effects. It’s a reasonable choice for milder symptoms or an unsettled stomach with diarrhea. It can temporarily turn your tongue and stool black, which is harmless.
Probiotics That Actually Help
Not all probiotics are equal when it comes to diarrhea. The strain with the strongest evidence is Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (often labeled LGG on packaging). In a comparative trial, LGG reduced the duration of acute diarrhea by roughly 19 hours compared to standard rehydration alone and cut hospital stays by nearly a full day. Another commonly recommended strain, Saccharomyces boulardii (a beneficial yeast), showed similar trends but didn’t reach statistical significance in the same study.
If you’re going to try a probiotic, look specifically for LGG on the label rather than a generic “probiotic blend.” Yogurt with live cultures can offer mild benefit, but the concentration of helpful bacteria is much lower than what you’d get in a targeted supplement.
Diarrhea in Children
Children dehydrate faster than adults, so fluid replacement is even more critical. Oral rehydration solutions are the gold standard. The World Health Organization recommends zinc supplementation alongside rehydration for children with diarrhea: 20 mg per day for 10 to 14 days, or 10 mg per day for infants under six months. Zinc has been shown to reduce both the duration and severity of episodes and helps prevent recurrence in the weeks that follow. Zinc supplements formulated for children are available over the counter in most pharmacies. Loperamide is not recommended for young children.
Traveler’s Diarrhea
If you’re abroad and develop diarrhea, the same basics apply: fluids, bland food, and loperamide for symptom control. Most cases are mild enough to manage this way. For severe traveler’s diarrhea, defined as symptoms that prevent you from carrying out your planned activities, or any episode involving fever or bloody stools, antibiotics are warranted. The CDC considers azithromycin the preferred first-line treatment, especially in Southeast Asia where antibiotic-resistant bacteria are more common. Your doctor can prescribe a short course or a single-dose regimen to carry with you before you travel. Loperamide can be safely combined with antibiotics to get faster relief while the antibiotic works.
When Diarrhea Signals Something Bigger
Acute diarrhea lasting one to two days is almost always caused by a virus, contaminated food, or a medication side effect, and it passes without any specific treatment. If it continues beyond that window, pay closer attention.
Seek medical care if you or someone in your household has diarrhea lasting more than 24 hours with no improvement, can’t keep fluids down, has bloody or black stool, runs a fever of 102°F or higher, or becomes unusually sleepy or confused. Chronic diarrhea, lasting four weeks or more, is a different situation entirely and can point to conditions like celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, or a persistent infection that needs testing to identify.
Quick Habit Changes That Help
Wash your hands thoroughly before eating and after using the bathroom, particularly during a stomach illness that’s moving through your household. Viruses like norovirus spread easily on surfaces and between family members. If you suspect a medication is causing your symptoms, antibiotics are one of the most common culprits. They disrupt the balance of bacteria in your gut, and symptoms often resolve once the course is finished. Don’t stop a prescribed antibiotic without talking to your prescriber, but it’s worth flagging the symptom so they can adjust if needed.
Rest when you can. Your body is fighting off an irritant, and sleep supports that process. Most people feel significantly better within 48 hours using nothing more than fluids, simple foods, and patience.