Antimotility Agents
When the diarrhea becomes profuse, bloody or is accompanied by fever or shock-like symptoms, more vigorous treatment is needed. This may be the time for intravenous fluids, although in some situations one needs to worry about the sterility of the equipment.
Antimotility agents such as loperamide (Imodium) or diphenoxylate (Lomotil) are of questionable benefit. They do slow the intestinal tract and may reduce the number and urgency of stools, but they may also lead to pooling of fluids in the intestine which keeps the offending organisms in the system longer. This can also mask the fact that ongoing, vigorous hydration is still needed.
Some anti-acid medications called proton-pump inhibitors (such as Nexium, Prevacid, Protonix) may actually worsen diarrhea or interfere with its treatment because they block the production of stomach acid which, as mentioned above, is necessary to kill the bacteria in the stomach.