Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDietMedicationsHydrationSkin Care
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Diet
Medications
Hydration
Skin Care
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)makes your digestive system sensitive to certain stimuli, including certain foods, medication, and stress.The diarrhea-predominant type is called IBS-D.
It may not always be possible to prevent or stop IBS diarrhea, but you have lots of ways to make bouts of diarrhea less common, head them off quickly when they do occur, and manage the accompanying symptoms. The basics of this include:
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IBS SubtypesIBS-D: Diarrhea-predominantIBS-C: Constipation predominantIBS-A or IBS-M: Alternating or mixed diarrhea and constipationIBS-U: No significant pattern of abnormal stool
IBS Subtypes
IBS-D: Diarrhea-predominantIBS-C: Constipation predominantIBS-A or IBS-M: Alternating or mixed diarrhea and constipationIBS-U: No significant pattern of abnormal stool
Stop Diarrhea Through Diet
You may also want to try alow-FODMAP diet, which restricts certain sugars that are hard for the body to digest. The American College of Gastroenterology’s 2021 IBS Guidelines recommend a limited trial of this diet.
Increasing Soluble Fiber
Addingsoluble fiberto the diet may help reduce diarrhea from IBS. Some sources of soluble fiber include:
Watch Your PortionsEating smaller portions at mealtimes may help some people who feel full and bloated after eating.
Watch Your Portions
Eating smaller portions at mealtimes may help some people who feel full and bloated after eating.
Drugs That Can Cause Diarrhea
Some common medications that can cause diarrhea include:
If you’re taking a new medication and experience diarrhea, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist if the drug could be the cause.
Staying Hydrated
When you do have diarrhea, be sure to drink plenty of fluids to preventdehydration. The fluids lost through diarrhea can dehydrate you quickly, especially if diarrhea is severe or goes on for an extended period of time.
While water is great for replacing that lost fluid, you may want to consider replacing electrolytes with:
However, be careful with fruit drinks and soda, as some contain artificial sweeteners and caffeine that may trigger IBS.
Taking Care of Tender Skin
Irritation in and around the anal area can be common with severe or prolonged bouts of diarrhea. This can often occur as a result of wiping frequently as well as from the bile that’s being passed with diarrhea.
Keep the area cleanusing water and personal care wipes instead of toilet paper. A spray nozzle on the shower is helpful for washing thoroughly at home. Be sure the water isn’t too hot, though, or it could irritate things more.
When away from home, keep travel-sized wipes in your purse, pocket, or car. Or, pack some regular wipes from home in a plastic baggie with a secure closure.
A barrier cream can help soothe the skin and protect it from further diarrhea damage. Look for:
Treating Skin Irritation From Diarrhea
When It’s Not IBSThe following are not symptoms of IBS, and if you experience them, you should see a healthcare provider immediately:Blood in the stoolFeverWeight lossSevere pain
When It’s Not IBS
The following are not symptoms of IBS, and if you experience them, you should see a healthcare provider immediately:Blood in the stoolFeverWeight lossSevere pain
The following are not symptoms of IBS, and if you experience them, you should see a healthcare provider immediately:
A Word From Verywell
Having frequent diarrhea is not only painful and inconvenient, it can also be embarrassing and make you afraid of going out. When you take steps to prevent it, though, and you’re prepared for when it does hit, you’ll feel more confident and able to do the things you enjoy. Working with your healthcare provider and sticking to your treatment and management strategies are all part of that.
7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Abdul Rani R, Raja Ali RA, Lee YY.Irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease overlap syndrome: Pieces of the puzzle are falling into place.Intest Res. 2016;14(4):297-304. doi:10.5217/ir.2016.14.4.297Lacy BE, Pimentel M, Brenner DM, et al.ACG clinical guideline: Management of irritable bowel syndrome.Am J Gastroenterol. 2021;116(1):17-44. doi:10.14309/ajg.0000000000001036Capili B, Anastasi JK, Chang M.Addressing the role of food in irritable bowel syndrome symptom management.J Nurse Pract. 2016;12(5):324-329. doi:10.1016/j.nurpra.2015.12.007Moayyedi P, Quigley EM, Lacy BE, et al.The effect of fiber supplementation on irritable bowel syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Am J Gastroenterol. 2014;109(9):1367-74. doi:10.1038/ajg.2014.195Barr W, Smith A.Acute diarrhea.Am Fam Physician. 2014;89(3):180-9.Ansari P.Pruritus ani.Clin Colon Rectal Surg. 2016;29(1):38-42. doi:10.1055/s-0035-1570391Saha L.Irritable bowel syndrome: Pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment, and evidence-based medicine.World J Gastroenterol. 2014;20(22):6759-73. doi:10.3748/wjg.v20.i22.6759
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Abdul Rani R, Raja Ali RA, Lee YY.Irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease overlap syndrome: Pieces of the puzzle are falling into place.Intest Res. 2016;14(4):297-304. doi:10.5217/ir.2016.14.4.297Lacy BE, Pimentel M, Brenner DM, et al.ACG clinical guideline: Management of irritable bowel syndrome.Am J Gastroenterol. 2021;116(1):17-44. doi:10.14309/ajg.0000000000001036Capili B, Anastasi JK, Chang M.Addressing the role of food in irritable bowel syndrome symptom management.J Nurse Pract. 2016;12(5):324-329. doi:10.1016/j.nurpra.2015.12.007Moayyedi P, Quigley EM, Lacy BE, et al.The effect of fiber supplementation on irritable bowel syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Am J Gastroenterol. 2014;109(9):1367-74. doi:10.1038/ajg.2014.195Barr W, Smith A.Acute diarrhea.Am Fam Physician. 2014;89(3):180-9.Ansari P.Pruritus ani.Clin Colon Rectal Surg. 2016;29(1):38-42. doi:10.1055/s-0035-1570391Saha L.Irritable bowel syndrome: Pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment, and evidence-based medicine.World J Gastroenterol. 2014;20(22):6759-73. doi:10.3748/wjg.v20.i22.6759
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Abdul Rani R, Raja Ali RA, Lee YY.Irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease overlap syndrome: Pieces of the puzzle are falling into place.Intest Res. 2016;14(4):297-304. doi:10.5217/ir.2016.14.4.297Lacy BE, Pimentel M, Brenner DM, et al.ACG clinical guideline: Management of irritable bowel syndrome.Am J Gastroenterol. 2021;116(1):17-44. doi:10.14309/ajg.0000000000001036Capili B, Anastasi JK, Chang M.Addressing the role of food in irritable bowel syndrome symptom management.J Nurse Pract. 2016;12(5):324-329. doi:10.1016/j.nurpra.2015.12.007Moayyedi P, Quigley EM, Lacy BE, et al.The effect of fiber supplementation on irritable bowel syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Am J Gastroenterol. 2014;109(9):1367-74. doi:10.1038/ajg.2014.195Barr W, Smith A.Acute diarrhea.Am Fam Physician. 2014;89(3):180-9.Ansari P.Pruritus ani.Clin Colon Rectal Surg. 2016;29(1):38-42. doi:10.1055/s-0035-1570391Saha L.Irritable bowel syndrome: Pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment, and evidence-based medicine.World J Gastroenterol. 2014;20(22):6759-73. doi:10.3748/wjg.v20.i22.6759
Abdul Rani R, Raja Ali RA, Lee YY.Irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease overlap syndrome: Pieces of the puzzle are falling into place.Intest Res. 2016;14(4):297-304. doi:10.5217/ir.2016.14.4.297
Lacy BE, Pimentel M, Brenner DM, et al.ACG clinical guideline: Management of irritable bowel syndrome.Am J Gastroenterol. 2021;116(1):17-44. doi:10.14309/ajg.0000000000001036
Capili B, Anastasi JK, Chang M.Addressing the role of food in irritable bowel syndrome symptom management.J Nurse Pract. 2016;12(5):324-329. doi:10.1016/j.nurpra.2015.12.007
Moayyedi P, Quigley EM, Lacy BE, et al.The effect of fiber supplementation on irritable bowel syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Am J Gastroenterol. 2014;109(9):1367-74. doi:10.1038/ajg.2014.195
Barr W, Smith A.Acute diarrhea.Am Fam Physician. 2014;89(3):180-9.
Ansari P.Pruritus ani.Clin Colon Rectal Surg. 2016;29(1):38-42. doi:10.1055/s-0035-1570391
Saha L.Irritable bowel syndrome: Pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment, and evidence-based medicine.World J Gastroenterol. 2014;20(22):6759-73. doi:10.3748/wjg.v20.i22.6759
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