What if dietary changes don't work?

If changes to your diet aren't reducing your discomfort from diarrhea, your doctor might prescribe medications to offer you relief. Don't take any over-the-counter medications without checking with your doctor first, because some can cause dangerous side effects in people getting treatment for cancer.

Common medications for cancer-related diarrhea include:

• Opioids. You might be familiar with opioids for pain treatment, but these drugs can also reduce your diarrhea by slowing movement through your intestines. Loperamide (Imodium A-D) causes fewer side effects than other opioids do, making it a common treatment choice.
• Anti-secretory agents. These drugs reduce the amount of fluid your body secretes, making your stools firmer. Examples of anti-secretory agents include aspirin, bismuth subsalicylate (Kaopectate, Pepto-Bismol), corticosteroids and octreotide (Sandostatin).

Other medications are available, but what type you'll take will depend on the severity of your diarrhea and what's causing it.

People with severe diarrhea may need to be hospitalized for IV fluids and nutrition.