How long should diarrhea last?

Acute diarrhea lasts one or two days and often goes away without treatment. Consult a healthcare provider if you have acute diarrhea after two days. Other times, persistent diarrhea may last two to four weeks, and chronic diarrhea may persist for longer than four weeks. People with chronic diarrhea may have flares of symptoms.

What is the fastest way to stop diarrhea?

Some evidence suggests that probiotics help relieve diarrhea one day quicker than average. Lactic acid bacteria is a probiotic in yogurt and supplements. Low-fat yogurt may help. Of note: People with severe diarrhea may need to avoid dairy products, which may worsen symptoms. Instead, eat small meals of bland foods like baked chicken, pasta, and vegetables to relieve diarrhea quickly. Make sure to replenish your body with nutrients from bananas, fruit juice, and sports drinks. Stay hydrated with eight to 10 glasses of water daily to prevent dehydration.

How do I prevent diarrhea?

You cannot prevent all types of diarrhea. Still, you can take steps to prevent diarrhea from rotavirus and traveler's diarrhea. RotaTeq and Roarix are vaccines that help prevent rotavirus, an infection commonly affecting infants and young children. Infants can receive three doses of RotaTeq at 2, 4, and 6 months. Traveler's diarrhea often happens when traveling to places in Africa, Latin America, and southern Asia. You can prevent traveler's diarrhea by avoiding the following: Drinking tap water or using ice cubes made from tap water Using tap water to brush your teeth Drinking or eating unpasteurized milk products Eating raw fruits and vegetables unless you can peel them yourself Consuming raw or undercooked fish and meat, or eating meat or shellfish that is not hot when served Eating food from street vendors Instead, opt for bottled water, fizzy drinks, and hot coffee and tea. Before traveling, talk to a healthcare provider about antibiotics to prevent traveler's diarrhea.

6 Ways To Stop Diarrhea Fast

Replenishing lost fluids and tweaking your diet typically helps stop diarrhea, or loose, watery stools, fast. Anti-diarrheal medications may help alleviate symptoms in some cases. Some evidence suggests that probiotics in low-fat yogurt may get rid of diarrhea one day more quickly than average.

The best diarrhea treatment option for you may depend on the cause and severity of your symptoms. Some treatments help stop diarrhea, while others help manage symptoms.

Read on to learn about six ways to stop diarrhea fast and when to contact a healthcare provider.

Woman drinks water — Olga Sibirskaya/Stocksy

What Is Diarrhea?

A severe or sudden bout of diarrhea—three or more loose, watery stools per day—often resolves in several days, depending on what's causing it.

Some causes of diarrhea are food-related. For example, food contaminated with infectious bacteria or parasites may cause diarrhea.

In contrast, chronic diarrhea that lasts longer than two weeks may be due to causes like:

Digestive tract issues
Food intolerances or allergies
Infections
Long-term medication use

Other causes include inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). IBD causes inflammation in the small intestine (Crohn's disease) or the large intestine (ulcerative colitis). IBS affects the large intestine and causes constipation, diarrhea, or both.

1. Anti-Diarrheal Medications

Anti-diarrheal medications are available over the counter without a prescription.

Options include:

Imodium (loperamide)
Kaopectate (bismuth subsalicylate)
Pepto-Bismol (bismuth subsalicylate)

Loperamide slows food movement through your bowels, which helps your body absorb fluids. Loperamide reduces diarrhea by adding bulk to your stool. In contrast, bismuth subsalicylate balances fluid movement in your intestines and reduces inflammation.

Of note: Do not take anti-diarrheal medications if bacteria or parasites cause your diarrhea. Your body must eliminate the germs, and anti-diarrheal medications may worsen symptoms.

Speak with a healthcare provider before taking anti-diarrheal medications if you take prescription medications. Only use one anti-diarrheal medication at one time unless a healthcare provider advises differently.

Take anti-diarrheal medications exactly as the label instructs. Taking more will not help the medicine work more effectively or quickly than average. Taking more than the advised dosage can be dangerous.

2. Antibiotics

Some evidence suggests that antibiotics are unnecessary for routine acute diarrheal infection. In contrast, a healthcare provider may prescribe antibiotics if there's a high chance of bacteria causing diarrhea.

People typically do not need antibiotics if the cause of their diarrhea is a virus, such as:

Adenovirus
Norovirus
Rotavirus

A healthcare provider may prescribe antibiotics that target the infection if they suspect a bacterial or parasitic infection.

3. Diet Modifications

You will likely need to change your diet if you have diarrhea. For example, try eating more frequent and smaller meals spread evenly throughout the day instead of three large meals.

A healthcare provider may suggest consuming certain drinks and foods to alleviate diarrhea. In contrast, you may need to avoid high-fat, high-sugar products.

What To Eat and Drink

A healthcare provider may advise following the BRAT diet briefly to alleviate an upset stomach with diarrhea, vomiting, or both. The BRAT diet stands for bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast. Those bland foods do not irritate the stomach.

Other bland foods that you can eat on the BRAT diet include:

Broth
Plain potatoes
Saltine crackers

Those foods help create firm stools. The foods are low-fiber and starchy and help "bind" things together. Foods like bananas, which have potassium, help replace some nutrients the body loses during diarrhea.

The BRAT diet helps treat diarrhea but does not provide all the nutrients you need as part of a healthy diet. Gradually return to a regular diet when you feel better and your symptoms improve. Typically, you can return to a regular diet within 24–48 hours after having diarrhea.

What To Avoid

Avoiding certain foods during diarrhea may help alleviate your symptoms.

Foods to avoid include:

Alcohol
Caffeine
Fizzy drinks
Fried and greasy goods
Fruits and vegetables that cause gas (e.g., beans, berries, broccoli, chickpeas, and prunes)
Full-fat dairy products

4. Hydrating

People with diarrhea are at risk for dehydration. Regularly taking sips of water throughout the day helps prevent dehydration.

Try drinking liquids that have salt, sugar, and water, such as:

Caffeine-free soda
Fruit juice
Salty broths
Sport drinks
Water
Water and juice mixed

Do not give fruit juice or soft drinks to children with diarrhea. Those drinks may worsen symptoms. Instead, have children take small sips of oral hydration solution. Bottle-feed or breastfeed infants with diarrhea as usual.

Signs of Dehydration

The color of urine may indicate hydration levels. For example, urine that is light yellow to nearly clear suggests that you are drinking enough liquids. In contrast, dark yellow urine may signal dehydration.

Dehydration symptoms include:

Confusion
Dizziness
Dry or sticky mouth
Headache
Irritability
Muscle cramps
Rapid heartbeat
Thirst

Contact a healthcare provider if you develop dehydration symptoms during diarrhea.

5. Probiotics

Sometimes, a healthcare provider may advise taking probiotics to relieve diarrhea. Probiotics contain live microorganisms similar to those that inhabit your digestive tract.

Still, the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) says there is not enough research to support the use of probiotics in treating acute diarrhea in adults.

6. Rehydration Solution

Oral rehydration solutions, available over the counter, help prevent dehydration due to diarrhea. Brand names include Enfalyte and Pedialyte.

Oral rehydration solutions are made up of glucose as well as several electrolytes like:

Magnesium
Chloride
Potassium
Sodium
Phosphorous

Of note: Oral rehydration solution will not reduce diarrhea. Instead, this treatment helps keep you hydrated.

Dehydration can be severe. A healthcare provider may advise older adults with diarrhea to receive balanced electrolyte rehydration. Among people who are otherwise healthy, the fatality risk during diarrhea is most common among older adults. You can safely administer oral rehydration solutions to children, as well.

Treating Underlying Causes

Several factors may cause diarrhea. You may require different treatments depending on the underlying causes.

Some of the most common causes of diarrhea and their treatments include:

Bile acid malabsorption: Medications that prevent the build-up of bile in your digestive tract.
Celiac disease: The strict removal of gluten from your diet
IBD: Prescription medications to reduce inflammation in the bowels
IBS: Changes to diet

When To See a Healthcare Provider

In many cases, diarrhea clears up in a few days on its own.

Consult a healthcare provider if you have the following issues:

A fever of 102 F or higher
Black or tarry stool
Diarrhea that lasts longer than two days, or 24 hours in children
Severe pain in the abdomen or rectum
Signs of dehydration
Stool that contains blood or pus

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should diarrhea last?

Acute diarrhea lasts one or two days and often goes away without treatment. Consult a healthcare provider if you have acute diarrhea after two days.
Other times, persistent diarrhea may last two to four weeks, and chronic diarrhea may persist for longer than four weeks. People with chronic diarrhea may have flares of symptoms.
What is the fastest way to stop diarrhea?

Some evidence suggests that probiotics help relieve diarrhea one day quicker than average. Lactic acid bacteria is a probiotic in yogurt and supplements.
Low-fat yogurt may help. Of note: People with severe diarrhea may need to avoid dairy products, which may worsen symptoms.
Instead, eat small meals of bland foods like baked chicken, pasta, and vegetables to relieve diarrhea quickly. Make sure to replenish your body with nutrients from bananas, fruit juice, and sports drinks. Stay hydrated with eight to 10 glasses of water daily to prevent dehydration.
How do I prevent diarrhea?
You cannot prevent all types of diarrhea. Still, you can take steps to prevent diarrhea from rotavirus and traveler's diarrhea.
RotaTeq and Roarix are vaccines that help prevent rotavirus, an infection commonly affecting infants and young children. Infants can receive three doses of RotaTeq at 2, 4, and 6 months.
Traveler's diarrhea often happens when traveling to places in Africa, Latin America, and southern Asia.
You can prevent traveler's diarrhea by avoiding the following:
- Drinking tap water or using ice cubes made from tap water
- Using tap water to brush your teeth
- Drinking or eating unpasteurized milk products
- Eating raw fruits and vegetables unless you can peel them yourself
- Consuming raw or undercooked fish and meat, or eating meat or shellfish that is not hot when served
- Eating food from street vendors
Instead, opt for bottled water, fizzy drinks, and hot coffee and tea.
Before traveling, talk to a healthcare provider about antibiotics to prevent traveler's diarrhea.

A Quick Review

Diarrhea can be unpleasant, but several treatment options are available. Treatments range from home remedies like eating a bland diet and hydrating to antibiotics and over-the-counter medications.

Do not hesitate to contact a healthcare provider for support if you are concerned about your symptoms.

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Tell us why!

17 Sources

Health.com uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.