Overview
Many prescription and non-prescription medicines can cause diarrhea. A few examples are:
- Antibiotics.
- Antidepressants.
- Antacids.
- Proton pump inhibitors, such as omeprazole (Prilosec) and lansoprazole (Prevacid).
- Medicines used to treat cancer (chemotherapy).
Many antibiotics cause diarrhea. Usually the diarrhea is mild and will clear up without treatment. A more serious type of diarrhea caused by the bacteria Clostridium difficile may occur while taking the antibiotic or shortly after finishing the antibiotic.
Diarrhea may be a sign of serious reaction to a medicine, such as a toxic reaction. Diarrhea is an early sign of toxicity for some medicines, including lithium (such as Carbolith or Lithane) and digoxin (Lanoxin).
If you think a medicine is causing diarrhea, contact the doctor who prescribed it. The dosage may need to be changed, or the medicine may need to be stopped.
Credits
Current as of:
March 1, 2023
Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:
William H. Blahd Jr. MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine
Adam Husney MD - Family Medicine
Kathleen Romito MD - Family Medicine
H. Michael O'Connor MD - Emergency Medicine