Chronic difficulties with the digestive tract can be extremely challenging. Inflammatory bowel disease is notorious, of course, as a potentially life-threatening condition. But even problems that are less severe can wear a person down. That’s why so many people are searching for a way to calm chronic diarrhea.
Would Smecta Calm Chronic Diarrhea?
Q. I have had chronic diarrhea for 18 months, since being diagnosed with lymphoma. I have taken numerous medications and seen a handful of providers with no relief. An online search suggested lymphoma can cause chronic diarrhea. It also led me to Smecta. Have you heard of this or know anything about it? It is fairly expensive but I am willing to try it if it works.
A. Smecta is the brand name for a type of clay (diosmectite) that acts to bind toxins and excess liquid in the intestines. More studies have been done in children than in adults. However, one placebo-controlled study of 346 adults found that Smecta significantly reduced diarrhea (Gastroenterology Research and Practice, June 30, 2011).
To be effective, it would need to be taken daily. Thus, you might be relieved to learn that long-term use (five weeks) of this product does not disrupt the microbiome (BMC Microbiology, Feb. 12, 2022). We hope it works for you.
Popular Japanese Soup Counteracts Chronic Diarrhea
Diosmectite might be expected to work on the same principles as the original kaopectate, a combination of kaolinite clay and pectin. Over the years, those ingredients have changed. Kaopectate sold in the US no longer contains any clay. We have heard from other readers about unorthodox remedies to calm chronic diarrhea. One of the most puzzling is miso soup.
Q. For over two decades a friend has been plagued with daily diarrhea that may have been caused by years of chronic antibiotic use. Doctors eliminated Crohn’s and celiac disease as the cause. They suggested a fungal infection might be the source but were never able to cure it.
Every year when in Japan on a business trip, he was not bothered by diarrhea. This year it occurred to him that perhaps the difference was the miso (fermented soy) soup he always consumed at least twice a day in Japan.
On his return to the States, he purchased miso soup paste, and has consumed miso soup at least once each day. To his delight, the terrible diarrhea has not come back. Has anyone else reported a similar result?
What Is Miso?
A. Miso is a fermented soybean paste that is used as the basis for one of Japan’s most popular soups. Although we could find no research showing that miso soup counteracts diarrhea, the probiotic effect might help normalize gastrointestinal function. We’d be interested in hearing from others who have experience with this remedy.
A Different Use for a Cholesterol-Lowering Drug
Q. In an earlier article, you mentioned that fenofibrate could help calm chronic diarrhea. I have had bouts of diarrhea for months, and in recent months it had become very frequent.
For four weeks now, I have been using fenofibrate with amazing results. I still have some gas and bloating due, I think, to recent gallbladder removal, but the diarrhea is mostly under control. Thank you for this great tip which none of the doctors had suggested.
Using Fenofibrate Off-Label
A. Doctors prescribe fenofibrate primarily to treat elevated blood lipids such as LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. They don’t usually see it as a first choice for this, since statins are inexpensive and effective, but it helps people who have trouble with statins. The FDA has not approved fenofibrate for treating diarrhea. We could find no research on its use for diarrhea following gallbladder surgery, but we are happy it was helpful.
Some people experience diarrhea as a side effect of this lipid-lowering drug, so we really do not know exactly how it is working. Nor do we know how often it will work to calm chronic diarrhea for others who have this problem. It is worthwhile to discuss the possibility of an off-label prescription for fenofibrate with a physician.
Learn More
Our eGuide to Digestive Disorders has some additional suggestions for managing diarrhea.
Citations
- Khediri F et al, "Efficacy of diosmectite (smecta) in the treatment of acute watery diarrhoea in adults: a multicentre, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group study." Gastroenterology Research and Practice, June 30, 2011. DOI: 10.1155/2011/783196
- Da Silva K et al, "Long-term diosmectite use does not alter the gut microbiota in adults with chronic diarrhea." BMC Microbiology, Feb. 12, 2022. DOI: 10.1186/s12866-022-02464-7
