medicines

Antidiarrheal

止瀉薬 (Shisha-yaku)

A medication that reduces the frequency of loose or watery stools by slowing intestinal motility or absorbing excess fluid. Loperamide (Imodium) is widely available OTC in Japan for non-infectious diarrhea. If diarrhea is caused by infection, antidiarrheal agents may be withheld by physicians to allow the body to expel pathogens naturally. Oral rehydration salts should accompany treatment to prevent dehydration.

For children with diarrhea in Japan, pediatricians generally prefer oral rehydration therapy (ORT) and recommend against antidiarrheal drugs due to safety considerations.

In 9 languages

Language	Term
English	Antidiarrheal
Japanese (日本語)	止瀉薬
Chinese (中文)	止泻药
Korean (한국어)	지사제
Portuguese	Antidiarreico
Spanish	Antidiarreico
Filipino	Gamot sa diarrhea
Thai	ยาแก้ท้องเสีย
Vietnamese	Thuốc tiêu chảy
Romanization	Shisha-yaku

Related terms

• Diarrhea 下痢
• Abdominal Pain 腹痛
• Over-the-Counter Drug 市販薬

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