Hesperian Health Guides
Other Medicines for Diarrhea
HealthWiki > New Where There Is No Doctor > Belly Pain, Diarrhea, and Worms > Other Medicines for Diarrhea
Diloxanide furoate
Diloxanide is used in combination with antibiotics to treat amebas. If you cannot get this medicine, try paromomycin or iodoquinol instead.
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Occasionally causes gas, stomach pain, or nausea. Take with food.
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Do not use diloxanide during the first 3 months of pregnancy. Avoid this medicine while breastfeeding.
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Under 3 years: give 62 mg (⅛ of a 500 mg tablet), 3 times a day for 10 days.
3 to 7 years: give 125 mg, 3 times a day for 10 days.
8 to 12 years: give 250 mg, 3 times a day for 10 days.
Over 12 years: give 500 mg, 3 times a day for 10 days.
Quinacrine
Quinacrine works well for treating giardia, but it makes people feel very sick. It is used because it is inexpensive.
![Green-effects-nwtnd.png](https://pool.hesperian.org/w/images/thumb/4/42/Green-effects-nwtnd.png/35px-Green-effects-nwtnd.png)
Headaches, dizziness, and vomiting are common.
![NBgrnpill.png](https://pool.hesperian.org/w/images/thumb/1/17/NBgrnpill.png/35px-NBgrnpill.png)
Over 10 years: give 100 mg, 3 times a day for 1 week.
Zinc
Zinc helps people with diarrhea get better faster. It should be given along with rehydration drink.
![NBgrnpill.png](https://pool.hesperian.org/w/images/thumb/1/17/NBgrnpill.png/35px-NBgrnpill.png)
For babies, tablets can be ground up and mixed with breast milk or a little water. You may be able to get a “dispersible tablet” which dissolves quickly and easily in liquid.
Over 6 months: give 20 mg, once a day for 10 to 14 days.