Definition of Drug-induced diarrhea:

Drug-induced diarrhea is loose, watery stools caused by certain medications.

See also: Diarrhea

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Nearly all medications may cause diarrhea as a side effect. The medications listed below, however, are more likely to cause diarrhea.

Laxatives:

• Laxatives are meant to cause diarrhea by drawing water into the intestines or triggering muscle spasms in the intestines.
• Taking too much of a laxative can cause diarrhea.

Antacids and heartburn medications:

• Antacids that contain magnesium may also cause or worsen diarrhea.
• Drugs used to treat heartburn and stomach ulcers can cause diarrhea, including: (omeprazole (Prilosec), esomeprazole (Nexium), iansoprazole (Prevacid), rabeprazole (AcipHex), and pantoprazole (Protonix), (Pepsid), cimetidine (Tagamet), ranitidine (Zantac), and nizatidine (Axid)

Antibiotics:

• Antibiotics destroy normal bacteria in the intestines, which can lead to diarrhea.
• Some antibiotics allow a type of bacteria called Clostridium difficile to over grow. This can lead to infection and produce a severe, watery form of diarrhea called pseudomembranous colitis.

Other medications and products that commonly cause diarrhea include:

• Chemotherapy medications
• Medications that suppress the immune system (such as mycophenolate)
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) used to treat pain and arthritis, including ibuprofen
• Herbal teas that contain senna
• Certain vitamins, minerals, and other supplements