Symptom Checker
Step 4: Read and complete the decision guide to learn more about your symptoms.
Diarrhea
A very large number of medicines can cause diarrhea as a side effect, the following list of medicines or medicine groups can result in diarrhea:
antibiotics (many of them)
the diabetes medicine metformin (Glucophage, Glucovance)
laxatives
acid buffers (Antacids) that contain magnesium (Maalox, Mylanta, Milk of Magnesia)
acid blockers in the H2 blocker family such as famotidine (Pepcid), cimetidine (Tagamet) or ranitidine (Zantac)
acid blockers in the proton-pump inhibitor family such as omeprazole (Prilosec), lansoprazole (Prevacid), esomeprazole (Nexium), pantoprazole (Protonix) or robeprazole (Aciphex)
antidepressants with "serotonin" activity such as paroxetine (Paxil), fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), citalopram (celexa), or escitalopram (Lexapro)
heart or blood pressure medicines known as "Beta blockers" such as atenolol (Tenormin), metoprolol (Toprol) and others, or the heart medicine quinidine (Quinidex and others)
gout medicine (especially colchicine)
the stomach medicine metoclopramide (Reglan) which is used to treat nausea or acid reflux
fiber supplements
non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for pain including ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), naproxen (Aleve), and many others
medicines for inflammatory bowel disease such as mesalamine (5-aminosalicylic acid, 5-ASA, Asacol, Pentasa, Rowasa)
chemotherapy (cancer medicines)
an ulcer prevention medicine named misoprotol (Cytotec)
vitamins and minerals (particularly magnesium)
the asthma medicine theophylline (Theodur)
medicines containing sorbitol or fructose (these ingredients may be added as sweeteners)
If you think that a medicine may be the cause of your diarrhea, it is worthwhile to discuss your concern with your doctor. Please do not stop taking a prescribed medicine without your doctor's advice.
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