Digestive Health Irritable Bowel Syndrome IBS With Diarrhea Dealing With Diarrhea From IBS By Amber J. Tresca Updated on September 23, 2021 Medically reviewed by Robert Burakoff, MD Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Diet Medications Hydration Skin Care Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) makes your digestive system sensitive to certain stimuli, including certain foods, medication, and stress. Most people with IBS have the diarrhea-predominant type, called IBS-D. It may not always be possible to prevent or stop IBS diarrhea, but you have lots of ways to make bouts of diarrhea less common, head them off quickly when they do occur, and manage the accompanying symptoms. The basics of this include: Learning which foods trigger or prevent diarrheaLearning which medications trigger diarrheaStaying hydratedCaring for irritated skin around the anus Helen Yin / Getty Images IBS Subtypes IBS-D: Diarrhea-predominantIBS-C: Constipation predominantIBS-A or IBS-M: Alternating or mixed diarrhea and constipationIBS-U: No significant pattern of abnormal stool Stop Diarrhea Through Diet Prevent diarrhea in the first place by maintaining a healthy, well-balanced diet free of trigger foods. Trigger foods are different for everyone with IBS, but some common ones include: AlcoholArtificial sweeteners or sugar substitutesArtificial fat (Olestra)Carbonated beveragesCoconut milkCoffee (even decaffeinated)DairyEgg yolksFried foodsOilsPoultry skin and dark meatRed meatShorteningSolid chocolate You may also want to try a low-FODMAP diet, which restricts certain sugars that are hard for the body to digest. The American College of Gastroenterology's 2021 IBS Guidelines recommend a limited trial of this diet. Increasing Soluble Fiber Adding soluble fiber to the diet may help reduce diarrhea from IBS. Some sources of soluble fiber include: BarleyBrown riceCurrantsDried beansFigsFrench breadFresh peasMethylcellulose (Citrucel)Oat BranOatmealPastaPrunesPsyllium husks (Metamucil)RaisinsRiceSourdough breadSoy Watch Your Portions Eating smaller portions at mealtimes may help some people who feel full and bloated after eating. Drugs That Can Cause Diarrhea Some common medications that can cause diarrhea include: Antibiotics Blood pressure medications Antacids containing magnesium If you're taking a new medication and experience diarrhea, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist if the drug could be the cause. Staying Hydrated When you do have diarrhea, be sure to drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration. The fluids lost through diarrhea can dehydrate you quickly, especially if diarrhea is severe or goes on for an extended period of time. While water is great for replacing that lost fluid, you may want to consider replacing electrolytes with: Beef or chicken brothRehydrating drinks like Gatorade or PoweradeFruit drinksSoda pop However, be careful with fruit drinks and soda, as some contain artificial sweeteners and caffeine that may trigger IBS. Taking Care of Tender Skin Irritation in and around the anal area can be common with severe or prolonged bouts of diarrhea. This can often occur as a result of wiping frequently as well as from the bile that's being passed with diarrhea. Keep the area clean using water and personal care wipes instead of toilet paper. A spray nozzle on the shower is helpful for washing thoroughly at home. Be sure the water isn't too hot, though, or it could irritate things more. When away from home, keep travel-sized wipes in your purse, pocket, or car. Or, pack some regular wipes from home in a plastic baggie with a secure closure. A barrier cream can help soothe the skin and protect it from further diarrhea damage. Look for: Diaper rash creams with zinc oxidePetroleum jellyVitamin A or vitamin D creams Treating Skin Irritation From Diarrhea When It's Not IBS The following are not symptoms of IBS, and if you experience them, you should see a healthcare provider immediately:Blood in the stoolFeverWeight lossSevere pain A Word From Verywell Having frequent diarrhea is not only painful and inconvenient, it can also be embarrassing and make you afraid of going out. When you take steps to prevent it, though, and you're prepared for when it does hit, you'll feel more confident and able to do the things you enjoy. Working with your healthcare provider and sticking to your treatment and management strategies are all part of that. 7 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Abdul Rani R, Raja Ali RA, Lee YY. Irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease overlap syndrome: Pieces of the puzzle are falling into place. Intest Res. 2016;14(4):297-304. doi:10.5217/ir.2016.14.4.297 Lacy BE, Pimentel M, Brenner DM, et al. ACG clinical guideline: Management of irritable bowel syndrome. Am J Gastroenterol. 2021;116(1):17-44. doi:10.14309/ajg.0000000000001036 Capili B, Anastasi JK, Chang M. Addressing the role of food in irritable bowel syndrome symptom management. J Nurse Pract. 2016;12(5):324-329. doi:10.1016/j.nurpra.2015.12.007 Moayyedi P, Quigley EM, Lacy BE, et al. The effect of fiber supplementation on irritable bowel syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Gastroenterol. 2014;109(9):1367-74. doi:10.1038/ajg.2014.195 Barr W, Smith A. Acute diarrhea. Am Fam Physician. 2014;89(3):180-9. Ansari P. Pruritus ani. Clin Colon Rectal Surg. 2016;29(1):38-42. doi:10.1055/s-0035-1570391 Saha L. Irritable bowel syndrome: Pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment, and evidence-based medicine. World J Gastroenterol. 2014;20(22):6759-73. doi:10.3748/wjg.v20.i22.6759 By Amber J. Tresca Amber J. Tresca is a freelance writer and speaker who covers digestive conditions, including IBD. She was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis at age 16. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit