Fig. 2.

Medical treatment strategy for chronic diarrhea (narrow sense) Initially, improvement in lifestyle habits and continuation of dietary therapy are recommended. If these prove ineffective, probiotics and antidiarrheal medications are administered. Should these have a poor response, the possibility of secondary chronic diarrhea should be reconsidered. Once secondary chronic diarrhea is ruled out, treatment options include 5HT₃ receptor antagonists, anticholinergics, Kampo medicines, psychotherapy, antibiotics, bulking agents, adrenergic agonists, somatostatin analogs, although their efficacy may be unclear.