Question: diarrhea i had bad diarrhea over the weekend and though how my mother used paregoric, went to the drug store to get some, he said they dont sell it any more  HELP

Reference:
 Diarrhea Overview Everyone occasionally has diarrhea - loose, watery and possibly more-frequent bowel movements. In most cases, diarrhea lasts a couple of days. But when diarrhea lasts for weeks, it can indicate a serious disorder, such as a persistent infection, inflammatory bowel disease, or a less serious condition, such as irritable bowel syndrome. Symptoms Signs and symptoms associated with diarrhea may include: - Loose, watery stools - Abdominal cramps - Abdominal pain - Fever - Blood in the stool - Bloating - Nausea - Urgent need to have a bowel movement If you're an adult, see your doctor if: - Your diarrhea persists beyond two days - You become dehydrated - You have severe abdominal or rectal pain - You have bloody or black stools - You have a fever above 102 F (39 C) In children, particularly young children, diarrhea can quickly lead to dehydration. Call your doctor if your child's diarrhea doesn't improve within 24 hours or if your baby: - Becomes dehydrated - Has a fever above 102 F (39 C) - Has bloody or black stools Causes A number of diseases and conditions can cause diarrhea, including - Viruses. Viruses that can cause diarrhea include Norwalk virus, cytomegalovirus and viral hepatitis. Rotavirus is a common cause of acute childhood diarrhea. - Bacteria and parasites. Contaminated food or water can transmit bacteria and parasites to your body. Parasites such as Giardia lamblia and cryptosporidium can cause diarrhea. Common bacterial causes of diarrhea include campylobacter, salmonella, shigella and Escherichia coli. When traveling in developing countries, diarrhea caused by bacteria and parasites is often called traveler's diarrhea. Clostridium difficile infection can occur, especially after a course of antibiotics. - Medications. Many medications, such as antibiotics, can cause diarrhea. Antibiotics destroy both good and bad bacteria, which can disturb the natural balance of bacteria in your intestines. Other drugs that cause diarrhea are cancer drugs and antacids with magnesium. - Lactose intolerance. Lactose is a sugar found in milk and other dairy products. People who have difficulty digesting lactose have diarrhea after eating dairy products. Your body makes an enzyme that helps digest lactose, but for most people, the levels of this enzyme drop off rapidly after childhood. This causes an increased risk of lactose intolerance as you age. - Fructose. Fructose, a sugar found naturally in fruits and honey and added as a sweetener to some beverages, can cause diarrhea in people who have trouble digesting it. - Artificial sweeteners. Sorbitol and mannitol, artificial sweeteners found in chewing gum and other sugar-free products, can cause diarrhea in some otherwise healthy people. - Surgery. Some people have diarrhea after undergoing abdominal surgery or gallbladder removal surgery. - Other digestive disorders. Chronic diarrhea has a number of other causes, such as Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, celiac disease, microscopic colitis and irritable bowel syndrome. Complications Diarrhea can cause dehydration, which can be life-threatening if untreated. Dehydration is particularly dangerous in children, older adults and those with weakened immune systems. If you have signs of serious dehydration, seek medical help. These include: - Excessive thirst - Dry mouth or skin - Little or no urination - Weakness, dizziness or lightheadedness - Fatigue - Dark-colored urine These include: - Not having a wet diaper in three or more hours - Dry mouth and tongue - Fever above 102 F (39 C) - Crying without tears - Drowsiness, unresponsiveness or irritability - Sunken appearance to the abdomen, eyes or cheeks Diagnosis Besides conducting a physical exam and reviewing your medications, your doctor might order tests to determine what's causing your diarrhea. They include: - Blood test. A complete blood count test can help determine what's causing your diarrhea. - Stool test. Your doctor might recommend a stool test to determine whether a bacterium or parasite is causing your diarrhea. - Flexible sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy. Your doctor might recommend one of these procedures to look at the lining of your colon and provide biopsies if no cause is evident for persistent diarrhea. Both procedures involve using a thin, lighted tube with a lens on the end to look inside your colon. Treatment Most cases of diarrhea clear on their own within a couple of days without treatment. If you've tried lifestyle changes and home remedies for diarrhea without success, your doctor might recommend medications or other treatments. Antibiotics Antibiotics might help treat diarrhea caused by bacteria or parasites. If a virus is causing your diarrhea, antibiotics won't help. Treatment to replace fluids Your doctor likely will advise you to replace the fluids and salts. For most adults, that means drinking water, juice or broth. If drinking liquids upsets your stomach or causes diarrhea, your doctor might recommend getting fluids through a vein in your arm (intravenously). Water is a good way to replace fluids, but it doesn't contain the salts and electrolytes - minerals such as sodium and potassium - you need to maintain the electric currents that keep your heart beating. You can help maintain your electrolyte levels by drinking fruit juices for potassium or eating soups for sodium. Certain fruit juices, such as apple juice, might make diarrhea worse. For children, ask your doctor about using an oral rehydration solution, such as Pedialyte, to prevent dehydration or replace lost fluids. Adjusting medications you're taking If your doctor determines that an antibiotic caused your diarrhea, your doctor might lower your dose or switch to another medication. Treating underlying conditions If your diarrhea is caused by a more serious condition, such as inflammatory bowel disease, your doctor will work to control that condition. You might be referred to a specialist, such as a gastroenterologist, who can help devise a treatment plan for you. Lifestyle and home remedies Most diarrhea cases clear up on their own within a few days. To help you cope with your signs and symptoms until the diarrhea goes away, try to: - Drink plenty of clear liquids, including water, broths and juices. Avoid caffeine and alcohol. - Add semisolid and low-fiber foods gradually as your bowel movements return to normal. Try soda crackers, toast, eggs, rice or chicken. - Avoid certain foods such as dairy products, fatty foods, high-fiber foods or highly seasoned foods for a few days. - Ask about anti-diarrheal medications. Over-the-counter (OTC) anti-diarrheal medications, such as loperamide (Imodium A-D) and bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol), might help reduce the number of watery bowel movements and control severe symptoms. Certain medical conditions and infections - bacterial and parasitic - can be worsened by these medications because they prevent your body from getting rid of what's causing the diarrhea. Also, these drugs aren't always safe for children. Check with your doctor before taking these medications or giving them to a child. - Consider taking probiotics. These microorganisms help restore a healthy balance to the intestinal tract by boosting the level of good bacteria. Probiotics are available in capsule or liquid form and are also added to some foods, such as certain brands of yogurt. Studies confirm that some probiotics might be helpful in treating antibiotic-associated diarrhea and infectious diarrhea. However, further research is needed to better understand which strains of bacteria are most helpful or what doses are needed. 

Answer: Most cases of diarrhea do not require treatment. If diet changes and home remedies do not help within a couple of days,  your doctor might give you antibiotics to treat diarrhea caused by bacteria or parasites. If a virus is causing your diarrhea, antibiotics won't help. Your doctor might recommend drinking water or broth to replace fluids and electrolytes.