One of the most common and frustrating issues for people suffering from chronic diarrhea is the diarrhea-constipation cycle. This is the phrase used to describe the back and forth transition between diarrhea and constipation that results from certain treatment options.
The primary reason for this cycle is that common diarrhea medications, such as Imodium, or loperamide (the generic name for the active ingredient), Lomotil and bismuth subsalicylate, the active ingredient in products like Pepto Bismol and Kaopectate, work by slowing or stopping the movement of water and stool through the gut. While this can be necessary for those with severe, or acute diarrhea, the slowing and stopping of movement in the intestines and colon can lead to constipation, and as soon as the medication wears off, diarrhea may ensue. This seesawing from diarrhea to constipation is uncomfortable, inefficient and simply not a great answer for those suffering from chronic and long-term diarrhea.
Unlike these medications, Banatrol Plus does not stop gut movement, and the two sources of soluble fiber, provided by banana flakes and Bimuno prebiotic, work to bind the stool and build the beneficial bacteria of the gut, which leads to bulking, better water absorption, and eventually firmer bowel movements. Banatrol Plus is dual acting, on the one hand providing food for the beneficial bacteria in the gut, which serve to ferment fiber and strengthen and rebuild the walls of the colon while also crowding out pathogenic bacteria, and on the other hand, providing pectin and resistant starch which are fermented to create short chain fatty acids, which are the energy source for colon cells.
Medications for diarrhea might be sufficient for an acute case, but Banatrol Plus is not going to cause constipation, so one can avoid the diarrhea constipation cycle altogether. Also, because it is a medical food and not a medication, it can be taken long term without side effects and be a constant benefit to the cells of the colon, thus helping people who have suffered from chronic diarrhea for weeks, months, or even years.