Attapulgite Benefits, Side Effects and How to Use Attapulgite

What is Attapulgite?

Attapulgite is an over-the-counter medication that you can take to treat diarrhea. Although it is an over-the-counter medication, its use must follow the doctor’s instructions, especially regarding the dosage and proper use for your condition.

This antidiarrheal drug works by absorbing bacteria and toxins in the digestive system, which cause diarrhea. By taking this drug, the texture of the stool will become more solid when it comes out, so the frequency of bowel movements can be reduced.

  • Class: Antidiarrheal drugs.
  • Category: Over-the-counter drugs.
  • Used by: Adults and children over 6 years of age.
  • Attapulgite for pregnant women:
  • Attapulgite for breastfeeding mothers: 
  • Drug form: Oral tablets and chewable tablets.

Benefits of Attapulgite

When used in medicine, this drug can bind acids and toxic substances in the stomach and digestive tract. Therefore, attapulgite is often used to treat diarrhea.

Diarrhea is a condition in which a person defecates more often than usual. Diarrhea makes sufferers defecate three or more times in one day. In addition, when diarrhea occurs, the texture of the feces that come out is also more liquid or runny.

Warnings Before Using Attapulgite

Some things to note before using this drug are:

  • Avoid taking this medicine if you have an allergy to it.
  • Ask a doctor before giving this medicine to older adults and children under 12 years of age.
  • Talk to your doctor about using this medication if you have asthma, an enlarged prostate, bowel obstruction, liver disease, or kidney disease.
  • Ask your doctor if you have diarrhea with fever, severe abdominal cramps, or blood in your stool.
  • Discuss with your doctor about taking this medication if you are taking other medications. For example, supplements and herbal medicines, because they can trigger drug interactions in the body.
  • Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning to become pregnant before prescribing this medication.
  • If an allergic reaction, serious side effect, or overdose occurs after taking the drug, see a doctor immediately.

Attapulgite  Drug Trademark

If you have diarrhea, some medicines containing attapulgite can be consumed as an initial step in treatment. Here are some brands of attapulgite medicines:

  • New Diatabs 4 Tablets. Antidiarrheal medication containing attapulgite 600 mg, can be used to treat diarrhea of ​​unknown cause.
  • Atagip 10 Tablets. Atagip is a drug with a combination of attapulgite and pectin content. Can be used for the treatment of non-specific diarrhea.
  • Arcapec 10 Tablets. This medicine contains 50 mg of pectin and 600 mg of attapulgite, to treat non-specific diarrhea. It is not recommended to use this medicine excessively, because it risks causing constipation.
  • Entrostop 20 Tablets. This product can help overcome diarrhea that is not clearly known to cause. It contains active colloidal attapulgite 650 mg and pectin 50 mg.
  • Molagit 10 Tablets. Molagit is a diarrhea medicine containing 700 mg attapulgite and 50 mg pectin, can be used to relieve diarrhea of ​​unknown specific cause.

Attapulgite Dosage and Usage Rules 

The dosage of attapulgite may vary depending on the age of the person with diarrhea. You should follow your doctor’s advice or the instructions on the package.

However, the general dosage of attapulgite medication that is usually given is:

  • Adults: The initial dose is 2 tablets after the first diarrhea. The next dose is 2 tablets after a bowel movement (diarrhea).
  • Children over 12 years of age: The dosage is the same as for adults, or follow your doctor’s instructions.
  • Children aged 6-12 years: Usually the dose for children of this age is half the adult dose. The maximum dose is 6 tablets per day, or as recommended by a doctor.

How to Use Attapulgite Correctly

Here’s how to use attapulgite correctly, so that the drug works effectively in the body, including:

  • You should take this medicine after defecating and according to the instructions on the product packaging or doctor’s prescription.
  • In addition to taking attapulgite medication, it is important to eat a healthy diet and get enough fluids to treat diarrhea.
  • Avoid consuming fruits, vegetables, fried foods, spicy foods, sweets, caffeinated drinks, and alcohol, as they can worsen the condition.
  • Attapulgite can only be used to treat diarrhea in the short term. If diarrhea does not stop or lasts more than two weeks, consult a doctor immediately.
  • Store the medicine properly, avoid direct sunlight, and keep out of reach of children.

Attapulgite Side Effects

Possible side effects that may occur during use of this drug are:

  • Chest feels tight.
  • Constipation.
  • A rash appears on the skin.
  • Difficulty breathing.
  • Swelling of the face, mouth, lips, or tongue.

Attapulgite Interactions

There are several drugs that are at risk of causing drug interactions in the body if used together with attapulgite, including:

The use of certain active substances in drugs can reduce the absorption of benztropine, trihexyphenidyl, loxapine, and dicyclomine.

Use of attapulgite with other antidiarrheal drugs may worsen constipation.

Using attapulgite along with pain relievers such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, propoxyphene, morphine, and codeine may cause constipation.

Attapulgite Contraindications

Avoid using this medicine if you have a history of the following:

  • Kidney failure.
  • Dysentery.
  • Liver disorders.
  • Intestinal obstruction (intestinal blockage).
  • Hemophilia (blood clotting disorder)
  • Bleeding in the digestive tract.
  • Infectious diarrhea.

Also, avoid using attapulgite to treat diarrhea if you have a fever or blood and mucus in your stool.