About 20% of people who take antibiotics develop diarrhea. Diarrhea
may develop while taking the antibiotic or shortly after finishing the
medication. This diarrhea will usually go away completely several days after
the antibiotic is finished.
More than half of those who get diarrhea from taking an antibiotic
have a mild case that may clear up without treatment.
People who take antibiotics, including those who have been recently
hospitalized and received intravenous (IV) antibiotics, may develop diarrhea
caused by Clostridium difficile bacteria.
Clostridium difficile can cause severe diarrhea, and the
infection and diarrhea may return after antibiotic treatment. Diarrhea caused
by this bacterium usually requires medical treatment.
If diarrhea develops while taking an antibiotic, contact the health
professional to determine whether the medication should be continued or another
medication substituted. Do not stop the antibiotic abruptly.
