What factors can make diarrhea symptoms worse?

Reviewed by Yoshinori Abe, MD

Internal Medicine

Diarrhea can worsen from several key causes: certain medications (especially antibiotics), bile acid malabsorption, and digestive conditions such as celiac disease or lactose intolerance. Identifying the underlying trigger is essential, as each cause requires a different approach to treatment and management.

If your diarrhea is getting worse, don't guess what's behind it. Take a free, instant, online symptom check to get personalized insights based on your symptoms, understand possible causes, and know exactly what steps to take next—whether that's home care or seeing a doctor.

Reviewed for medical accuracy: 07/14/2026

Important Next Steps

Discover what’s worsening diarrhea symptoms Learn if diarrhea needs urgent care Find likely causes of your diarrhea See OTC options for diarrhea relief Find a doctor for diarrhea care Understand safe home remedies for diarrhea Find out if diarrhea is serious

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Explanation

Diarrhea can be made worse by several factors.

Medications: Some medications, such as oral antibiotics, can cause diarrhea as a side effect.
Bile Acid Malabsorption: When the body doesn't properly absorb bile acids in the intestines, it can lead to diarrhea. This condition is known as bile acid malabsorption.
Dietary Intolerances: Conditions such as celiac disease and lactose intolerance can also make diarrhea symptoms worse. In celiac disease, consuming gluten can damage the small intestine, leading to diarrhea. Lactose intolerance occurs when the body cannot digest lactose, a sugar found in milk, which can also result in diarrhea.

Understanding these factors can help in managing and reducing diarrhea symptoms. If you're experiencing persistent diarrhea and want to explore what might be causing it, try our free AI symptom checker to get personalized insights based on your specific symptoms.

(References)

Goldstein F, & DiMarino AJ Jr. (2000). Diarrhea as a side effect of mesalamine treatment for .... Journal of clinical gastroenterology, 10914779.
Westergaard H. (2007). Bile Acid malabsorption. Current treatment options in gastroenterology, 17298762.
Jankowiak C, & Ludwig D. (2008). [Frequent causes of diarrhea: celiac disease and lactose .... Medizinische Klinik (Munich, Germany : 1983), 18548211.

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