Q.I have had diarrhea for a year and half, and I have been taking Imodium for it. Is there any problem with using this medication over the long term? I have been to a doctor about my diarrhea. He wanted to do a barium enema, but I chickened out.

Howard

A.Chronic diarrhea, defined as lasting longer than three to four weeks, often is an indicator of an underlying problem such as metabolic disease, infection, a tumor or an inflammatory problem in the intestine.

A large number of diagnostic tests are available to evaluate chronic diarrhea (including blood tests, stool tests, scans and endoscopic exams).

endoscopic, medication, metabolic