Speaking of montmorillonite powder, everyone should be familiar with it. It is an antidiarrheal drug often prescribed by doctors and is also a regular medicine at home.
However, this drug has been frequently involved in the whirlpool of rumors in recent years. Especially during the high incidence of diarrhea in autumn and winter every year, is there a wave of rumors that montmorillonite powder cannot be eaten?
- Some people say that montmorillonite powder is extremely harmful to the body. Some people also say that it is difficult to expel it from the body after eating it. Some even accused the child of constipation due to montmorillonite powder for two years…….
Montmorillonite powder, is it really so horrible? Can I still eat montmorillonite powder?
We invited pharmacist Mei Erkang to uncover the truth for parents.
How many rumors about montmorillonite powder are true?
Rumor 1: Montmorillonite Powder Does Great Damage to Intestinal Tract?
Pretty safe.
Rumor has it that montmorillonite powder will have a long-term impact on children when used once, with great destructive effect.
The fact is just the opposite.
The main component of montmorillonite powder is natural montmorillonite, which is very safe for children.
This is a [inert] component that expands and disperses when exposed to water. After oral administration enters gastrointestinal tract, it does not enter blood circulation system.
It is precisely because of this [inertia] that montmorillonite powder has become a safer choice among antidiarrheal drugs, which can be taken safely by infants, pregnant women and the elderly.
Rumor 2: Montmorillonite powder is difficult to be discharged out of the body?
Fake!
After taking it, some montmorillonite will temporarily adhere to the inner wall of intestinal tract. However, it will then be discharged out of the body along with the peristalsis of the digestive tract itself and scattered in intestinal fluid.
At present, there is no evidence that montmorillonite powder is difficult to be discharged out of the body.
Rumor 3: Montmorillonite Powder Affects Absorption?
We should treat them differently.
In vitro studies found that montmorillonite has adsorption effect on amoxicillin, ofloxacin and other drugs.
Therefore, other drugs are taken together with montmorillonite powder, and it is recommended to take them at intervals of 2 hours.
In addition, in vitro studies also found that montmorillonite powder has adsorption to B vitamins, such as vitamins B1, B2, B6, B12, etc. However, there is still a lack of research data on whether it will affect the absorption of other types of nutrients in the body.
Rumor 4: Constipation for Two Years after Montmorillonite Powder?
Bullshit!
Indeed, the most obvious side effect of montmorillonite powder is constipation.
However, when the child’s diarrhea is relieved and the stool frequency is normal, the parents will stop using montmorillonite powder in time, and the child’s constipation will also be relieved.
I don’t know if this case is true. If it is true, it may be that montmorillonite was eaten as a meal………
Is montmorillonite powder necessary?
Montmorillonite itself does not have antibacterial properties. It can deal with pathogens mainly because of its [lamellar structure] and [non-uniform charge distribution].
This special molecular structure has good adsorption effect on viruses and bacteria in digestive tract, such as Escherichia coli, Vibrio cholerae and rotavirus.
At the same time, montmorillonite powder also has a fixing effect on viruses produced by these pathogens.
However, must montmorillonite powder be used immediately when children have diarrhea? Not really.
Diarrhea is conducive to the excretion of viruses, and premature use of antidiarrheal drugs is not conducive to the overall recovery of
When children have acute water samples, we still suggest that they can observe them for 48 hours first and do not use montmorillonite powder too early.
At present, montmorillonite powder has a high level of evidence only for the treatment of acute infectious watery diarrhea. The recommended usage and dosage are:
- < 1 year old children: 1.5 g/time, 2 times/day > 1 year old children: 3 g/time, 3 times/day
If diarrhea is caused by non-infectious factors, such as [dyspepsia], as parents often say, there is no need to use montmorillonite powder.
Preventing dehydration is more important than stopping diarrhea.
Many parents will regard antidiarrhea as the most important thing after their children have diarrhea.
Some people with ulterior motives have taken advantage of parents’ anxiety about antidiarrheal and frequently spread rumors about montmorillonite powder.
However, this just blurs the focus after diarrhea: preventing dehydration.
Dehydration will cause abnormal decrease or increase of salt concentration in blood; Changes in salt concentration aggravate the symptoms of dehydration and can aggravate the degree of drowsiness.
In severe cases, dehydrated children may suffer convulsions, brain injury and even death. Timely relief of dehydration symptoms in children is the first thing to do after diarrhea.
When children start diarrhea, they can take rehydration salts to prevent dehydration. Supplement a certain amount of liquid after each loose stool until diarrhea stops:
- < 6 months: 50 mL each time, 6 months to 2 years old: 100 mL each time, 2 ~ 10 years old: 150 mL each time
Parents can judge the degree of dehydration of their children according to the references in the following table:
Oral rehydration salts are suitable for the treatment of mild and moderate dehydration. When the child shows severe dehydration, he needs to be sent to the hospital immediately and replenished with water and electrolyte under the guidance of the doctor.
Finally, I’d like to give you a summary:
(1) Montmorillonite powder is only used for adjuvant treatment and can be used for antidiarrhea. However, it is optional, if it is available, it can be eaten, and if it is not available, it will not affect the recovery of the final disease.
(2) Children diarrhea, the most important thing is to prevent dehydration!
(3) We oppose the abuse of montmorillonite powder, and we are even more opposed to people with ulterior motives spreading rumors.
On the road of child-rearing, parents can avoid all kinds of prejudices and rumors only if they have comprehensive knowledge of popular science.