Oral Rehydration Therapy
Last reviewed July 2026
Who is this for?
This is an Oral Rehydration Salt (ORS), a carefully balanced mixture of glucose (sugar), sodium chloride (table salt), potassium chloride, and sodium citrate that your body absorbs quickly to replace fluids and minerals lost through diarrhea, vomiting, or heavy sweating.
Replaces lost electrolytes (sodium, potassium, chloride) and glucose through intestinal absorption via active transport and facilitated diffusion, restoring osmotic balance and cellular hydration while preventing hypovolemic shock. The glucose-sodium cotransport mechanism in small intestine enterocytes enhances water reabsorption through osmotic gradient restoration.
Available Over The Counter
Get this from any pharmacy or chemist: no prescription needed.
Explore this drug
ORS is not taken on a strict schedule. Simply keep sipping throughout the day whenever you remember, especially after each episode of stool or vomiting. The goal is to keep replacing the fluid you are losing.
Always use the full sachet with the correct amount of clean water, as making it too concentrated or too dilute can be dangerous, especially for children. Buy only from reputable pharmacies; brands like Alben ORS or Jessy Oral Rehydrated Salt are well known in Nigeria. If diarrhea does not improve after 2 days or gets worse, please see a doctor, as ORS replaces fluid but does not cure the infection causing the diarrhea.
ORS generally does not interfere with other medicines. However, if you are taking blood pressure medication or heart drugs that affect potassium levels, let your doctor know before using ORS regularly. You can safely take ORS alongside zinc supplements, which doctors often recommend together for diarrhea in children.
Check your specific combination
Is it safe to take Anhydrous with your other drugs?
ORS is safe for pregnant and breastfeeding women, in fact, it is strongly recommended to prevent dehydration during pregnancy if you have diarrhea or severe vomiting.
Store the unopened sachets in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and humidity. Once you dissolve the powder in water, use the solution within 24 hours; after that, throw it away and make a fresh one. Keep sachets out of the reach of children.
For information only: not medical advice. Always talk to a doctor or pharmacist before changing your medication.
Names this drug is sold under, especially in Nigerian and West African pharmacies
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Counterfeit Drug Warning
Fake drugs are a serious problem in Nigeria. Always buy from a registered pharmacy. If the packaging looks different from what is described above, do not use it.