Banatrol Plus FAQs: How It Works, How to Take It, and What to Expect.
If you’re considering Banatrol® Plus for managing loose stools or diarrhea, you may have questions about how it works, how often to take it, how long it takes to work, and what makes it different from other options.
Below, we answer some of the most common questions about Banatrol Plus.
What is Banatrol Plus?
Banatrol Plus is a medical food designed to help manage diarrhea and support digestive health. Its formula combines banana flakes, a source of soluble fiber, with Bimuno®, a prebiotic ingredient.
Medtrition develops medical nutrition products used in hospitals and healthcare settings, and Banatrol has been used in clinical settings for more than 20 years. The same Banatrol formula is also available for consumers to purchase for home use.
How does Banatrol Plus work?
Banatrol Plus takes a dual-action approach.
The banana flakes provide soluble fiber that helps improve stool consistency. Banatrol Plus also contains a prebiotic that supports beneficial bacteria in the digestive system.
Because the fiber and prebiotic serve different purposes, consistent use may be important when evaluating how Banatrol works for you.
How long does Banatrol Plus take to work?
Individual experiences vary. Some people may notice a change relatively quickly, while the benefits associated with the prebiotic component can take longer.
Medtrition recommends using Banatrol Plus consistently for approximately 1–2 weeks when evaluating the product.
If you have persistent diarrhea or your symptoms are not improving, talk with your healthcare provider. Diarrhea can have many different causes, and Banatrol Plus may not be appropriate for every individual or situation.
How many servings of Banatrol Plus should I take?
Medtrition generally recommends starting with one serving in the morning and one serving in the evening.
Depending on individual needs and tolerance, some people may use more during the initial period. Consistency during the first 1–2 weeks is important when evaluating how the product works for you.
Once symptoms have improved, some people reduce their intake to ½–1 serving per day, or several servings per week, for ongoing fiber and prebiotic support.
Individual needs vary, so discuss dietary changes with your healthcare team when appropriate.
When is the best time to take Banatrol Plus?
There is no single best time of day to take Banatrol Plus.
It can be taken whenever it fits conveniently into your schedule. If taking it twice daily, morning and evening can make it easier to space servings and establish a consistent routine.
Should I take Banatrol Plus with food?
Banatrol Plus can be taken with or without a meal.
Many people prefer mixing it into a soft food such as applesauce or oatmeal. It can also be mixed with liquids.
Does Banatrol Plus dissolve in water?
Banatrol Plus does not completely dissolve in water. This is normal for the product.
When using it with a liquid, stir it briskly and consume it shortly after mixing. If you don't enjoy the texture in liquids, try adding Banatrol Plus to a soft food such as applesauce or oatmeal.
Can I put Banatrol Plus in hot food or drinks?
Yes. Banatrol Plus can be added to hot foods or liquids.
Banatrol Plus contains a prebiotic rather than a probiotic, so the ingredients do not have the same temperature sensitivity associated with many live probiotic organisms.
What if I don't like the taste of bananas?
Some people who don't particularly enjoy banana flavor still use Banatrol Plus successfully.
A popular option is mixing Banatrol Plus into applesauce, which can help mask both its flavor and texture. Oatmeal and smoothies are other options to try.
Why can't I just eat a banana instead?
If eating bananas works well for you, there may be no reason to add an additional supplement like Banatrol Plus.
Banatrol Plus, however, is different from eating a banana alone. It combines banana flakes and their soluble fiber with a prebiotic ingredient in a standardized medical food formulation.
Does Banatrol Plus come in a pill?
No. Medtrition does not currently produce Banatrol Plus, or any formula, in pill form.
Banatrol Plus is purposefully formulated in flake form. Banatrol in flake form is taken with fluid or soft foods, so it hydrates and swells in the gut the way natural fiber should. This helps it interact with stool and digestive content effectively.
Is Banatrol Plus a medication?
No. Banatrol Plus is a medical food, not a drug.
Medical foods are a distinct FDA-regulated product category and are different from prescription, over-the-counter medications, and supplements.
Is Banatrol Plus FDA approved?
Banatrol Plus is not an FDA-approved drug because it is not a medication.
Medical foods are regulated under a different framework from pharmaceutical drugs. Medtrition manufactures its products in accordance with applicable requirements for its product category.
Do I need a prescription for Banatrol Plus?
Banatrol Plus is available for consumers to purchase without a prescription.
However, persistent or unexplained diarrhea can have many causes. If you don't know why you are experiencing diarrhea, symptoms are persistent, or you have concerns about whether Banatrol Plus is appropriate for you, speak with your healthcare provider.
Do doctors and hospitals use Banatrol Plus?
Banatrol has been used in hospitals and clinical settings for more than 25 years.
Medtrition has specialized in medical nutrition since 1986, and its products have traditionally been used extensively in healthcare environments. Banatrol Plus is now also available directly to consumers for home use.
Why hasn't my doctor recommended Banatrol Plus?
Some healthcare professionals do recommend Banatrol, but awareness can vary.
One reason is that Medtrition has historically focused on hospitals and healthcare facilities rather than consumer retail. Banatrol is also designed as a medical food for dietary management rather than as a pharmaceutical treatment for a particular disease.
If you're interested in Banatrol Plus, you can discuss it with your healthcare provider to determine whether it may be appropriate for your individual nutritional needs.
Can I take Banatrol Plus every day?
Banatrol Plus can be incorporated into an ongoing diet when appropriate.
After an initial period of use, some people transition to ½–1 serving per day, or several servings per week, for ongoing fiber and prebiotic support. Other people only use Banatrol when needed.
Your appropriate routine depends on your individual needs.
Do I have to take Banatrol Plus forever?
No.
Some people use Banatrol Plus for a limited period, while others continue using smaller amounts as part of their ongoing digestive nutrition routine.
If you find that you require unusually large amounts over an extended period to manage persistent symptoms, consider discussing your symptoms with your healthcare provider.
What should I do if Banatrol Plus isn't working?
First, consider how long you have been using it and whether you've been taking it consistently.
Medtrition generally recommends evaluating Banatrol Plus over approximately 1–2 weeks. However, no nutrition product will be appropriate or effective for every individual.
If you've used Banatrol Plus consistently without improvement, speak with your healthcare provider, particularly if your diarrhea is persistent or unexplained.
Medtrition also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee for eligible purchases.
What if Banatrol Plus seems to make my diarrhea worse?
Some people may be sensitive to an increase in dietary fiber, particularly when first introducing it.
If this happens, reducing intake and starting with one serving per day may make it easier to assess your tolerance.
Worsening or persistent diarrhea can also have an underlying cause unrelated to the product. Discuss your symptoms with your healthcare provider to determine what is appropriate for your situation.
Does Banatrol Plus have side effects?
Banatrol Plus contains soluble fiber and a prebiotic. Individual digestive responses can vary, particularly when increasing fiber intake.
If you experience unexpected or worsening symptoms, discontinue or adjust use as appropriate and speak with your healthcare provider.
If you take medications or have questions about adding Banatrol Plus to your diet, discuss them with your healthcare team.
Can insurance cover Banatrol Plus?
Because Banatrol Plus is a medical food rather than a prescription medication, it is typically purchased differently from prescription drugs.
Coverage can vary by insurance plan and individual circumstances. Contact your insurance plan administrator directly to determine whether reimbursement or other coverage may be available.
Can I buy Banatrol Plus in a store?
Medtrition's direct-to-consumer products are primarily sold online rather than through physical retail stores.
Consumers can purchase directly from Medtrition online. Medtrition products are also available through select online marketplaces.
When buying through a marketplace, check the seller carefully to ensure you're purchasing an authorized Medtrition product.
Does Medtrition offer Banatrol Plus samples?
Medtrition does not currently offer Banatrol Plus samples.
Because Medtrition recommends consistent use when evaluating Banatrol Plus, a very small sample may not provide enough time to determine whether the product fits your needs.
Instead, eligible purchases are supported by Medtrition's 30-day money-back guarantee.
What sizes does Banatrol Plus come in?
Banatrol Plus packets are sold by Medtrition in authorized package sizes, including 25- and 75-count options. Banatrol is also available in jars.
Be cautious of marketplace listings offering unusual packet quantities, as these may be reseller listings rather than products sold directly by Medtrition.
Why isn't my Banatrol Plus jar filled to the top?
The empty space at the top of the jar is intentional.
Known as “headspace,” this space helps accommodate product and packaging requirements during processing, shipping, and storage. The amount of Banatrol Plus in the container is determined by the net weight listed on the package rather than how full the jar appears.
Why does Banatrol Plus cost more than some diarrhea products?
Banatrol Plus is formulated as a medical food and combines banana flakes with Bimuno®, a premium prebiotic ingredient.
The formula sold directly to consumers is based on the same product used in healthcare settings. For people who use Banatrol Plus regularly, larger package sizes generally provide a lower cost per serving, and Medtrition also offers Subscribe & Save options.
What if Banatrol Plus isn't right for me?
No product is right for everyone.
Medtrition offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on eligible purchases, so consumers have an opportunity to determine whether a product fits their needs.
For questions about an order or refund eligibility, contact Medtrition Customer Service at customerservice@medtrition.com or 1-877-271-3570. The in-house customer service team is available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.–4 p.m. Eastern Time.
Where can I get help using Banatrol Plus?
Medtrition's customer service team can answer questions about the product and help with getting started.
Consumers can also join the private Medtrition Health Facebook Group to see tips and experiences shared by other community members. Join the group here: MedtritionHealth.com.
For questions about persistent diarrhea, underlying health conditions, medications, or whether Banatrol Plus is appropriate for your specific nutritional needs, consult your healthcare provider.
Important: Banatrol Plus is a medical food and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. Persistent, severe, worsening, or unexplained diarrhea should be discussed with a healthcare professional.