Imodium what is it

The result is loose or watery stools, commonly known as diarrhea. This allows the body to start absorbing fluids and salts as it should, restoring the consistency of stools.

It works faster than Loperamide alone. How to treat Why treat? This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:. Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines.

Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of loperamide in the pediatric population. Safety and efficacy have not been established. This medicine should not be used in children younger than 2 years of age. Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of loperamide in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more likely to have heart rhythm problems, which may require caution in patients receiving loperamide.

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding. Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur.

In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines. In rare cases, it's possible to have a serious allergic reaction anaphylaxis to loperamide. These are not all the side effects of loperamide. For a full list, see the leaflet inside your medicines packet. Loperamide is not usually recommended in pregnancy.

This is because there is not enough information to say whether it is safe or not. They'll be able to advise you about the benefits and possible harms of taking it. This will depend on how many weeks pregnant you are and why you need to take it. It is OK to take loperamide for a couple of days while you're breastfeeding.

Hardly any loperamide passes into breast milk, and so it will not affect your baby. For more information about how taking this medicine can affect you and your baby, read this leaflet about loperamide on the Best Use of Medicines in Pregnancy BUMPs website. Speak to your doctor if your diarrhoea is very severe and you take metformin for diabetes, or medicines for high blood pressure or heart failure. Your doctor may tell you to stop taking these medicines for a few days until your diarrhoea is better.

There's very little information about taking herbal remedies and supplements with loperamide. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're taking any other medicines, including herbal medicines, vitamins or supplements.

Loperamide is an anti-motility medicine. This means that it slows down food as it goes through your gut. Your body can then draw in more water from your intestines, so that your poos get firmer and you poo less often.

Loperamide usually starts to work within 1 hour to make your diarrhoea better. You may need to take it for longer if your diarrhoea is because of a bowel condition such as Crohn's disease , ulcerative colitis or short bowel syndrome. If you've bought loperamide from a shop or pharmacy, do not take it for more than 48 hours without talking to a doctor. Although diarrhoea is usually nothing to worry about, it can sometimes lead to dehydration. This can be serious if you do not get the correct treatment.

Diarrhoea can also sometimes be a warning sign of another problem. For this reason, it's important to see a doctor to find out the cause of your diarrhoea if it continues beyond 7 days. If you've bought loperamide for short-term diarrhoea, do not take it for longer than 48 hours without talking to a doctor. Loperamide may be used for long-lasting diarrhoea and by people who have a colostomy stoma if their doctor prescribes it.

Do not take loperamide to prevent diarrhoea, unless your doctor tells you to. It's not been officially approved and tested for preventing diarrhoea. It's best not to drink alcohol while you're taking loperamide. Alcohol makes you more likely to have side effects such as feeling sleepy or dizzy and having difficulty concentrating. Apart from avoiding alcohol, you can eat and drink normally while you're taking loperamide. However, if you have diarrhoea it's best to avoid fatty or spicy food.

Loperamide can make you feel dizzy, tired or sleepy. You might also feel less alert, feel faint or pass out. If this happens to you do not drive, cycle or use machinery or tools until the effect has worn off.

Yes, you can take loperamide at the same time as everyday painkillers like paracetamol and ibuprofen. There is another medicine for diarrhoea called co-phenotrope. This works in a similar way to loperamide to slow down your gut. You do not usually need an antibiotic for diarrhoea. However, occasionally your doctor will prescribe an antibiotic if you have severe diarrhoea caused by a specific kind of bacteria.

Speak to a pharmacist if you have signs of dehydration , such as peeing less than usual or having dark, strong-smelling pee.

Some people misuse Imodium in this way to make themselves feel high. See the following question for more details. In fact, misusing Imodium can cause serious heart problems, such as an irregular heartbeat or heart attack. It can also cause loss of consciousness and slow, weak breathing.

And it can sometimes even lead to death. If you have questions about the correct dosage for you, ask your doctor or pharmacist. But only take doses up to the maximum daily dose. If you still have diarrhea after using Imodium for 2 days 48 hours , see your doctor.

And they may recommend a treatment other than Imodium, depending on the results of those tests. Yes, you should be able to. Imodium slows down the contractions in your intestine so that you pass firmer stools less often. You should take Imodium as recommended on its product label or as instructed by your doctor or pharmacist.

And if your diarrhea clears up with Imodium, but you get another episode of diarrhea soon after, you can take Imodium again. But if you keep having episodes of diarrhea for more than 2 weeks, you should see your doctor. Sometimes doctors prescribe Imodium to treat chronic diarrhea. In this case, they might recommend either:. You should take Imodium every day only if your doctor recommends doing so.

Taking Imodium every day is generally considered safe. However, using this drug daily may increase your risk for side effects, particularly constipation. However, Imodium Multi-Symptom Relief caplets should be taken on an empty stomach. Imodium A-D softgels should be swallowed whole. If you have trouble swallowing Imodium pills, you may find it easier to take Imodium A-D oral solution.

Imodium can cause mild or serious side effects. The following lists contain some of the key side effects that may occur while taking Imodium. For more information on the possible side effects of Imodium, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

They can give you tips on how to deal with any side effects that may be bothersome. Most of these side effects may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks.

To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist, or view the prescribing information for loperamide, the active ingredient in Imodium. Serious side effects from Imodium are rare, but they can occur. Call your doctor right away if you have serious side effects. Imodium side effects are similar for both children and adults.

See the side effect lists above for more information. You may wonder how often certain side effects occur with this drug, or whether certain side effects pertain to it. As with most drugs, some people can have an allergic reaction after taking Imodium. A more severe allergic reaction is rare but possible.

Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction can include:. Call your doctor right away if you have a severe allergic reaction to Imodium. Some people have constipation after taking Imodium. Imodium slows down the movement of food through your intestine, helping you to pass firmer stools less often. While this action reduces diarrhea , it may also lead to constipation in some people.

If you have constipation with Imodium, stop taking the drug. Constipation may last for a few days after you take Imodium, but it typically goes away on its own. And drinking plenty of water can help ease constipation. On rare occasions, constipation can be a symptom of a serious side effect called paralytic ileus. With this condition, the movement in your intestines slows down so much that food builds up inside your intestine. And this can lead to a dangerous obstruction blockage in your intestine.

If you have constipation with abdominal belly swelling or bulging, or severe abdominal pain, stop taking Imodium. And see your doctor right away. These symptoms may indicate paralytic ileus. Imodium can make some people feel sleepy or tired. The drug can also cause dizziness. And if you have concerns about these symptoms with Imodium use, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. If you have red or black stools, stop taking Imodium and see your doctor right away.

And they can recommend appropriate treatment for your condition. However, keep in mind that Imodium is used to treat diarrhea. And if you become dehydrated have a low fluid level from diarrhea, you may develop low blood pressure.

You can also drink a rehydration solution. These drinks contain glucose sugar and electrolytes , such as sodium and potassium. Rehydration solutions help to replace fluids and electrolytes in your body that you can lose through diarrhea. They can recommend ways to help improve your condition. Other drugs are available that can treat diarrhea. Some may be a better fit for you than others. They can tell you about other medications that may work well for you. You may wonder how Imodium compares with other medications that are used for diarrhea.

Here we look at how Imodium and Lomotil are alike and different. Both Imodium and Lomotil are used to treat diarrhea. For instance:. Imodium is used in adults and children ages 2 years and older. Imodium is an over-the-counter OTC medication. Lomotil, on the other hand, is only available by prescription.

Imodium and Lomotil both can cause some similar side effects, but some different ones as well. Below are examples of these side effects.

These lists contain examples of serious side effects that can occur with Imodium, with Lomotil, or with both drugs when taken individually. But separate studies have found both Imodium and Lomotil to be effective for treating diarrhea. According to estimates on WellRx.