| Brand Name | Imodium |
| Generic Name | Loperamide |
| Drug Class | Guanylate Cyclase-C Agonist |
| Availability | OTC |
| Manufacturer | Johnson & Johnson |
| Indications | IBS-D (Chronic Diarrhea in IBS) |
| Type | Tablet, Capsule, Oral Solution |
| Doses | 2-4 mg orally after each loose stool (max 16 mg/day) |
| Route | Oral |
| Side Effects | Constipation, abdominal pain, nausea, dizziness |
| Interactions | Caution with CNS depressants, anticholinergics; avoid overuse |
| Overdose | Severe heart problems, CNS depression. |
| Missed Dose | Take when remembered; skip if near next. |
| Contraindications | Children under 2 years, acute dysentery, pseudomembranous colitis. |
| Alternatives | Diphenoxylate, Bismuth subsalicylate |
| Co-Pay Assistance Program | Available OTC |
| Patient Assistance Program | Not available |
Dr. Bharat Pothuri is a Board-Certified Gastroenterologist and Hepatologist. With extensive experience in digestive health, he specializes in advanced endoscopic procedures, chronic GI disorder management, and preventive care. Dr. Pothuri is dedicated to providing expert, patient-focused insights to help improve gut health and overall well-being.
Among the medications that are applied in the treatment of the diarrhea is Loperamide that is applied in slowing the intestine movement and enabling the stool to take in additional water.
The mechanism of Loperamide is that it binds to the opioid receptors of bowel and decreases the transit rate of bowel contents of the lumen, allowing the defeces to harden.
The side effect includes constipation, dizziness and abdominal pains.
Yes Loperamide can or can be used with or without food.
Loperamide should not be used in pregnancy in an instance where there are more advantages than the disadvantages. Women under pregnancy are not expected to take it except upon the recommendation of the doctor.
In the immediate adjacency to the following dose you can take what you have forgotten but the time you recall you can take it. Do not take two doses at once.
The other drugs of interference with Loperamide are the antibiotics or the antifungal drugs. It is advisable that you discuss with your medical practitioner regarding your interaction with him/her in order to have a complete list of the possible interactions.
Loperamide habitually needs two hours to cure the diarrhea and normalize the stools.
Loperamide should not be used in case of prolonged intake of the drug. Visit your doctor when the diarrhea persists to rid you of the associated conditions.
Give all the information to your physician at the earliest possible time in case of some severe side effects, which are constipation, bloating, nausea.
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