For best results, follow the dosing information on the medication packaging. A typical dose of Imodium is to take 2 milligrams mg twice a day. In order to reduce the risk of the Imodium working too well and providing you with a new problem—namely, that of constipation—it is recommended that you start with a small dose, perhaps limiting yourself to 1 to 2 mg over the course of a day. If necessary, you can increase the amount of Imodium that you take. The most you should ever take in a day is 8 mg unless your healthcare provider advises you otherwise.
Be sure to drink lots of water while taking Imodium. Keep in mind that Imodium will be at its highest level of effectiveness approximately 16 to 24 hours after you take it. Imodium tends to be well-tolerated and to cause minimal side effects. This is because it works primarily within the large intestine. Very little of the medication enters the bloodstream and it does not cross the blood-brain barrier, thus there is no risk of addiction.
In , the FDA issued a warning regarding the misuse of Imodium. This involves the increased risk of serious heart problems from very high dosages and interactions with other medications. Except for precautions taken with young children, pregnant women, and those with IBD, Imodium is considered to be a relatively safe, well-tolerated option for dealing with diarrhea.
As the medication only acts on the digestive tract, there appears to be little risk associated with long-term or frequent use. If you find that you need to take Imodium on a more frequent basis, be sure to discuss your symptoms and your dosage with your healthcare provider.
One of the most challenging aspects of having IBS is trying to figure out what's safe to eat. Our recipe guide makes it easier. Sign up and get yours now! National Library of Medicine DailyMed. LABEL: imodium - loperamide hydrochloride capsule.
Updated February 26, Maternal use of loperamide in early pregnancy and delivery outcome. Acta Paediatr. Treatment of diarrhea in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: concepts and cautions. This medicine may cause serious allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention.
Check with your doctor right away if you have a rash, itching, hoarseness, trouble breathing, trouble swallowing, or any swelling of your hands, face, or mouth while you are using this medicine. This medicine may cause some people to become dizzy, or drowsy, or tired. Make sure you know how you react to this medicine before you drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are not alert.
Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription over-the-counter [OTC] medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements. Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention. Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention.
These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:.
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. All rights reserved. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.
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Drugs and Supplements Loperamide Oral Route. Legal Conditions and Terms Any use of this site constitutes your agreement to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy linked below. Advertising Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization and proceeds from Web advertising help support our mission. Advertising and sponsorship policy Advertising and sponsorship opportunities. Pepto-Bismol contains the same active drug as Kaopectate does, bismuth subsalicylate.
In addition, both Imodium and bismuth subsalicylate are recommended in the American Journal of Gastroenterology ACG guidelines for treating acute short-term diarrhea. Imodium and Kaopectate are both brand-name drugs. And generic forms of both drug are available. The generic form of Kaopectate is called bismuth subsalicylate. They can discuss with you the risks and benefits of using this drug during pregnancy. Imodium may pass into human breast milk in small amounts.
However, if you get certain side effects with Imodium, drinking alcohol will likely increase these side effects. These include sleepiness or dizziness. Drinking alcohol while you have diarrhea could make your symptoms worse. Imodium can interact with several other medications. Different interactions can cause different effects. For instance, some interactions can interfere with how well a drug works. Other interactions can increase side effects or make them more severe.
Below are examples of medications that can interact with Imodium. Before taking Imodium, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Tell them about all prescription, over-the-counter, and other drugs you take.
Also tell them about any vitamins, herbs, and supplements you use. Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions. Certain medications can cause an abnormal heart rhythm , called a prolonged QT interval. Taking Imodium with these medications could raise your risk for an irregular heartbeat. Opioids also called opiates include pain-relieving medications such as oxycodone and morphine. But opioids also include illegal drugs such as heroin. But both Imodium and opioids can cause side effects such as constipation and sleepiness.
So taking Imodium with opioids could raise your risk for these side effects. In addition, if Imodium is misused taken in higher doses than are recommended for diarrhea , it can enter your brain. In this case, taking Imodium with opioids could lead to symptoms of opioid overdose, such as loss of consciousness and respiratory depression slow, weak breathing. Taking Imodium with certain medications can increase the level of Imodium in your body.
And this could raise your risk for side effects from Imodium. However, you should still check with your doctor or pharmacist before using any of these products while taking Imodium.
If you have any questions about eating certain foods with Imodium, talk with your doctor. Taking too much Imodium can lead to serious heart problems, such as irregular heartbeat or heart attack. It can also cause loss of consciousness and respiratory depression slow, weak breathing. You can also call the American Association of Poison Control Centers at or use their online tool.
But if your symptoms are severe, call or your local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room right away. The expiration date for Imodium will be printed on the product packaging. The expiration date helps guarantee that the medication is effective during this time. You may wonder if you can take expired Imodium. As a result, it can become less effective, or even cause negative effects.
How long a medication remains good can depend on many factors, including how and where you store the medication. It should be kept in a tightly sealed container away from light. Avoid storing this medication in areas where it could get damp or wet, such as in bathrooms. This helps prevent others, including children and pets, from taking the drug by accident.
It also helps keep the drug from harming the environment. This article provides several useful tips on medication disposal. You can also ask your pharmacist for information on how to dispose of your medication.
As with all medications, the cost of Imodium can vary. To find current prices for Imodium products in your area, check out WellRx. The cost you find on WellRx. Although Imodium is an over-the-counter OTC drug, in some cases a doctor may prescribe it.
If your doctor prescribes Imodium for you, you can ask your insurance provider if they will cover the drug. Before approving coverage for Imodium, your insurance company may require you to get prior authorization. This means that your doctor and insurance company will need to communicate about your prescription before the insurance company will cover the drug. The insurance company will review the prior authorization request and decide if the drug will be covered.
You can also talk with your doctor or pharmacist to see if there are others ways to save on this medication. Imodium is available in a generic form called loperamide. And generics tend to cost less than brand-name drugs.
To find out how the cost of loperamide compares to the cost of Imodium, visit WellRx. They may have a preference for one version or the other. Imodium may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health. These include:. Imodium Multi-Symptom Relief is used to treat diarrhea with symptoms of gas, cramping, and bloating.
Loperamide is an opioid agonist that binds to opioid receptors in the gut wall. This action reduces peristalsis, increases intestinal transit time, and increases reabsorption of water and electrolytes from the intestinal contents into the bloodstream.
Taking loperamide results in firmer stools that are passed less frequently. Imodium Multi-Symptom Relief also contains the antiflatulent drug simethicone. Simethicone is an anti-foaming agent that reduces the surface tension of gas bubbles, causing small bubbles to merge together. These larger bubbles are more easily expelled to relieve symptoms of cramping, bloating, and discomfort.
Loperamide is well absorbed from the gut after oral administration; however, bioavailability is only 0. Imodium is a mu opioid agonist. At the recommended dosages for diarrhea, Imodium does not cross the blood brain barrier or produce a centrally acting opioid effect.
However, when taken in extremely high doses, Imodium can enter the central nervous system and produce euphoria. Imodium is sometimes misused for this effect. Misuse of Imodium can lead to prolonged QT interval, Torsades de Pointes, or other ventricular arrhythmias, and heart attack. It can also lead to other symptoms of opioid overdose, such as CNS and respiratory depression. Misuse of Imodium can lead to dependence on the drug and withdrawal symptoms after stopping the drug.
Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up-to-date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or other healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects.
The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses. Diarrhea is a common digestive problem. It can be highly uncomfortable, but many people can treat it at home using simple home remedies.
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