Loperamide
Price £2.99
Expected Delivery: Tuesday
Treatment Information
Overview
Loperamide is an effective treatment for diarrhea. It instantly relieves the symptoms of diarrhea such as more frequent bathroom visits, watery stools, urgency of bowel movements, and cramps. Loperamide treats both acute (sudden) diarrhea and inflammatory bowel syndrome (IBS) related diarrhea.
Loperamide works by slowing down the movement of the gut giving your body more time to absorb the nutrients. This allows the absorption of more fluids into the body making the stool less watery. Loperamide does not treat the underlying cause of diarrhea. It only relieves the symptoms temporarily.
Directions
Loperamide can be used by children over 12 years of age, adults, and elderly.
For acute diarrhea:
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Take two capsules after the first loose stool. After that, take 1 capsule after each loose stool.
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Do not exceed the limit of six capsules in 24 hours.
- For one episode of diarrhea, do not use it for more than 48 hours. For repeated diarrheal attacks, use for a maximum of two weeks.
For IBS-related diarrhea:
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Take two capsules after the first loose stool. After that, take 1 capsule after each loose stool or as advised by the doctor.
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Do not exceed the limit of six capsules in 24 hours.
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If you are a diagnosed IBS patient, you may take Loperamide for up to two weeks.
Cautions
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Before using this medicine, tell your doctor about any medicines you are taking or have taken in the past with or without a prescription. This should prevent any possible drug interactions and side effects.
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If you are pregnant or planning to get pregnant, consult your doctor before taking this medicine.
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If you are breastfeeding, do not take this medicine. Look for alternate treatments.
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This medicine can make you feel tired and dizzy. Do not drive after taking it.
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Do not use this medicine if you are lactose intolerant as it contains lactose.
Always read the patient information leaflet before starting your treatment. The patient information can be found here.
Faq
What is the difference between Loperamide Capsules and Imodium Plus?
While they are both effectively used for the treatment of IBS, the main difference is branding. Imodium Plus is the branded version of Loperamide Capsules, making it more expensive.
What if I forget to take my dose of Loperamide Capsules?
If you forget to take your dose of Loperamide Capsules, you should continue to take them as normal after each bowel movement. You should never take two doses at once, even if you are making up for a missed dose.
Can pregnant women use Loperamide Capsules to treat diarrhoea?
Due to the lack of research on the effect of pregnant women using Loperamide Capsules, it is advised that pregnant women do not use it. This is to ensure no unwanted harm is potentially caused to the baby.
Can breastfeeding mothers use Loperamide Capsules?
It is generally safe for breastfeeding women to use Loperamide Capsules. However it is not suitable for long term use, it should only be used for a few days.
Can I take other medication with Loperamide Capsules?
There are a few medicines which you should not combine with Loperamide Capsules, they include the following:
- Desmopressin
- Gemfibrozil
- Itraconazole
- Quinidine
- Ritonavir
Can I drink alcohol while using Loperamide Capsules?
It is advised to not drink alcohol while using Loperamide Capsules for the treatment of diarrhoea. This is because alcohol can make side effects worse.
Can I take painkillers with Loperamide Capsules?
Yes, it is safe to take painkillers when taking Loperamide Capsules.
Ingredients
The Active ingredient contained in Loperamide is Loperamide Hydrochloride 2mg.
Other ingredients are Lactose, Maize Starch, Talc, Magnesium Stearate, Gelatin, Quinoline Yellow (E104), Erythrosine(E127), Patent Blue (E131), and Titanium Dioxide (E171).