Stop taking loperamide as soon as your symptoms settle down. The most common side effects of a high loperamide dose are constipation, nausea, dizziness, and abdominal cramping. Imodium is generally seen as a safe, effective remedy for the treatment of diarrhea in children over the age of 6. However, it is always a good idea to check with your child's doctor before giving them any medication, even if it is available over the counter. What Is Loperamide? These aren't all the side effects of loperamide. Unlike other opioids that are designed to treat pain, loperamide is not designed to pass the blood-brain barrier and has no effect on opioid receptors in the brain. If you're not sure which brand or form of loperamide to get, talk to your pharmacist. While some of these more unpleasant than fatal, there are some that can lead to severe complications and even death. 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. The maximum recommended daily dose for over-the-counter loperamide is 8 mg each day and 16 mg each day for prescription loperamide. It's important to see a doctor to find out the cause of your diarrhoea if it continues beyond 7 days. Taking many times above the normally recommended dose is dangerous with cardiovascular, respiratory, and neurological adverse events. Loperamide can be sold to the public, for use in adults and children over 12 years, provided it is licensed and labelled for the treatment of acute diarrhoea. Dogs can overdose on Imodium, and dogs under 20 pounds are especially at risk. Loperamide is an 'anti-motility' medicine. As the medication only acts on the digestive tract, there appears to be little risk associated with long-term or frequent use. You might also feel less alert, feel faint or pass out. You can buy it without a prescription for: Never give loperamide to children under 12 years old unless their doctor prescribes it. This Reddit user abused high doses of loperamide for a year and a half. Page last reviewed: 9 February 2018 Advil Arthritis: Everything You Need to Know, An Ace Inhibitor Used for Hypertension and Heart Failure, The Health Benefits of Lactobacillus Acidophilus, LABEL: imodium - loperamide hydrochloride capsule, Maternal use of loperamide in early pregnancy and delivery outcome, Treatment of diarrhea in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: concepts and cautions, FDA drug safety communication: FDA warns about serious heart problems with high doses of the antidiarrheal medicine loperamide (Imodium), including from abuse and misuse, Reduces the speed and frequency of colon contractions, Reduces the secretion of fluid within the, Increases the absorption of fluids and electrolytes into the intestinal tract, May have no or only a limited effect in terms of. A doctor can also prescribe loperamide. What Are the Health Benefits of Gamma-Linolenic Acid? Opioid Withdrawal and Loperamide is Dangerous May 4, 2016 Anyone who has abused and/or been addicted to opioid narcotics has experienced withdrawal symptoms at one time or another. You may need to take it for longer if your diarrhoea is because of a bowel problem such as Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis or short bowel syndrome. Increases the absorption of fluids and electrolytes into the intestinal tract. When looking for something for dog diarrhea treatment, there are many options to be considered.One of them is Loperamide. Updated February 26, 2008. Treatment of diarrhea in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: concepts and cautions. The most dangerous effect of loperamide abuse is heart dysrhythmia and heart attack. The liquid is only available on prescription. Occasionally patients with a stoma need a higher dose. This drug is usually safe for dogs, and they should get one pill for every 25 to 50 pounds of weight, as well. Next review due: 9 February 2021. Diarrhoea which starts suddenly usually gets better on its own within 5 to 7 days. If you want to take loperamide for more than 2 days, talk to your doctor. Then take 2 spoonfuls after each runny poo. Why shouldn't I take it for longer than the recommended time? If you have a colostomy to give you a stoma (an opening in your stomach to collect poo from your body), loperamide can help to slow down your bowel and make your poo thicker. In other patients there seems to be a spontaneous switch between the two problems. Shah SB, Hanauer SB. He was the founding editor and co-editor in chief of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases. Acta Paediatr. How dangerous? What is the dosage for loperamide? Could Taking Antibiotics Cause You to Develop Diarrhea? Dysrhythmias with high doses of loperamide used for opioid withdrawal. If your baby was premature, has a low birth weight or has other health problems, talk to your doctor before taking loperamide. Loperamide is an antidiarrheal agent, which decreases intestinal movement. A typical dose of Imodium is to take 2 milligrams (mg) twice a day.. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if these side effects bother you or don't go away: It's rare to have a serious side effect with loperamide. In 2016, the FDA issued a warning regarding the misuse of Imodium. Check with your doctor before taking loperamide if you: If you have diarrhoea with IBS, talk to your doctor before taking loperamide if you: If you've bought loperamide from a pharmacy or shop, follow the instructions that come with the packet. With a bacterial infection, you don't want to slow down the bowel because you want to help the body eliminate the infectious agent as quickly as possible.. Dangers of taking loperamide for recreational purposes include: If you miss a dose of loperamide, don't worry. Robert Burakoff, MD, MPH, is board-certified in gastroentrology. In 2016, Eggleston co-authored a study examining the deaths of two … This is because it works primarily within the large intestine. Can I take loperamide to prevent diarrhoea? You can use liquid loperamide (Imodium) to treat diarrhoea. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're taking any other medicines, including herbal medicines, vitamins or supplements. If you've bought loperamide from a shop or pharmacy, don't take it for more than 48 hours without talking to a doctor. Applies to loperamide: oral capsule, oral capsule liquid filled, oral liquid, oral solution, oral suspension, oral tablet, oral tablet chewableAlong with its needed effects, loperamide may cause some unwanted effects. This will depend on how many weeks pregnant you are and why you need to take it. While it is not certain that loperamide is dangerous to a fetus or nursing infant, you should tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding so that he can advise you concerning the use of loperamide. He is the vice chair for ambulatory services for the department of medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York, where he is also a professor. Your body can then draw in more water from your intestines so that your poos get firmer and you poo less often. Doctors generally do not recommend taking loperamide long-term, as … Do not give loperamide to children under 12 years old unless their doctor has prescribed it. As such, when combined with other antimotility drugs, the risk of constipation is increased. Are there any other treatments that could help? Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our, Medically reviewed by Robert Burakoff, MD, MPH, Medically reviewed by Jay N. Yepuri, MD, MS, Medically reviewed by Arno Kroner, DAOM, LAc, Medically reviewed by Lana Butner, ND, LAc, Medically reviewed by Yasmine S. Ali, MD, MSCI, Toxic Megacolon Is a Rare but Serious Complication of IBD, What To Know About Lisinopril (Prinivil and Zestril), Treating Ulcerative Colitis: There Are More Options Than Ever. Menu 3. One of the most challenging aspects of having IBS is trying to figure out what's safe to eat. Do not take loperamide for more than 48 hours without talking to a doctor. Let's take a look at what Imodium can do for you and whether or not it carries any safety risks. LABEL: imodium - loperamide hydrochloride capsule. You can give children over 12 years old with short term diarrhoea the same dose as adults. A safe dose of loperamide is different for an adult than for a child. If your diarrhoea doesn't stop in 7 days, talk to your doctor. Do not take more than the recommended amount. People with IBS can also use brands without 'IBS' in the name. Most cases of diarrhoea get better in 5 to 7 days. Some supermarkets and pharmacies sell their own brands, usually called 'anti-diarrhoea' or 'diarrhoea relief' capsules. TAKING TOO MUCH LOPERAMIDE CAN CAUSE SERIOUS HEART PROBLEMS OR DEATH. 2007;7 Suppl 3:S3-10. If you are pregnant, you should not use any medication without first getting approval from your physician. 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. Although it is relatively safe at therapeutic doses, increasing reports describe its misuse and abuse at very high doses either for euphoric effects or to attenuate symptoms of opioid withdrawal. For a full list, see the leaflet inside your medicines packet. Loperamide is safe in therapeutic doses but extremely dangerous in high doses." 6 capsules or tablets in 24 hours if you bought them from a shop, 8 capsules or tablets or 16 spoonfuls of liquid (5ml each) in 24 hours if you bought them from a pharmacy or your doctor prescribed loperamide, 2 to 4 capsules or tablets spread over the day, 4 to 8 spoonfuls of liquid loperamide (5ml each) spread over the day, 16 spoonfuls of liquid loperamide (5ml each) in 24 hours, feel faint or less alert, or if you have passed out, are moving in a clumsy, uncoordinated way, you get a skin rash that may include itchy, red, swollen, blistered or peeling skin, your mouth, face, lips, tongue or throat start swelling, quinidine - a medicine used to treat abnormal heartbeats or, itraconazole or ketoconazole - medicines used to treat fungal infections, gemfibrozil - a medicine used to treat high cholesterol, other medicines for diarrhoea, constipation, or for other stomach and bowel problems. However, if you have been constipated while on an opioid, taking Loperamide early during a detox could make it even worse. Very little of the medication enters the bloodstream and it does not cross the blood-brain barrier, thus there is no risk of addiction. FDA drug safety communication: FDA warns about serious heart problems with high doses of the antidiarrheal medicine loperamide (Imodium), including from abuse and misuse. They can tell you first hand, with the utmost clarity, the hell that is opioid withdrawal and that they would have done just about anything to ease their pain. Your body will acclimate to the dosage and before you know it you will be up to 30. Most people only need to take loperamide for 1 to 2 days. Just take another dose after you next go to the toilet and have a runny poo. Too much loperamide can cause serious heart problems (including a fast or irregular heartbeat). Like all medicines, loperamide can cause side effects in some people but many people have no side effects or only minor ones. This medication should not be given to children or to the elderly without the permission of a doctor. U.S. National Library of Medicine DailyMed. Speak to a pharmacist if you have signs of dehydration, such as peeing less than usual or having dark, strong-smelling pee. Using the drug as directed can be a benefit in opioid withdrawal, but in high doses, it can be dangerous. Rev Gastroenterol Disord. It's best not to drink alcohol while you're taking loperamide. He experienced heart problems, problems walking, blackouts, lost 3 jobs, became homeless, and ended up in the hospital with an enlarged heart. The signs include having a fast or irregular heartbeat. Interactions. Loperamide is also available combined with simethicone. 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 doctor. Dangerous Effects of Loperamide in OTC Medication. Diarrhoea which starts suddenly usually gets better on its own within 5 to 7 days. Loperamide hydrochloride, otherwise known and sold under the brand name Imodium, is an opioid medication used to treat diarrhea. capsules or tablets: take 2 capsules or tablets straight away. Is there any food or drink I need to avoid? Then take 1 capsule or tablet after each runny poo. Updated January 29, 2018. "recently learned my 17yo cousin has been taking a bottle of imodium (loperamide) (72 tabs) daily for months. Loperamide is also called by the brand names Dioraleze and Imodium. If you take an extra dose of loperamide by accident, it's unlikely to harm you. Also, avoid it if you are running a fever or have any other signs of a bacterial infection such as C. diff, salmonella, or E. coli. In rare cases, it's possible to have a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to loperamide. If this happens to you don't drive, cycle or use machinery or tools until the effect has worn off. Some products have 'IBS' in the name so people realise they can be used for attacks of diarrhoea with IBS. Only take a higher dose if your doctor tells you to. Do not take more than the recommended amount. However, if you have diarrhoea it's best to avoid fatty or spicy food. If you need immediate, short term relief, taking loperamide can cut down the number of times you go to the toilet and it makes your poo less watery. Gluten-Free Medications for Diarrhea, Constipation, and Heartburn, The Health Benefits of Bacillus Coagulans. There are some medicines that may interfere with the way loperamide works. This works by reducing the amount of water your small intestine makes. It is important to understand the causes and to treat any complications, for instance dehydration. Always follow directions on the medicine label about giving loperamide to a child. It's not been officially approved and tested to prevent diarrhoea. If you've bought loperamide for short term diarrhoea, don't take it for longer than 48 hours without talking to a doctor. Loperamide can make you feel dizzy, tired or sleepy. The capsules and tablets all contain the same amount of loperamide (2mg) whether you get them on prescription or buy them yourself. Imodium would not be recommended for a child who is dehydrated, malnourished or experiencing bloody diarrhea. Complementary remedies. There's very little information about taking herbal remedies and supplements with loperamide. Taking many times above the normally recommended dose is dangerous with cardiovascular, respiratory, and neurological adverse events. But if they are 12 to 17 years old and have IBS or long lasting diarrhoea, they should only take it if their doctor prescribes it. 2008;97(5):541-5. doi:10.1111/j.1651-2227.2008.00718.x. 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