imodium capsules Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions & Warnings

imodium capsules >> Generic drug of the Therapeutic class: Gastro-Entero-Hepatology
Active ingredients: Loperamide

Important to know about IMODIUM ?

• Loperamide inhibits the movement of the intestines. It also pulls the anus together, giving you less pressure.
• In case of prolonged diarrhea and acute diarrhea such as traveler’s diarrhea.
• The diarrhea stops within a few hours. A dose works 4 to 6 hours.
• Do you use it in acute diarrhea (eg traveler’s diarrhea)? Go to the doctor if you still have diarrhea after 2 days.
• Stop as soon as you have no diarrhea for 12 hours, or if the stool becomes firmer.
• You can get headaches and get dizzy.
• Also gastrointestinal complaints occur, such as abdominal pain, nausea, dry mouth and flatulence.
• You can get severely clogged by a too strong effect. Warn your doctor if you experience severe stomach pain.

What is Imodium tablet used for and indication?

• Symptomatic treatment of acute and chronic diarrhea.
• The treatment does not dispense dietary measures and rehydration if it is necessary.
• The importance of rehydration by oral or intravenous rehydration solution should be adapted according to the intensity of the diarrhea, the age and the peculiarities of the patient (associated diseases …).

imodium dosage

Oral way.

Reserved for adults and children over 8 years old.

Acute diarrhea:

• The initial dosage is 2 capsules in adults and one capsule in children.
• After each unmolded bowel movement, an extra capsule will be administered, not exceeding 8 capsules per 24 hours in adults, and 6 capsules in children.

Chronic diarrhea:

• 1 to 3 capsules a day in adults.
• 1 to 2 capsules a day in children.

Elderly

• No dosage adjustment is necessary.

Renal failure

• No dosage adjustment is necessary.

Hepatic insufficiency

• Although there are no pharmacokinetic data in patients with hepatic impairment, loperamide should be used with caution in these patients because of the reduced first-pass effect (see Warnings and Precautions section).).

Contraindications

•  Hyper-sensitivity to one of the compounds.
• Acute outbreaks of ulcerative colitis (risk of colectasia).
• Child under 8 years old.

how does imodium tablet work?

ANTI-DIARRHEIC, ATC code: A07 DA 03

(A: Digestive system and metabolism)

• Anti-diarrheal structural analogue of opiates.
• Antisecretory activity by increasing the fluid-electrolyte flow from the intestinal lumen to the plasma pole of the enterocyte and reducing the reverse flow.
• Slow colonic transit with increased segmental contractions.
• Fast and lasting effects.
• Respects the bacteriological and parasitological characteristics of the stool.

What are the side effects of taking Imodium capsules?

Data from clinical trials:

The use of loperamide hydrochloride was evaluated in 76 controlled and uncontrolled studies in patients with acute diarrhea (N = 1913) or chronic diarrhea (N = 1371) for a total of 3740 patients.

The most common side effects reported with the use of this drug in these clinical studies are nausea (1.8%), constipation (1.7%) and abdominal cramps (1.4%)

Post marketing experience

Adverse effects are classified by organ system and frequency using the following convention:

• Very common:> 1/10
• Frequent:> 1/100, <1/10
• Uncommon:> 1/1000, <1/100
• Rare:> 1/10000, <1/1000
• Very rare: <1/10000

No frequency is indicated when this could not be estimated on the basis of available data.

Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders:

• Rash, hives, pruritus.

Immune system disorders:

• Allergic reactions and in some cases, severe hypersensitivity reactions including angioedema, anaphylactic shock and anaphylactoid reactions.

Gastrointestinal disorders:

• Frequent: nausea, constipation, abdominal cramps.
• Abdominal pain, ileus, abdominal distension, vomiting, megacolon including colectatic syndrome, flatulence, dyspepsia, dry mouth.

Renal and urinary disorders:

• Urinary retention

Central nervous system disorders:

• Very rare: drowsiness, dizziness, loss of consciousness and decreased level of consciousness.

General disorders and administration site defects:

• Asthenia.

IMODIUM Interactions

Not applicable.

imodium warnings and precautions

imodium warnings

• If after 2 days of treatment the diarrhea persists, the action to be taken should be re-evaluated and the need for oral or intravenous rehydration should be considered.

Precautions for use

• Loperamide should not be used for diarrhea that occurs during broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy. Indeed, one must fear then pseudomembranous colitis with toxi-infection. In this case, any treatment resulting in faecal stasis should be avoided.
• As a general rule, loperamide should not be used when inhibition of peristalsis should be avoided and discontinuation should be discontinued if constipation or abdominal distension occurs due to the risk of significant sequelae including ileus, megacolon or colectatic syndrome.
• Hepatic insufficiency must be specially monitored because of the important effect of 1st pass.

The patient should be informed of the need to:

rehydrate with abundant, salty or sugary drinks to compensate for fluid loss due to diarrhea (the average daily water intake of adults is 2 liters),

feeding the time of diarrhea,

* excluding certain inputs and especially raw vegetables, fruits, green vegetables, spicy dishes and frozen foods or drinks,

* by favoring grilled meats, rice.

This medicine contains lactose. Its use is not recommended for patients with lactose intolerance, lapp lactase deficiency or glucose or galactose malabsorption syndrome (rare hereditary diseases).

Drive and use machines

driving?

• There are no restrictions for this.

drinking alcohol?

• You can drink alcohol in combination with this medicine. However, if you lose a lot of fluid, alcohol is not sensible.
• You better drink a lot of water or tea.

eat everything?

• You may eat anything that you endure.

IMODIUM and PREGNANCY / BREAST FEEDING / FERTILITY

imodium in pregnancy

• There are insufficient data to properly assess any possible harmfulness of this medicine during pregnancy.

Do not use this medicine during pregnancy (unless the doctor prescribes otherwise).

imodium in Breastfeeding

• The active substance (= loperamide) passes into breast milk.
• When using this means not breastfeed indicate whether this drug not be used during lactation (unless prescribed by the doctor otherwise).

General

• Self-care medicines can also have a harmful effect during pregnancy. Therefore, during pregnancy, preferably use only medicines on a doctor’s prescription .
• Self-care medicines can also end up in breast milk . Therefore, preferably only use medication on a doctor’s prescription during breastfeeding .
• Ask your doctor first if you are allowed to (continue to) use medicines that you already use, self-care medicines or homeopathic and other alternative medicines during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
• Also read the package leaflet in the packaging to see if you can use this self-care medication during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

What should I do if I miss a dose?

If you still need the medicine, take the dose as yet.

What happens if I overdose from IMODIUM ?

Intestinal paralysis (ileus), reduced mental and physical activity (stupor), movement coordination disorders, drowsiness, narrowed pupils (miosis), increased muscle tone (hypertonia), breathing problems, unconsciousness (coma)

General

• Keep calm, stop using and call your doctor or nearest hospital as soon as possible if overdose occurs or overdose is suspected.
• Keep the leaflet or packaging of the medication in question handy when you call. Take it with you if you go to a doctor or to the hospital.
• Also read the package leaflet in the packaging about the possible signs and the manner of handling in case of overdose.

What is  Forms and Composition ?

Dark green and light green capsule. 

NOT’s

Edrug-online contains comprehensive and detailed information about drugs available in the medical field, and is divided into four sections:

general information:

• Includes a general description of the drug, its use, brand names, FAQs, and relevant news and articles

Additional information:

• General explanation about dealing with the medicine: how to take the medicine, the doses and times of it, the start and duration of its effectiveness, the recommended diet during the period of taking the medicine, the method of storage and storage, recommendations in cases for forgetting the dose and instructions to stop taking the drug and take additional doses.

Special warnings:

• For pregnant and breastfeeding women, the elderly, boys and drivers, and use before surgery.

Side effects:

• It treats possible side effects and drug interactions that require attention and its effect on continuous use.
• The information contained in this medicine is based on medical literature, but it is not a substitute for consulting a doctor.