Loperamide

When should one not use Loperamide

• If you are allergic to loperamide or similar medicines
• If there is unexplained swelling of the stomach during or before treatment which does not get relieved on its own
• If you already suffer from constipation or develop it during treatment
• If you have ulcerative colitis (symptoms like stomach pain or cramps, weight loss, fatigue) which is a chronic disease of the gut.
• If you have diarrhoea due to infection caused by bacterial or use of broad-spectrum antibiotics such as amoxicillin, ampicillin, cephalosporins
• If you have diarrhoea with blood in stools or have a high fever
• If the patient is less than 9 years old

Common side effects of this drug are:

• Headache
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Stomach pain or discomfort
• Constipation
• Dry mouth

Other General Warnings

• You have problems with your liver
• You are suffering from acute diarrhoea or have diarrhoea from several days
• You are an AIDS patient suffering from diarrhoea
• Loperamide should be used cautiously in children and patients on a low sodium diet.
• Do not exceed the recommended dose or duration of treatment
• It should be discontinued promptly if signs of constipation, stomach distension or stomach pain develop.

How Does It Work?

• Loperamide acts on the internal intestinal lining (layer) and reduces intestinal movement.
• Due to this, the movement of food along the intestine is slowed down.
• This makes way for more water and salts to be absorbed, preventing their loss in each episode of loose stools.
• It also relieves the feeling of the urgency of passing stools.
• It also increases control over defecation (excretion or bowel movement) by increasing the power of the natural control valve of the anus, which weakens during acute diarrhoea.

Interactions with other medicines

• Some medicines can affect the way loperamide works, or this medicine itself can reduce the effectiveness of other medicines taken at the same time. Tell your doctor about all the medicines, supplements, or herbals you are currently taking or might take to avoid any possible interaction. Especially if you are taking medicines to treat your heart problems, high blood cholesterol, asthma, HIV infection, malaria, fungal infections, constipation or are taking antibiotics, pain killers.
• You should avoid this medicine in combination with medicines known to cause ECG changes e.g. Quinidine (medicines given for malaria and for disorders affecting the heart rate), Procainamide, Amiodarone, Sotalol, (medicine given for disorders affecting the heart rate), Chlorpromazine, Haloperidol, Thioridazine, Ziprasidone, (medicines given for psychosis), Moxifloxacin (an antibiotic), Pentamidine (an antimicrobial) and Methadone (a pain killer).

Overdose

Missed a Dose