How Effective is Imodium, Know its Dosage, Side Effects

Sometimes a running stomach can be a nuisance especially when the urge comes at an unexpected time. As embarrassing as it sounds, doctors have come up with drugs that can help you control this situation. The most common drug they came up with is the imodium or loperamide.

Imodium or loperamide is used effectively to treat diarrhea as it slows down the rhythm of digestion so that the small intestines have more time to absorb the fluids and the nutrients from the food during digestion.

Apart from just digestion, imodium or loperamide also effectively reduces the amount of stool from people who have a condition known as ileostomy. This is the re-routing of the bowels mostly through a surgical opening in the stomach.

In case of stomach pains without diarrhea, ulcerative colitis, blood stained stool, diarrhea with fever or a diarrhea that is caused by a bacterial infection or by taking antibiotic medicine one should not use the imodium or loperamide.

Taking imodium or loperamide along with some certain drugs can cause a fatal heart problem hence it is advised to let the doctor be aware of other medicines you are using.

Taking an overdose of imodium or loperamide can also be a cause of a heart attack. This is due to the misuse of the loperamide hence take according to the recommended dosage.

Imodium or loperamide can impair ones thinking and judgment, therefore advised to be careful if you are doing anything that requires alertness like driving.

As indicated above, imodium or loperamide can cause a heart problem that is definitely accompanied by breathing problems hence it should not be given to children under the age of two years.

Imodium or loperamide takes 48 hours of continuous use as directed by the doctor for symptoms to improve. It is therefore advised to take a lot of fluids while taking the medicine. One should keep using the medicine as prescribed and seek more medical attention if there is no improvement after 10 days of taking the drug.

One may have allergic reactions to imodium or loperamide; it is advised not to use imodium or loperamide if you have:

• A diarrhea that is literary caused by an antibiotic like the clostridium difficile
• Having a stomachache without diarrhea
• A diarrhea caused by a bacteria
• Ulcerative colitis
• Diarrhea accompanied by high fever
• Bloody, black or tarry stool.

A liquid formation only advised for this group.

Take an initial dosage of imodium or loperamide 1milligrams orally for the first day.

Maintain a 0.1 milligrams/kg /dosage preceding every time when loose stool, remember never to exceed the dosage.

A tablet, capsules and even liquid formation allowed.

Take initial 2milligrams imodium or loperamide orally twice a day on the 1st day.

Maintain a 1milligrams/kg/dosage to precede each loose stool but not exceeding the dosage.

For chewable tablets, an initial 2milligrams to be taken orally after the first loose stool followed by a maintenance on 1milligrams orally after the preceding loose stools but never to exceed 4milligrams in 24hrs.

Tablets, capsules and liquid formation all allowed.

Take an initial 2milligrams imodium or loperamide orally three times for the first day and maintenance of 0.1milligrams/kg/dosage after each loose stool but not above the dosage.

For chewable tablets, take an initial of 2milligrams imodium or loperamide orally after the first loose stool and maintain 1milligrams orally after each loose stool but not to above the dosage.

All tablets, chewable tablets, capsules and liquid formation can be taken.

An initial 4milligrams imodium or loperamide is taken after the first loose stool and a maintenance dosage of 2milligrams for each preceding loose stool but not exceeding the dosage.

For babies who are less than 2 year;

The therapeutic dose for the treatment of this type of diarrhea has not been identified for this type of patients.

Common sign of an allergic reaction to imodium or loperamide allergy is having hives, difficulty breathing, and swelling of the face, lips, tongue and throat.

In case you taking Imodium and notice the following reactions, call for a doctor:

• Rapid heartbeats,
• Chest pains accompanied by headache and severe dizziness,
• Light headed feeling, like almost about to pass out,
• Bloody and watery diarrhea,
• Bloating and stomach pain,
• Severe worsening diarrhea,
• Severe skin reaction- swelling in the tongue and face, skin pain followed by a red or purple skin rash (spreading over body causing peeling and blistering), fever, sore throat, burning in the eyes.

The most common side effects of imodium or loperamide include:

• Vomiting and nausea,
• Dry mouth,
• Constipation,
• Stomach discomforts,
• Drowsiness and dizziness are side effects of imodium or loperamide.

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