Imodium

Drug name

Imodium (Loperamide)

Drug Uses

Imodium is intended to treat symptoms of diarrhea as well as to decrease the amount of discharge from an ileostomy. Furthermore the drug may be used in accordance to your doctor directions.

How Taken

Take the drug in accordance with you doctor directions:

- Take the medication orally throughout the meal as well as before or after it.
- It is advised to drink m ore liquids when you have diarrhea. Contact your doctor in case you have any questions.

Contact your doctor in you are not sure how to take the drug.

Drug Class and Mechanism

Imodium is an antidiarrheal agent. It works by slowing the movement of bowel contents.

Missed Dose

In case you have forgotten to take the drug do it at the moment you have remembered about it but skip it in case it is the time for your next dosage and follow you common schedule. Avoid taking two doses simultaneously. In case you have missed more than the one dose contact your doctor.

Storage

Keep the drug at the temperature between 68 and 77 degrees F (20 and 25 degrees C) in a cool, dry and dark place beyond the reach of children and pets. It is permitted to keep the drug at the temperature between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 and 30 degrees C) for a short period of time. Avoid keeping the drug in the bathroom.

Warnings Precautions

Do not use Imodium if:

- you are allergic to any ingredient in Imodium;
- you have stomach pain without diarrhea;
- you have constipation, stomach bloating, or bloody stools;
- the patient is a child younger than 2 years (24 months) old.

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Don’t take the medication in case:

- You have allergic reaction to any component of the drug.
- You experience stomach pain without diarrhea.
- You experience constipation, stomach bloating, or bloody stools.
- The age of the patient is less than 2 years old.

Contact your doctor immediately in case you experience any of the above mentioned conditions.

Note:

- Taking the drug may cause drowsiness, dizziness, or tiredness. And the intake of the alcohol or other medication may increase these side effects. Avoid operating any machinery until you are aware of your body reaction.
- Don’t change the prescribed dosage or period of therapy.
- In case you diarrhea remains the same within 2 days contact your doctor.
- Contact you doctor in case you experience fever, stomach bloating or swelling, or blood in your stools. The drug is used to treat symptoms of diarrhea but not its causes. Contact your doctor to find out the reason of your diarrhea.
- Contact your doctor in case you are pregnant to define whether it is better to start therapy or not. The drug appears in the breast milk. Therefore avoid breast-feeding throughout therapy period.

Possible Side Effects

Contact your doctor in case any of the following side effects last for a prolonged period of time:

- severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); constipation; decreased urination; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin; stomach bloating, swelling, or pain.

More Information

In case something is not clear about the drug – contact you doctor. Only the patients with corresponding prescriptions should use the drug. Avoid sharing the drug with anyone.