How to take Imodium from diarrhea: instructions for use

Imodium is a synthetic medication used for the treatment of chronic and acute diarrhea.

The active component of the drug is loperamide, suppressing the release of acetylcholine and prostaglandins and binding in the wall of the intestine with opioid receptors, promotes decrease in peristalsis and increase of time of movement of contents on an intestine.

On this page you will find all the information about Imodium: full instructions for use on this medication, average prices in pharmacies, complete and incomplete analogs of the drug, as well as reviews of people who have already used Imodium. Want to leave your opinion? Please write in the comments.

Clinical and pharmacological group

An antidiarrhoeic remedy.

Conditions of leave from pharmacies

Released without a doctor's prescription.

Price list

How much is Imodium? The average price in pharmacies is at the level of190 rubles.

Form of issue and composition

A drug is produced in the form of gelatin capsules and tablets for resorption. The drug is sold in blisters for 6 capsules or tablets.

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Active element of the drug "Imodium" is loperamide hydrochloride. Its share in the preparation is 2 mg.
Excipients are aspartame, talc, sodium hydrogen carbonate, magnesium stearate, flavor, mannitol and other constituents.

Pharmacological effect

The loperamide, which is part of imodium, has the ability to be easily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, from which it is secreted with bile. It should be noted that it is due to the identity of this substance with the cells of the intestinal walls and the most a high level of metabolism during passage through the liver, this substance does not enter the blood. On the examples of rodents, in particular rats, the distribution of a chemical compound was investigated, which indicated an identity in relation to the walls of the intestine, as well as primarily related to the receptors of the muscular shell of the intestine.

Loperamide, which is part of the imodium, which primarily contributes to the elimination of diarrhea, is absorbed. During the passage through the liver cells, this substance is susceptible to metabolism. In this case, a link with the albumin is found. Removal of loperamide from the body takes an average of ten hours. The main excretion is carried out through the gastrointestinal tract.

The substance loperamide has the property of binding to opiate receptors located in the walls of the intestine. This suppresses the release of prostaglandin, acetylcholine, thereby reducing the intestinal peristalsis. At the same time, the period of promoting the contents through the intestinal canals increases. This increases the tone of the sphincter. The urge to defecate is reduced.

Indications for use

What helps? Imodium is prescribed for the symptomatic treatment of acute and chronic diarrhea of a variety of etiologies (except for diarrhea, which occurred when taking antimicrobial drugs).

Tablets are indicated for use in patients with ileostomy, to normalize consistency and reduce stool frequency. Imodium can be used when there is a traveler's diarrhea.

Contraindications

Imodium is not assigned to the background:

Diverticulosis;
Acute ulcerative colitis;
Pseudomembranous enterocolitis (diarrhea caused by taking antibiotics);
Intestinal obstruction (including conditions in which peristalsis should be avoided);
Hypersensitivity to the active ingredient (loperamide) and excipients;
Acute dysentery and other gastrointestinal infections caused by Shigella spp., Salmonella spp., Campylobacter spp.

Capsules and Imodium tablets for children can be used from 6 years. Pregnant women in the first trimester, as well as women during breastfeeding, are not allowed to take medication. Caution should be observed when using Imodium on a background of renal failure.

Application in pregnancy and lactation

The drug does not have teratogenic, mutagenic and embryotoxic effects on the fetus. During pregnancy, the drug is prescribed in cases where the expected benefit to the mother exceeds the potential risks to the fetus.

If it is necessary to use the drug during lactation, it is necessary to solve the problem of stopping breastfeeding.

Instructions for use

The instructions for use indicate that Imodium should be taken orally.

Adults with acute diarrhea first dose - 4 mg, then - 2 mg after each act of defecation in the case of a loose stool. In chronic diarrhea, the first dose is 2 mg, the maintenance dose is selected so that the stool frequency is 1-2 times a day (2-12 mg / day).

The maximum daily intake for adults is 16 mg.

Children aged 4-8 years - 1 mg 3-4 times / day for 3 days; 9-12 years - 2 mg 4 times / day for 5 days.

Side effects

When using Imodium, constipation or flatulence may develop, colic in the intestine or unpleasant sensations in the epigastric region, there may be a desire for vomiting, dryness of the mucous membranes. In addition, there may be impaired coordination, craving for sleep, sluggishness, general weakness, loss of efficiency.

There may be urticaria on the skin. In addition, Imodium in the form of pills for resorption can provoke unpleasant sensations in the mouth, which quickly pass. Sometimes with the use of medication develops a retention of urine.

Overdose

When an overdose is noted, CNS depression: stupor, coordination disorders, drowsiness, miosis, increased muscle tone, respiratory depression, intestinal obstruction.

For treatment, gastric lavage is performed and activated charcoal is used.

special instructions

With the development of constipation or bloating, Imodium intake should be stopped immediately.
During the period of therapy, it is recommended that you follow the diet and monitor the timely replenishment of the fluid.
You can not take Imodium with diarrhea, accompanied by an admixture of blood in the stool and high fever.
Since the therapy of diarrhea by Imodium is only symptomatic, simultaneous administration of the drug, if possible, etiotropic agents should be used.
In diarrhea, especially in children, hypovolemia and a decrease in the electrolyte content may develop. In these cases, it is important to carry out substitution therapy to replenish electrolytes and fluids.
Patients with functional liver disorders should be carefully monitored for the timely detection of symptoms of toxic damage.
In acute diarrhea, if clinical improvement is not observed within 48 hours, therapy should be stopped and the diagnosis clarified, eliminating the infectious genesis of diarrhea.
It should be taken into account that the resorption tablets are fragile enough, therefore, to avoid damage, they must be removed from the package with care.
In patients with AIDS, the first signs of bloating should immediately stop therapy. In some cases, patients with AIDS with infectious colitis of bacterial and viral nature during therapy may develop toxic expansion of the large intestine.

During the reception of Imodium, it is recommended to refrain from driving and performing potentially dangerous work that requires a high concentration of attention and speed of psychomotor reactions.

Drug Interactions

With the simultaneous use of Imodium with P-glycoprotein inhibitors, an increase in plasma concentrations of loperamide 2-3 times, however, in the clinical picture, these changes do not affect.

Reviews

We picked up some of the people's opinions about Imodium:

Alexander. In principle, a good drug, but more often I use Loperamide. Difference special did not notice. I know this problem - I almost ate it, diarrhea immediately. And it needs to be stopped, and the faster, the better - you know!
Oleg. The medicine, advertising about which does not deceive an iota: it really works, it really works fast, really the reception is very simple and you can not drink it. Tested repeatedly and generally in the auto-care kit always lies: on the road, you never know where to have a snack, and the consequences of this are well, very "intolerant." Although it should be noted that sometimes it is too much. To the laxative does not reach, but anxiety arises. But it is sometimes: perhaps some combination enhances the action. In general, if you urgently needed a "strength of the stomach," then take it - will not fail in any case.
Oksana. To be honest, I expected more results from imodium. I took in tablets for resorption. Nothing tastes like this, not bitter of course. Diarrhea can be said do not stop. Maybe they somehow act, but very slowly. 40 minutes must wait, or even longer.

Patients who used the Imodium tool, the reviews give mostly positive, indicate its effectiveness. Already after the first reception the condition of patients considerably improves. Many approve tablets for their form of application - resorption. About adverse reactions after application of the drug, patients practically do not speak. Negative reviews are associated with a tangible cost of the drug, which encourages many to turn to analogues.