Medication guide
Loperamide Hydrochloride
- Generic name
- Loperamide Hydrochloride
- Common brand names
- Imodium A-D
- Medication class
- Peripheral opioid antidiarrheal
Overview
Its medication class is Peripheral opioid antidiarrheal. Common uses include Symptomatic control of acute non-bloody diarrhea. Product forms and labels can differ, so follow the specific package instructions and ask a pharmacist or qualified healthcare professional about individual questions.
How to Take it
- Route
- Oral antidiarrheal.
- Time of day
- Use at start of loose stool episode and as per label if stools continue.
- With food/water
- Use with water and small frequent fluids.
- Preparation
- Swallow tablets at first diarrhea episode and after each additional stool as labeled.
- Safe dose
- Keep to initial dose plus labeled maintenance doses only.
- Max dose
- Do not exceed OTC daily cap.
- Frequency
- Interval-based dosing; never stack multiple antidiarrheals.
- Other recommendations
- Seek urgent care for blood, fever, severe dehydration, or infant/elderly dehydration signs.
Common uses
- Symptomatic control of acute non-bloody diarrhea
Common side effects
- Constipation
- abdominal cramping
- nausea
- dizziness
- drowsiness
- and constipation-related bloating
Important warnings
- Not for dysentery/enteric fever or diarrhea with fever/blood. Do not use if severe abdominal pain, high fever, or dehydration requiring urgent care. Can cause serious cardiac rhythm disturbances at supratherapeutic doses; avoid interacting drugs such as potent CYP/P-gp inhibitors.
General interactions information
Additive constipation with other anti-motility/constipating medicines and CYP/P-gp interactions in abuse contexts
Sources / references
- Loperamide — MedlinePlus
U.S. National Library of Medicine
These references offer further reading. A source link does not establish that a clinician has reviewed every statement in this guide.
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