Imodium for diarrhea: how to take for children and adults, instructions

An upset stomach often happens suddenly. The cause of the occurrence is contaminated water, low-quality products. The feeling of discomfort and frequent trips to the toilet cause great inconvenience, it is unpleasant and sometimes dangerous. Diarrhea is a signal of a disturbance in the well-functioning of the digestive system. Immunity fights infection, you cannot let the disease take its course.

With diarrhea, the body loses an abundance of fluid, and the gastrointestinal tract slows down its functioning. Therefore, diarrhea should be treated immediately, otherwise complications arise in the form of a violation of the water-salt balance and dehydration, and this is already life-threatening.

On such days, it is important to know which drug will help get rid of the ailment as soon as possible. Against the background of a variety of medicinal antidiarrheal agents, a fast-acting agent stands out - Imodium.

The symptomatic antidiarrheal drug has 3 dosage forms: capsules, lozenges and chewable tablets. Each form contains the active ingredient - loperamide, auxiliary compounds: aspartate, flavor and lactose. Simethicone is added to the chewable tablets as an additional component.

Lozenges have a mint taste, act quickly and effectively and do not affect the intestinal microflora.

Operating principle

Imodium blocks receptors on the intestinal walls, resulting in increased absorption of water into the tissue. Auxiliary components help to eliminate additional symptoms of diarrhea - bloating and gas formation.

Active substance

In tablets and capsules of the drug, the content of the active active ingredient - loperamide - is 2 mg. Once in the body, it binds to special opioid receptors, as a result, within an hour, the feeling of discomfort and the urge to defecate disappear. In the walls of the intestine, the process of absorption of electrolytes is activated and peristalsis decreases.

When using imodium, the amount of mucus in the intestines is normalized, and the result of taking it lasts for a long time.

The maximum therapeutic assistance from taking the drug is achieved in 5-7 hours. Loperamide is excreted from the liver in bile and feces after 12-15 hours.

Excursion into the history of the drug

Loperamide was created by Janssen Pharmaceutica scientist, Nobel laureate, Paul Janssen. The drug was synthesized in Beers (Belgium) in 1969. Clinical trials began in 1972, and in 1973 in the United States, the drug was patented under the Imodium brand.

In 1980, it became the top-selling drug in the United States, in 1988 the mandatory prescription was canceled and loperamide was marketed under the trade name Imodium A-D.

In 2013, Imodium in tablet form was included in the list of essential medicines of the World Health Organization.

Instructions for use

Imodium for diarrhea will not work if the cause of the upset stomach lies in viruses. The product is intended to relieve symptoms, not the cause of diarrhea.

It is supposed to immediately stop taking the drug if there is no pharmacological action after 2 days treatment, and contact a specialist in order to identify and clarify the diagnosis, to exclude a viral nature diarrhea.

Reception scheme

The drug is administered orally for acute and chronic diarrhea. For acute diarrhea, adults are prescribed an initial dose of 4 mg, after each act of defecation, the dose is reduced to 1 tablet (2 mg). In chronic diarrhea, the dose is adjusted to achieve normal stool frequency.

The drug is taken orally, absorbable tablets are placed in the oral cavity, they dissolve within a few seconds. The capsules are washed down with a glass of clean water.

Store the drug in its original packaging in a cool dry place at a temperature of 15-20C. The shelf life of the drug is 5 years, after this time, it is strictly prohibited to take the drug.

Side effects

Side effects are undesirable phenomena for which an investigative relationship with the use of an active substance has been proven, based on the available information. It is not always possible to establish a connection between taking the drug and the occurrence of the listed symptoms.

Side effects from taking the drug are observed in rare cases, but they do occur. The most common:

• Headache, dizziness.

• Nausea, vomiting.
• Increased gas formation, bloating.
• Drowsiness.
• Dryness of the oral mucosa.
• Skin rashes.
• Stomach ache.
• Hypertonicity.
• Fatigue.

From the side of the central nervous system, occasionally there is a lack of coordination, depression and loss of consciousness, drowsiness.

On the part of the urinary tract, urinary retention is extremely rare.

Among the general disorders of the body, in isolated cases, there was increased fatigue.

If these symptoms occur, stop taking the drug immediately and seek the advice of a doctor.

Contraindications

The main contraindications:

• Gastrointestinal infections.
• Ulcerative colitis in the acute phase.
• Intestinal obstruction.
• Enterocolitis caused by viruses.
• Pseudomembranous colitis.
• Acute dysenterycharacterized by bloody stools.
• Phenylketonuria.
• Diverticulosis.
• Bacterial enterocolitis caused by exposure to pathogenic organisms.

Imodium is contraindicated in patients with high sensitivity to loperamide, children under 6 years of age. Do not use in the first three months of pregnancy.

In case of violations in the liver, taking the drug can lead to an overdose and damage to the central nervous system, diarrhea treatment best done under medical supervision.

During treatment, it is worth refraining from activities that require high concentration of attention, the drug can cause headaches and dizziness.

Interaction with other medicinal products

The instructions indicate that the combined use of loperamide hydrochloride with P-glycoproteins can lead to increased plasma levels of loperamide. Imodium is not recommended to be used simultaneously with drugs that depress the nervous system.

Nuances of admission in children

Diarrhea often occurs in children. Unwashed hands, dirty berries and fruits plucked from the bush, and other factors lead to diarrhea. Together with water, useful electrolytes are flushed out of the body, which are necessary for the normal maintenance of the functions of the child's body, therefore diarrhea is dangerous in childhood. The synthesis of vitamins stops, this strikes the immune system, and the body becomes defenseless against a variety of viruses.

If a child complains of pain in the lower abdomen, it is recommended to consult a gastroenterologist for an objective treatment. The drug is supposed to be used only after consulting a pediatrician.

The dosage for children from 6 years of age is half the adult dose (1 tablet 2 mg). The upper limit of the daily dose does not exceed 12 mg (6 tablets). In rare cases, an adult dose is prescribed based on the formula 6 mg per 20 kg of body weight. With the normalization of the stool, the drug is canceled.

The dosage of Imodium capsules is somewhat different. Children 4-8 years old are prescribed 1 mg (1 capsule) 3 times a day, from 9 years old - 2 capsules 4 times a day. Chewable tablets are allowed to be taken strictly from the age of 12.

When treating diarrhea in children, it is important to first establish the cause of the disorder. Imodium is considered a symptomatic remedy and will not help with diarrhea of ​​bacteriological origin.

Application during pregnancy and lactation

Today there is no reliable negative data on the negative effect of the drug on the fetus, but gastroenterologists categorically prohibit the intake of an antidiarrheal drug in the first trimester of pregnancy.

It is possible to use Imodium for diarrhea during lactation only when absolutely necessary, since the substances that make up the composition are able to penetrate into breast milk. This can adversely affect the well-being of the baby, it is worth resorting to other methods of treatment or abandoning breastfeeding for the period of therapy.

Advantages

Diarrhea medicine and diarrhea has proven itself on the good side. Among the advantages is the resorbable form, which does not require the presence of water. Lozenges enter the intestinal wall faster than similar coated tablets for diarrhea and, due to their pleasant mint taste, do not cause nausea. The bioavailability of imodium allows you to quickly reach the maximum concentration in the blood. At the moment, this is the only tablet containing loperamide.

Diarrhea is often triggered by stress and fatigue. Stressful situations should be avoided if it is likely that the experience will cause uncontrollable urge to defecate. Rest will not be complete if you constantly worry about diarrhea. Therefore, imodium for diarrhea is an indispensable travel companion.