Loperamide for diarrhea: how to take, the effectiveness of the drug

Loperamide is a remedy that helps fight diarrhea. Taking pills strengthens the stool, eliminates diarrhea. In what situations the medicine is effective, how it works on the stomach, the recommended dosage and other issues are covered in the article.

Indications for use

An upset stomach is accompanied by loose stools, discomfort, and abdominal pain. To quickly restore the body and get rid of an unpleasant symptom, it is necessary to start treatment.

There are different reasons for an upset stomach. Poisoning with food, additives, side effect of drugs, intestinal viral diseases, inflammatory processes of the stomach organs, etc. Infectious and non-infectious diarrhea causes inconvenience to a person, leads to a deterioration in well-being. Frequent loose stools pose a threat to health and life.

A strong loss of fluid is fraught with dehydration, a violation of the water-salt balance, leaching of trace elements, nutrients. You can start taking medications only after a doctor's examination and a diagnosis.

With diarrhea, it is important to reduce the number of bowel movements, strengthen the stool.

Loperamide is prescribed for therapy:

• Allergic diarrhea;
• Chronic diarrhea;
• Acute diarrhea of ​​an infectious nature;
• Loose stools caused by medication;
• Irritable bowel syndrome;
• Upset stomach associated with a change in country, climate, diet.

Loperamide is prescribed to regulate and normalize stool from diarrhea of ​​various origins.

How Loperamide works

The active ingredient is Loperamide. It is an antidiarrheal agent. Available in the form of tablets, solution, capsules in a shell for oral administration.

The drug binds to opioid receptors in the intestinal mucosa. Slows down the release of acetylcholine, prostaglandins. Reduces peristalsis, increases the transit time through the intestines. It is excreted naturally from the body.

Use medication only as directed by your doctor. Store in a dark place, away from sunlight, moisture. Shelf life 3 years from the date of release of the drug. Do not apply after the expiration date. Keep out of the reach of children!

Dosage instructions

The drug is medicinal remedy for diarrhea. Adults and children are given a dosage according to age. Helps eliminate the symptoms of chronic or acute diarrhea of ​​various etymologies. An antidiarrheal agent for treatment is prescribed in combination with other medicines. Loperamide hydrochloride tablets, capsules, or solution can be taken.

For adults, the recommended single dose is 2 tablets. Drink the medicine with boiled water. An hour later, the patient notes an improvement in well-being. Take one tablet after each bowel movement. The daily dose for adults should not exceed 8 tablets. The therapy is carried out throughout the day. After 12 hours, the stool returns to normal. Do not exceed the recommended dose of Loperamide. The attending physician can tell you how to do and calculate. To eliminate chronic or acute diarrhea, the dosage and course of therapy are different.

On the first day of taking the drug, the drug should cope with the signs of diarrhea. If no improvement is noted after 24 hours, the antidiarrheal agent does not help, loose stools are observed more than 2 times, it is recommended to stop treatment with pills. The doctor will prescribe alternative medications.

How to take in childhood

In case of an upset stomach in a child, a consultation with a pediatrician is required before treatment. Medicines for children should be used as directed, according to the dosage.

From birth to 2 years of age, it is undesirable to carry out therapy with Loperamide. Children over two years old take medicine to restore stool, reduce the urge to defecate.

Young children are more likely to suffer from indigestion symptoms. The reasons may be associated with improper diet, viral diseases, poor hygiene.

Parents should respond promptly to the first signs of diarrhea. Constantly monitor the baby's condition, find out the cause of the symptom and start treatment. Medicines have the right to appoint a pediatrician. Self-medication is prohibited!

Instructions for use for children. The dosage is calculated based on body weight. For 20 kg, 3 tablets are prescribed. At the age of 8 years, it is prescribed to drink half a tablet 4 times a day (only 2 tablets a day). The course of treatment is no more than three days.

In childhood, an antidiarrheal drug may be prescribed in the form of an oral solution. Drops of a 0.002% solution are taken at the rate of 5 mg for every 10 kg of body weight. The daily dose should not exceed 6 mg.

If the symptoms persist, the child feels worse after Loperamide, the tablets are recommended to be canceled. Treat with alternative means.

Is Loperamide suitable for pregnant women

Diarrhea is common during pregnancy. This can be a natural process that has the function of cleansing the body. Such diarrhea does not require special treatment.

If the reason is poisoning, intestinal infections, then it is necessary to start taking medications that strengthen the stool. The choice of medicines for pregnant women is small, the form of diarrhea is taken into account. You should select the funds allowed during pregnancy.

The therapy should be carried out carefully, strictly observing the dosage norms, the doctor's recommendations. Observe the state of health, symptoms.

Loperamide for the treatment of indigestion is prescribed to pregnant women as a last resort if alternative methods have failed. Take capsules, tablets or solution according to the doctor's recommendations so as not to harm your health. The pills can be dangerous to the fetus, especially in the first trimester.

During lactation, intake is undesirable. A small dose of Loperamide is found in breast milk. It is recommended for a nursing mother to select the means suitable for the period of breastfeeding.

Contraindications, side effects

The medicine has a number of contraindications and side effects. To avoid negative consequences, it is important to study contraindications before taking. The medication is not recommended if:

• The patient suffers from an acute form of ulcerative colitis.
• During pregnancy, lactation.
• There is an allergic reaction, individual intolerance to medicinal components.
• Children under the age of two.
• Colon diverticulosis.
• Intestinal obstruction is observed.
• Liver failure.

The listed cases may be contraindications to Loperamide treatment.

A side effect can occur with an individual reaction, non-compliance with the rules for taking and dosage of the drug. During admission, the patient may experience dizziness, abdominal discomfort, apathy, and drowsiness. The medicine can cause skin rashes.

It is not recommended to drive a car while undergoing treatment. Impaired concentration and fatigue can lead to an emergency on the road.

Overdose is accompanied by depression, increased muscle tone, impaired coordination, and central nervous system functions. If there is a case of an overdose, it is necessary to urgently take adsorbents (activated carbon), cleanse, rinse the stomach.

Interaction of Loperamide with medicines

The drug is prescribed by the attending physician. If an integrated approach to treatment is required, then drugs are chosen that are allowed in joint use.

It is forbidden to simultaneously use Loperamide with Clarithromycin, Erythromycin, histamine receptor inhibitors.

Analogs

An analogue is the drug Imodium, manufactured by Janssen. Imodium is available in the form of tablets, which are recommended to be placed under the tongue. Diarol, Laremid, Superilop - are considered analogs of Loperamide.

The use of Loperamide eliminates the signs of diarrhea, helps to restore and normalize the stool. It is an effective way to combat indigestion of various etymologies. Before use, read the instructions, contraindications, side effects, dosage methods according to age. Be healthy!