Index
Along with rehydration therapy (liquids and electrolytes), it is used to treat short episodes of diarrhea that are not caused by a bacterial infection.
Loperamide belongs to the family of medications called antidiarrheals.
Applications
It is also used to treat chronic diarrhea caused by inflammatory bowel disease (for example, Crohn’s disease ) and to reduce the amount of stool produced in people who have ileostomies, colostomies, or have part of their intestines removed.
It works by affecting the nerves in the intestines to reduce the amount of stool produced, reduce the stool frequency, make the chair more solid and reduce cramping.
The primary treatment is drinking a lot to prevent dehydration. The most common cause of acute diarrhea is an infection. Most people need to take Loperamide for a day or so.
Loperamide slows down the accelerated activity of your digestive system. Therefore, your digestion and processing speed of the ingested food avoid the dehydration of your body to remedy it in the liquid form of the stool so that the patient can evacuate more firmly.
You can buy Loperamide in retail stores or obtain it with your doctor’s prescription; however, it is not suitable for children under 12 unless prescribed by a doctor.
Presentations
Pastilla:
- Each capsule is green with the logo “P” engraved on one line and “2 mg” below on one side, and “LOPERAMIDA” on the other side contains 2 mg of Loperamide.
- Non-medicated ingredients: hydrated lactose, cellulose, povidone, isopropyl alcohol, croscarmellose sodium, magnesium stearate, FD & C Blue No. 1 Lake, and FD & C Yellow No. 10 Lake.
Solution:
- Each ml of cherry-flavored solution contains 0.2 mg of Loperamide.
- Non-medicinal ingredients: paraben alcohol (5%), methylparaben, propylparaben, glycerin, citric acid, artificial cherry flavor, and purified water.
How should I use this medication?
For adults and children, 12 years and older who have acute or chronic diarrhea, the recommended dose of Loperamide is an initial dose of 4 mg, followed by a quantity of 2 mg after each defecation (or diarrhea). Do not exceed 16 mg per day.
Once the optimal daily dose has been established for chronic diarrhea, this dose can be administered as a single daily dose or in divided doses.
Regular tablets should be taken with liquids. Quick dissolving tablets can be taken without liquids. Loperamide tablets are not suitable for children under six years of age.
Children 6 to 12 years of age (10 kg to 20 kg) can use this medication for acute or chronic diarrhea if a doctor recommends it. For children 6 to 8 years old (or who weigh between 20 kg and 30 kg), the recommended dose for the first day is 2 mg twice a day.
For children 8 to 12 years of age weighing more than 30 kg, the recommended dose for the first day is 2 mg 3 times a day.
If diarrhea continues, then the medication is administered only after a loose bowel movement, and the amount to be allocated depends on the child’s weight. Contact your doctor or pharmacist to get the recommended amount.
For children 2 to 5 years old (or who weigh between 10 kg and 20 kg), the recommended dose for the first day is 1 mg 3 times a day.
For liquid forms of Loperamide, use a syringe to measure each dose as this provides a more accurate measurement than homemade spoons.
Stop using Loperamide if you have a solid or hard stool, or leave for 24 hours without a chair. If you have acute diarrhea (not chronic), consult your doctor if you have not improved within 48 hours.
Precautions
Loperamide should not be used by or given to anyone who:
- You are allergic to Loperamide or any ingredient in the medication.
- It is less than two years old.
- He has acute dysentery (characterized by blood in the stool and fever).
- You have acute ulcerative colitis.
- You have diarrhea caused by certain bacteria (e.g., salmonella, shigella, and campylobacter).
- You have pseudomembranous colitis (diarrhea associated with severe antibiotics).
