Loperamide, Oral

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: antidiarrheal

Generic and brand names: loperamide, oral; Imodium; Imodium A-D; Imodium A-D Advanced; K-Pek II; Kao-Paverin

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is used to treat acute (sudden) and chronic (long-term) diarrhea. It can be purchased without a prescription to control the symptoms of simple diarrhea, including traveler's diarrhea.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have:

• an allergy to any medicine
• AIDS or HIV
• blood or mucus in your stools
• colitis
• liver disease.

This medicine should not be taken to treat diarrhea caused by treatment with antibiotics or diarrhea caused by food poisoning. Talk with your provider about this.

Females of childbearing age: Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding.

How do I take it?

Take this medicine exactly as directed by your healthcare provider. Do not take more than prescribed. Too much of this medicine can increase the risk of side effects. If you are using the nonprescription form of this medicine, follow the directions on the package exactly.

You may take this medicine with or without food. Taking it with meals may lessen the chance the drug will upset your stomach.

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it is almost time for the next scheduled dose. In that case, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed. Do not take double doses. If you are not sure of what to do if you miss a dose, or if you miss more than one dose, contact your healthcare provider.

What should I watch out for?

Contact your healthcare provider right away if you develop a fever over 101°F, severe stomach pain, severe nausea or vomiting, or bloody diarrhea, or if your condition does not improve in 2 or 3 days.

This medicine may make you drowsy or dizzy. Do not drive or operate machinery unless you are fully alert.

This medicine increases the effects of alcohol and other drugs that slow down your nervous system. Do not drink alcohol or take other medicines unless your healthcare provider approves.

This medicine may cause dry mouth. Contact your healthcare provider if it becomes severe.

Do not use this medicine for other similar conditions unless your healthcare provider approves.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).

Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Fever over 101°F, bloody diarrhea, constipation, severe stomach pain, severe nausea or vomiting.

Other: Drowsiness, dizziness, dry mouth.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• antibiotics such as ampicillin (Omnipen, Totacillin, Polycillin, Principen, Unasyn), amoxicillin (Amoxil, Trimox, Wymox, Augmentin), cephalexin (Keflex), cefuroxime (Ceftin), cefadroxil (Duricef), cefaclor (Ceclor), cefdinir (Omnicef), cefixime (Suprax), cloxacillin (Cloxapen), dicloxacillin (Dynapen, Dycill, Pathocil), penicillin VK (Beepen-VK, Pen-Vee K, Veetids), demeclocycline (Declomycin), doxycycline (Vibramycin, Vibra-Tabs, Doryx, Doxychel), minocycline (Minocin, Vectrin), oxytetracycline (Terramycin), and tetracycline (Achromycin V, Sumycin, Panmycin, Tetracyn)
• narcotic analgesics (painkillers) such as codeine, hydrocodone (Vicodin, Lortab), oxycodone (Percocet, Tylox, OxyContin), propoxyphene (Darvocet N-100), meperidine (Demerol), and fentanyl (Duragesic, Actiq).

Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, nonprescription, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins) with you. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

How should I store this medicine?

Store this medicine at room temperature. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.