Loperamide and alcohol: compatibility, how long it takes, consequences

Indications for use

After reading the instructions, it becomes clear for what purposes you can take Loperamide. This drug has the following indications:

• traveler's diarrhea;
• allergic diarrhea;
• loosening of stools due to emotional experiences;
• diarrhea due to the use of other medications;
• weak stool due to radiation sickness;
• diarrhea due to a change in diet;
• acute functional diarrhea;
• recovery after ileostomy.

If this drug is used for diarrhea, it very quickly relieves severe symptoms and prevents the removal of vitamins and minerals from the body. The use of Loperamide for intestinal disorders prevents dehydration, as the body stops losing a large volume of fluid.

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The drug "Loperamide" is effective in the treatment of chronic diarrhea. However, this medication is not suitable for use in any form of intestinal disorder.

Pharmacological properties

Loperamide is recommended for use for diarrhea of ​​any origin. The medication helps normalize the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. The drug will help get rid of problems with stool that are caused by inflammation or any other factors, for example, emotional experiences, changes in diet or allergies. If you have an infectious stool disorder, you should consult your doctor, since the drug will only help get rid of the symptoms, but will not eliminate the problem and the disease itself. In these cases, complex treatment with antibiotics is necessary.

The medication helps to relax the muscles of the muscles and reduce increased tone, thereby slowing down the process of passage of contents into the intestines, which leads to normalization of stool. After administration, the medication begins to act within the first hour, and the effect of one tablet lasts for six hours.

Application procedure

How to take the medicine correctly is written in the instructions for use. The general rules of application remain in force:

• Swallow the tablet or capsule whole;
• drink with enough water.

The dosage of the drug differs for different age categories. It is also worth considering the reason why the medicine is being taken. This medication is almost never used as a course, but only symptomatically.

For adults

Loperamide is taken by adult patients according to the following scheme:

• For the first time, take 2 capsules at once;
• after each loose stool, take 1 more capsule;
• the total duration of treatment should not be more than 5 days.

If no improvement is observed during the treatment process during the first two days, you should no longer drink Loperamide.

For chronic diarrhea, adult patients need to take 1-2 capsules, but not more than 8 capsules per day. The maximum daily dose of the drug is 16 mg.

For children

If a child has diarrhea, Loperamide is an excellent way to cope with the problem. This medication is approved for use by children over 6 years of age.

For acute diarrhea, the child takes one tablet or capsule with a dosage of 2 mg. After each visit to the toilet, you should give the baby 1 mg of the medicine, dividing the tablet or capsule in half.

When treating a chronic stool disorder with Loperamide, the daily dosage can be calculated based on the fact that 3 capsules can be taken for every 20 kg of body weight.

During pregnancy

Loperamide is an effective drug, but it should be used with extreme caution during pregnancy. The period of bearing a child is quite difficult, and many medications are contraindicated. Loperamide should be used only as a last resort when there are no alternative methods of treating diarrhea. It is most undesirable to treat intestinal disorders with this drug in the first trimester.

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Breastfeeding women should also be careful. Since the drug passes into breast milk in some quantities, it is not advisable to treat it for diarrhea during lactation.

Loperamide for food poisoning

Loperamide

(
Imodium
) is a piperidine derivative that has antidiarrheal properties. Overdoses have been reported in infants in developing countries. Fatalities are known. Overdose is fraught with constipation, ileus and neurological symptoms (miosis, muscle hypotonia, drowsiness and bradypnea). Naloxone is an effective antidote. In those countries where the WHO diarrhea control program is implemented, loperamide syrup is no longer supplied by the manufacturer.

a) Toxicokinetics of loperamide

: - Bioavailability: about 100% - Peak plasma level: 0.75 ng/ml (after 4 mg) - Time to reach peak plasma level: 4 hours - Plasma protein binding: 97% - Half-life: 15 hours - Excreted unchanged: about 1%

Contraindications

A drug for diarrhea such as Loperamide should not be used in the following situations:

• if there is individual sensitivity to the components of the drug;
• with intestinal obstruction;
• when infected with infections;
• for intestinal viruses;
• for severe food poisoning;
• patients with acute ulcerative colitis;
• with intestinal diverticula;
• with a tendency to constipation;
• for bloating.

It is important to take into account all contraindications and not take the drug if there is at least one of the problems described above. With caution, the drug can be given to children aged 2–6 years. Only the tablet form of the medication is allowed.

A relative contraindication is liver failure. You can be treated with Loperamide under careful monitoring of your well-being.

Side effects

Side effects are possible only with an overdose or during long-term treatment with Loperamide.

The following reactions are possible:

• stomach ache;
• constipation;
• increased gas formation;
• intestinal obstruction;
• fast fatiguability;
• headache;
• difficulty urinating;
• temporary decrease in visual acuity;
• rash;
• allergic reactions.

All these phenomena occur extremely rarely and are usually associated with a violation of the medication regimen recommended by the manufacturer.

Chemical name

Loperamide

Loperamidum (

Loperamidi)

4-(4-Chlorophenyl)-4-hydroxy-N,N-dimethyl-alpha,alpha-diphenyl-1-piperidine butanamide (as hydrochloride)

Analogs

“Loperamide” has both synonyms, that is, drugs that are completely similar in composition, and analogues, that is, drugs that are similar in action.

Completely identical to Loperamide in composition and mechanism of action include the following:

• "Imodium";
• "Lopedium";
• "Enterobene";
• "Superilop";
• "Diara."

Some products are available in tablet form, others in capsule form.

Let's look at some similar products:

1. "Diaremix". In addition to loperamide, the drug contains bacteria and dicycloverine. The medicine stops diarrhea, but does it more gently. The product promotes the formation of beneficial microflora in the intestines.
2. "Loflatil". The active ingredients are loperamide and simethicone. This combination of active ingredients eliminates flatulence and bloating and reduces the likelihood of side effects.
3. "Uzara." Available in syrup form. Based on natural substances. Stops diarrhea. Approved for use by children over 2 years of age.

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What vitamins cause constipation?

Difficulties with defecation occur among pregnant women. The body has a hard time getting rid of toxins; emptying occurs with difficulty over long periods. Some observing obstetricians and gynecologists believe that for the full development of the fetus, a woman must maintain a balance of nutrients in the body and prescribe vitamin and mineral supplements. The most popular are Elevit, Vitrum Prenatal, Femibion, Multi-Tabs, Alphabet, Pregnavit.

Vitamins in complexes are not always correctly absorbed and processed by organisms. As a result, constipation and pregnancy are inseparable concepts. The baby needs nutrients, but in the right dosage.

Folic acid - prevents the development of defects during intrauterine development. It is recommended to take it with an iron supplement, which increases the need of the pregnant body.

B vitamins are a woman's companion. Combine with magnesium. The combination relaxes smooth muscles, prevents premature birth, relieves convulsive muscle contractions, and improves the process of hematopoiesis.

To prevent constipation, the tablet is taken before bed or with meals. For better absorption, clean water is used in large volumes. Juices and teas are not combined with vitamins; they completely neutralize the effect and beneficial properties.

When should you see a doctor?

Although dispensed from pharmacies without a prescription, this does not always mean that any diarrhea can be treated on your own. It is necessary to contact a specialist in the following situations:

• watery diarrhea, in which a lot of fluid is lost;
• impurities of mucus and blood in stool;
• greenish stool with a pungent odor;
• intestinal upset is accompanied by severe vomiting;
• after Loperamide there was no relief.

It is imperative that you go to the hospital if you have intestinal disorders in children and the elderly. If the condition is accompanied by high body temperature, you may need to call an ambulance at home.

Tablets against diarrhea and abdominal pain

First of all, to treat diarrhea and abdominal pain, a diet is used that normalizes intestinal motility. In this case, spicy, fatty, fried foods, sweets, pickles, smoked foods, coffee, alcohol and soda are prohibited. It is better to limit yourself to rice, boiled eggs, soups, boiled vegetables and baked potatoes. Depending on the course of the diarrhea, different tablets may be prescribed.

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A mild form of the disease can be cured with Regidron and adsorbent drugs such as Smecta, Polyphepam, and Activated Carbon. Remember that adsorbents are drunk an hour before meals. To relieve pain, Linex is suitable, which will restore the disturbed microflora. Bacterial diarrhea with fever can be cured with nifuroxazide, but it is powerless against diarrhea caused by viral diseases. In case of dysbacteriosis, it is recommended to take Enterol, Hilak Forte, Bifiform.

Reviews

Anna, 24 years old. I always have Loperamide in my medicine cabinet. If I get too nervous, my stool immediately weakens. To relieve anxiety symptoms, just take one tablet. The action begins approximately 15 minutes after administration. I take the medicine in capsules.

Irina, 31 years old. The daughter had severe vomiting and diarrhea. She gave Loperamide, but there was no relief. An ambulance was called. After diagnosis, a severe bacterial infection was discovered. So there is no way without doctors yet.

Andrey, 44 years old. I travel often and therefore try different dishes that are unusual for my intestines. Because of this, diarrhea occurs periodically. To eliminate the disorder, I only need to take 2 tablets. Repeated use has never been required.

Strict adherence to the instructions and attentiveness to the body will help protect yourself from dangerous diseases.

Overdose

It is not recommended to take more than 7-8 capsules/tablets of medication per day. Otherwise, the patient's condition will worsen due to an overdose. Symptoms:

• A person's coordination of movements is impaired.
• He can't concentrate.
• Dizziness occurs.
• A person quickly gets tired and drowsiness does not leave him.
• He is having difficulty breathing.
• Constipation occurs due to intestinal obstruction.

The first thing to do in case of an overdose is to take an antidote. Also, to alleviate the patient's condition, he can be given activated charcoal.

After this, you should give him an enema to flush out his stomach. This will remove excess active substance of the drug from the body.