Loperamide

What is Loperamide?

Loperamide is a capsule for short-term, acute diarrhea. It can also be used to treat long-term diarrhea, but this is less common and often caused by another condition like irritable bowel syndrome or Crohn’s disease.

The active ingredient in the capsules, loperamide, belongs to a group of medications called antidiarrheal agents. They work by slowing down your bowel movements, and help your stools become firmer by decreasing the amount of fluid in your bowel.

How does Loperamide work?

Antidiarrheals work by making food pass through your gut slower than it normally would. This gives your body a chance to draw water through your intestinal walls, which helps your digestive system get back into a normal rhythm. As things slow down, your loose stools are able to become firm again and you should be able to start eating and drinking like you usually would.

Diarrhea isn’t usually serious, but it can sometimes be a sign of an underlying condition. If your symptoms don’t improve after two days of using Loperamide, you should see a doctor. They’ll usually recommend tests to determine what’s causing your loose stools.^[1]

What doses of Loperamide are there?

Loperamide comes in 2mg capsules. After your first diarrhea symptom, you’ll need to take an initial dose of two capsules. Then, you’ll take one capsule after each loose bowel movement.

You shouldn’t take Loperamide for longer than five days. If your stools aren’t improving by then, talk to your doctor.

How to take Loperamide

Loperamide capsules need to be swallowed whole with a glass of water. Take two capsules after your first bout of diarrhea, and then one capsule after any further loose stools.

You don’t need to take loperamide with food, but you should eat solid foods as soon as you feel able to. Drinking plenty of fluids whenever you have a loose bowel movement can help you avoid dehydration.

Does Loperamide work right away?

Loperamide capsules usually start working within an hour,^[1] and can be taken for a maximum of 5 days. The recommended dose is for ‘short-lived’ diarrhea, which usually resolves within that time.

If you’re still getting loose stools after 5 days, see your doctor. Diarrhea that lasts for a long period of time can cause complications like malabsorption (where your body can’t easily absorb nutrients) and dehydration, and might be a sign of an underlying health issue.

What to do if you take too much Loperamide

The patient package insert (PPI) that comes with your medication recommends never taking more than 8 capsules in any 24 hour period. There’s no point doubling your dose; it won’t make the loperamide work any faster or more effectively.

Taking more Loperamide than you need can cause heart problems. If you think you’ve overdosed, seek immediate medical attention by going to your nearest emergency room.

If you feel sleepy, tired, or dizzy after taking Loperamide, you should avoid driving or operating any machinery.