LOPERAMIDE

(loe For a mide) Brand: Diamode, Imodium A-D, Imodium A-D EZ Chews, Imodium A-D New Formula, Kao-Paverin, Kaopectate 1-D

What is the most significant information I must know about loperamide?

• You must not use this medicine if you are allergic to loperamide, or if you have stools that are bloody, black, or tarry, or if you have diarrhea that is caused by taking an antibiotic.

• Till taking loperamide, speak your doctor if you have a fever, mucus in your stools, a history of liver malady, or if you are taking an antibiotic.

• Drink plenty of liquids while you are taking loperamide.

• It may take up to 48 hours till your symptoms improve. Hold using the medicine as directed and speak your doctor if your symptoms do not improve after 10 days of treatment.

• Loperamide may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert.

What is loperamide?

• Loperamide slows the rhythm of digestion so that the little intestines have more time to absorb fluid and nutrients from the foods you eat.

• Loperamide is used to treat diarrhea. Loperamide is also used to reduce the amount of stool in people who have an ileostomy (re-routing of the bowel through a surgical opening in the stomach).

• Loperamide may also be used for purposes not listed in this medicine guide.

What must I discuss with my healthcare provider till taking loperamide?

• You must not use this medicine if you are allergic to loperamide, or if you have:

· stools that are bloody, black, or tarry; or

· if you have diarrhea that is caused by taking an antibiotic.

• Ask a doctor or pharmacist if it is safety for you to take this medication if you have:

· a fever;

· mucus in your stools;

· a history of liver malady; or

· if you are taking an antibiotic.

• FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether loperamide will harm an unborn child. Speak your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medication.

• Loperamide can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing child. You must not breast-feed while you are using loperamide.

• Do not give this medication to a baby without medical advice.

How must I take loperamide?

• Use exactly as directed on the label, or as predesigned by your doctor. Do not use in larger or less amounts or for longer than recommended.

• Take loperamide with a full glass of water. Drink extra water while you are taking this medicine to hold from getting dehydrated.

• Loperamide is generally taken at the first sign of diarrhea, and again if diarrhea comes back. The first doze of loperamide is generally twice as many as the next doses. Do not take this medicine more than 3 times in 24 hours without your doctor's advice.

• The loperamide chewable tablet should be chewed till swallowing.

• Shake the oral suspension (liquid) well just till you measure a doze. Measure the liquid with a particular doze measuring spoon or medication cup, not with a regular table spoon. If you do not have a doze measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one.

• Immodium A-D Liquid and New Immodium A-D Liquid contain two various strengths of loperamide. If you switch from using one brand to using the another, follow the dosing instructions carefully. Immodium A-D Liquid also contains a little amount of alcohol, but New Immodium A-D Liquid does not.

• It may take up to 48 hours till your symptoms improve. Hold using the medicine as directed and speak your doctor if your symptoms do not improve after 10 days of treatment.

• Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Do not freeze liquid loperamide.

What happens if I miss a dose?

• Since loperamide is taken as needed, you may not be on a dosing schedule. If you are taking the medicine regularly, take the missed doze as soon as you remember. Skip the missed doze if it is nearly time for your following scheduled doze. Do not take extra medication to create up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

• Search abnormal medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

• Overdose symptoms may include dizziness, drowsiness, urinating smaller than normal, severe stomach cramps or bloating, and vomiting.

What must I avoid while taking loperamide?

• Loperamide may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert.

• Avoid becoming overheated or dehydrated during exercice and in hot weather. Follow your doctor's instructions about the type and amount of liquids you must drink.

• Antibiotic medicines can reason diarrhea, which may be a sign of a new infection. If you are taking an antibiotic and you have diarrhea that is watery or has blood in it, call your doctor. Do not use loperamide to stop the diarrhea unless your doctor has told you to.

What are the possible side effects of loperamide?

• Get abnormal medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your person, lips, tongue, or throat.

• Stop taking loperamide and call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

· stomach pain or bloating;

· ongoing or worsening diarrhea;

· diarrhea that is watery or bloody; or

· severe skin reaction -- fever, sore throat, swelling in your person or tongue, burning in your eyes, skin pain, followed by a red or purple skin rash that spreads (especially in the person or upper body) and causes blistering and peeling.

• Smaller serious side effects may include:

· dizziness;

· drowsiness, weary feeling;

· constipation;

· mild stomach pain; or

· mild skin rash or itching.

• This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may message side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What another drugs will affect loperamide?

• Speak your doctor about all another medicines you use, especially saquinavir (Invirase).

• This list is not complete and another drugs may interact with loperamide. Speak your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal commodity. Do not start a new medicine without telling your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist can provide more information about loperamide.

Remember, hold this and all another medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medicine only for the indication prescribed.

Disclaim: Each effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses external of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way must be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safety, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the help of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.