Imodium how often?

[Campoverde]

How often can you take Imodium to help with IBSD and how many do you take? How long before you go out do you take them? Is Loritax the same, it’s cheaper than Imodium? Thanks.

[Sewingmummy]

My GP assures me it is completely safe to take regularly. I take 1 Imodium every night and , if having a flare up, during the day. Otherwise I just couldn't lead a normal life. I buy the supermarket own brand which is far cheaper than Imodium. Check the ingredients as long as it is loperamide 2 mg it the sane as Imodium. Don't know about Loritax though. I've not heard of that.

[Campoverde in reply to Sewingmummy]

Thanks very much, that’s very helpful

[Allot]

I take Imodium instants as I usually have a problem with D just before I have to go out - probably due to anxiety- I also take Imodium before D starts if I’m going out for the day. I couldn’t function without it.

[Campoverde in reply to Allot]

Thank you, that’s very reassuring, That’s what bothers me when I have to go out for the day,

[BabsyWabsy]

After some trial and error, what is working for me at the moment is to think ahead. So if I am going out on Wednesday, I will take a loperamide on Monday evening and another on Tuesday. Depending on how this is working, and it can vary, I may take another on Wednesday morning if it feels necessary. There have been some subtle changes over the years on how well loperamide works for me. I used to get good results by taking one the day before an event. So, I suppose it is trial and error to find what suits you. There may also be an element of anxiety at times, depending what it is I am doing.

[Campoverde in reply to BabsyWabsy]

Thank you.

[Hidden]

Take them when you feel you need them.

Usually I take them a couple of hours before I go out when I feel I need them as I only use them nowadays when I feel I need them.

[Mkimber]

Unlike many people I need between 5-8 at a time for them to work on me. I have become too tolerant to them. They also take several.hours to work for me so I must plan ahead

[Flowerpottime in reply to Mkimber]

Hi these don't work for me. I was prescribed them in hospital after bowel surgery. They didn’t work at all even though the dose kept being increased. Eventually i read that codeine would work so i now take those - 4 or 6 per day - prescribed by an understanding GP. . Good luck

[Sunshineonmyshoulder]

Two questions: Does immodium make you constipated? I have been dealing with weight loss (more than 30 lbs) and loose, watery stools for over a year and have had all the tests to no avail (other than being positive for SIBO). How do you know you're IBSD, and is it safe to just accept that diarrhea is part of my life and treat with immodium or equivalent?

[Luisa22 in reply to Sunshineonmyshoulder]

IBS is a diagnosis of exclusion. So the doctor should run some tests, even if you are a typical IBS profile. I guess you already had SIBO test. Were you prescribed anything for it and did it help at all? (doesn't sound like it.)

Stool tests, to see what level of inflammation might be there...stool test for hidden blood, and lactoferrin (I can't remember what the lactoferrin one is all about, but mine was okay.) Any red flags, and they usually refer you for a colonoscopy, or some imaging or both.

Bile acid malabsorption.,.... That can be treated pretty easily and works sometimes very well. So did the doc. test you for that?

Pancreas function, and any other tests like the one for celiac etc. Some are blood tests.

If they're all negative, which they probably would be if SIBO was your only issue, then a diagnosis of SIBO would be obvious, and hopefully treated with antibiotics or herbs. Otherwise we all get shoved in the "IBS" basket!

[Sunshineonmyshoulder]

Yes, all my tests were negative except for SIBO, which I treated with Rifaximin twice and herbals, but nothing helped. My GI doc wants me to do a radioisotope study for transit time, and if negative go on Cipro. I'm just wondering if I treat the only symptom (watery stool with undigested bits of food) with immodium, as long as I otherwise feel fine, would that be okay? I eat a lot so I figure if I can just curb the watery stool, I'll stop losing weight.

[Sunshineonmyshoulder in reply to Sunshineonmyshoulder]

I should add that I also followed the low FODMAP diet and am currently cutting out lactose, gluten, and legumes.

[Poppywoman]

I've not heard of Loritax. If I'm traveling anywhere I take 2 Loperamide tablets (same as Imodium but much cheaper!) the night before & 2 more before I set off.

[josiecocker12]

I take Immodium but in liquid form, the problem is I then get constipated. For example I am going out for the day tomorrow and I dread incase my ibs starts

[Linedanceing]

I take one every morning after a bowel movement and that seems to work but if I'm going anywhere I could go again half hour later, I'll take another Imodium after that bowel movement but that's only if I have to go somewhere where I know there are no bathrooms or a journey say on a bus that has no stops for a long time, but they are safe to take every day