Immodium

[Campoverde]

How often do you people with IBSD or M take Immodium or the equivalent? Does it make your bowel movements stop for a day or two or just slow them down?

[Hummingbird87]

Hi there,I take 1-2 daily, first thing in the morning after a BM. It then sets me up for the day and I go like normal the next morning. I buy Lopermide from amazon, asked my Dr if it was ok to take daily and he said its fine, been on them for years.

[Dollymae06 in reply to Hummingbird87]

Hi what probiotics did you take.?x

[Endersgame]

Most days I take one in the morning and one in the evening just to regularise my guts. If I want to stop them completely I need to take 2 the evening before and 2-3 in the morning. I also take codeine and will double up on that to get a full day of no activity. I have this all on regular prescriptions.

[Mebbe]

Imodium works but it’s hit and miss! I find if you take it early enough then luck is with you. Otherwise it’s a mad dash

[Joey01]

I only take loperamide if going out for the day. I buy generic instant tablets. That don't work instantly btw I need to take at least an hour or more before I go out. Usually half a tablet is enough for me ie 1mg. Sometimes the half tablet doesn't stop the need to go to the toilet but it does slow my gut down so I'm not in such a rush. For me this is manageable. If I take a full tablet my guts are upset ie on a go slow for days.

[Art78]

I take one the night before if I know I won't be near any toilets the day after. They don't work straight away so have to be wary of that. It usually stops me for 24 hours sometimes 48.

[SueCats]

I have had Loperamide prescribed for 4 years now, since my IBS started to take over my life. A low FODMAP diet has helped, but I still get a few bad days.

I allow plenty of time after breakfast to let my digestive system get going before going out. If I have several bms within an hour, I will take one Loperamide. That is enough to settle things and reduce anxiety. If I'm not going out, I don't take one. Very occasionally I take one at night, but only if really necessary.

Taking one a day, when necessary, has not stopped me needing to go the next day.

[Hetchins1946]

As rarely as possible!I'll take imodium before an event where I know that the stress will cause major issues. I won't take it for 'normal' food related diahhroea.

The reason for this hesitation is that imodium will be effective for a day or two as intended, but once that wears off I have stomach pains and nausea for three or four days afterwards, plus a little rebound constipation (I can live with being bunged up, not the pains & nausea).

I've never tried taking it continuously for more than a couple of days. It might be worth experimenting next time I have a bad flare up!

[Finaldiagnosis2022]

if I take Imodium then the next day I don’t usually go at all. I only take during a d flare.

[Campoverde in reply to Finaldiagnosis2022]

That is one of the reasons I was asking. When I’ve had one and don’t go the next day I feel great, absolutely normal. . Half a tablet might be enough for me but the generic ones I have are a capsule. I’ll try the Instants, should be able to divide them.

[Hero12coco23]

It works well in emergency situations , during social engagements etc

[Lactosebitb]

I use to take immodium all the time several times a day - as my IBSD was really bad - for years. Then I started taking a daily probiotic - which after a few weeks eliminated my ibsd episodes. Eventually I replaced a probiotic with a daily yogurt. So it was just a question of changing over my gut bacteria to good bacteria. It was amazing - a normal life again for over 10 years. And then.... I got COVID recently - a bad case of it. 2 weeks after I recovered from COVID I was thrown into an IBSD episode!! So for 2+ weeks now I have been struggling and I am back taking immodium. Once in the am and then a second or third if needed. I am hoping it will help re-restore the good gut bacteria (back taking a probiotic again). Ugh. Hang in there dealing with IBSD is a major challenge but it can be overcome or at least managed.

[Jackie1612 in reply to Lactosebitb]

hi what probiotic did you take please?

[Sparrow58]

I like the instant ones as you can break them in half and I find half is enough for me if it is "just in case"

[Tigger07]

If I'm going out for the day somewhere or if I'm travelling I take them beforehand. Especially if I don't know where there are any toilets. They tend to stop me for a day or two .

[Ernest2]

Try in liquid form (Loperamide in UK) so you can start on a low dose, and increase gradually.

If you have ever measured your transit time then wait at least that amount of time if not say double before increasing the dose.

That said in UK we need a GP prescription for Loperamide so I've yet to try and not sure if it's a good idea in my case.

Have you tried anything else e.g. Psyllium? and do you have a medical diagnosis yet?

"IBS" is really a lack of medical diagnosis. I was severely told off by a doctor years ago when I accidentally mentioned it, and now understand why.

Best wishes,

Ernest

[Hetchins1946 in reply to Ernest2]

Loperamide can be bought over the counter in the UK - you don't need a prescription.

[Ernest2 in reply to Hetchins1946]

Many thanks for that. I can only go by my experience in Boots and despite saying I'd been recommended it by a specialist NHS nurse, they said I needed a prescription, so I'll ask the GP next.

[Campoverde in reply to Ernest2]

You can get it in supermarkets, B&M, Wilko. Pretty much everywhere that sells tablets on the shelves.

[Ernest2 in reply to Campoverde]

Sorry if confusion, but we are talking abut the liquid form (Loperamide) so you can start at low dose. Presumably prescription so kids don't accidentally swallow lots of the liquid. The nurse yesterday confirmed prescription only.

I'll ask though next time I'm at the supermarket pharmacy.

Many thanks

[laurajn087]

When my IBS flares up I take Imodium, or equivalent, as preventative, especially as I am going out for the day or travelling. I always keep some in my handbag too as it makes me feel more secure, even when I don't have the problem.

[jv50plus]

I have had horrendous explosions, I teach aerobics, so therefore I'm in lycra, luckily it so far hasn't happened in class!

I now take 1 immodium before class and wear protection also.

[Gypsy67]

I have taken 1/2 loperamide (no name cheapest I can find) every second day for years. If I am going out in a stressful situation I take a whole one no matter what day it is. Seems to work but still occasionally get flare ups then up it until it is over. When I started this I got my life back and can go out without worries but still like knowing where washrooms are just because of years of IBS-d.

[Campoverde in reply to Gypsy67]

Thank you very much. I’m going to do this from now on.