Diarrhea in a person can occur for various reasons, and this condition lasts several days. There are many drugs available to normalize stool. All of them must be used as directed by the doctor, following the instructions. This is especially important when taking the drug "Loperamide", an overdose of which can lead to intestinal obstruction or cardiac arrest. But still, this medicine is currently the most popular antidiarrheal drug.
Features of the treatment of diarrhea
Diarrhea, which is known to many as diarrhea, is one of the most common types of bowel disorders. Normally, a person’s stool should be 1-3 times a day. And the stool should be formalized. If a person goes to the toilet more often, while feces are liquid, we can talk about diarrhea. This is not an independent disease, but a symptom that accompanies many pathologies.
Most often, diarrhea occurs due to poisoning by stale foods or the use of contaminated water. It can cause bacteria, viruses or parasites to enter the digestive tract. An allergic reaction to drugs or food, as well as severe stress can also cause diarrhea. Such diarrhea usually lasts several days and, with proper treatment, goes away without consequences.
But diarrhea can also be chronic. In this case, diarrhea occurs periodically and this condition lasts longer than a week. This happens with pancreatitis, colitis, Crohn's disease, irritable bowel syndrome and other pathologies. Usually, diarrhea is accompanied by other symptoms of gastrointestinal damage.
The danger of diarrhea is that it leads to large losses of fluid by the body. Such dehydration is very serious and can be fatal. Therefore, diarrhea should be treated as soon as possible. But doing this is recommended correctly, in accordance with the reason. For example, with poisoning, infectious diseases or pancreatitis, you can’t just eliminate diarrhea, as it helps to remove bacteria and toxins from the body. In such cases, the treatment of diarrhea should be comprehensive.
General characteristics of the drug
One of the most common remedies for the symptomatic treatment of diarrhea is Loperamide Capsules. Their use is justified to eliminate acute diarrhea caused by allergies or stress. In other cases, the drug is prescribed only as part of a comprehensive treatment. This can be explained by the characteristics of the active substance of the drug. It was created by Belgian scientists in the 60s of the 20th century. The substance loperamide belongs to opiates, although it differs slightly from them in terms of the peculiarities of its action. Unlike other opiates, it does not affect the central nervous system, does not relieve pain and does not cause depression of the nervous system. The action of loperamide applies only to intestinal receptors. Therefore, the drug based on it, "Imodium" from the 70s began to be actively used to treat diarrhea.
Now the substance loperamide is part of several drugs for diarrhea. It is inexpensive in cost, so such preparations are usually cheap. For example, you can buy a Loperamide package at a pharmacy at a price of about 20 rubles. The drug is sold without a prescription. For this reason, and also because it is highly effective, Loperamide is very popular. The drug is available in capsules and tablets containing 2 mg of the active substance. You can also find on sale "Loperamide Akrikhin", an instruction to which notes its higher efficiency. After all, this tool in the form of capsules contains loperamide hydrochloride and auxiliary substances that enhance its effect.
Features of the drug
To cure diarrhea, you need to eliminate its causes. But sometimes it is still necessary to normalize intestinal motility and fluid absorption in it. This is exactly what the action of Loperamide is aimed at. An overdose of it for this reason can lead to intestinal obstruction. In addition, the drug is metabolized and excreted by the liver, so a large amount of it can lead to impaired function.
The main effect of "Loperamide" is aimed at inhibiting intestinal motility. As a result, the production of prostaglandins is inhibited and the movement of food through the intestines slows down. The absorption of water and electrolytes is also reduced. This helps to normalize the process of formation of feces. In addition, "Loperamide" increases the tone of the anal sphincter, which prevents stools from leaving often and reduces the urge to defecate. Another action of the drug is its ability to slow down the secretory function of the digestive tract. All this contributes to the normalization of the stool. The result after taking the drug comes quickly - within 20-30 minutes, and lasts up to 6 hours.
Indications for use of the drug
The use of "Loperamide Akrikhin" and its varieties in tablets is indicated for diarrhea of various etiologies. Use the drug both independently and as part of a comprehensive treatment. But it is worth remembering that it does not affect the cause of diarrhea, but only relieves the symptoms. Indications for the use of "Loperamide" may be such pathologies:
- food poisoning;
- intestinal infection;
- irritable bowel syndrome;
- dysbiosis;
- enterovirus or rotavirus infection;
- malabsorption of food due to climate change or eating habits;
- diarrhea due to an allergic reaction, after taking medication or stress;
- chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, accompanied by upset stool.
Contraindications
An overdose of "Loperamide" is very dangerous, so you need to use it with great care. First of all, it is not recommended to drink this medicine for longer than 2-3 days. In addition, there are certain contraindications that limit the use of Loperamide:
- pregnancy, especially in the first trimester;
- the period of breastfeeding, as the drug penetrates into milk;
- children under 12 years old;
- in the presence of individual intolerance to the active substance;
- severe liver pathology;
- ulcerative lesion of the mucosa, diverticulosis, bowel obstruction;
- bloating of unknown etiology;
- gastritis, pancreatitis, peptic ulcer during exacerbation.
It is not recommended to take "Loperamide" for diarrhea caused by dysentery and other serious infections. After all, it slows down the output of feces, which can lead to the spread of infection. In addition, this drug is not combined with certain antibiotics.
Side effects
If you take Loperamide correctly, it is well tolerated. But since this remedy belongs to the group of opiates, it cannot be completely safe. Instructions for use with capsules "Loperamide" warns of the possibility of such side effects:
- rash, urticaria;
- dizziness;
- ventricular arrhythmia and other heart problems;
- nausea, vomiting;
- stomach ache;
- intestinal colic;
- flatulence;
- drowsiness or insomnia;
- dry mouth
- urinary retention.
Most often, such reactions occur with an overdose of the drug.
How to take Loperamide
It is best to use this medication as prescribed by your doctor. Only healthy people can take it on their own for 1-2 days with diarrhea caused by overeating, climate change or stress. In other cases, only the doctor can determine how to take Loperamide, how many days to drink it, with what medicines to combine. Usually it is recommended that you drink 2 tablets or capsules of the drug for the first time. Then you need to take 1 piece after each bowel movement, if the stool is loose. But you can not drink more than 16 mg per day, and this is 8 tablets.
In case of chronic diarrhea, the instruction for use of Loperamide for adults recommends drinking 2 tablets 3-4 times a day. The duration of treatment is determined individually by the doctor. If there is no stool for more than 12 hours or it has become framed, treatment with the drug must be stopped. If within two days no improvement is observed, it is necessary to interrupt treatment and consult a doctor.
What overdose leads to
Usually, following the recommendations of the doctor, no problems arise. But with prolonged use or exceeding the daily dose, an overdose of loperamide may occur. In addition to intestinal obstruction, this condition can be accompanied by other phenomena. This is a narrowing of the pupils, impaired coordination of movements, cramps, drowsiness, respiratory failure. Perhaps the development of symptoms of depression of the nervous system, the state of stupor. If an overdose of the drug occurs, it is necessary to take the activated angle at the rate of 1 tablet per 10 kg of the patient's body weight. After this, it is recommended to rinse the stomach. If this does not help, you need to see a doctor. There is a drug that is an antagonist of loperamide - this is Naloxone. It is administered intramuscularly, it quickly eliminates the symptoms of an overdose. But it may be necessary to introduce it a second time, since loperamide is excreted from the body in 12 hours.
Loperamide for children
Instructions for use recommend taking the drug only after 12 years. But doctors sometimes prescribe it at a younger age. Although only tablets are used, it is easier to break them and measure the desired dosage. Only a doctor can determine whether a child needs to take the drug and in what dosage. In no case is it prescribed to babies under 6 years of age because of the risk of serious side effects.
Usually it is recommended to give the child 1 tablet first, then - in half. Children up to 8 years of age can drink up to 4 mg per day, and from 9 to 12 - 6 mg. But the drug can be used in childhood only according to strict indications. Doctors have recently been trying not to prescribe it, as scientists have discovered that loperamide can cause paralytic scoliosis. Indeed, in addition to increasing the tone of the anus, it can also increase the tone of the skeletal muscles of the lower back.
Application features
Although this drug does not affect the central nervous system, it can cause a slowdown in the reaction. Therefore, during treatment, you should try to avoid driving vehicles and other dangerous mechanisms. Take "Loperamide" is necessary only as directed by a doctor, strictly observing the dosage. With complex treatment, the drug cannot be combined with other drugs from the opioid group or with analgesics. This can lead to an overdose and cause intestinal obstruction. It is also forbidden to take "Loperamide" along with certain antibiotics, antihistamines and drugs that stimulate intestinal motility. That is why drugs for complex treatment should be prescribed by a doctor.
Analogues of the drug
The drug "Loperamide" is not the only remedy based on this component. Several diarrhea medicines containing loperamide hydrochloride are now available. They come in tablets, capsules, chewable tablets, in syrup or drops. The most famous are such drugs:
- Imodium.
- "Lopedium."
- "Diar."
- Enterobene.
- Suprilol.
- Laremide.
Application Reviews
Many doctors recommend taking Loperamide and other similar drugs to stop diarrhea. They note the high effectiveness of these agents and good tolerance while observing the correct dosage. Patients also respond positively to Loperamide. Many people like that it is inexpensive and available at any pharmacy. In addition, the drug quickly stops diarrhea, preventing dehydration and eliminating discomfort.