The preparation "Imodium", the instruction indicates, is available in three forms: tablets intended for resorption, for chewing, capsules for oral administration. The active substance of the drug is loperamide hydrochloride, which belongs to the clinical and pharmacological group of antidiarrheal symptomatic agents.
The pharmacological effect is provided by the ability of loperamide to affect the function of opioid receptors located in the intestinal wall. As a result, the secretion of lipid physiologically active substances is inhibited, as a result, intestinal motility decreases , and the duration of digestion increases.
The active substance is well absorbed by the body, it decomposes completely into metabolites, which are excreted in feces.
After treatment with the drug, the tone of the sphincters increases, the body's ability to restrain itself during the urge to defecate increases.
The drug "Imodium", instructions for use
Assign to patients suffering from diarrhea in acute or chronic form, as well as to normalize stool for patients with ileostomy.
The medicine "Imodium", dosage instructions
The doctor prescribes the drug for patients over 12 years of age and adults. The first dose selects an increased - 4 mg of loperamide hydrochloride. This corresponds to 2-mind capsules or 2-mind tablets. After the first dose, they wait for the patient’s stool, then take the first capsule or tablet each after diarrheal defecation. The doctor takes into account that the daily dose should not exceed more than 4 tablets. Imodium is designed for a 2-day course of treatment. On the 3rd day, the drug is canceled.
In the treatment of patients who have reached advanced years, it is not recommended to reduce the dose of the drug.
In the treatment of patients suffering from kidney diseases, it is not recommended to reduce the dose of the drug, because the drug is excreted by the hepatic apparatus.
The drug "Imodium", instructions: side effects
Disturbances in the digestive system are manifested very rarely by a change in taste, pain in the abdomen, nausea, constipation, flatulence, vomiting, dyspepsia, bowel obstruction, megacolon.
Allergic reactions were very rarely manifested by skin rash, urticaria, and itching; in isolated patients, angioedema, bullous rash, erythema, toxic necrolyomas on the skin, anaphylactic shock, anaphylactoid reactions.
Disorders in the genitourinary system appeared in single patients with urinary retention. Disturbances in the nervous system were very rarely manifested by dizziness; in single patients drowsiness.
The medicine "Imodium", contraindications
You can not prescribe the drug in the following cases:
- As a monotherapy for acute dysentery, which is complicated by spotting in the stool, combined with high body temperature
- (under such circumstances, treatment should be comprehensive).
- With bacterial enterocolitis, the causative agents of which are Salmonella spp., Campylobacter spp., Shigella spp.
- With ulcerative colitis during an exacerbation.
- With pseudomembranous colitis, the field of taking antibiotics.
- For children under 12 years of age.
- With increased sensitivity to the components of the drug.
Means "Imodium" during pregnancy
In order for the doctor to prescribe the drug to a pregnant woman who is in the 1st trimester of bearing the fetus, very strict indications for its use are needed. There are no data on the effect of Imodium on fetal development.
In breast milk during clinical trials, the active substance of the drug was discovered. Therefore, taking the drug during lactation is not recommended, due to the fact that there is no data on ongoing studies in this direction.
The medicine "Imodium", instruction: special instructions
The doctor should exercise caution when prescribing the drug to those patients who suffer from liver failure. It is necessary to control the slightest changes in the patient's condition. In combination with Imodium, it is recommended to carry out etiotropic and rehydration treatment.