Loperamide

What is Loperamide?

Loperamide is a capsule treatment for short-term, acute diarrhoea. It can also be used to treat long-term diarrhoea, but this is less common and often caused by another condition like irritable bowel syndrome or Crohn’s disease.

The active ingredient in the capsules, loperamide, belongs to a group of medications called antidiarrheal agents. They work by slowing down your bowel movements, and help your stools become firmer by decreasing the amount of fluid in your bowel.

How does Loperamide work?

Antidiarrheals work by making food pass through your gut slower than it normally would. This gives your body a chance to draw water through your intestinal walls, which helps your digestive system get back into a normal rhythm. As things slow down, your loose stools are able to become firm again and you should be able to start eating and drinking like you usually would.

Diarrhoea isn’t usually serious, but it can sometimes be a sign of an underlying condition. If your symptoms don’t improve after 2 days of using Loperamide, you might need to see a doctor. They’ll usually recommend tests to determine what’s causing your loose stools.^[1]

What doses of Loperamide are there?

Loperamide is available as 2mg capsules. After you first develop diarrhoea symptoms, you’ll need to take a first dose of two capsules. Once you’ve taken this initial dose, you’ll then switch to taking one capsule after every loose bowel movement.

You should avoid taking Loperamide for any longer than 5 days. If your stools aren’t improving by then, speak to a clinician.

How to take Loperamide

Loperamide capsules need to be swallowed whole with a glass of water. You should swallow two after your first bout of diarrhoea, and one capsule only after any further bouts.

Although you don’t need to take Loperamide with food, it’s recommended you eat solid foods as soon as you feel able to. Drinking a small amount of water whenever you have a loose bowel movement can help you to keep your fluids up and avoid becoming dehydrated.

Does Loperamide work right away?

Loperamide capsules usually start working within an hour,^[1] and can be taken for a maximum of 5 days. The recommended dose is for ‘short-lived’ diarrhoea, which usually resolves within that time.

If you’re still getting loose stools after 5 days, speak to a clinician. Diarrhoea that lasts for a long period of time can cause complications like malabsorption (where your body can’t easily absorb nutrients) and dehydration, and might be a sign of an underlying health condition.

What should I do if I make a mistake when using Loperamide?

The patient information leaflet (PIL) that comes with your medication recommends never taking more than 8 capsules in any 24 hour period. There’s no need to double up your dose, as it won’t help treat your diarrhoea any quicker or more effectively.

Taking more Loperamide than you need can cause heart problems. If you think you’ve taken too much, get urgent medical attention by going to your nearest hospital.

If you feel sleepy, tired, or dizzy after taking Loperamide, you should avoid driving or operating any machinery.