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Loperamide 2mg

Buy Loperamide for travellers' diarrhoea

Loperamide hydrochloride tablets (also known under the brand name Imodium™) are a key component of our custom travellers' diarrhoea pack. They are used to treat one of the most common illnesses experienced abroad - travellers' diarrhoea. Loperamide works by slowing down the bowel function and helps to reduce the amount of water and salts lost during repeated episodes of untreated diarrhoea. It does not treat the underlying cause of the diarrhoea, such as an infection, but treats the symptoms. It can be used together with other medicines from the travellers' diarrhoea pack to treat diarrhoea when necessary, such as azithromycin when the diarrhoea is caused by a bacterial infection.

All our products are genuine UK medicines and are dispensed by our partner pharmacy based in the UK.

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  • Anti-diarrhoeal medicine
  • Same active ingredient as Imodium™
  • Used to treat the symptoms of travellers' diarrhoea
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Description

The active ingredient of Loperamide tablets is loperamide hydrochloride. Loperamide belongs to a group of medicines called anti-diarrhoeals and is used to treat diarrhoea. It works by slowing down an overactive bowel, helping the body to absorb water and salts. This makes the stools more solid and less frequent.
Suitability

Do not use Loperamide tablets:

  • if you are allergic to loperamide hydrochloride or any of the other ingredients of this medicine listed in the patient information leaflet
  • if you have severe diarrhoea after taking antibiotics
  • if you are constipated or your stomach appears swollen
  • if you have acute dysentery, the symptoms of which may include blood in your stools and a high temperature
  • if you are having a flare up of an inflammatory bowel condition like ulcerative colitis
Important Interactions

You must tell your doctor if you are taking, have recently taken or might take other medicines, in particular:

  • ritonavir (used to treat HIV)
  • quinidine (used to treat abnormal heart rhythms or malaria)
  • oral desmopressin (used to treat excessive urination)
  • itraconazole or ketoconazole (used to treat fungal infections)
  • gemfibrozil (used to treat high levels of lipids in the blood)
Side Effects
  • headache
  • feeling sick (nausea)
  • constipation
  • wind

Get urgent medical help if you experience any of the following:

  • sudden swelling of the face lips, or throat
  • hives
  • severe irritation or reddening of your skin
  • blistering of your skin, mouth, eyes or genitals
  • stomach pain or severe swollen stomach
  • severe constipation
  • loss of consciousness or feeling faint
Please Note

All medication can cause side effects. We have only listed a few to be aware of. Details of all side effects, including rare side effects to be aware of, are listed in the patient information leaflet (PIL). When completing your medical questionnaire, it is very important that you answer the questions truthfully. This is to ensure your doctor has a full picture of your medical history before prescribing. List all medicines you are already taking, including non-prescription and herbal medicines.
Looking after your medicine

Do not take medicines after the expiry date stamped on the pack. Keep all medicines out of the reach and sight of children.

Medicines are only intended to be used by the person they are prescribed for. Do not give your prescribed medicine to anybody else, even if they have the same symptoms as you. Medicines can be harmful if used by anybody other than the person they have been prescribed for.
References Loperamide 2mg Patient Information Leaflet
British National Formulary: loperamide hydrochloride

Loperamide tablets will treat the diarrhoea symptom but will not treat the underlying cause. Sometimes your immune system will be able to fight whatever caused your diarrhoea, but sometimes you will need to take other medicine such as an antibiotic. Antibiotics like azithromycin can treat bacterial causes of diarrhoea.

Loperamide tablets (also known as Imodium™) should start to work in one hour. Sometimes it is necessary to take further doses, as described in the patient information leaflet.

Although Loperamide tablets can help your digestive system to absorb fluids and salts again by slowing down the movement in your bowel, they do not provide the salts and fluids needed. It may be necessary to also use oral rehydration sachets such as Dioralyte™ also found in our travellers' diarrhoea pack.

Leaving diarrhoea untreated and to run its course can cause you to lose fluids and essential salts. It is always important to remain hydrated and to replace salts when experiencing diarrhoea. Loperamide tablets will help restore your natural rhythm by slowing down digestive transit. This in turn helps your body to start absorbing fluids and salts again.

You may not feel like eating when you have diarrhoea but trying bland foods can help you get your strength back. You may have heard of the BRAT diet (bananas, rice, applesauce, toast) which can help to bulk up your stools. Always remember to keep hydrated, as you will be losing fluids during each episode of diarrhoea. Avoid rich and spicy foods and consider using rehydration sachets like the Dioralyte™ found in our travellers' diarrhoea pack.

It is advised to avoid dairy products whilst suffering from diarrhoea, however some dairy products high in good bacteria can help restore your body’s natural bacteria balance after diarrhoea. In particular probiotic yoghurt and kefir can be good to help rebalance your gut bacteria.

Last reviewed & updated  29/05/2020   Authored  05/09/2010

Dr Philip Veal
GMC no. 6074658

Public health doctor, GP, and main prescribing doctor at Anytime Doctor

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