Loperamide

[Mr D.]

I've been using loperamide on a near-daily basis for the past 12 months. Pretty much every time I need to leave the house I will take one. I try and limit how much of it I take however last year I spent a month travelling around India and during that time I used it more than I usually do. The problem was that when I use more than 1 or 2 tablets a day, as I was, it can cause constipation. Unfortunately after a month of travelling I returned home to find that the constipation had caused an inguinal hernia, which I am now awaiting surgery for.

I was just wondering if anyone knows if it's safe to be using so frequently? Does anyone know if there are any long term adverse effects from using it so much, or if it is possible that the body will build up a tolerance to it? I would hate to find out one day that it no longer worked for me because I had used it so much.

 

[highlandsrock]

Good question and one I already have on the list to ask my GI consultant on Monday morning. Will post his answer.

I've been taking it regularly since October 2010 after my ileostomy. The surgeon said I could take up to 12 tablets a day. I don't think I've ever taken that many and quickly settled down to one capsule in the morning and one with my evening meal. On the odd occasion I take one extra one if I'm going to be out for a long day. So far it's still working but I would like to know if it looses its efficacy

 

[Mr D.]

Thanks for the reply.

12 tablets a day seems a lot? A few times I have taken extras at work when I've had important meetings that I could not get out of, but once they caused me to go without using the toilet for over 36 hours, and I actually started feeling really nauseous and running a fever. It might have been from the loperamide but then again it may have been something else and just a coincidence, but since then I've tried to restrict how much I use.

Anyway, will be interesting to see what your GI says. Look forward to hearing it.
Cheers.

 

[UnXmas]

I've taken well over 10 a day, and I've used it at the same time as lomotil. Loperamide is a very safe medication with few side effects, and can be used long term. I took it daily for years. It's not recommended to take as many as I have taken, but it's never done me any harm.

However, when I was taking such high doses, I was still having diarrhoea. If it's caused you constipation on just a couple of pills, it may not be a good idea to take so much unless your diarrhoea is a more severe now.

I don't think you can build up a tolerance to loperamide, though it might be possible. You may want to try lomotil, as I've found this a bit stronger than loperamide. I don't have to take anti-diarrhoea meds at all any more as I take amitriptyline which, although I was prescribed it to treat something else, causes constipation as a side effect.

 

[Mr D.]

Thanks UnXmas, that helps a lot.

 

[scottsma]

Hi Mr.D and welcome to the forum.I have nothing new to add really.I've been using Loperamide on repeat prescription for nearly 7yrs and they are my "security blanket".My Script says I can take up to 8 a day,but I actually only take 1-3.I'm an early riser and like to be doing stuff early in the day and I couldn't manage without them.If I have an early appointment,I get up extra early,just to be safe and to make sure the capsules are working.What I wouldn't give for the good old days,when I didn't have to think about such things.