No Imodium on LDN

[nogutsnoglory]

I read that one cannot take Imodium or medications like it while on LDN. Why? This scares me as I weight the potential of trying this again.

 

[ctrl z]

Imodium is an opioid. If you take it while LDN is in your system then it won't work. I guess you could take it several hours after you've taken LDN.

 

[Jmrogers4]

We've taken it while on LDN, I wasn't aware you could not take it. Jack takes LDN at night before bed and the Imodium was taken during the day, could be why we had no problem.

 

[Kev]

My understanding is that the dosage of Naltrexone we take essentially wears off in about 4 - 6 hours... overnight. As for Imodium, it was also my understanding that using it with Crohns was not advised anyway... regardless of LDN or not. Anecdotal info I heard on this site long before LDN ever came up was that using Imodium, or more to the point, the over use of it, was taboo for Crohns. I think this is an area that demands clarification, so if there are any members out there with info pro or con about Imodium in general, or with specific info regarding it and LDN... please feel free to toss in your 2 cents worth.

 

[Jmrogers4]

We've the same thing for the most part - no Imodium but both my husbands and my son's GIs have said it is alright for emergency. In other words we've used it when we had an 8 hour drive and there is not always someplace safe to pull over so one dose on one day but should never be used to control the big D, if you are having a lot of that you probably need to get to your GI pronto.

 

[nogutsnoglory]

I never heard that. My GI told me to take it daily.

 

[Jmrogers4]

I should probably clarify as I actually have heard some people do take it daily especially if they have had some surgery removing sections and it helps "firm up" a BM when is does not have as much intestines to pass through. I think that both their GI's say that so they are not covering up a symptom that they would need to go get checked. My husband is a big one for this thinking it will just go away if he gives it enough time. You'd think after more than 20 years he would have learned by now.

 

[katiesue1506]

I would caution people taking Imodium to just stop the diarrhea if you are a normal Crohnie with a normal amount of bowel left. It just masks the flare and makes living with the symptoms more bearable when you should be attempting to find a maintenance medicine that halts the flaring process (you shouldn't be TRYING to live with the symptoms... you should be trying to fix them)

BUT! The funny thing is that I sit here saying that when I, myself, take 3 Imodium a day. I'm not normal though (go figure ). I take the Imodium because I have an ileostomy. I'm not using my colon at all right now so I've had to retrain my small intestines to do the job of pulling water from my food. To do this I need something that will slow transit and Imodium is that drug.

Its super easy to get dehydrated in the early days/months of an ileostomy so Imodium is supposed to help you pull water and get your nutrients/electrolytes more easily. A normal person taking this much Imodium would get an obstruction or not feel well for a long time.

So therefore the answer to the question is yes and no.

 

[Jmrogers4]

Thanks Katiesue1506, that is what I was trying to say, you have said it more eloquently then I did/could :hug:

 

[D Bergy]

A better option may be to use Cholestyramine.
It is a cholesterol blocker but real safe and not an opioid.

Dan

 

[nogutsnoglory]

Cholestyramine didn't help me with diarrhea but I could try again.