loperamide hydrochloride

An opioid that slows down movements of the gut and is used in the treatment of acute diarrhoea in adults and children over four years old and chronic diarrhoea in adults only (see antidiarrhoeal drugs). Loperamide is available as capsules, tablets, or a syrup on prescription, but capsules or tablets for treating acute diarrhoea can be obtained from pharmacies without a prescription.

Side effects:
abdominal cramps, bloating, and rashes may occur.

Precautions:
loperamide should not be taken by people with acute ulcerative colitis, antibiotic-associated colitis, paralysis of the small intestine, or abdominal distension.

Proprietary preparations:
Boots Diareze; Diocalm Ultra; Imodium (capsules or syrup); Norimode; Boots Dual Action Diarrhoea Relief (tablets: packaged with sodium chloride, potassium chloride, sodium citrate, and citric acid); Imodium Plus (combined with simeticone).

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