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This medication is used to treat sudden diarrhea (including traveler's diarrhea). It works by slowing down the movement of the gut. This decreases the number of bowel movements and makes the stool less watery. Loperamide is also used to reduce the amount of discharge in patients who have undergone an ileostomy. It is also used to treat on-going diarrhea in people with inflammatory bowel disease.Loperamide treats only the symptoms, not the cause of the diarrhea (e.g., infection). Treatment of other symptoms and the cause of the diarrhea should be determined by your doctor.Do not use in children younger than 6 years unless directed by your doctor. This medication should not be used in infants younger than 24 months.
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| Overview |
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How To Use |
Side Effects |
Precautions |
Missed Dose |
Drug Interactions |
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Uni-A/D
Uses
This medication is used to treat sudden diarrhea (including traveler's diarrhea). It works by slowing down the movement of the gut. This decreases the number of bowel movements and makes the stool less watery. Loperamide is also used to reduce the amount of discharge in patients who have undergone an ileostomy. It is also used to treat on-going diarrhea in people with inflammatory bowel disease.Loperamide treats only the symptoms, not the cause of the diarrhea (e.g., infection). Treatment of other symptoms and the cause of the diarrhea should be determined by your doctor.Do not use in children younger than 6 years unless directed by your doctor. This medication should not be used in infants younger than 24 months.
Notes
- If your doctor has prescribed this medication for you, do not share it with others.
Storage
- Refer to storage information printed on the package.
- Store at room temperature between 59-77 degrees F (15-25 degrees C) away from light and moisture.
- Do not store in the bathroom.
- Keep all medicines away from children and pets.
Overdose
- Symptoms of overdose may include: difficult urination, slowed breathing, deep sleep.
How To Use
- If you are using the over-the-counter product to self-treat, read all the directions on the product package before taking this medication.
- If your doctor has prescribed this medication, follow your doctor's directions and the directions on your prescription label.
- If you have any questions, consult your doctor or pharmacist.Take this medication by mouth, usually after each loose stool, or as directed by your doctor.
- Dosage is based on your condition and response to therapy.
- In children, dosage is also based on age and weight.
- Adults should not use more than 8 milligrams in 24 hours if self-treating, or 16 milligrams if under a doctor's direction.Diarrhea can cause a serious loss of body water (dehydration).
- Drink plenty of fluids and minerals (electrolytes) to replace what is lost.
- Tell your doctor immediately if you develop signs of dehydration (e.g., extreme thirst, decreased urination, muscle cramps, weakness, fainting).
- You may also need to change to a bland diet during this time to reduce irritation to your stomach/intestines.
- Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more information.Tell your doctor if your diarrhea does not improve after 2 days, if your condition worsens, or if you develop new symptoms.
- If you develop blood in the stool, fever, or an uncomfortable fullness/swelling of the stomach/abdomen, or if you think you may have a serious medical problem, seek immediate medical attention.If you are taking this medication under your doctor's direction for ongoing diarrhea, tell your doctor if your diarrhea continues after 10 days of treatment.
Side Effects
- Dizziness, drowsiness, tiredness, or constipation may occur.
- If any of these effects persist or worsen, contact your doctor promptly.If your doctor has prescribed this medication, remember that he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects.
- Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.Stop taking this medication and seek immediate medical attention if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: severe constipation/nausea/vomiting, stomach/abdominal pain, uncomfortable fullness of the stomach/abdomen.A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare.
- However, seek immediate medical attention if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including: rash, itching, swelling, severe dizziness, trouble breathing.If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.
Precautions
- Before taking loperamide, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies.This medication should not be used if you have certain medical conditions.
- Before using this medicine, consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have: stomach/abdominal pain without diarrhea, bowel obstruction (e.g., ileus, megacolon, abdominal distention).Antibiotics may rarely cause a severe intestinal condition (pseudomembranous colitis) due to a type of resistant bacteria.
- Symptoms include: persistent diarrhea, abdominal or stomach pain/cramping, or blood/mucus in your stool.
- This condition may occur weeks after antibiotic treatment has stopped.
- This medication may make this condition worse.
- Do not use this anti-diarrhea product, especially after recent antibiotic use, if you have the above symptoms without talking with your doctor first.This medication should not be used without seeing your doctor first if you have certain medical conditions.
- These symptoms/conditions may require other treatment before you can use this medication safely.
- Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: black/tarry stool, blood/mucus in your stool, high fever, HIV infection/AIDS, liver problems, certain stomach/intestinal infections (e.g., Salmonella, Shigella), certain type of bowel disease (acute ulcerative colitis).This drug may make you dizzy or drowsy.
- Use caution while driving, using machinery, or doing any activity that requires alertness.
- Avoid alcoholic beverages.Caution is advised when using this drug in children because they may be more sensitive to the effects of the drug, especially the drowsiness effect.
- Children are at higher risk for dehydration.
- (See also Uses, How to Use sections.)During pregnancy, this medication should be used only if clearly needed.
- Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor.This drug may pass into breast milk and could have undesirable effects on a nursing infant.
- Therefore, breast-feeding is not recommended while using this drug.
- Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.
Missed Dose
- If you are taking this drug on a regular schedule (not "as needed") and you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember.
- If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule.
- Do not double the dose to catch up.
Drug Interactions
- If you are taking this medication under your doctor's direction, your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them.
- Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with them first.This drug should not be used with the following medication because a very serious interaction may occur: pramlintide.If you are currently using the medication listed above, tell your doctor or pharmacist before starting loperamide.Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription/herbal products you may use, especially of: recent/current antibiotic use, drugs that can cause constipation (e.g., anticholinergics such as belladonna/scopolamine/benztropine, antispasmodics such as glycopyrrolate/oxybutynin, potent narcotic pain medicines such as morphine, certain antihistamines such as diphenhydramine, tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline), cholestyramine, quinidine, ritonavir, saquinavir.
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CONDITIONS OF USE: The information in this database is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgement of healthcare professionals. The information is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, drug interactions or adverse effects, nor should it be construed to indicate that use of a particular drug is safe, appropriate or effective for you or anyone else. A healthcare professional should be consulted before taking any drug, changing any diet or commencing or discontinuing any course of treatment.
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