Imodium plus

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How does it work?

This medicine contains two active ingredients, loperamide hydrochloride and activated dimeticone (also known as simeticone). Loperamide is a medicine used to treat diarrhoea. It works by slowing the muscular contractions of the intestine and so is termed an antimotility medicine. Loperamide acts on opioid receptors that are found in the muscle lining the walls of the intestines. By acting on these receptors, loperamide reduces the muscular contractions of the intestine (peristalsis) that move food and faecal matter through the gut. Loperamide therefore reduces the speed at which the gut contents are pushed through the intestines. This allows more time for water and electrolytes to be reabsorbed from the gut contents back into the body, and results in firmer and stools that are passed less frequently. Loperamide is therefore used to treat acute (sudden and short-lived) episodes of watery diarrhoea, and can be bought without a prescription for this purpose. Activated dimeticone is sometimes called an anti-foaming agent or anti-flatulant. It is used to relieve pain and bloating caused by trapped wind that may be associated with the diarrhoea. It works by bringing together all the small bubbles of gas to form a large bubble, which is then easily expelled by belching.

What is it used for?

- Acute diarrhoea accompanied by symptoms of trapped wind, eg bloating, stomach cramps, flatulence

Warning!

- Do not exceed the recommended dose of this medicine, which will be stated in the product packaging or information leaflet supplied with the medicine.
- If symptoms persist for more than 24 hours, consult a doctor.
- Acute diarrhoea makes you lose more fluids and salt than you usually would and can make you dehydrated. This medicine only treats the diarrhoea symptoms and so will not rehydrate you. You should ensure that you drink plenty of fluids, and you may want to take an oral rehydration therapy, which is a soluble powder containing sugars and salts, to help rehydrate you. This is particularly important for frail and elderly people. Rehydration salts can be bought from pharmacies.
- If your diarrhoea started either during or after a course of antibiotics, if the diarrhoea contains blood or pus, or if you also have a fever, you should not take this medicine and instead consult a doctor.

Use with caution in

- Decreased liver function

Not to be used in

- Children under 12 years of age
- Conditions where preventing gut movement should be avoided, such as constipation, obstruction of the intestines (ileus) or abdominal swelling (distension)
- Diarrhoea due to inflammation of the gut caused by antibiotic treatment (antibiotic-associated colitis)
- Inflammatory bowel disease such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease
- People with diarrhoea containing blood or pus, or associated with a fever

This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy. If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, before using any medicine.

- There is no information available about the safety of this medicine during pregnancy. Seek medical advice from your doctor.
- This medicine may pass into breast milk in small amounts. It should only be used during breastfeeding if the benefit to the mother outweighs any potential risk to the nursing infant. Seek medical advice from your doctor.

Label warnings

- This medication is to be sucked or chewed.

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