The result of poisoning often becomes severe diarrhea, which, in addition to unpleasant sensations, brings discomfort to the usual way of life. Most patients believe that the disorder will go away on its own without treatment, but this is a common misconception. Diarrhea, like any other disease, should be treated with specialized medications. One of the most effective drugs is Loperamide.
Material Content:
Release form, composition and packaging
Loperamide for diarrhea is an artificially synthesized composition based on piperidine. This is a fairly powerful opiate. It is used to normalize bowel function and stop diarrhea. The drug was first obtained in the 60s of the last century during experiments, and already in 1973 was on the shelves of pharmacies. Today it can be found everywhere - Loperamide-Akrikhin is sold in the CIS without a doctor’s prescription in the form of yellow tablets and capsules, as well as in the form of drops and solutions for children.
Composition of the drug: loperamide hydrochloride as the main substance and lactose, starch, silicon dioxide and magnesium stearate as auxiliary elements. The capsule consists of titanium dioxide, gelatin and dyes. The drug is sold in plastic blisters (1-2 per pack), each of which contains from 7 to 50 tablets or capsules.
What helps Loperamide
Loperamide is used to treat indigestion and does not provide an analgesic effect, unlike other similar drugs. Its pharmacodynamics is the effect on the nerve endings, which are concentrated in the intestinal region.During an upset, the intestinal walls are constantly in a wave-like motion, causing the mass of feces to constantly move to the colon - this leads to a constant need for emptying.
The drug blocks the production of lipid substances (prostaglandins), thereby reducing wave-like bowel movements and stopping diarrhea.
Loperamide contributes to:
- decrease in intestinal muscle tension;
- bringing peristalsis to normal speed;
- retention of feces.
Immediately after taking the pill, the patient ceases to feel a constant need for bowel movement, while the effect of the drug is from 4 to 6 hours.
Pharmacokinetic features of the drug are also noteworthy, because its absorption is 40% when taken orally. When it enters the intestine, the drug is rapidly absorbed, and through its walls it enters the blood within 20-30 minutes, and its maximum concentration in the plasma occurs within 2.5 hours after administration. It is excreted by the genitourinary system for 14 hours completely, along with bile.
Instructions for use and dosage
Loperamide is used by doctors to normalize the patient's stool and relieve symptoms of the disorder.
Viruses, bacteria or toxins as a cause of intestinal infection, it does not destabilize, therefore, it is used as an additional tool in basic drug therapy.
Medical studies have shown that diarrhea can have a different nature, which must be considered when treating.
It is classified according to origin:
- Medicinal - as a result of taking a large number of medications.
- Allergic - as a manifestation of a reaction to an irritant.
- Emotional - occurs with depression or nervous breakdowns.
- Traveler's syndrome - appears with a cardinal change in the composition and diet.
An intestinal upset is of two types: acute and chronic.
Loperamide is prescribed for any type and nature of the origin of the disorder, as well as for such conditions:
- problems with bowel movements in patients;
- switching to another diet;
- radiation therapy;
- change in diet;
- metabolic disorder.
Loperamide is used as an adjuvant along with other medicines on prescription, which determines the dosage.
There are general rules for taking the medication prescribed in the annotation:
- Adult patients and adolescents over 12 years of age with acute diarrhea should take 2 tablets after each loose stool. The total dosage of one dose is 4 mg of the active substance. Continue treatment with the medication until the intestinal functions are fully restored. In a chronic disorder, you should take up to 16 mg of the substance per day (8 tablets), but only by decision of the attending physician.
- Children under 12 years old must take 1 tablet 2-3 times a day so that the daily norm of the substance does not exceed 6 mg.
Loperamide tablets are taken orally, washed down with water, and the capsules, after a 5-second stay on the tongue, disintegrate and are easily swallowed.
During pregnancy and lactation
Can loperamide be taken during pregnancy? Laboratory studies on the effect of the drug on the fetus or infant have not been conducted, since they are considered inhumane. The experiments were carried out only on rats, rabbits and showed that the substance does not cause negative pathologies in the offspring if it does not exceed the dosed rate. But in the case of feeding the fetus and taking the medication in animals, a tendency to a decrease in the survival of the offspring was noted.
Therefore, the drug is strictly prohibited for use by pregnant women in the first trimester, and in the second and third it is possible to use it only with the permission of the gynecologist and the attending physician in case of undeniable benefit for the mother. Taking the drug during lactation is completely prohibited, because it is not known whether the drug passes into breast milk and there is no possible harm to the baby.
Special instructions for admission
Since loperamide is an opioid, it cannot be taken concomitantly with other opiate analgesics. If you violate this instruction, the patient will begin to severe constipation, since taking numerous drugs of this class will provoke a cumulative effect. In addition, it is forbidden to drink medication with a number of antibiotics.
Children are not allowed to take this drug for up to three years, because they have not yet fully formed the gastrointestinal tract and taking the medicine can cause paralysis of the peritoneal muscles.
Patients from three to twelve years of age are allowed to take the medicine only as directed by the attending pediatrician and under his supervision.
If the medication within 48 hours did not improve the bowel condition and did not stop diarrhea, its reception should be stopped and the doctor should be consulted for an additional prescription. And also when working with precise mechanisms and driving a car, you should pay special attention, since the drug can reduce the reaction rate.
Contraindications, side effects and overdose
It is best to consult with your doctor before taking the medication, who will monitor the treatment. Loperamide has a number of contraindications, in which its use can cause a worsening of the patient's condition and a number of serious pathologies.
Among the contraindications:
- Hypersensitivity to the components of the drug and the main active substance.
- Intestinal obstruction.
- Peptic ulcer in acute form.
- Disorder caused by intermembrane enterocolitis, dysentery and gastrointestinal tract infections.
- First trimester pregnancy and lactation.
And also it should be taken carefully and only under the supervision of a doctor in case of liver failure, since the drug withdrawal system from the body will be disrupted and an overdose is possible.
Symptoms of this condition are:
- Lack of coordination.
- Constant drowsiness and weakness.
- Blurred consciousness.
- Labored breathing.
- Intestinal obstruction.
In case of an overdose, it is recommended to take naloxone hydrochloride to remove excess substances from the body, wash the stomach and take absorbents. In the case of a critical condition of the patient, it is connected to an artificial lung ventilation device.
If the dosage is strictly observed, Loperamide does not cause side effects. However, slight dizziness, a rash on the skin, or other allergic reactions may occur. In case of non-compliance with the dosage, problems with cardiac activity may occur.
Analogues of the drug
When choosing a medication, the question always arises of how much better is the presented line of such drugs. Loperamide analogues have different, but the main among them is Imodium. Therefore, a logical question arises: what is better than Loperamide or Imodium?
Pharmacists and doctors say with confidence that the first option is much more effective and cheaper, and this is an important condition in today's realities. Imodium is produced by the Belgian company Janssen, so the price for the brand, transportation and licensing is added to its cost. Loperamide is produced in Russia and costs an order of magnitude cheaper, and most importantly, the active substance is the same for them. Moreover, in one tablet of Loperamide, the concentration of the active compound is less and it can be given to children from 3 years old, and Imodium is allowed only from 6 years old. This drug is a very expensive analog of Loperamide with the same effectiveness.
And also often there is doubt what to accept, Loperamide or Enterofuril. It is definitely impossible to answer this question, since these are medicines with different effects. Loperamide relieves the symptoms of diarrhea, but does not cure its cause - intestinal infections. And blocks toxins and viruses that cause such violations, Enterofuril. That is why these two drugs are prescribed together - to eliminate the causes of the infection, relieve its symptoms and painful consequences.
Loperamide is by far the most effective and inexpensive drug for the treatment of intestinal disorders in adults and children.
