Imodium syrup SF is classified as a suspension fluid used to alleviate the symptoms of both acute and chronic diarrhoea. Developed and marketed by Janssen-Cilag, this medicine is delivered with a dosing cup that will let you dose it extremely precisely. The exact dose that will be prescribed to you will depend on the nature and severity of your symptoms. Imodium is based on the active ingredient loperamide hydrochloride which was developed for the purpose of slowing down bowel movements and reducing the frequency of faeces excretion.
What’s on this page?
This very popular and widely-used diarrhoea is now available to buy online. It’s a very easy to use and dose oral suspension syrup that leads to rapid improvement of the diarrhoea symptoms.
Diarrhoea – General background information
Diarrhoea is a condition experienced by most people at some point in their lives. It is marked by increased frequency of bowel movements and a looser, more fluid consistency of the stool. With symptoms like these, diarrhoea is, naturally, a very uncomfortable condition, often accompanied by headaches, stomach pain, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting. In more severe cases or if the condition lasts for longer periods, it can even lead to dehydration.
Usually, the condition is categorized in two distinct types – acute and chronic. Acute diarrhoea can occur due to a number of reasons including intestinal parasites, virus or bacterial infection, consumption of large amounts of alcohol, food poisoning or even stress. It is also not uncommon for this condition to manifest as a side effect of certain medications (like antibiotics, for example) or adverse interaction between different types of drugs. In most cases, acute diarrhoea will simply pass on its own. However, if the symptoms persist or are excessive to a point where they cause severe discomfort, medical advice and proper treatment might be needed.
On the other hand, chronic diarrhoea with just as wide array of potential causes will require medical advice and treatment more often than not, especially since this condition can be indicative of an underlying medical issue, including:
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Diverticulitis
- Chronic pancreatitis
- Coeliac disease
In very rare cases, when this condition is also accompanied by the presence of blood in the stool, it can be an indication of bowel cancer.
Do I need treatment?
Short-term, acute diarrhoea usually doesn’t require any medical treatment. For this condition, rest and drinking plenty of liquid are usually enough to mitigate the symptoms and facilitate a speedy and easy recovery. In addition to this, avoiding particularly oily, fatty of spicy food is also a good idea, since it will help improve the symptoms and aid recovery. However, if this condition persist for four days or more, medical assistance and proper medication might be necessary.
Prescription diarrhoea medicines are usually advised for those people who are affected by an especially severe form of this condition. Imodium is one of the most popular treatments of this type. Based on the active ingredient loperamide hydrochloride, Imodium is classified as antimobility treatment, as it works by slowing down the bowel movements. Its mechanism of action, on a bio-chemical level, is closely tied to preventing opioid receptors in the bowel from receiving and reacting to stimuli. Without proper stimuli to these receptors, the bowels won’t contract and push food through intestinal tract. This is how the transportation of food through the gut is slowed down, giving the body more time to absorb water and also reducing the sense of urgency.
Can I buy Imodium online in the UK?
While diarrhoea treatment like Imodium is very effective, it might not be as easily accessible when you’re affected by this condition. Due to very uncomfortable symptoms and frequent defecation, it might not be easy to leave the house, talk to a doctor and then wait in line at the pharmacy. So, as an alternative, you can opt for an online clinic.
At an online clinic, all you need to do is require online consultations with a doctor. Then, using specialized and personalized questionnaire, a certified medical professional will assess your condition without the need for a face-to-face meeting. If your treatment is approved, prescription will be issued and the medicine will be delivered to your home address.
How to use Imodium?
Using Imodium is no rocket science – it’s easy to use syrup with a cup for precise dosing, so you should encounter no problems whatsoever. In addition, as this is prescription-only medicine, the doctor will provide you with all the relevant details over the course of your consultations. In addition, it is advisable to carefully read the official patient information leaflet prior to use and closely follow the guidelines provided there. By properly using Imodium, you will both increase the benefits and reduce the chances of experiencing any side effects.
Some most general guidelines can be presented as follows:
- Take as instructed by a doctor
- Use measuring cup for dosing
- No more than sixteen 5ml doses should be taken over the course of 24 hours
- The treatment shouldn’t be used for longer than five days – if the symptoms persist, visit your doctor
- Do not take more than the amount specified by your doctor
- Never make up for a missed dose by taking a double one – if you forget to take a dose at the right time, just skip it and continue with your treatment as usual
What are Imodium side effects?
As with all other prescription medication, Imodium too comes with certain side effects that you should be aware of. Naturally, the most severe side effect that could occur is an allergic reaction to the medicine. This will manifest by swelling of the face, lips, throat or hives, blisters on skin, mouth, eyes or genitals. Sometimes, stomach pain or swelling, accompanied by severe constipation or loss of consciousness can also manifest in very harsh reactions. Luckily, allergic reaction to Imodium is very rare occurrence.
Other side effects include:
Frequency of occurrence | Side effects |
Rare (1 in 1000 patients or less) | Shrinking of the pupils, itchiness, difficulty passing urine, coordination problems, stiffness |
Uncommon (1 in 100 patients or less) | Sleepiness, drowsiness, dryness of the mouth, indigestion, rash |
Common (1 in 10 patients or less) | Headache, dizziness, constipation, general malaise, flatulence |
Imodium contraindications
There are some circumstances when the doctor might decide that you are not suitable for Imodium treatment. Commonly, this can happen when you are affected by some other health condition at the same time. Imodium will not be suitable for you if:
- Your diarrhoea is caused by antibiotics treatment’
- You have ulcerative colitis
- You are constipated or have swollen stomach
- You have acute dysentery
- You have liver problems
- You have AIDS
Imodium interactions
In addition to this, Imodium can also adversely interact with other prescription or over-the-counter medication, including:
- Ritonavir
- Quinidine
- Itraconazole
- Ketoconazole
- Gemfibrozil
- Desmopressin