Medication

Imodium

Generic name:

Pharmacist-reviewed drug information from the RxWiki encyclopedia.

Overview

Imodium is an over the counter medication used to treat symptoms of diarrhea and Traveler's diarrhea. Imodium is an antidiarrheal, which works by slightly paralyzing the intestines which allows the stools to spend more time in the intestines and reduces the amount of fluids in the stools.

This medication comes in a caplet and an oral (by mouth) liquid, and is usually taken after each loose stool, with or without food. 

Common side effects of Imodium include dizziness, nausea, and constipation. 

Pregnancy

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories - A, B, C, D, and X, are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.

Loperamide falls into category C. There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. Loperamide should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus.

All information on this site is provided “as-is” for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment. You should consult with a medical professional if you have any questions about your health.