Taking imodium?

I'm seeking comments from anyone with experience taking OTC Imodium (loperamide) to reduce wateriness of stool.  How well does it work?  Does it thicken output too much?  How much and how often do you take it?  Any side effects?  My goal would be to reduce the prospect of dehydration from losing so much liquid in discharge.  Appreciate any feedback.  Thanks.  

Hey there, Henry. I have taken loperamide for many years, and it really does help to thicken up your output. I generally take one a day (10 mg), which reduces the water content, but this won't help you with dehydration. You will still need to stay hydrated and make sure you're taking liquid on board regularly. I have had absolutely no side effects whatsoever, but I would recommend you speak with a healthcare professional if you're at all worried. It is one of those medicines you could try and see how you get along with.

Hi Henry, I take one Imodium after breakfast, and that usually does it for me, but it also depends on what I eat. Also, if I'm going to be away from the house for a couple of hours and eat a later dinner, I will take a second one.

Henry, wouldn't you still be losing the same amount of liquid? You're just thickening it up.

IGGIE

Funny you should bring this up now, Henry. I have just started the same three days ago. I have done a little research here with people's experiences and am taking one 2 mg mid-morning and one 2 mg about 3 or 4 in the afternoon, and so far the results are good.

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I can take it up to 3 times a day. But I don't often take it. I took it when I went on a trip a while back to slow down the output and thicken it up. It did just that. Worked great. I took it a lot when I first had my ostomy to thicken up output because I had such large amounts of liquid output. It did the job then too. I have it by prescription now. But I haven't had to fill the script in some time now. I mostly only have liquid output at night now. In the daytime, things say semi-thick. So I don't worry about it too much. I drink plenty of water and electrolyte drinks to keep hydrated.

I don't take them very often now, but for high output, they're a lifesaver and non-addictive. Fast-acting, so even if you were to take too many, it would wear off in hours. Start with a low dose, just 1; if that makes no difference, take 2. It's best to take them between 1 hour or 30 minutes before eating, depending on how fast your output is. Then it's just seeing how it goes, whether you need to take them once a day or 4 times.

Imodium slows down your gut motility. Try eating foods that thicken up your stools, like mashed potatoes, bananas, applesauce, pasta, marshmallows, rice, and toast. I truly believe I was taking too much Imodium because I got a blockage, and my motility was slowing down so much that nothing worked. I was taking two, two mg tablets four times a day.

I tried it, but it doesn't do much for me.

Imodium works great for me. I have a very high-output colostomy. I take 2 mg tablets in the morning and 2 in the evening at least half an hour before eating. I still get a lot of output, but it is more formed and much easier to deal with and a lot less messy. I can wear the same pouch much longer without changing it. I consulted with my WOC nurse about taking it, and she said it was perfectly okay and safe to take it, at least for me.

My sentiments exactly. It's a game changer. Just try it and see what amount is a good balance.

Remember you have to drink more fluids while taking this, too.

What will Henry decide?🤔

My GI suggested that I take a level teaspoon of Metamucil each morning, and yeah, it really helps thicken my output.

Hi

I've been taking Imodium for years. You will need to find the right dosage and frequency for your individual metabolism, but once you do, you should be fine. Just remember to leave at least 30 minutes between eating and taking your tablets; otherwise, the tablets will likely have the opposite effect to that wished for.

Hey Henry. I never heard of taking Immodium to thicken output? I've had mine for about 4 years. I was told to eat gummy bears or any gummy candy or marshmallows if it is watery. If it's really thick, it's harder for me to empty. Mine is different every day. I guess it depends on what you eat or drink. It can be watery, then thicker. I use baby oil in the pouch to keep it easier to empty. Try gummy candies.

I took Imodium like every 8 hours and saw very little difference. Try marshmallows.

Hi Henry. I have taken Loperamide Hydrochloride for a long time. I was discharged from the hospital with a high-output stoma and was prescribed 24 mg of Imodium and an ORS rehydration mix as well. A few years on, I now only take 4 mg of Imodium, which I find is enough to control the output. You may have to experiment to find the right dosage for you.

I'm not aware of any side effects, but we are all different in this respect. I would say that it is more important to keep hydrated than risk injury to the kidneys, which can happen if a watery output is experienced over a long period.

Imodium is highly effective and works by slowing down the gut, which then allows the small intestine to absorb more water and essential salts into the bloodstream rather than speeding through into the bag.

Hi, I take Imodium, 3 tablets half an hour before food; it doesn't make it very thick, and I'm glad I take them.

Without it, it's just green water.

Hello all, I just wanted to add that I take one pill at bedtime to help ensure I am not awakened by an active gut in the middle of the night. It has helped a lot. I appreciate all your experiences—may try it during the day as well. Thanks.

Henry. I hate watery output! Mess to empty, worst to change pouches. A few months ago I altered my diet. I eat potatoes with dinner and low salt pretzels and cookies the night before I change. Still drink 8 glasses a day. Eat 4 marshmallows 45 minutes before changing pouches. Rest on your back for a few minutes prior to change, to slow peristalsis. Like squeezing out putty. Instead of 8-10 wipes per cleanup, only 0-2 wipes.

Hi there, I'm dealing with dehydration too. I've started taking Imodium and appreciate the shared experiences here. I am taking salt supplements, but it's a tricky balance with electrolytes. I'm so tired of feeling so tired. I've heard of people going for IV fluids every week, and I'm trying to organize that for myself.

I take Imodium every day upon advice from my gastroenterologist. In the beginning, I took up to the recommended dosage. Now that my output is at an applesauce consistency, I take one in the morning and one at night.

I take the Ultima electrolyte in my water all the time.

Me too!

Same here. I take 4 mg 4 times a day along with Lomotil and can't really tell if it does anything, but I am afraid to stop in case it does.

I have been taking OTC Imodium on and off for two months with mixed results. My output is extremely watery, and sometimes it thickens it up, not too much, and other times it doesn't seem to have any effect. I take it just before I eat a meal, about 15 ml per dose.

If you take it, have your doctor prescribe it for you, and your insurance could pick it up and save you the high price of the OTC. Good luck!

To help with electrolytes, I find that drinking coconut water is tasty and does the job.

Regards, IGGIE

I was becoming very dehydrated the first summer after surgery. The hospital prescribed 2 mg Imodium/loperamide, up to 8 tablets per day, plus rehydration salts to add to fluids. (They told me they had a patient on 32 tablets per day!)

I only take them rarely now, but I always carry some with me.

Hi Henry

My stoma nurse advised me to take Imodium 20 to 30 minutes before a meal and to take it in tablet form, not the capsules, as the tablet dissolves better. The pack will advise no more than 4 per day, but I can have very watery output, so I am taking 2 per meal and possibly 1 before bed. I would agree with others that some food types will help thicken our output (or loosen it). I was also advised to use salt on almost everything, as it will increase your fluid intake. I'm a colostomy user for 2 years and an ileostomy user for 8 months, waiting for reversal. I'm living as good as I can and going hiking in the Italian/Swiss Alps in 2 weeks, with loads of Imodium being packed.

Henry, I have an ileostomy and take an alternating daily regimen of OTC Imodium and Lomotil to slow and thicken output. I take 30 ml of liquid Imodium, 4 times a day, but will adjust both medicines if output is getting too dry, which is rare. The Imodium works better, in my opinion, than Lomotil to slow/stop and thicken output. For me, it's a necessity to allow the body to absorb nutrients through the reduction of ostomy liquid output. Good luck in your efforts.

Henry, I have an ileostomy (I forget if you do too), after total colectomy, so all the warnings for Imodium no longer apply. According to my GI doctor/surgeon, I can take one or two tablets before meals and before bedtime (so 4 to 8 total) per day. This has really helped me reduce my liquid output and helped with leakage, which is more due to my poorly formed stoma that is partly flush with my belly that requires a convex bag. I had gotten a lot of advice from everyone on here when I first got out of the hospital, and it was a great help, so anytime I can offer my meager advice, I do what I can :).

Also, if your insurance will pay for it (mine does), get your doctor to write an RX for loperamide - one, it's cheaper that way (for me at least); two, you don't have to futz with the annoying safety blister packs that OTC loperamide comes in, which makes a HUGE difference if you're consuming 4-8/day!