What is "loperamide"

n. A drug effective against diarrhea resulting from gastroenteritis or inflammatory bowel disease.

Loperamide, sold under the brand name Imodium among others, is a medication used to decrease the frequency of diarrhea. It is often used for this purpose in gastroenteritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and short bowel syndrome. It is not recommended for those with blood in the stool. The medication is taken by mouth.

Common side effects include abdominal pain, constipation, sleepiness, vomiting, and a dry mouth. It may increase the risk of toxic megacolon. Loperamide's safety in pregnancy is unclear, but there is no evidence of harm. It appears to be safe in breastfeeding. It is an opioid with no significant absorption from the gut and does not cross the blood brain barrier when used at normal doses. It works by slowing the contractions of the intestines.

Loperamide was first made in 1969 and used medically in 1976. It is included on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines, the most important medications needed in a basic health care system. Loperamide is available as an inexpensive generic medication. The wholesale cost in the developing world is about 0.004 to 0.04 USD per dose. In March 2016, the US retail cost is about 0.34 USD per dose.