Diarrhoea Relief - Loperamide Diarrhoea Relief - Loperamide

Do not take Loperamide if you:

 • are allergic (hypersensitive) to loperamide hydrochloride or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6) • have acute dysentery, which is characterised by blood in your stools and a high temperature • have acute ulcerative colitis (inflammation of the large intestine, accompanied by ulcers) • have a bacterial infection of the intestines, such as salmonella poisoning • have an infection of the large intestine following the use of antibiotics • have constipation, or any form of inflammation or blockage of the bowel • have abdominal distension, which produces a bloated stomach • these capsules should not be taken by children under 2 years old.

Warnings and precautions Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking this medicine if you: • have liver problems • have AIDS. Consult a doctor before use if you have a history of drug abuse; loperamide is an opioid and addiction is observed with opioids as a class. Do not take this product for anything other than its intended use  and never take more than the recommended amount . Serious heart problems (symptoms of which include fast or irregular heartbeat) have been reported in patients who have taken too much loperamide, the active ingredient in Loperamide 2 mg Capsules.

Other medicines and Loperamide Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicine: • quinidine (used to treat an uneven heart beat) • ritonavir (used to treat HIV) • itraconazole or ketoconazole (used to treat fungal infections) • gemfibrozil (used to reduce high fat levels (cholesterol and triglycerides) in the blood) • desmopressin (reduces the amount of urine produced by the kidneys)

 Important information about some of the ingredients of Loperamide If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicinal product. This medicine contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per capsule, that is to say essentially ‘sodium-free’.

Pregnancy, breast-feeding and fertility If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor for advice before taking this medicine.

Driving and using machines Loperamide may make you feel tired, dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive or use machinery until you are sure you are not affected.

Like all medicines, Loperamide can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.

 If the following happens, stop taking the capsules and tell your doctor immediately or go to the casualty department at your nearest hospital: • an allergic reaction (swelling of the lips, face or neck leading to severe difficulty in breathing; skin rash or hives) • blisters/bleeding/peeling of the lips, eyes, nose, mouth and genitals. These are very serious but rare side effects. You may need urgent medical attention or hospitalisation. In addition, the following side effects have been reported at the approximate frequency shown:

Other side effects

 Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people): • constipation, feeling sick (nausea), wind (flatulence) • headache • dizziness.

 Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people): • stomach pain or discomfort, dry mouth • upper stomach pain, being sick (vomiting) • indigestion (dyspepsia) • rash Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people): • stomach bloating (abdominal distension).

Not known (Frequency cannot be estimated from the available data): • loss of consciousness, stupor, reduced consciousness • reduced pupil size (miosis) • bowel obstruction (ileus), enlarged intestine (megacolon), a burning or tingling sensation of the lips or tongue (glossodynia) • stomach bloating (abdominal distension) • problems passing water (urinary retention) • tiredness (fatigue) • drowsiness (somnolence). Reporting of side effects If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet.

You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

Always take this medicine exactly as described in this leaflet or as your doctor has told you.

Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.

 • Loperamide is for oral use only

• Swallow the capsules whole with some liquid

Short-term diarrhoea Adults and children over 12 years: • 2 capsules (4mg) initially, followed by 1 capsule (2mg) after each loose stool (bowel movement) • The maximum dose is 6 capsules (12mg) in 24 hours

Diarrhoea associated with Irritable Bowel Syndrome Adults aged 18 years and over: • 2 capsules (4mg) initially, followed by 1 capsule (2mg) after each loose stool, or as previously advised by your doctor • The maximum dose is 6 capsules (12mg) in 24 hours

• For IBS diarrhoea, you can use this medicine for up to 2 weeks for repeated attacks, but do not use if any one attack lasts continuously for longer than 48 hours and talk to your doctor

To enable chemist Direct to get the best availability and price for this product, it may be sourced from a range of wholesalers. This may mean the ingredients will vary slightly in each product. If you would like to know the current ingredients list for this, please feel free to contact Customer services on 0121 541 1800