Definition
Imodium® is the trade name of a drug that is used in particular for acute diarrheal diseases. The full name is Imodium akut®, which is offered in various products. The active ingredient is loperamide. Imodium® is available in pharmacies without a prescription, it is one of the strongest over-the-counter drugs against diarrhea. Especially when traveling to countries with lower hygiene standards, Imodium® should be available in the travel pharmacy.
Active ingredient
The active ingredient in all products of the Imodium akut® range is loperamide. Loperamide is an opioid (has morphine-like properties by attacking the opioid binding sites), which acts primarily in the gastrointestinal tract and therefore usually shows no side effects by affecting the central nervous system. Besides all Imodium® products, the active ingredient loperamide is also found in numerous other products.
Loperamide binds to an opioid receptor (binding site for opioids) in the intestinal wall. This slows down the further transport of stool, so that the intestinal contents have longer contact with the intestinal wall. As a result, the various transporters in the intestinal wall are able to extract more water from the stool, which causes the stool to thicken.
This explains the symptomatic effect in cases of diarrhea, where the stool is too liquid due to an increased water content. Imodium® therefore does not eliminate the cause of the diarrhea (e.g. infection of the intestine by viruses or bacteria), but alleviates the symptoms of diarrhea by reducing the loss of water and salt caused by the frequent, watery diarrhea. The body’s own immune system then leads to an elimination of the disease-causing germs.
Application
Imodium® is used for the treatment of acute (especially travel diarrhea) and partly chronic diarrhea. Imodium® can be used for diarrhea in self-medication as indicated below. In the case of chronic diarrhea, Imodium® should only be taken after consultation with the treating physician.
Imodium® works quickly, so that many patients have no more diarrhea after 12 hours. Notes on intake: It is also important to take sufficient fluid with the intake of Imodium®. Otherwise, diarrhea in particular can lead to immense fluid and salt losses, which can lead to heart and kidney dysfunction.
At the same time, a light diet should be followed in order to allow the intestinal wall to heal. In particular, flatulent, spicy and laxative foods should be avoided. On the other hand, sugared drinks and salty pastries are particularly suitable for a temporary diet in cases of diarrhea.
