Imodium Instants 12S

What are Imodium Instants and what are they used for?
IMODIUM Instants is a medicine which is used to treat sudden short-lived (acute) attacks of diarrhoea in adults and children aged 12 years and over. The tablets contain loperamide hydrochloride which helps reduce diarrhoea by slowing down an overactive bowel, which helps the body to absorb water and salts from the bowel. IMODIUM Instants should be used in conjunction with oral rehydration therapy which replace fluids and salts lost during diarrhoea. You must talk to a doctor if you do not feel better or if you feel worse after 24 hours in case of acute diarrhoea.

What you need to know before you take Imodium Instants:
Do not take if you:
• If you are allergic to loperamide or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6 of the patient information leaflet).
• If it is for a child under 12 years old.
• If you have severe diarrhoea after taking antibiotics.
• If you are having a flare up of an inflammatory bowel condition like ulcerative colitis.
• If you are constipated or your stomach appears swollen (particularly in children with severe dehydration).
• If you have acute dysentery, the symptoms of which may include blood in your stools and a high temperature.
• If you have had a bacterial infection of the small intestine or colon.
• If you have a blockage of the bowel, including a blockage due to paralysis of the bowel wall.
• If you have an enlargement of the colon, particularly if this enlargement is very rapid.

Warnings and Precautions:
Talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse before taking IMODIUM Instants.
• IMODIUM Instants only treats the symptoms of diarrhoea. Whenever the cause can be identified, it should be treated appropriately.
• If you have AIDS and your stomach becomes swollen, stop taking the tablets immediately and contact your doctor.
• If you suffer from liver disease.
• If your diarrhoea lasts for more than 24 hours, please consult your doctor.
• If you have severe diarrhoea as your body loses more fluid, sugars and salts than normal.
• Do not take this product for anything other than its intended use (see section 1) and never take more than the recommended amount (see section 3). 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 IMODIUM® Instants.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Consult doctor or pharmacist -  This product should not be used during pregnancy and lactation unless the potential benefit of treatment to the mother outweighs the possible risk to the developing foetus or nursing infant.

Contraindications

Imodium use is contraindicated in patients under 12 years of age.
· Imodium Instants are contraindicated in patients with a known hypersensitivity to loperamide hydrochloride or to any of the excipients.
· Imodium should not be used as the primary therapy:- In patients with acute dysentery, which is characterised by blood in the stools and high fever
- In patients with acute ulcerative colitis
- In patients with bacterial enterocolitis caused by invasive organisms including Salmonella, Shigella, and Campylobacter
- In patients with pseudomembranous colitis associated with the use of broad spectrum antibiotics.
· Imodium should not be used when the inhibition of peristalsis is to be avoided due to the possible risk of significant sequelae including ileus, megacolon and toxic megacolon. Imodium must be discontinued promptly when constipation, abdominal distension or ileus develop.

Pharmacist Tip 

Dehydration is a common side effect of diarrhoea. Ensure that you are not only drinking enough fluids, but also you are repleneshing lost electrolytes as well.