Loperamide Use Warnings

What may interact with Loperamide?

Do not take this medicine with any of the following medications:

-
alosetron

This medicine may also interact with the following medications:

-cimetidine
-clarithromycin
-erythromycin
-gemfibrozil
-itraconazole
-ketoconazole
-quinidine
-quinine
-ranitidine
-ritonavir
-saquinavir

What should I tell my health care provider before I take Loperamide?

They need to know if you have any of these conditions:

-a black or bloody stool
-bacterial food poisoning
-colitis or mucus in your stool
-currently taking an antibiotic medication for an infection
-fever
-history of irregular heartbeat
-liver disease
-severe abdominal pain, swelling or bulging
-an unusual or allergic reaction to loperamide, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives
-pregnant or trying to get pregnant
-breast-feeding

What should I watch for while using Loperamide?

Do not take this medicine for more than 2 days without asking your doctor or health care professional. Do not use doses higher than those prescribed by your doctor or listed on the label. Check with your doctor or health care professional right away if you develop a fever, severe abdominal pain, swelling or bulging, or if you have have bloody/black diarrhea or stools.

You may get drowsy or dizzy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that needs mental alertness until you know how this medicine affects you. Do not stand or sit up quickly, especially if you are an older patient. This reduces the risk of dizzy or fainting spells. Alcohol can increase possible drowsiness and dizziness. Avoid alcoholic drinks.

Your mouth may get dry. Chewing sugarless gum or sucking hard candy, and drinking plenty of water may help. Contact your doctor if the problem does not go away or is severe. Drinking plenty of water can also help prevent dehydration that can occur with diarrhea.

Elderly patients may have a more variable response to the effects of this medicine, and are more susceptible to the effects of dehydration.

Where should I keep my medicine?

Keep out of the reach of children.

Store at room temperature between 15 and 25 degrees C (59 and 77 degrees F). Keep container tightly closed. Throw away any unused medicine after the expiration date.