Imodium-tolerance and side effects
#291609 - 11/28/06 09:26 AM
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michele
Reged: 06/02/03
Posts: 6886
Loc: southeastern michigan
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I know several of you take Imodium on a regular basis, do you find that you need to take more and more of it to control the D? Also, do you find that it makes you more tired or dizzy?
I used to be able to take one tablet and stop the D. Now, I take one and after going potty 2-3 more times, I take another one and if I go again, I take another one. I don't think I have ever taken more than 4 a day. It seems lately that I'm so much more tired and dizzy and the D continues. I do not know if its from the Imodium or the mtx I'm on. I know I am dehydrated but I'm also very nausous which makes it difficult to get things down.
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Taking it one day at a time.....
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I use Imodium and have noticed that in bad periods I would have to increase the amount I take. I also noticed that the chewable tablets were much more effective than the swallowed capsules. I think when we have bad D, the capsules don't get absorbed as well (just like nutrients/food aren't being absorbed as well). So it makes sense if you have a day where have more D, you may need more Imodium that usual.
I think although Imodium slows down the D, it doesn't help you from becoming dehydrated from the D. So you really need to get more water, even though the D is slowed down. I would think the tired/dizzy feeling is from your medications, dehydration or low nutrients (B12, iron, blood sugar etc).
The only advice I can think of is to get the Imodium chewables. I really hope you find some relief soon.
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Kat
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Makes good sense, never thought about that! I have to make a trip to the drug store and will pick up the chew ables! Thanks! 
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Taking it one day at a time.....
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Back when I was taking it all the time, yeah - I did find that I had to take more of it eventually to get the same effect. The good news about that, though, is that if you get to a point where you can go a month or so without taking it at all, your body kind of "resets". I used to take 3 at a time (!), now I take 1 and end up with C. LOL
As for side effects... my guess is that they're either from the mtx or dehydration, or both. I never had side effects of any kind from imodium. I know it's hard to get anything down when you're nauseous, but how about sucking on pieces of ice? It's better than nothing - you really have to get some water in you, or you'll end up in the hospital. 
*big hugs*
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Thanks Casey, I didn't remember anyone else talking about side effects from the Imodium but when I googled it, it did say dizziness and tiredness were a possible side effect. However, I think it is more likely dehydration or the higher dose of the mtx I did last week. I mean I'm not taking that much of the Imodium! 
I did manage to get some soup and a vitamin water down but it went right through me. I mean the noodles in the chicken noodle soup come immediately out looking the same as they went in!  That's probably way TMI there but who else can I tell these things too? 
I have an awful taste in my mouth and it seems no amount of breath mints, teeth brushing or sucky candies get rid of it. I just opened a bottle of Vernors and will let it go flat a bit and try that.
I'm trying to hold off on my Vicodin until a bit later as my boss will be in shortly and we have a few patients and I'm already so tired, I'm afraid I'll be nodding off at my desk. I really just want to go home and go back to bed! I'll have to shut the bedroom door though because the rest of the house is a mess and it drives me nutty looking at it! LOL!
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Taking it one day at a time.....
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While taking imodium I noticed that I would have to save the imodium for emergencies only. Using it on a regular basis did nothing for me. Too often and it didn't work any longer.
I would use it for travelling etc and drink lots of water with it. It's good for the imodium and for the IBS
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Lana_Marie
Proud Mommy to Bentley Taylor
Born May 12, 2004 9lbs, 3oz
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Hi Michele,
Yes, I used to have the same side effects as you are experiencing now. I noticed the effects increased the longer I used the product. Especially feeling lethargic. I had no other choice but to find a way to minimize my usage. Obviously side effects are user specific and one needs to listen to what their body is telling them. I've copied a post of mine below regarding the use of Immodium with a different twist in case you find it useful. Here's to figuring it out so you can begin to feel better!
"Hello,
You are talking to a former Immodium addict. I'll try to save you lots of time and frustration by chiming in with my two cents...since you put it out there to us
I used to take Immodium to compensate for my poor eating choices when I was out socially. As Sand stated, some of the time it worked but once your gut is aggravated there is no amount of Immodium that can stop you from getting sick. Honestly, looking back in time I now see that I took Immodium to avoid me truly dealing with my IBS head on. I wasn't willing to admit that my gut could no longer tolerate the food things that gave me pleasure for so long. My intuition told me that it was time to take this condition seriously and put some work into the necessary changes that needed to take place, BUT I didn't want to do the work to make it so. In many ways I was acting childish when what my IBS was needing me to do was to grow up and take charge of my life.
Three years later, I am IBS stable. I have completely evolved as a human being in the way I handle stress and the acceptance of "what is" (I have IBS), and the food choices I make. My overall health has improved since most of the foods I needed to eliminate were toxic to my body to begin with. Little did I know that my IBS was a blessing in disguise.
All this to say, is this, keep the Immodium in your purse just in case. Go out socially but choose wholesome choices when you're there and just in case there aren't any (till you become stable) eat something IBS safe before you go or take a little something with you that is. I still keep the Immodium in my purse but haven't used it in over 2 years now all because I've learned the truth about how to be with my IBS condition. Your IBS condition is calling you forth to take action with it. Immodium puts off the inevitable to a later time. I know you can do this! Please feel free to write me if you want to talk further. Keep smiling, things will get better!
~Alicia "
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Thanks Alicia. I have had IBS since I was 15, I'm 36. I do eat according to heathers guidelines and I know what my tolerances are. I used to be so C that I took miralax daily. Than, this last winter, overnight, I switched to extreme D. I have also been diagnosed with an auto immune disease and although my blood work came back negative for crohn's, they aren't convinced I don't have it as well.
Right now, I'm so sick, I eat little more than crackers, soup and bread and it goes right through me. My many doctors are aware of this but haven't come up with any answers yet. I try to take as little Imodium as possible but my poor tushy is red and raw and its hard to work while RUNNING to the potty every ten minutes. 
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Taking it one day at a time.....
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Michele,
I am so sorry that you are feeling so badly
The chicken soup thing you described earlier, I also know all about. When you are at this particular level of sensitivity it seems all you can do is continue doing what you are doing (following the strictest diet). It's apparent that you are a regular poster here so you probably already know this....are you taking probiotics right now? They seemed to help me a little when I was as sick as you are.
Also, meditation (different than hypnosis) helped to settle my mind which of course feeds our IBS problems.
Also my best friend became the baked potato with egg beaters on top. Anything to help plug things up that is still healthy for you.
I wish I oould give you a big hug because my heart is so with you right now. I will check to see if you have an email so I can share a bit more with you offline.
In the meantime, keep smiling that great smile you have in your pic!
~Alicia
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I don't think I've ever had those side effects with Imodium. I think it's probably your other medications - or the D itself - that's making you tired and dizzy.
I think you should try taking two capsules (4 mg) as your first dose and then another capsule (2 mg) if you continue to have D. When I was at my worst, I would take the recommended starting dose of 2 capsules and then 1/2 -1 capsule following each BM, if I continued to have D. This helped. To me half a dose or 1 mg, is good as a maintenance dose or preventive, but when I'm actually having an attack, I take however much I need to stop the attack. I've also found that taking lorazepam helps with the spasms, but I only use that for really bad, painful attacks.
HTH. I hope you're feeling better today. Having D on top of everything else sucks.
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Thanks, I just got a script for lomotil, hopefully that will slow things down! 
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Thanks Alicia. I am taking probiotics but my system is just wacky right now. I just found out I have strep as well and I'm sure my body isn't going to like the antibiotics one little bit! However, the doc did give me a script for lomotil so hopefully that will slow things down for the time being!
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Wow, I was totally flabbergasted to see that you've never taken more than 4. Back when I was having really, really, really awful D, I took lots of Imodium and Levsin every day. The key is to take them BEFORE you get sick. So, the second I got up every morning, I would take 2 Levsin and 2-4 Imodium (depending on how bad I felt). After that I took a minimum of 1 Imodium and 1 Levsin every four hours. Most of the time it was more -- I took anywhere from 6-10 Levsin and 8-15 Imodium every day. I tapered off late in the day. It hardly ever made me C -- I usually had one BM during the day and then 2-3 BMs later at night. I started out taking the Imodium/Levsin on an as-needed basis when I felt bad, but at that point it was usually too late.
I do think your body gets used to it to a certain extent and you have to increase it -- but on the other hand, if you need it, then you need it. I never had any side effects from Imodium -- I agree with everyone else that it's got to be the dehydration or your other meds making you weak/dizzy. Every doctor I've asked has said that Imodium is completely safe long-term, even in higher doses.
I'm having pretty bad D again now that my gallbladder's out, so once again I'm taking Levsin on a clockwork schedule as a preventative. I rarely take Imodium anymore, though, because it just makes me C and then the next time I go it's extremely painful and crampy. I recently started back at work after being at home for several months, and I've panicked a couple times and taken Imodium, and boy have I paid for it later.
You might want to try taking an anti-spasmodic regularly as a preventative. I don't know if you can do so safely with your other meds or not. I've heard you mention using Donnatal, but if you're taking an anti-spasmodic regularly, you might want to use something that isn't as strong and doesn't have phenobarbital. I'm pretty sure that the main anti-spas in Donnatal is hyoscyamine, which is the same thing in Levsin, only the dose in Donnatal is about three times the strength. I haven't tried any of the other anti-spasmodics except Bentyl, which didn't work and which I am pretty sure I am mildly allergic to.
Anyway, something to think about -- that's the only thing I've ever managed to find that's really truly helped. I did just get a script from my doctor for Questran, and I'm really hoping that's going to help. I haven't tried it yet.
I saw your other posts about the hair loss and strep. No words of advice, just wanted to say how sorry I am about all the rotten things that seem to be happening to you. I know you said you didn't want to deal with it, but if you start to feel worse I hope you do go to the hospital.
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jen
"It's one of the most serious things that can possibly happen to one in a battle -- to get one's head cut off." -- LC
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Thanks Jen. I had to stop the donnatol because it dried out my already dry eyes too much! The RA effects my eyes, I've pretty much got the uvietis under control with the injections but the dryness is still really bad and when I take the donnatal, no amount of lubricating eye drops helps. I really need to talk about getting the punctual plugs for my dry eyes but I just haven't had the energy to deal with it lately!
I took my first lomotil this morning and so far so good. I had two bouts of D before I left home and this stopped it almost immediately! We will see what happens after lunch!
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Actually Immodium can cause low bp. You have to make sure you eat and rink when taking it or you're at risk. I had a scary episode a while back when it caused my bp to drop so low I could not move. I sat down in a chair and then couldn't move my legs for hours! Luckily (as the out of hours doc thought I was lying) I have cousins who are MDs and they sussed out what it was and once I was lying down flat and had eaten I recovered. But it was scary!
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Hmm, that would explain why my bp was low at my last visit. The steroids I am on cause it to be high so when it registered at something like 99/50 they were kinda freakin! I guess that would explain the dizziness!
I haven't taken any in a couple of weeks, been using the lomotil which seems to be working pretty well for me at the moment!
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