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Imodium

Lori2

By Lori2
in Coping with Celiac Disease

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Lori2 Contributor
Lori2
Posted

My GI suggested that I use Imodium on a daily basis--as needed. I use one to three daily. Is there any problem with this on a long-term basis?

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Dellers Apprentice
Dellers
Posted
  On 9/19/2010 at 2:39 AM, Lori2 said:

My GI suggested that I use Imodium on a daily basis--as needed. I use one to three daily. Is there any problem with this on a long-term basis?

I was using these non stop.I would not leave the house without them in my bag ( dont tell my gp I still have them ) My doctor nearly jumped on me over them. According to him they can be bad for the liver long term. Only take them if you really need to.

ravenwoodglass Mentor
ravenwoodglass
Posted

It's better to avoid what is giving you D in the first place. I don't like to take it when I am glutened unless I absolutely have to. The reason is because I want the offending substance out of my body as quickly as it will get out of there.

Are you having trouble with the diet? How long have you been gluten free? Are you avoiding dairy, we usually need to in the beginning? Are you avoiding CC? Are you taking Immodium as a prophlactic or only when you have actual D?

modiddly16 Enthusiast
modiddly16
Posted

I always have immodium on hand for emergency purposes and have been known to use them to stop things every once in awhile should I have an important event or meeting that I have to be there for. I know its hard sometimes to control that type of feeling but it really is best to get that stuff out of your system...immodium just backs it up and you'll have to deal with it later. I use it, but if you rely on it it certainly could be more damaging then helpful!

Freedom Newbie
Freedom
Posted

I use immodium on a daily basis and my GI said it was OK but try to cut it to two per day. I take 2 or 3, depending uypon the circumstances (travel, meetings, sociual outings, etc.) I do have a "gluten-free" day every week...stay close to home and alone. It's a heck of a way to live but at least I am living and coping. THANK YOU IMMODIUM. I wouldn't be without it.

Wing Rookie
Wing
Posted

I guess at the end of the day whatever works is good. My doc told me to take an immodium every day a few years ago. I said thank you for the advice and basically never trusted another thing he ever told me without questioning. I personally think immodium everyday is a horrible idea. Again, "personally think". That doesn't mean I'm trying to disuade you from taking it. If you feel it is helping you and allowing you to live a more easily and increasing your quality of life then go for it. Immodium essentially foams up in your stomach and dehydrates your system to stop the diarrhea. It can lose its effectiveness after many doses also. It does nothing to stop you from getting diarrhea in the first place, it's just a band-aid style measure of relief. Keep in mind that most regular Docs and even most GI's don't know the slightest thing about how to treat people with chronic digestive disorders unless it is colitis, crohn's, cancer, or some other serious, easy to diagnose problem. Take what they say with alot of caution. All my docs and most of my GI's except for 1 or maybe 2 ever gave me advice that led me to feel any better. In fact they all made me feel worse, and I saw the kings of the field. I'm talking the best and most distinguished leaders of the gastrointestinal world.

chere1020 Newbie
chere1020
Posted

Drs are funny. I was told NOT to take immodium, to get the gluten out of my system, my dr also told me that it could make the diaherra worse, sooooooo...... My question is, why are you still having a problem? My problems stopped when I went gluten free. I also cant have cheese (milk and ice cream are okay but not cheese). Cant have regular beef either, have to eat organic if any. No peanut butter in just peanut butter form either. If you are gluten free and still having symptoms my opinion is you havent "hit" what is causing the problems and immodium everyday in my opinion is never a good idea. It is covering up a symptom of something bigger going on. Good luck, think fresh fruit, fresh veggies and fresh meat. :-)

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  • 4 months later...
youslypoots Newbie
youslypoots
Posted

Hi, new to the forum. Been taking loperimide which is generic Immodium for 10 years now to stop idiopathic chronic diarrhea. I am 24 years old and I feel really stupid for just suffering with it all this time instead of figuring out the cause. The GI doc I had 10 years ago was a legit ahole and told me it was nothing to worry about and said taking Immodium long term is completely safe. Now my body is probably dependent on it and I probably have a higher cancer risk due to untreated celiac disease... I'm starting a gluten-free diet asap, as in tomorrow but does anyone know where I can find information about cancer risk for my situation? I really don't want to get cancer and I'd like to know if I go gluten free will it reverse any or all of the damage caused in the last 10 years...

Thanks a lot

youslypoots Newbie
youslypoots
Posted

Also, forgot to mention that I started out taking 2-4(2mg pills) in 2000 and now I am up to 12-16 (2mg pills) for a total of 24-32mg per day. I take 4 pills with each meal and more if I still get D. And yes I know how ridiculous this is. Please help!

mushroom Proficient
mushroom
Posted

Hi youslypoots, and welcome to the forum.

What's done is done and you can't go back on that. Let's move forward and get you off what was causing you to take them in the first place. That has the best chance of preventing you from getting cancers. :) It's just like with smoking (I was a smoker) - you can't take back all those years of smoking, but you can stop damaging your lungs more and you can hope to regain better function in your lungs and get rid of that chronic cough :D

So what can we do to help you give gluten the boot?? (if gluten is in fact your problem - I assume you have concluded so and that is why you are here)

ravenwoodglass Mentor
ravenwoodglass
Posted
  On 2/4/2011 at 2:00 AM, youslypoots said:

Hi, new to the forum. Been taking loperimide which is generic Immodium for 10 years now to stop idiopathic chronic diarrhea. I am 24 years old and I feel really stupid for just suffering with it all this time instead of figuring out the cause. The GI doc I had 10 years ago was a legit ahole and told me it was nothing to worry about and said taking Immodium long term is completely safe. Now my body is probably dependent on it and I probably have a higher cancer risk due to untreated celiac disease... I'm starting a gluten-free diet asap, as in tomorrow but does anyone know where I can find information about cancer risk for my situation? I really don't want to get cancer and I'd like to know if I go gluten free will it reverse any or all of the damage caused in the last 10 years...

Thanks a lot

Your not the only one who has lived long term off of immodium. Doctors told me the same thing. Try not to worry too much about the cancer issue. Your chances of developing cancer go down each day you are gluten free and in about 5 years it will be the same as someone without celiac. I seem to recall seeing research somewhere that said that a celiac eating gluten free actually has a longer life expectancy than the general public. Wish I had bookmarked it. Anyway there are a lot of folks here that have been undiagnosed much longer than you and are cancer free. Your biggest concern right now is learning how to eat and live safely now that you know you need the diet. And your in the right place to do so. Ask any questions you need to and welcome to the board.

  • 8 years later...
Susie831 Newbie
Susie831
Posted

https://celiac.org/about-the-foundation/featured-news/2016/06/fda-issues-strong-warning-regarding-loperamide-imodium-use/

 

Here's what the FDA says about Imodium use for Celiacs.

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