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Kaopectate II
Medicine Brands

Kaopectate II: Mechanism of Action, Active Ingredient, Uses, and Side Effects

by Healthlinear
written by Healthlinear

Kaopectate II Active Ingredient

Kaopectate II contains Loperamide as an active ingredient. Loperamide is used to treat diarrhea.

Kaopectate II Mechanism of Action

Loperamide helps to minimize fecal incontinence and urgency by increasing the tone of the anal sphincter.

Kaopectate II Side Effects

  • Constipation
  • Fatigue
  • Blood in stool
  • Rash
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Abdominal pain
  • Difficulty in breathing

What is the difference between Kaopectate and Imodium?

Kaopectate contains bismuth subsalicylate as an active ingredient while Imodium has loperamide as an active ingredient. Both are used in the treatment of diarrhea and stomach upset.

How long does it take for Kaopectate II to work?

After taking a single dose of 4mg, Kaopectate shows the onset of anti-diarrheal action in an hour.

Kaopectate and Imodium are trade names of?

Loperamide; an anti-diarrheal drug, is sold under the following trade names:

  • Imodium
  • Kaopectate 1-D
  • Maalox Anti-Diarrheal
  • Pepto Diarrhea Control

Are Kaopectate and Imodium the same?

Kaopectate is a drug that is used to treat diarrhea, nausea, heartburn, indigestion, gas, and stomach distress. It works by assisting in the slowing down of microorganisms that can cause diarrhea.

Imodium Capsule is an anti-diarrhea medication. It should not be given to patients who have dysentery.

Can I take Imodium and Kaopectate at the same time?

Taking some medications at the same time can produce an interaction known as drug-drug interaction. Interactions can reduce the effectiveness of one or more of the medications involved. They can also make you more susceptible to negative effects of drugs.

As a result, you should avoid taking Imodium A-D and Pepto-Bismol / Kaopectate at the same time. Putting them simultaneously won't make them work better for you. Rather, it can put you at risk for untoward effects.

Before using Imodium A-D, Pepto-Bismol, or Kaopectate, consult your doctor if you are taking any other medications.

References

https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/522#gref
Kaopectate 1-D (Generic Loperamide)
https://www.medicinenet.com/loperamide-oral_capsule_tablet/article.htm
https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-56331-4025/pepto-diarrhea-control-oral/loperamide-oral/details
https://www.medicoverhospitals.in/medicine/kaopectate
https://www.healthline.com/health/diarrhea/Imodium-ad-vs-pepto-bismol#interactions
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Imodium
Medicine Brands

Imodium A-D Uses, Side effects and Interactions

by Healthlinear
written by Healthlinear

Loperamide is marketed under the brand name Imodium, which is also stylized as Imodium A-D. Imodium, unlike Lomotil, is available over-the-counter (OTC). As a result, it's more generally accessible.

How does Imodium work?

Imodium contains Loperamide HCl as an active ingredient. It works by decreasing peristaltic movements.

Imodium A-D Side Effects

  • Drowsiness
  • Dizziness
  • Dry mouth
  • Constipation
  • Flatulence
  • Nausea

How long does Imodium take to work?

The onset of action of Imodium is one hour. Once you orally take the medicine, it takes almost an hour when the drug shows its effect.

How long does Imodium last?

It takes roughly 11 hours for the level of Imodium in your body to drop by half after you stop taking it. Imodium will have less and less of an effect on regulating your diarrhea after this period of time. The medicine will usually be eliminated from your body in 2 to 3 days.

Imodium A-D Uses

diarrhea

Is it safe to take Imodium during pregnancy?

It may be safe to take Imodium as directed on occasion during pregnancy, but there is no evidence that it is safe. Imodium is classified as a category C medication. Prescription and over-the-counter drugs are classified by the FDA to reflect how safe or hazardous they are during pregnancy. A category c medication is in the middle and falls into the gray area. There may have been some risk of harm to a fetus in animal studies, but there are no controlled pregnancy trials to assess the safety of category C medications. The general rule with most category C medications is that the benefits should outweigh any potential hazards. Pregnant women, on the other hand, should not make this decision on their own. They should instead consult with their doctor, who will advise them on the best course of action.

Imodium A-D Interactions

  • Cholestyramine
  • Bethanechol
  • Cisapride
  • Metoclopramide
  • Erythromycin

Imodium Dosage Forms

Imodium comes in the following formulations

  • Caplets are capsule-shaped tablets that help with indigestion.
  • Softgels are liquid-filled capsules that help with indigestion.
  • Oral solution is a liquid that is used to treat indigestion.
  • Imodium Multi-Symptom Relief caplets are capsule-shaped tablets that treat a variety of symptoms

References

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/imodium#how-it-works
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/imodium#fa-qs
Lomotil vs. Imodium: Differences, similarities, and which is better for you
https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/fda-limits-packaging-anti-diarrhea-medicine-loperamide-imodium-encourage-safe-use
https://www.imodium.com/anti-diarrhea-medicine
https://www.medicinenet.com/loperamide/article.htm#which_drugs_or_supplements_interact_with_loperamide
https://www.rxlist.com/imodium-drug.htm#description
Taking Imodium While Pregnant: What You Need to Know
https://www.imodium-me.com/how-does-imodium-work
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Loperamide
Medicines

Loperamide: Uses, Mechanism of Action and Warnings

by Healthlinear
written by Healthlinear

What is Loperamide?

Used to treat non-specific diarrhea, Loperamide; an anti-diarrheal long-acting drug is also a suitable candidate for the treatment of Chronic diarrhea or gastroenteritis. It is an OTC (over-the-counter) oral anti-diarrheal medication that was initially introduced in 1969. It was first used medically in 1976 and became available as a non-prescription medicine in 1988.

What is Loperamide used for?

Presently, the FDA has approved this drug for the treatment of numerous types of diarrhea, and it is also used off-label to treat diarrhea caused by chemotherapy. Non-medical use of the drug has grown in popularity in recent years, with applications ranging from self-management of opiate withdrawal effects to euphoria induction (getting high). A novel illness known as loperamide-induced cardiotoxicity has just been discovered. When it is used in toxic levels, patients might develop a variety of potentially lethal dysrhythmias.

Loperamide Mechanism of Action

Loperamide operates through a variety of methods to reduce peristalsis and fluid secretion, leading to a prolonged gastrointestinal transit time and higher fluid and electrolyte absorption from the gastrointestinal tract. It's a phenylpiperidine analog with a molecular structure comparable to diphenoxylate and haloperidol, which are opiate receptor agonists. The drug works by directly inhibiting peristaltic activity in the circular and longitudinal muscles of the intestinal wall. It binds to opioid mu-receptors and is a non-selective calcium channel blocker.

Pharmacokinetics

Loperamide is an agonist for the mu-receptor. CYP3A4, a cytochrome P450 enzyme, extracts it in the liver and metabolizes it. It is conjugated after that and eliminated in the bile. There is almost no active loperamide in the systemic circulation at recommended doses.

It has less than 2% bioavailability. Its onset of action is almost 1 hr, with a plasma half-life of almost 11 hours. The unaltered loperamide and its metabolites are mostly excreted in the feces.

Available Dosage Forms

Loperamide is available in the following different dosage forms:

  • Oro-dispersible tablets
  • Capsules
  • Tablets
  • Syrup

Loperamide Dosage

Traveler’s diarrhea or acute diarrhea

The initial recommended dose is 4mg

The subsequent dose is 2mg after every unformed stool (total dosage should not exceed 8mg per day OTC, and with prescription, maximum dosage per day limit is 16mg)

Loperamide Side Effects

Following are some undesirable effects:

  • Urinary retention
  • Fecal impaction
  • Ileus
  • Dizziness and drowsiness
  • Dry mouth and constipation
  • Other serious side effects associated with the use of the drug are toxic megacolon, necrotizing enterocolitis, toxic epidermal necrolysis, syncope, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, Syncope, Torsade de pointes, Ventricular tachycardia, Ventricular tachycardia, and Cardiac arrest.

Overdose

CNS effects can develop in children under the age of two who are given large amounts, or in children who have accidentally overdosed.

How to reverse undesirable effects produced by Loperamide?

Undesirable effects of the drug can be reversed by using Naloxone.

Loperamide Warnings

Loperamide contraindications are given below:

  • Children less than two years old
  • Bloody diarrhea
  • Acute ulcerative colitis,
  • Diarrhea related to bacterial infections

Why Loperamide is banned?

In recent times, there has been a considerable increase in the use and misuse of the drug as a manner of self-management of withdrawal symptoms and as a cheap way to produce euphoria or to achieve a euphoric mood. People have been using it to self-medicate to reduce the withdrawal symptoms of opiate addiction or to speed up the tapering process. High-dose loperamide has recently shown potential in this regard.

So, FDA has limited packaging for anti-diarrhea medication loperamide HCL (Imodium) to encourage safe use.

Indications

FDA approved uses of the drug Loperamide include

  • Various types of diarrhea such as traveler’s diarrhea
  • Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is associated with chronic diarrhea
  • Acute nonspecific diarrhea in patients two years of age and older
  • Decreasing ileostomy output
  • Chemotherapy-related diarrhea

Interactions

It shows interactions with the following drugs

  • Erythromycin
  • Fluconazole
  • Ketoconazole
  • Quinidine
  • Ritonavir

Loperamide Hydrochloride Brand Names

Is Loperamide the same as Imodium?

Yes. This drug is sold over the counter (OTC), under the brand name Imodium. Imodium contains Loperamide HCL as the active ingredient.

Is it safe to take Loperamide (Imodium) during pregnancy

Taking Loperamide during pregnancy may be said okay but there are no shreds of evidence. FDA classifies the drug as a Pregnancy Category C drug. A drug classified as category C medication is in the middle and falls into the gray area. There could be some risk of harm to a fetus in animal studies, but there are no controlled pregnancy trials to assess the safety of category C medications.

Reference

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18192961/
https://go.drugbank.com/drugs/DB00836
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2011.06.001
https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/fda-limits-packaging-anti-diarrhea-medicine-loperamide-imodium-encourage-safe-use
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557885/
Taking Imodium While Pregnant: What You Need to Know
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0885392411002636
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