loperamide / simethicone
Imodium Multi-Symptom Relief is a combination medication that contains loperamide and simethicone. It's used to relieve symptoms of diarrhea and bloating and cramps from gas. Loperamide is an antidiarrheal medication, while simethicone helps ease gassiness (flatulence). Imodium Multi-Symptom Relief can be used for people over the age of 6. In general, you can take a tablet after each loose stool (up until the maximum daily dose). Imodium Multi-Symptom Relief is found over the counter as brand-name and generic versions. Side effects aren't common but can include tiredness and dizziness.
What is Imodium Multi-Symptom Relief?
How Imodium Multi-Symptom Relief works
Imodium Multi-Symptom Relief is a combination of two medications.
- Loperamide is an antidiarrheal medication. It works on the muscles of your intestines (gut) to slow down bowel movements. Loperamide also lessens the amount of fluid that enters your gut. This gives you more time between bowel movements and time to form stools.
- Simethicone is an antiflatulent medication. It helps gas bubbles come together and pass more easily through flatulence (gas) or burping.
Drug facts
Side effects of Imodium Multi-Symptom Relief
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- Tiredness
- Drowsiness
- Dizziness
Imodium Multi-Symptom Relief serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Stomach swelling or bulging
The following Imodium Multi-Symptom Relief side effects have also been reported
Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:
- Allergic reactions—skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
- Heart rhythm changes—fast or irregular heartbeat, dizziness, feeling faint or lightheaded, chest pain, trouble breathing
- Redness, blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin, including inside the mouth
- Severe stomach pain
- Trouble passing urine
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):
- Bloating
- Blurry vision
- Constipation
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Dry mouth
- Gas
- Nausea
- Vomiting
Get your GoodRx coupon
Pros and cons of Imodium Multi-Symptom Relief
Pros
- Tackles both symptoms of diarrhea and gas at the same time
- Available over the counter as a lower-cost generic
- Can use in children over 6 years old
Cons
- Only available as a tablet taken by mouth
- Doesn't treat the cause of diarrhea or gas, only the symptoms
- Not meant for long-term use
Pharmacist tips for Imodium Multi-Symptom Relief
- Take Imodium Multi-Symptom Relief on an empty stomach (1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal) after loose stools. Be sure to take the medication with a full glass of water.
- Keep track of how many tablets of Imodium Multi-Symptom Relief you've taken so you don't go over the maximum amount in a 24-hour period. Be sure you know how much medication you can take per day; you can find this information in the directions section on the packaging.
- Imodium Multi-Symptom Relief might cause dizziness, drowsiness, or tiredness. Don't drive, operate machinery, or do anything that requires you to focus until you know how the medication affects you.
- Drink plenty of clear liquids while you're treating your diarrhea with Imodium Multi-Symptom Relief. Having diarrhea can make you dehydrated.
- Stop taking Imodium Multi-Symptom Relief and contact a healthcare professional (HCP) if you have a fever, mucus in your stool, stomach swelling, or black or bloody stools. Also contact an HCP if your symptoms get worse or if your diarrhea lasts for more than 2 days. These can be signs of a more serious condition that you need other treatment for.
- Ask an HCP whether taking Imodium Multi-Symptom Relief is safe for you if you have trouble swallowing or conditions affecting your heart rhythm. This medication can raise the risk for serious heart rhythm problems, especially if you take more than what's recommended.
- Ask an HCP before you take Imodium Multi-Symptom Relief if you have liver problems. The liver helps break down and get rid of the medication from your body. When the liver doesn't work as well as it should (like with liver problems), the medication can build up in your body and reach higher levels. This can lead to serious side effects.
- Ask an HCP about options for treating your child's diarrhea, especially if your child is younger than 6 years old. Imodium Multi-Symptom Relief contains loperamide, which might cause serious side effects, such as sleepiness and low energy, in young children. Don't give this medication to children age 2 or younger.
Common questions about Imodium Multi-Symptom Relief
No, the loperamide in Imodium Multi-Symptom Relief isn't a controlled substance. Loperamide isn't known to have a risk of addiction or dependence. Keep in mind that it's possible for people to misuse loperamide by taking higher than recommended doses of the medication. This can raise the risk for serious and potentially life-threatening heart problems. Be sure to take Imodium Multi-Symptom Relief as directed on the packaging or as instructed by a healthcare professional.
Yes, Imodium Multi-Symptom Relief is available over the counter. You don't need a prescription from a healthcare professional to purchase it. Ask a pharmacist if you have trouble finding it at the pharmacy.
Imodium is a line of over-the-counter branded products, which includes Imodium Multi-Symptom Relief and Imodium A-D. Both Imodium Multi-Symptom Relief and Imodium A-D contain the antidiarrheal medication loperamide. But Imodium Multi-Symptom Relief has an additional anti-gas medication called simethicone. This means that while both can treat diarrhea, Imodium Multi-Symptom Relief also helps to treat bloating, cramps, and pressure caused by gas. It might not be necessary for you to take Imodium Multi-Symptom Relief if you have diarrhea only and you're not having symptoms of gas like pressure or bloating. In that case, Imodium A-D might be better suited to manage your diarrhea.
Imodium Multi-Symptom Relief takes about an hour to start helping with your diarrhea symptoms, but this can vary from person to person. It's recommended to take the medication after each loose stool up to the maximum amount per day written on the packaging. It can keep working for up to 3 days to relieve your diarrhea.
You can take a dose of Imodium Multi-Symptom Relief after each loose stool. Make sure to be aware of the maximum amount you can take per day, which depends on your age or weight. This information is written on the packaging. Taking more than the recommended amount of medication in a day can lead to serious side effects, including dangerous heart problems. Contact a healthcare professional if you're having diarrhea or gas symptoms that aren't controlled by Imodium Multi-Symptom Relief or if your symptoms last for more than 2 days.
Be sure to wait an hour before eating something after you take an Imodium Multi-Symptom Relief dose. This medication works best if you take it on an empty stomach (1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal).
Imodium Multi-Symptom Relief isn't meant to help with nausea. Ask a healthcare professional about other over-the-counter or prescription options if you're having nausea in addition to your diarrhea symptoms.
Speak to a healthcare professional if you're pregnant. There isn't enough information to know whether Imodium Multi-Symptom Relief is safe to take during pregnancy. In some studies, loperamide (an ingredient in Imodium Multi-Symptom Relief) caused harm to unborn babies. Discuss with your healthcare team about safe options to treat your diarrhea and gas during pregnancy. In general, remember to stay well hydrated if you experience diarrhea during pregnancy.
How to save using GoodRx
Risks and warnings for Imodium Multi-Symptom Relief
Imodium Multi-Symptom Relief can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Risk for serious heart problems
- Risk factors: History of heart rhythm problems | Taking higher than recommended doses of Imodium Multi-Symptom Relief or loperamide | Misuse of Imodium Multi-Symptom Relief
There have been some reported cases of serious and sometimes life-threatening heart problems, like abnormal heart rhythm, when people took more than the recommended doses of Imodium Multi-Symptom Relief or other products containing loperamide. Be sure to take Imodium Multi-Symptom Relief as directed.
Imodium Multi-Symptom Relief dosage
Tablet| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2mg/125mg | 24 tablets | $8.38 | $0.35 |
Typical dosage for Imodium Multi-Symptom Relief
Each tablet contains 2 mg of loperamide and 125 mg of simethicone. This medication works best if you take it on an empty stomach (1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal).
- Adults and children 12 years and older: The typical dose is 2 tablets by mouth after the first loose stool, then 1 tablet after each additional loose stool. Don't take more than 4 tablets in a 24-hour period.
- Children 9 to 11 years old (60 lbs to 95 lbs): The typical dose is 1 tablet by mouth after the first loose stool, then one-half of a tablet after each additional loose stool. Don't take more than 3 tablets in a 24-hour period.
- Children 6 to 8 years old (48 lbs to 59 lbs): The typical dose is 1 tablet by mouth after the first loose stool, then one-half of a tablet after each additional loose stool. Don't take more than 2 tablets in a 24-hour period.
- Children 2 to 5 years old (34 lbs to 47 lbs): Ask your child's pediatrician.
- Children 2 years and younger (up to 33 lbs): Don't use.
How much does Imodium Multi-Symptom Relief cost?
Imodium Multi-Symptom Relief contraindications
Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a person should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If you have any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to you, let your healthcare provider know because Imodium Multi-Symptom Relief will not be safe for you to take.
- Bloody or black stool
- Difficulty swallowing
- Allergy to loperamide
- Children younger than 2 years old
What are alternatives to Imodium Multi-Symptom Relief?
News about Imodium Multi-Symptom Relief
Imodium Multi-Symptom Relief images
