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Side Effects of Kaopectate

Kaopectate, also known as Loperamide, is a medication that helps to slow digestion so that the small intestine has time to absorb the nutrients and fluids from the foods you eat. Drugs.com states that this drug is also used to treat diarrhea and to reduce the amount of stool in people who have an "ileostomy (re-routing of the bowel through a surgical opening in the stomach)." Associated with this medication are mild to severe side effects.

  1. Allergic Reaction

    • Though allergic reactions to this drug are not common, they may still occur. If anyone taking this drug experiences symptoms of an allergic reaction, she should contact a doctor or seek medical assistance immediately. Signs of a severe allergic reaction include rash, hives, difficulty breathing, chest pain, swelling of the tongue, face, mouth and lips, fever, hearing loss and ringing in the ears, states drugs.com. Nausea, vomiting and severe constipation may also be symptoms of an allergic reaction to kaopectate.

    Side Effects: Nervous System

    • According to drugs.com, nervous system side effects may be mild or severe. Side effects have included weakness, fatigue, depression, anxiety, being easily irritated, insomnia, lack of coordination (limbs and motor) and loss of memory. Jerky movements, mental confusion, disorientation, difficulty walking, difficulty speaking, tremors and incontinence are also possible explains drugs.com. Acute toxicity, states drugs.com, may be the cause of many of these side effects such as tremors, confusion and disorientation.

    Side Effects: Nervous System Continued

    • Bismuth toxicity may cause the onset of weakness and fatigue, depression, anxiety, irritability, loss of memory, jerky movements and insomnia, reports drugs.com. Bismuth compounds are found in medicines such as kaopectate. A degenerative brain disorder known as myoclonic encephalopathy may also be caused by bismuth toxicity. This disorder of the brain does not occur often. But it seems that those ingesting bismuth for several years are more at risk. It may take several months for patients to recover from bismuth encephalopathy, states drugs.com.

    Further Side Effects

    • Additional side effects may occur, and in some cases, they may be serious. Salicylism, a toxic syndrome caused by overdoes of salicylic acid or any of the salicylates (found in medicines like kaopectate), has also been reported states drugs.com. Symptoms of this disorder include vertigo, diminished hearing, lethargy, confusion, ringing in the ears, vomiting and abdominal pain. Increased levels of nitrogen in the body, respiratory alkalosis (high base content), darkening of the tongue and stool and platelet disorder may also be possible.

    Prevention/Solution

    • Drugs.com warns patients not to use this medication if they have been experiencing black or tarry stools, blood stool or diarrhea caused by taking an antibiotic. To prevent dehydration, it is best to take this medication with plenty of fluids. Dehydration may occur if you exercise too much in heated areas while on this medication. If you have liver disease, mucous in your stool or are taking an antibiotic, drugs.com explains that you should talk with your doctor before taking this medication. At this time, there are not any known birth defects caused by taking this drug.

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