|  | Conditions Treatments | Medical Conditions

Loperamide Hydrochloride & Hair Loss

Loperamide Hydrochloride--known by the trade name Imodium--is often used for the relief of short-term and chronic diarrhea. It is also indicated for reducing the volume of excrement from ileostomies in patients with previous bowel disease. A myth about loperamide use is that it causes hair loss after extended use.

  1. Proper Use of Loperamide Hydrochloride

    • It is recommended that adults should take 4mgs as the initial dose followed by 2 mg after each loose stool. Children 2 to 6 years old with short-term diarrhrea should take an initial dose of 3mg; 6 to 8 years should take an initial dose of 4mg and children 8 to 12 years should take an initial dose of 6mg. After the first treatment, children should take 1mg/20.2lbs of body wieght after a loose stool. loperamide hydrochloride is not indicated for children under the age of 2 years or those with chronic diarrhea.

    Common Side Effects

    • Often the side effects of loperamide hydrochloride are difficult to distinguidh from the symptoms of diarrhea (i.e. nausea, vomiting, dizziness). it has been reported that the medication may cause skin disorders such as rashes, hives, itching and Stevens-Johnson Syndrome. Dry mouth, urinary retention and tiredness have also been reported as less severe side effects.

    Severe Side Effects

    • Diarrhea will cause a depletion of electrolytes from the body. Therefore, medicine should be taken with plenty of water. Do not take medication if you are have live disease, fever, bloody stool, abdominal pain, you are pregnant or breast feeding. If you have any of those symptoms while taking Loperamide hydrochloride then you should immediately call a doctor, or poison control if overdose is suspected.

    Overdose

    • If loperamide is not taken as directed, an overdose can occur. CNS depression (i.e. respiratory depression, reduced heart rate), urinary retention and bowel paralysis can occur. If these symptoms are present, emergency medical care should be sought. In the case of an overdose, naloxone is often prescribed to counter overdose symptoms. Patients are then monitored for a minimum of 24 hours until vital signs improve.

    Misconceptions

    • Loperamide does not cause hair loss after extended use. While it is true that loperamide can depress the immune system, there has been no evidence that loperamide causes hair loss. However, diarrhea and hair loss can occur simultaneously in diseases that show affected nutrient levels in the body, including Addison's disease, Leishmaniasis, graft-versus-host to disease, hyperthyroidism or celiac disease. If you have both hair loss and diarrhea simultaneously, see a doctor immediately to rule out more severe disorders.

Medical Conditions - Related Articles