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Imodium for urgency issues

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Posted 4/28/2010 6:59 PM (GMT 0)
Does anyone take imodium for urgency issues? If so, how much do you take?  I've had two resections in the past year and feel pretty good now except the urgency issues.  I've had accidents twice in the last week--once at work and once in my car trying to get to the bathroom. UGH.  Anyway, I don't want to take so much that I can't go at all.

Any advice?

Posted 4/28/2010 7:35 PM (GMT 0)
I take it for days I know I am not going to be around a bathroom - like a fieldtrip with my kid or while on vacation.  I can take one pill a day for two or three days and be OK (depending on what I eat I might take two pills a day) - I won't go during that time, but when it wears off, it wears off and I have to get to a bathroom.  So,  I have to plan to be around a bathroom after not taking it.  Sometimes when I take it after it wears off I feel like crap (no pun intended) for a couple days.  I think it messes with me or something.
Posted 4/28/2010 7:55 PM (GMT 0)
Every day normal stuff, I usually take one. My symptoms are worse in the evening and overnight, so I take one around 6 pm and this reduces my BM to around 6-10. If I have been having a really bad day like I ate something that is making the symptoms worse, I will take 2. When I first started taking it, I would feel really gassy and bloated, but since my resection I don't seem to have that problem. If that happens, you can try taking a GasX with it.

I have never had it stop me up so I couldn't go.
Posted 4/28/2010 8:01 PM (GMT 0)
I used to live on loperamides (immodium), taking between 10-20 a day and that jst used to make things bearable, sometimes I would still have days that I would have a lot of urgency even with taking large amounts. As on previous posts, my GI told me I could take up to 32 a day bit not all doctors agree to that amount. Have you tried questran at all, as I am on that as well as B12 injections which is also supposed to stop you running so much as well,especially with having resections. I have only had one resection so far, touch wood! Hope you can come to a solution, it isn't pleasant, I know from experience when you have accidents at work.I always keep a spare set of clothes with me, where ever I go!
Posted 4/28/2010 9:07 PM (GMT 0)
I have a problem with immodium plugging me up causing problems that way.Through careful experimentation I've found 1/3 of a pill is usually safe for me, 1/2 is too much. Suggest you go slow and see how it works for you.
Posted 4/29/2010 12:47 AM (GMT 0)
I have urgency issues do to damaged muscularity in the bottom end. I take liquid Immodium daily - one spoonful and it slows things down enough that I get enough of a warning to avoid accidents. I found the pills caused me to bind too much and cause potential fissures. The liquid seems to work best for me.
Posted 4/29/2010 12:49 AM (GMT 0)
I take up to 16 a day, my doctor wrote me a prescription for it.
Posted 4/29/2010 6:12 AM (GMT 0)
Lancelot I'll go and buy some liquid, perhaps thats the way for me too! ty
Posted 4/29/2010 3:16 PM (GMT 0)
I usually tend more towards constipation vs diarrhea. But if I eat the wrong thing or have TOO much stress I will immediately get diarrhea. If I use Immodium I only use 1/2 tab otherwise its stops me up too much. But what I have found that works good for the diarrhea and cramps is Librax. I take one and it helps to stop the d and the cramping at the same time. Good luck!
Posted 4/29/2010 3:59 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks everyone... I think I will try a 1/2 pill for starters. I don't have a problem with cramping--just the urgency and D, although I'm only 1 month post-op. Just can't handle the accidents. UGH.
Posted 4/29/2010 9:01 PM (GMT 0)
Loperamide is an opiate, and "causes constipation" (or pushes on in that direction, anyway) for that same reason. It works by the same mechanism.

The only reason that Loperamide (a relative of Fentanyl) is OTC, is that it does not cross the blood-brain barrier. So it has none of the pain relieving, mood-altering or sedative effects of other opiates that do cross the BBB.

Loperamide is often recommended as a means of managing opiate tapering/withdrawal, and not just for the anti-diarrheal effects. It mimics a few other "peripheral" effects of opiates, relieving some w/d symptoms.

Because most opiate tolerance/dependency happens in the nervous system, these are less of an issue with loperamide than with BBB-crossing opiates....however, they are still present to some degree and you should expect rebound symptoms as well as possible minor opiate-withdrawal-like symptoms if you have been using it heavily for long periods and then stop suddenly.

I strongly suggest a gradual taper when using it for long periods, and that if possible, you keep your use to a level where dependency or major rebound symptoms shouldn't be an issue.
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