Imodium - a drug that stops diarrhea (diarrhea), holding in the intestines of stool. Despite the fact that you can buy Imodium at a pharmacy without a prescription, it is better still to use it on prescription, since the presence of intestinal infection it can cause irreparable harm to the body.

What is Imodium and how it works (curative effect)

Imodium belongs to the group of symptomatic antidiarrheal drugs. Produces its Belgian pharmaceutical company Janssen, part of Johnson & Johnson (USA).

So how do you act Imodium? The mechanism of action of this drug is associated with a decrease in the motor activity of the intestine. This occurs by inhibiting the action of neurotransmitters (specifically atsetolholina) - substances with which the pulses are transmitted through nerve cells (neurons) and from neurons to the smooth muscle cells of the intestine.

Imodium can help only in the case where non-infectious diarrhea is of a nature that in the initial stages of the disease is not as easy to install. In addition, any non-infectious diarrhea can always join the infection - in the intestine is not only useful, but also opportunistic and pathogenic microflora, which will cause such a process, that is an intestinal infection. When the delay of intestinal infection in the intestines of feces leads to the re-absorption into the blood fluid containing the toxins of pathogens and toxic products, resulting from the inflammatory process. This greatly aggravates the condition of the patient.

Side effects

Despite the fact that the suppression of nerve impulses is mainly in the intestinal wall, Imodium side has a depressing effect on the central nervous system (CNS) as fatigue and dizziness Dizziness - if the ground is slipping from under his feet . With an overdose of the drug may cause serious depression of the central nervous system, including the respiratory center, which may cause the patient to the emergency department.

Serious side effects can give Imodium and from the gastrointestinal tract: constipation Constipation - Watch out for food , Flatulence and intestinal cramps, accompanied by severe pain, can lead to intestinal obstruction Ileus - the reasons may be different And this state already requires emergency surgery. Especially hard this kind of complications occur among children - Imodium causing intestinal paresis, which often leads to the death of a child.

Imodium and have other side effects, less significant, but which also need to be considered when taking the drug. Therefore, despite the permitted Imodium without prescription at the pharmacy it is better to accept only on prescription.

Which diseases prescribed Imodium

Indications for use Imodium can be acute or chronic diarrhea of ​​non-infectious origin. Acute diarrhea can occur with stress, eating disorders regime, while taking certain drugs and so on. Chronic diarrhea occurs in various diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, congenital deficiency of certain digestive enzymes, severe chronic diseases of internal organs, various intoxications, and so on.

In all these cases, prescribe Imodium. But the patient must be always under the supervision of a physician: If signs of infection joining Imodium canceled.

Assign Imodium as if the patient ileostomy - removing holes of the small intestine to the abdominal wall. In this case, the patient selected individual dose, which allows you to adjust the allocation of feces from the stoma.

When you can not take Imodium

First of all, for suspected intestinal infection and intestinal obstruction. In chronic diarrhea Diarrhea (diarrhea) - a familiar nuisance   Imodium should not be prescribed in cases where the patient has in the gut diverticula - protrusion of the intestinal wall with its thinning - increase in stool may lead to rupture of the intestinal wall. Do not prescribe this drug as in erosive and ulcerative processes in the gut - it is also fraught with intestinal perforation.

During pregnancy, Imodium should not be used during the first trimester, the second and third trimesters, he was appointed only for health reasons. Naturally, self-pregnant woman taking this drug can not. Breastfeeding as a contraindication to receiving Imodium - it is excreted in breast milk and can cause intestinal paresis, followed by the development of obstruction in children. Children up to six years in our camp reception of the drug is contraindicated.

If abnormal liver function may occur overdose of Imodium and CNS, so if severe liver disease it is prescribed with caution.

Imodium - it's not the drug that you need to carry in your purse, as recommended by the advertisement. It should be used only on prescription.

Galina Romanenko

Duphalac - drugs used to treat constipation. The composition of Duphalac Duphalac - effective laxative   includes lactulose - kind of glucose Glucose: The energy source , A split in the colon by bacteria to acids, causing fluid retention in the intestine and stool softener enhancing motility. Dufalac Like other drugs with lactulose, used to treat chronic constipation.

Dufalac: all you need to know

• The drug takes effect immediately after not receiving - tend to alleviate the symptoms of chronic constipation is required from twenty-four to forty-eight hours.
• Duphalac can be administered to pregnant women and breastfeeding women, and children aged up to one year.
• Take the drug must be in strict accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. Measure out the liquid (Duphalac is available in syrup form) must be a special scoop or measured glass, not a regular table spoon.
• A slight change in color of the liquid is completely normal, but when the syrup has changed color or consistency, it is better to refuse to accept.
• Dufalac in the form of syrup may be mixed with water or juice or administered alone.
• Store this medication must be at room temperature in a dry, dark place.

Recommended dosage of the drug - fifteen milliliters twice a day for adults (including the elderly), ten milliliters twice a day for children aged from five to ten years, five milliliters twice a day - for children aged under five years. Do not take two doses at the same time - this can cause an overdose and cause intense diarrhea. The main signs of overdose - diarrhea, abdominal pain, dry hot skin, irregular heartbeat, thirst, muscle weakness.

Contraindications

• Duphalac is not recommended if you are hypersensitive galactose (milk sugar).
• Duphalac should be taken with caution for different types of diabetes.
• The drug should be discontinued, if the action of Duphalac cause intense, prolonged diarrhea (such cases are usually caused by an overdose of the drug).
• It does not take Duphalac simultaneously with antacids without first consulting a doctor. Some preparations of antacids contain specific chemical compounds that retard the splitting of lactulose (Duphalac active substance) in the intestine.

Potential side effects of Duphalac - flatulence (gas accumulation in the gut), abdominal pain Abdominal pain: Types and Symptoms , Diarrhea, nausea Nausea - there may be problems with the nervous system In very rare cases - vomiting.