A variation on Should I Eat It

September 9, 2008 6:13 AM

Can/should I take immodium?

Took Pepto once last night and twice this morning. If it's working, it's not working as well as one would hope. Would switching to immodium and taking a dose of it now do terrible things to my insides?

posted by Mavri to health & fitness (14 comments total)

Why don't you call a pharmacist to be sure? There are 24 hour pharmacies. Pharmacists are trained in both prescription and over-the-counter medications.
posted by FergieBelle at 6:14 AM on September 9, 2008

I have done so before with success and without problems.

Warning: anecdata, IANAP
posted by Jakey at 6:22 AM on September 9, 2008

I don't think they have any nasty interactions, and I've done it before without OMG DYING but I agree that calling a pharmacist would be a good idea.

If you have insurance, do you have a 24-hour nurse line listed on the back of the card?

Or, is there a walk-in clinic you can go to quickly?
posted by sondrialiac at 6:22 AM on September 9, 2008

You don't describe your symptoms, but I assume it's diarrhea? I have used Imodium in the past after using Pepto-Bismol, and it didn't hurt me. These days I don't use P-B for diarrhea, and instead go for the Imodium first.

On preview, what Jakey said.
posted by Robert Angelo at 6:23 AM on September 9, 2008

I don't recall exactly what my field medical manual said on this subject, but I *think* it basically said that gut paralytics could be used as long as there wasn't any blood or pus/discharge involved. IANAD, but if you know you react OK to Immodium, I'd take it.
posted by aramaic at 6:27 AM on September 9, 2008

Thanks all, I usually avoid Pepto b/c it sucks, but I live in the ghetto and had to go with whatever the bodega had behind the counter (which included expired immodium, which I avoided). I'll see if the pharmacist at my local drug store has an opinion, but I think I'll take it.
posted by Mavri at 6:35 AM on September 9, 2008

If you're in the US and have insurance, they probably have a nurse on call hotline (check the back of your insurance card.) I can imagine that you might not want to leave your house, under the circumstances.
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 6:49 AM on September 9, 2008

A couple of weeks ago, I was feeling exactly like you were, and found this comment by Mid.

"When I asked my doctor the same question years ago, he strongly advised me to take Immodium. He said that the "get it out of your body" school of thought is seriously wrong -- having diarrhea does not make a bacterial or viral infection magically pass out of you. The real threat is dehydration, which Immodium will help stop.

Also, if this goes on for a few days, I think it's doctor time for you (if it isn't already). As noted, it's possible you have some sort of parasite that could get worse.
posted by Mid at 7:42 AM on February 22, 2006"

I took the Immodium, and I'm glad I did.
posted by Liosliath at 7:04 AM on September 9, 2008

It depends on your symptoms - was it something you ate or is it recurrent - regardless - it's a bandaid on a symptom. Relative to another thread about this.....
posted by watercarrier at 7:11 AM on September 9, 2008

"When I asked my doctor the same question years ago, he strongly advised me to take Immodium. He said that the "get it out of your body" school of thought is seriously wrong -- having diarrhea does not make a bacterial or viral infection magically pass out of you. The real threat is dehydration, which Immodium will help stop.

Just because diarrhea might not get badness out of your body does NOT mean that slowing down your bowels with Immodium is somehow better for you. Immodium is over the counter for reason: it's safe for most people to take most of the time. But would I ever recommend it to a patient not even knowing what their symptoms or other illnesses or allergies are? Never. Just a setup for badness.
posted by gramcracker at 8:06 AM on September 9, 2008

Not if your symptoms are the result of food poisoning. Then it's just going to make it worse. I speak from experience.
posted by bondgirl53001 at 2:04 PM on September 9, 2008

Oh fercrissakes. Take it for a day. Like the newbie resident says, it's OTC. If you're not feeling better the next day, then maybe it's time to go see a doc.
posted by Liosliath at 4:01 PM on September 9, 2008

I always start with a half dose of immodium, just because it can work, er, too well on me. I wouldn't hesitate to take it.

If you have serious cramps or a fever, get to a doctor or an emergency room.
posted by gesamtkunstwerk at 6:20 PM on September 9, 2008

I didn't have any warning symptoms or danger signs for doctor or ER, and I knew when I asked this question that I have no bad reaction to Immodium. It was specifically the interaction of Immodium right after Pepto that I was curious about. The pharmacist said it was fine, I took it, my large intestine has not melted or exploded as a result, so thanks everybody for your advice!
posted by Mavri at 3:53 PM on September 10, 2008