imodium

How long does Loperamide Hydrochloride stay in your body?

The elimination half-life of loperamide hydrochloride is about 10.8 hours (range 9.1 to 14.4 hours) — the time it takes the body to clear about half of it. As a rule of thumb, a medicine is mostly gone after roughly 4 to 5 half-lives, though this varies from person to person with age and kidney or liver function. Per the FDA label, the apparent elimination half-life of loperamide is 10.8 hours (range 9.1–14.4 hours), so most of a dose clears in roughly 2–3 days. Loperamide is metabolized in the liver (mainly CYP2C8 and CYP3A4) via N-demethylation; the label does not characterize the N-demethyl metabolite's half-life, so no metabolite-specific clearance number is given. People with liver impairment clear it more slowly (reduced first-pass metabolism — use with caution); the label reports no pharmacokinetic data in kidney impairment, and no major disposition differences in elderly patients.

This is general information, not medical advice. It doesn’t tell you when a drug test would read negative (tests detect substances for different, often longer, windows) or when it’s safe to take another dose — ask your pharmacist or prescriber. Source: IMODIUM (loperamide hydrochloride) capsule — DailyMed FDA label.

Frequently asked questions

What does Imodium treat?

Imodium (Loperamide Hydrochloride) may be used to treat functional colonic diseases, diarrhea, bacillary dysentery, based on NIH RxClass drug-classification data (conditions a drug may treat — not a verbatim copy of the FDA-approved label). This is general reference, not medical advice.

How does Imodium work?

Imodium is a opioid agonist. Opioid agonists bind opioid receptors (mainly mu receptors) on nerves in the brain and spinal cord, dampening the release of pain-signaling chemicals so fewer pain messages reach the brain, which relieves moderate to severe pain.

How much does Imodium cost?

Nobody can tell you what you will pay — your price is set by your insurer's formulary, your deductible and the pharmacy's markup, and none of those are published. What IS published is what the pharmacy paid to acquire it: about $0.05 per ml, per the CMS NADAC survey. Treat that as the floor, not the quote — ask the pharmacist for the cash price as well as your copay, because for cheap generics the cash price often wins.

Is there a coupon or discount for Imodium?

pharmaranks is an independent ratings site, not a pharmacy — we don't issue coupons or sell Imodium. To pay less, ask your prescriber or pharmacist whether a generic equivalent exists, check the manufacturer's copay/savings card and patient-assistance program, and compare a pharmacy discount card against your insurance copay. Prices vary by pharmacy, insurance, and location, so always confirm at the counter. This is general reference, not medical or financial advice.

Who makes Imodium?

Imodium is marketed by J and J Consumer Inc. You can see J and J Consumer Inc's full profile, rating, and other products on pharmaranks.

Is Imodium a brand-name or generic drug?

Imodium is a brand-name product with the active ingredient Loperamide Hydrochloride. Lower-cost generic equivalents containing Loperamide Hydrochloride are available — ask your pharmacist.

Is Imodium available over the counter?

No. Imodium is a prescription (Rx) medication in the US — you need a prescription from a licensed clinician (in person or via telehealth); it isn't sold over the counter. For some conditions there are OTC alternatives — ask your pharmacist.

What forms does Imodium come in?

Imodium is currently marketed as capsule and solution, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory.

What class of drug is Imodium?

Imodium is classified as opioid agonist, per the FDA's Established Pharmacologic Class.

Is Imodium FDA-registered?

Imodium is on record with the U.S. FDA under application number NDA017694. You can verify this on its official FDA label.