imodium a-d

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 A-D treat?

Imodium A-D (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 A-D work?

Imodium A-D 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 is Imodium A-D rated?

pharmaranks gives Imodium A-D a composite score of 3.5 out of 5, currently based on 1 weighted source (FDA regulatory recall-safety data weighted highest). See our methodology at /how-we-rate.

How much does Imodium A-D 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 A-D?

pharmaranks is an independent ratings site, not a pharmacy — we don't issue coupons or sell Imodium A-D. To pay less, look for a store-brand version with the same active ingredient (Loperamide Hydrochloride), which is typically cheaper, and compare unit prices. 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 A-D?

Imodium A-D is marketed by Kenvue Brands. You can see Kenvue Brands's full profile, rating, and other products on pharmaranks.

Is Imodium A-D a brand-name or generic drug?

Imodium A-D 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 A-D available over the counter?

Yes. Imodium A-D is an over-the-counter (OTC) product — you can buy it without a prescription. Follow the label directions and ask a pharmacist if you're unsure whether it's right for you.

What forms does Imodium A-D come in?

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

What class of drug is Imodium A-D?

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

Is Imodium A-D FDA-registered?

Imodium A-D is on record with the U.S. FDA under application number NDA019860. You can verify this on its official FDA label.

Has Imodium A-D been recalled by the FDA?

Imodium A-D has no FDA recalls recorded under its own application in the openFDA enforcement database. Its recall-safety score reflects its manufacturer's overall recall record. This is general reference, not medical advice — check the FDA recall database for the latest alerts.

Is Imodium A-D safe?

There's no single safe-or-not verdict. pharmaranks gives Imodium A-D a recall-safety score of 70/100, based on its FDA recall history (no recalls under its own FDA application) — not an efficacy or side-effect rating. Review its FDA-label side effects and warnings before use, and always consult a licensed professional.