This article describes loperamide oral capsule’s dosages and strength and gives details on how to take it. You’ll also find information on cost savings and coupon options for loperamide.
Loperamide oral capsule is a generic version of the brand-name drug Imodium A-D. Loperamide also comes in other oral forms: tablet, solution, and liquid suspension. But those forms aren’t described in this article. To learn more about those forms, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Boxed warning: Risk of serious heart-related problems
Loperamide has a boxed warning for the risk of serious heart-related problems. These include arrhythmia, torsades de pointes, cardiac arrest, and sudden death if loperamide is taken in dosages higher than recommended. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
For details about the recommended dosage of loperamide, see the “Dosage of loperamide” section below. Also, see the end of this article for more information.
Form and strength of loperamide
Loperamide oral capsule comes as follows:
- Form: capsule that you swallow
- Strength: 2 milligrams (mg)
Dosage of loperamide
This article describes the recommended dosages for loperamide oral capsule. The drugmaker provides these dosages.
If your doctor prescribes this medication, you should follow the dosage they prescribe. Your doctor will determine the dosage that best meets your needs. Do not change your dosage of loperamide oral capsule without your doctor’s recommendation.
Risk of serious heart-related problems
As noted above, loperamide has a boxed warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) about the risk of serious heart-related problems. These problems are discussed in detail at the end of this article.
Serious heart problems were reported in people who took too much loperamide. In some cases, an overdose of loperamide can be life threatening. Due to this risk, you should not take dosages higher than prescribed by your doctor to treat diarrhea symptoms.
See the “Overdose of loperamide” section below for more information on loperamide overdose symptoms.
Usual recommended dosages of loperamide in adults
Loperamide is approved to treat acute diarrhea symptoms in adults. “Acute” means it comes on suddenly and typically requires short-term care. Usually, you’ll take a recommended dosage of loperamide to treat acute diarrhea. Then, you’ll take loperamide as prescribed for up to 2 days to manage diarrhea symptoms.
Loperamide also is approved to treat chronic diarrhea from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in adults. “Chronic” means it continues or repeats. You’ll take a recommended dosage of loperamide to treat the symptoms of diarrhea. Then, you’ll take loperamide as prescribed for up to 10 days to manage diarrhea symptoms.
Whether your diarrhea symptoms are acute or chronic, you’ll want to avoid dehydration. To do so, drink plenty of water. Or you can drink fluids with electrolytes as recommended by your doctor or pharmacist.
Dosage for diarrhea
The recommended dosages for adults in the table below are in milligrams (mg). If acute diarrhea isn’t managed after 2 days, call your doctor.
| Condition | First dose | Maintenance dosage | Maximum dosage |
| acute diarrhea | 4 mg after the first episode of diarrhea | 2 mg after each loose stool | 16 mg per day for up to 2 days |
| chronic diarrhea from IBD | 4 mg after the first episode of diarrhea | • 2 mg after each loose stool until diarrhea eases • Then your doctor will likely lower your dosage to 4–8 mg per day, to be taken as a single dose or in divided doses. | 16 mg per day for up to 10 days |
Dosages of loperamide in children
Loperamide is approved to treat acute symptoms of diarrhea in children ages 2 years and older. “Acute” means it comes on suddenly and typically requires short-term care.
Children’s dosages are based on age and body weight in kilograms (kg).* You’ll want to help your child avoid dehydration while having diarrhea symptoms. So make sure your child drinks plenty of water. Or your child can drink fluids with electrolytes as recommended by their doctor or pharmacist.
* For reference, 1 kg is about 2.2 pounds (lb).
Dosage for children ages 2–5 years
For children ages 2–5 years weighing 13–20 kg, the oral solution form of loperamide should be used. This over-the-counter liquid medication contains 1 mg of loperamide per teaspoon (5 milliliters [mL]) of solution.
The recommended dosages for children ages 2–5 years are in the table below. Dosages are in mg. If diarrhea isn’t managed after 2 days, call your child’s doctor.
| Age | Body weight in kg | Approximate body weight in lb | Recommended dosage | Maximum dosage |
| 2–5 years | 13–20 kg | 29–44 lb | • first day: 1 mg three times per day • following day: 1 mg per 10 kg of body weight after each loose stool | 3 mg per day for up to 2 days |
Dosage for children ages 6–8 years
The recommended dosages for children ages 6–8 years are in the table below. Dosages are in mg. If diarrhea isn’t managed after 2 days, call your child’s doctor.
| Age | Body weight in kg | Approximate body weight in lb | Recommended dosage | Maximum dosage |
| 6–8 years | 20–30 kg | 44–66 lb | • first day: 2 mg two times per day • following day: 1 mg per 10 kg of body weight after each loose stool | 4 mg per day for up to 2 days |
Dosage for children ages 8–12 years
The recommended dosages for children ages 8–12 years are in the table below. Dosages are in mg. If diarrhea isn’t managed after 2 days, call your child’s doctor.
| Age | Body weight in kg | Approximate body weight in lb | Recommended dosage | Maximum dosage |
| 8–12 years | more than 30 kg | more than 66 lb | • first day: 2 mg three times per day • following day: 1 mg per 10 kg of body weight after each loose stool | 6 mg per day for up to 2 days |
Dosage for children ages 13 years and older
The recommended dosages for children ages 13 years and older are in the table below. Dosages are in mg. If diarrhea isn’t managed after 2 days, call your child’s doctor.
| First dose | Maintenance dosage | Maximum dosage |
| 4 mg after the first episode of diarrhea | 2 mg after each loose stool | 16 mg per day for up to 2 days |
Dosage adjustments for loperamide
Your doctor will prescribe a dosage of loperamide oral capsule based on several factors. These include:
- the specific condition being treated and how severe it is
- your age
- other health conditions you may have
Frequently asked questions
Below are answers to some commonly asked questions about loperamide oral capsule and its dosage.
Do older adults need to take lower doses of loperamide?
No, older adults ages 65 years and older don’t need a dosage adjustment of loperamide in most cases. In studies of the drug, no major differences in safety were found in older adults compared with younger people.
However, doctors might not prescribe loperamide to older adults. This is because older adults may be more likely to have heart rhythm problems. They may also be more sensitive to medications that have heart-related risks.
See the “Boxed warning for loperamide” section at the end of this article for more information.
Talk with your doctor if you have concerns about taking loperamide, considering your age or health conditions.
Is loperamide oral capsule available over the counter?
Yes, loperamide is available in 1-mg and 2-mg capsules over the counter (OTC). To learn more, ask your doctor. They can discuss whether the prescription or OTC form is right for you.
Is loperamide taken long term?
No, doctors don’t typically prescribe loperamide oral capsule as a long-term treatment. Instead, they usually prescribe it to be taken for no more than 2 days to treat symptoms of acute diarrhea. “Acute” means it comes on suddenly and usually requires short-term care.
For chronic diarrhea from inflammatory bowel disease, doctors prescribe loperamide to be taken for up to 10 days. “Chronic” means it continues or repeats.
If you have questions about how long you should take loperamide oral capsule, talk with your doctor.
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You’ll swallow loperamide oral capsule. You’ll take it as prescribed to manage diarrhea symptoms. Take loperamide oral capsule with plenty of water. This helps ensure that your body has enough fluids to prevent dehydration from diarrhea.
If it’s hard for you to swallow capsules, view this article. It provides suggestions on how to swallow medications that come in pill form.
Loperamide is also available over the counter in other forms. These include a tablet, liquid solution, and liquid suspension (mixture). Doctors typically suggest one of these forms for children. They may also suggest these forms for people who have difficulty swallowing capsules.
Also, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you’re having difficulty taking your medication. They can offer recommendations about taking it.
Loperamide coupon
Visit this page to access Optum Perks coupons and get price estimates for loperamide when you use the coupons. These coupons can provide significant savings on your prescription costs.
Note: Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with insurance copays or benefits.
Overdose of loperamide
It’s important that you do not take more loperamide oral capsule than your doctor prescribes. Doing so can increase your risk of serious heart-related problems. These include arrhythmia, torsades de pointes, cardiac arrest, and sudden death. Read about this boxed warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) at the end of this article.
Symptoms of loperamide overdose
Symptoms of an overdose can include:
- nausea or vomiting
- pain in your abdomen or chest
- severe constipation
- severe drowsiness
- dizziness or fainting
- feeling as though your heart is pounding or skipping beats
In extreme cases or if left untreated, overdose can lead to death.
What to do if you take too much loperamide
If you think you’ve taken too much loperamide, call your doctor or pharmacist right away. Or you could call 800-222-1222 to speak with someone at America’s Poison Centers. You can also use its online resource. If you have severe symptoms, call 911 or a local emergency number immediately. You can also go to the closest emergency room.
What to ask your doctor
This article describes the usual recommended dosages for loperamide oral capsule. If your doctor prescribes this medication, they’ll determine the dosage that’s best for you.
Do not change your dosage of loperamide oral capsule without your doctor’s recommendation. You should take loperamide oral capsule exactly as your doctor prescribes it. Let your doctor know if you have concerns or questions about your treatment plan.
Here’s a list of some possible questions you may want to ask your doctor:
- If I have liver problems, do I need a dosage adjustment for loperamide oral capsule?
- Does taking the maximum dosage of loperamide oral capsule increase my risk of side effects?
- If I take other medications that interact with loperamide oral capsule, will I need a lower dosage of loperamide?
Boxed warning for loperamide
Loperamide has a boxed warning for the risk of serious heart-related problems. These include arrhythmia, torsades de pointes, cardiac arrest, and sudden death if loperamide is taken in dosages higher than recommended. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Taking dosages of loperamide higher than recommended can increase these risks. Due to this risk, you should not take dosages higher than prescribed by your doctor to treat diarrhea symptoms.
Loperamide is not recommended for use in children younger than age 2 years.
Out of caution, doctors may not prescribe the drug to people with certain risk factors for heart rhythm problems. Risk factors include:
- taking other drugs that can cause specific changes in heart rhythm; examples are amiodarone, sotalol, and quinidine
- having a history of arrhythmias or other heart problems
- having long QT syndrome
- having electrolyte problems
- being age 65 years or older
For details about the recommended dosage of loperamide, see the “Dosage of loperamide” section above. You can also talk with your doctor to learn more.
Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.