Hi again people Me again.

Has anyone else had experience with Loperamide, otherwise known as Diastop. My DS was prescribed this on Monday by our gastro. to help ease the diarrohea which has become chronic (10+/day) since his ileo-caecal resection. The surgeon did warn that it would be a problem for at least 6 weeks while the metabolism adjusted and the body healed. This said, the Diastop is helping and making life a little more bearable. (It apparently only removes the water content from digested food)

However, since commencing taking it, DS's post-operative progress has slowed. He is feeling more nauseous and appetite has waned again. This may be coincidence, but just wanted to connect with anyone else with Crohn's or UC who had used it and what their experience with it was ?

I have used it with some regularity often over the years just so that I could go out and about without worry basically. Like my wedding day!! LOL

But mostly I used it at night so that I could sleep through as at one stage there I was up anywhere from midnight through until my husband got up at 6am continuously for over 3 months.

It never really affected my appetite and I never suffered nausea with it. I would think its a combination of post op and his body/metabolism adjusting but I would def be keeping an eye on it and notifying the specialist if it goes on for longer than 10-12 days. Having started it Monday - I would say by then that Id hope he'd be seeing some regularity

Hay thanks Roscoe for your feedback. Muchos gracious.

Worth asking though as DS is my "one off" child.
Born at 41 1/2 weeks, home birth, bellowed like a bull, apgar 9.....rushed to SCBU 8 hrs later with respiratory difficulties. 8 days later diagnosis, hylin membrane disease ( atypical premature lungs - almost unheard of !) Also experienced a never before reaction to pain relief post-operatively. BP to stroking point.....He does seem hyper-sensitive to drugs (gastro. had never had to withdraw anyone off Pentasa for anxiety attacks !)Will keep an eye on him, but I think you are right.

Anyone else had probs ?

Never say never I say - If hes predisposed to be senstive to meds then I'd def question it. Remembering when I took it it was not after surgery, that has to be rough on his system!
Its pretty rough stuff when you think about what it is that it actually does so if after the weekend hes still feeling like that then Id def be talking to someone, Good Luck

hey,
i've never had any probs on loperamide (i have a constant supply in my cupboard for emergencies)
again i've never used it after surgery, just for when i'm having a bad day. a couple of times loperamide hasn't been strong enough so i've gone up a level (sorry can't remember the name of the med)

i take colestid daily. its a sachet and compared to metamucil.
if i dont take it daily i will be on the toilet constantly!

Hay Olivia, Thanks. If you can remember the name of the stronger meds, that may be handy for future reference too. I take it colestid sachet has the opposite effect of metamucil ?( Metamucil makes you go, right ?)

will have a look thru all my hoards of meds and try to find it for ya.
yeah metamucil keeps you regular i think?
colestid takes the cholestrol out of your food so it binds up your food and makes things almost "normal"

hi- only problem that I ever had with diastop was taking too much. Oooooohhh!! All the gut pain without being able to get a release! Less is definitely better!!

ok i found the stronger meds - diastop! lol
must be stronger than loperamide cos it certainly worked better

from what i remember it absorbs more water than loperamide (?)

That's interesting Olivia. Our GP told us Loperamide was Diastop ? Lol. Diastop may be a stronger percentage of the same med. It must be if it works better huh ?

Good news is, DS has knocked off the Loperamide and is feeling better. Toilet trips have eased considerably, so things must be settling down naturally as healing progresses. The weird pain is continuing, but am keeping an eye. Have a trip to the GP booked tomorrow, much to his horror !

Thanks muchly

FYI - For anyone who is interested, did a bit of research into the difference between :

Imodium (Loperamide) and Diastop (Diphenoxylate).

The drug is different but the effect is the same.

All the clinical trials I looked into found no significant difference between the two.

This said, everyone is an individual and responds differently to drugs, and despite what Dr's will tell you, it is never apples for apples......

We know this from DS reaction to Pentasa - disaster ! Azacol - no probs

DS is using Loperamide sparingly when needed and it is quite successful. I will take Olivia's advice and try Diastop if we need a stronger assist ! (Whatever works, ay ?)