Name: Loperamide (Imodium)
Class: Opioid (Antidiarrheal) (OTC)
Mechanism: Increased gastric tone ® delayed gastric emptying. Increase tone and decreasesd propulsive peristaltic waves in large intest. ® decreased gut motility. Effects due to inhib. of ACh release by neurons in the intest. wall. Naloxone sensitive. Anti-secretory effect (non-naloxone sensitive).
Absorption: Oral
Dist.: 90% ® GI tract and liver. Very little CNS.
Metabolism.:
Excretion, t½:
Toxicity/S.E.s: ¯ peristalsis ® ¯ evacuation of bacteria and toxins.
Utility: Antidiarrheal.
Special Features: No abuse liability. Preferred anti-diarrheal of the opioids. Less potential for analgesia, respiratory depression, and addiction than other opioids. Much safer than other opioids. Longer lasting effects than dephnoxylate.