What is Diarem?
Diarem slows the rhythm of digestion so that the small intestines have more time to absorb fluid and nutrients from the foods you eat.
Diarem is used to treat diarrhea. Diarem is also used to reduce the amount of stool in people who have an ileostomy (re-routing of the bowel through a surgical opening in the stomach).
Diarem may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
Diarem indications
(Diarem) is indicated for the control and symptomatic relief of acute nonspecific diarrhea and of chronic diarrhea associated with inflammatory bowel disease. (Diarem) is also indicated for reducing the volume of discharge from ileostomies.
How should I use Diarem?
Use Diarem as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.
- Take Diarem by mouth with or without food.
- Use the measuring cup that comes with Diarem. Ask your pharmacist for help if you are unsure of how to measure your dose.
- Drinking extra fluids is recommended while you have diarrhea. Check with your doctor if you have questions.
- If you miss a dose of Diarem, take it as soon as you remember. Continue to take it as directed by your doctor or on the package label.
Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Diarem.
Uses of Diarem in details
This medication is used to treat sudden diarrhea (including traveler's diarrhea). It works by slowing down the movement of the gut. This decreases the number of bowel movements and makes the stool less watery. Diarem is also used to reduce the amount of discharge in patients who have had an ileostomy. It is also used to treat ongoing diarrhea in people with inflammatory bowel disease.
Diarem treats only the symptoms, not the cause of the diarrhea (e.g., infection). Treatment of other symptoms and the cause of the diarrhea should be determined by your doctor.
Do not use in children younger than 6 years unless directed by your doctor. This medication should not be used in infants younger than 24 months.
How to use Diarem (Diarem)
If you are using the over-the-counter product to self-treat, read all the directions on the product package before taking this medication. If your doctor has prescribed this medication, follow your doctor's directions and the directions on your prescription label.
Take this medication by mouth, usually after each loose stool or as directed by your doctor. Shake the bottle well before each use. Measure each dose carefully using the attached measuring cup. Do not use a household spoon since you may not get the correct dose.
The dosage is based on your condition and response to treatment. In children, dosage is also based on age and weight. Adults should not use more than 8 milligrams in 24 hours if self-treating, or 16 milligrams in 24 hours if under a doctor's direction.
Improper use of this medication (overuse or abuse) - or use with certain other medications - may cause serious harm, such as fast/irregular heartbeat or death. Do not increase your dose, take it more often, or use it for longer than directed. Be sure to tell your doctor or pharmacist about all the products you use (including prescription, nonprescription, and herbal products).
Diarrhea can cause a serious loss of body water (dehydration). Drink plenty of fluids and minerals (electrolytes) to replace what is lost. Tell your doctor right away if you develop signs of dehydration (e.g., extreme thirst, decreased urination, muscle cramps, weakness, fainting). You may also need to change to a bland diet during this time to reduce irritation to your stomach/intestines. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
Tell your doctor if your diarrhea does not improve after 2 days, if your condition worsens, or if you develop new symptoms. If you develop blood in the stool, fever, or an uncomfortable fullness/swelling of the stomach/abdomen, or if you think you may have a serious medical problem, seek immediate medical attention.
If you are taking this medication under your doctor's direction for ongoing diarrhea, tell your doctor if your diarrhea continues after 10 days of treatment.
Diarem description
One of the long-acting synthetic antidiarrheals; it is not significantly absorbed from the gut, and has no effect on the adrenergic system or central nervous system, but may antagonize histamine and interfere with acetylcholine release locally. [PubChem]
Diarem dosage
(1 capsule = 2 mg)
Patients should receive appropriate fluid and electrolyte replacement as needed.
Acute Diarrhea
AdultsThe recommended initial dose is 4 mg (two capsules) followed by 2 mg (one capsule) after each unformed stool. Daily dosage should not exceed 16 mg (eight capsules). Clinical improvement is usually observed within 48 hours.
Children
In children 2 to 5 years of age (20 kg or less), the non-prescription liquid formulation (Diarem for oral solution, 1 mg/5 mL) should be used; for ages 6 to 12, either Diarem capsules or Diarem for oral solution may be used. For children 2 to 12 years of age, the following schedule for capsules or liquid will usually fulfill initial dosage requirements:
Recommended First Day Dosage Schedule
Two to five years: 1 mg t.i.d. (3 mg daily dose) (13 to 20 kg)
Six to eight years: 2 mg b.i.d. (4 mg daily dose) (20 to 30 kg)
Eight to twelve years: 2 mg t.i.d. (6 mg daily dose) (greater than 30 kg)
Recommended Subsequent Daily Dosage
Following the first treatment day, it is recommended that subsequent Diarem doses (1 mg/10 kg body weight) be administered only after a loose stool. Total daily dosage should not exceed recommended dosages for the first day.
Chronic Diarrhea
ChildrenAlthough Diarem has been studied in a limited number of children with chronic diarrhea; the therapeutic dose for the treatment of chronic diarrhea in a pediatric population has not been established.
Adults
The recommended initial dose is 4 mg (two capsules) followed by 2 mg (one capsule) after each unformed stool until diarrhea is controlled, after which the dosage of Diarem capsules should be reduced to meet individual requirements. When the optimal daily dosage has been established, this amount may then be administered as a single dose or in divided doses.
The average daily maintenance dosage in clinical trials was 4 to 8 mg (two to four capsules). A dosage of 16 mg (eight capsules) was rarely exceeded. If clinical improvement is not observed after treatment with 16 mg per day for at least 10 days, symptoms are unlikely to be controlled by further administration. Diarem capsules administration may be continued if diarrhea cannot be adequately controlled with diet or specific treatment.
Children Under 2 Years
The use of Diarem in children under 2 years is not recommended. There have been rare reports of paralytic ileus associated with abdominal distention. Most of these reports occurred in the setting of acute dysentery, overdose, and with very young children less than two years of age.
Elderly
No formal pharmacokinetic studies were conducted in elderly subjects. However, there were no major differences reported in the drug disposition in elderly patients with diarrhea relative to young patients. No dosage adjustment is required for the elderly.
Renal Impairment
No pharmacokinetic data are available in patients with renal impairment. Since the metabolites and the unchanged drug are mainly excreted in the feces, no dosage adjustment is required for patients with renal impairment.
Hepatic Impairment
Although no pharmacokinetic data are available in patients with hepatic impairment, Diarem should be used with caution in such patients because of reduced first pass metabolism.
Diarem interactions
See also:
What other drugs will affect Diarem?
Nonclinical data have shown that Diarem is a P-glycoprotein substrate. Concomitant administration of Diarem (16 mg single dose) with a 600 mg single dose of either quinidine, or ritonavir, both of which are P-glycoprotein inhibitors, resulted in a 2- to 3- fold increase in Diarem plasma levels. Due to the potential for enhanced central effects when Diarem is coadministered with quinidine and with ritonavir, caution should be exercised when Diarem is administered at the recommended dosages (2 mg, up to 16 mg maximum daily dose) with P-glycoprotein inhibitors.
When a single 16-mg dose of Diarem is coadministered with a 600 mg single dose of saquinavir, Diarem decreased saquinavir exposure by 54%, which may be of clinical relevance due to reduction of therapeutic efficacy of saquinavir. The effect of saquinavir on Diarem is of less clinical significance. Therefore, when Diarem is given with saquinavir, the therapeutic efficacy of saquinavir should be closely monitored.
Diarem side effects
See also:
What are the possible side effects of Diarem?
CNS
Fatigue; drowsiness; dizziness.
Dermatologic
Rash.
GI
Abdominal pain; distention or discomfort; constipation; nausea; vomiting; dry mouth.
Diarem contraindications
See also:
What is the most important information I should know about Diarem?
Pseudomembranous colitis caused by antibiotic use; acute diarrhea associated with organisms that penetrate intestinal wall (eg, toxigenic Escherichia coli, Salmonella, Shigella ); conditions in which constipation should be avoided; bloody diarrhea; fever; acute ulcerative colitis (potential for toxic megacolon).
Active ingredient matches for Diarem:
Loperamide hydrochloride in Netherlands.
List of Diarem substitutes (brand and generic names) | Sort by popularity |
| Unit description / dosage (Manufacturer) | Price, USD |
| Anti-Diarrheal Tablet | |
| Boiron | |
| Chemists own diarrhoea relief (Australia) | |
| Dialope (Denmark) | |
| Diatabs (reformulated) (Philippines) | |
| Endialop (Germany) | |
| Entrocalm (United Kingdom) | |
| Fulcalrex (Portugal) | |
| Imodium A-D Drug Facts | |
| Imodium A-D Drug Facts Tablets | |
| LOFACT (India) | |
| 2 mg x 50's (Medico HC) | $ 0.18 |
| Lofact 2mg CAP / 50 (Medico HC) | $ 0.18 |
| LOFACT cap 2 mg x 10's (Medico HC) | $ 0.04 |
| Lofact 2mg CAP / 50 (Medico HC) | $ 0.18 |
| LOPERAMIDE ) (India) | |
| LOPERAMIDE / CADILA / GENERIC cap 2 mg x 10's (Cadila (Generic)) | $ 0.08 |
| Loperamide Hydrochloride | |
| 100 capsule in 1 bottle, unit-dose | |
| 500 capsule in 1 bottle, unit-dose | |
| Loperamide Hydrochloride capsule 2 mg/1 (Unit Dose Services (US)) | |
| Loperamide Hydrochloride solution 2 mg/10mL (Cardinal Health (US)) | |
| Loperamide Hydrochloride tablet 2 mg/1 (Chain Drug Consortium, LLC (US)) | |
| Loperamide Hydrochloride tablet, film coated 2 mg/1 (International Laboratories, Inc. (US)) | |
| Loperamide Hydrochloride suspension 1 mg/7.5mL (CVS Pharmacy (US)) | |
| Loperamide Hydrochloride solution 1 mg/5mL (Precision Dose Inc. (US)) | |
| Loperamide Hydrochloride liquid 1 mg/7.5mL (Western Family Foods Inc (US)) | |
| Loperamide Hydrochloride tablet 2 mg (Vita Health Products Inc (Canada)) | |
| Loperamide Oral Solution | |
| LOPERIV (India) | |
| 2 mg x 100's (East African) | $ 1.81 |
| Loperiv 2mg TAB / 10 (East African) | $ 1.81 |
| LOPERIV tab 2 mg x 10's (East African) | $ 0.18 |
| Loperiv 2mg TAB / 10 (East African) | $ 1.81 |
| LOPONA (India) | |
| 2 mg x 10's (ZHPL (Sayona)) | $ 0.10 |
| Lopona 2mg TAB / 10 (ZHPL (Sayona)) | $ 0.10 |
| LOPONA tab 2 mg x 10's (ZHPL (Sayona)) | $ 0.10 |
| Lopona 2mg TAB / 10 (ZHPL (Sayona)) | $ 0.10 |
| Up and Up Anti-Diarrheal Drug Facts | |
References
- PubChem. "loperamide". https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/com... (accessed September 17, 2018).
- DrugBank. "loperamide". http://www.drugbank.ca/drugs/DB00836 (accessed September 17, 2018).
- MeSH. "Antidiarrheals". https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/68... (accessed September 17, 2018).
Reviews
The results of a survey conducted on ndrugs.com for Diarem are given in detail below. The results of the survey conducted are based on the impressions and views of the website users and consumers taking Diarem. We implore you to kindly base your medical condition or therapeutic choices on the result or test conducted by a physician or licensed medical practitioners.User reports
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Information checked by Dr. Sachin Kumar, MD Pharmacology
