Do not take Numark Diarrhoea Relief (Loperamide 2mg) Capsules if:
- you are allergic to loperamide or any of the other ingredients (see ingredients section).
- you need to keep bowel movements normal to avoid complications such as blockage of the bowel and abnormal or rapid widening of the colon.
- you have constipation, blockage of the bowel or a bloated tummy (in particular, in children with severe dehydration). Symptoms of dehydration may include drowsiness, passing little urine, dry mouth/tongue, unresponsiveness or glazed eyes).
- you have inflammation or irritation of the bowel, e.g., diverticulosis, colitis or bacterial enterocolitis caused by Salmonella, Shigella or Campylobacter (symptoms may include watery or bloody diarrhoea).
- you have symptoms of dysentery, which may include blood in your stools and a high temperature.
- you have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and it has not been diagnosed by a doctor, or if you are under 18 years of age.
These capsules should not be given to children under 12 years of age.
Take special care if:
- you have or think you may have lost body fluids and salts through diarrhoea. This is particularly important for children and frail or elderly patients with severe diarrhoea. Consider oral rehydration therapy.
- you have liver disease.
- you have inflammatory bowel disease.
- you have AIDS. You must stop taking loperamide at the earliest signs of abnormal distension.
Since persistent diarrhoea can be an indicator of potentially more serious conditions, loperamide should not be used for prolonged periods of time.
You should consult your doctor or pharmacist before taking loperamide as it may cause side effects.
If any of the above apply to you, please consult your doctor or pharmacist.
Loperamide may interact with other medicines. If you are taking other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription and you are unsure about taking loperamide, you should contact your doctor or pharmacist. In particular you should tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any of the following:
- co-trimoxazole (an antibiotic).
- quinidine (used in the treatment of an abnormal heart beat or malaria).
- ritonavir (used in the treatment of HIV infection and AIDS).
- oral desmopressin (used in the treatment of diabetes and bedwetting).
- itraconazole or ketoconazole (used to treat fungal infections).
- gemfibrozil (used to treat high cholesterol).
If you are pregnant, think you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, do not take Loperamide Capsules. It is not known if it is safe to take. If you are breast-feeding, you should consult your doctor or pharmacist before taking, as small amounts of this medicine may get into your breast milk.
This medicine may make you feel tired, dizzy or drowsy. If affected, do not drive or operate machinery or take part in activities where such effects could put yourself or others at risk.
This product contains lactose. If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicinal product. This medicine contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per capsule, that is to say, essentially 'sodium-free'.
Like all medicines Numark Diarrhoea Relief (Loperamide 2mg) Capsules can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Stop taking your medicine and contact your doctor immediately or nearest hospital if you experience the following (very rare side effects):
- Allergic reactions which can produce swelling of the face, eyes, tongue and/or lips, difficulty breathing and/or swallowing or itching.
- Severe skin rashes including blistering of skin, mouth, eyes and genitals.
- Severe tummy pains with bloating/swelling or increasing diarrhoea particularly if this contains blood.
- Loss of consciousness or reduced level of consciousness (passing out, feeling faint or less alert), uncoordinated movements, muscle tension (hypertonia), or narrowing of the pupils (miosis).
- Upper abdominal pain, abdominal pain that radiates to back, tenderness when touching the abdomen, fever, rapid pulse, nausea, vomiting, which may be symptoms of inflammation of the pancreas (acute pancreatitis).
- Increased heart rate, irregular heartbeat, or changes to your heartbeat (these symptoms can have potentially serious, life-threatening consequences).
Common side effects (may affect up to 1 in 10 people):
Uncommon side effects (may affect up to 1 in 100 people):
- Dizziness or drowsiness.
- Vomiting, indigestion.
- Dry mouth.
- Itchiness or hives.
- Stomach pain or swollen stomach.
Rare side effects (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people):
- Tiredness.
- Difficulties passing water (urinary retention).
- Skin lesions (Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis).
- Necrotising enterocolitis (serious inflammation of the bowel).
- Megacolon, including toxic megacolon (abnormal enlargement of the intestines).
If any of the side effects listed become serious or you notice any side effects not listed, please contact your doctor or pharmacist.
Keep out of the reach and sight of children. Store in the original container in order to protect from moisture and below 25°C. Do not use these capsules after the expiry date shown on the outside packaging. Return all unused medicines to your pharmacist for safe disposal.
