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Loperamide

Loperamide is an anti-diarrhea medicine used to control diarrhea symptoms, including travelers' diarrhea in over-the-counter products, and, in prescription-labeled capsules, diarrhea linked to inflammatory bowel disease and ileostomy output.

Brand names ImodiumImodium ADImotilK-Pek IIKao-Paverin +11 more
Drug class Opioid Agonists
Rx/OTC Forms 4
Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Reviewed by Last reviewed Jul 10, 2026 Content updated Oct 2, 2026
🧬 Where this information comes from Click to expand

The clinical label records used on this page are FDA-filed Structured Product Labeling (SPL) retrieved through openFDA. We identified 199 clinical label sets within the page’s selected clinical scope after exact ingredient or ingredient-combination matching and applicable route/form matching. Forms, routes, brands, labelers, strengths, and NDC product-record counts are built separately from matching FDA National Drug Code Directory records. The linked DailyMed document is a representative official source for verification, not the page’s only clinical source. View the linked label on DailyMed →

✓No current FDA shortage listed · checked Oct 5, 2026
Loperamide at a glance The quick version — the full detail is in the Patient Information Guide below.
Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
The Pharmacist’s Take By · Clinical pharmacist · Written

Loperamide (Imodium) is the go-to over-the-counter medicine for short bouts of diarrhea, including travelers' diarrhea, on the U.S. market since about 1976 and available as a generic; it works on opioid receptors in the gut wall to slow the bowel and change how water and salts move. Most people tolerate it well; constipation, sometimes with cramps or gas, is the usual complaint. Its boxed warning is about overdose, since higher than recommended doses have caused a dangerous heart rhythm (Torsades de Pointes), cardiac arrest and death, so never take extra. Stop it and call your doctor if diarrhea lasts more than 2 days, gets worse, or your belly swells.

Clinical pearls

  • Never give it under age 2; for older kids, follow the package's age and weight chart and use its dosing cup.
  • Skip it for bloody or black stool, or diarrhea after antibiotics, because slowing the gut can worsen those infections.
  • Itraconazole, gemfibrozil, quinidine and ritonavir raise loperamide levels; methadone, amiodarone and other heart-rhythm-altering drugs add to the heart risk.
  • Keep sipping clear fluids, since loperamide firms stool but does not replace the water and salts diarrhea drains away.
How we write & review this content — our editorial policy →
⚠️ FDA Boxed Warning — the FDA’s strongest safety alert ▾

Taking more loperamide than recommended can cause dangerous heart rhythm problems, cardiac arrest, and death. This has been reported with Loperamide hydrochloride capsules at doses above the recommended amount, including with misuse or abuse.

Loperamide capsules must not be given to children under 2 years old. Avoid doses above the recommended amount in adults and in children 2 and older. Warning signs include fainting, a very fast or irregular heartbeat, and dizziness. Get emergency help if these occur.

Read the full warning on DailyMed →
How you get itPrescription and over the counter
Comes asTablet, Capsule, Oral solution +1
Earliest FDA record1976
Companies listing it with the FDA100
FDA label last updatedDec 22, 2025
FDA’s strongest warning (boxed)Yes, read the warning

Patient information guide A plain-language walkthrough of Loperamide, written from its FDA label.

What Loperamide is used for

▾

Loperamide is used to control diarrhea. Uses differ by product.

  • Over-the-counter tablets, capsules, solutions and suspensions: control symptoms of diarrhea, including travelers' diarrhea.
  • Loperamide hydrochloride capsules (prescription-labeled): acute nonspecific diarrhea in people 2 years and older.
  • Loperamide hydrochloride capsules: chronic diarrhea in adults with inflammatory bowel disease.
  • Loperamide hydrochloride capsules: reducing the volume of discharge from ileostomies.

How Loperamide works

▾

Loperamide binds to opioid receptors in the gut wall. This blocks the release of acetylcholine and prostaglandins, chemicals that drive gut contractions. The result is slower movement through the bowel, so more water and salts are absorbed.

It also increases anal sphincter tone, which can reduce urgency and incontinence.

Loperamide dosage

▾

Loperamide is taken by mouth, usually after loose stools rather than on a fixed schedule. Over-the-counter doses are based on age and weight, with a daily maximum. Drink plenty of clear fluids.

  • Liquids: shake well and use only the dosing cup that comes with the product.
  • Tablets and caplets: the label chart lists the number to take by age and weight.
  • Capsule labeling notes clinical improvement is usually seen within 48 hours.

Follow your prescriber and the product label.

Dosing details from the FDA-approved label

From the Loperamide prescribing information (“Dosage and Administration”). Doses are set by your prescriber for your product, condition, kidney function and age — never change a dose on your own.

  • Acute Diarrhea - Adults and Pediatric Patients 13 Years and Older
    • Initial dose 4 mg (two capsules) followed by 2 mg (one capsule) after each unformed stool
    • Maximum: 16 mg (eight capsules) daily
    • Clinical improvement is usually observed within 48 hours
  • Acute Diarrhea - Pediatric Patients 2 to 5 years (13 to 20 kg)
    • First day: 1 mg three times daily (3 mg total daily dosage)
    • Subsequent doses 1 mg/10 kg body weight only after a loose stool
    • Maximum: Total daily dosage should not exceed recommended dosages for the first day
    • Non-prescription liquid formulation (1 mg/5 mL) should be used for ages 2 to 5 years (20 kg or less)
  • Acute Diarrhea - Pediatric Patients 6 to 8 years (20 to 30 kg)
    • First day: 2 mg twice daily (4 mg total daily dosage)
    • Subsequent doses 1 mg/10 kg body weight only after a loose stool
    • Maximum: Total daily dosage should not exceed recommended dosages for the first day
    • Capsules or oral solution may be used for ages 6 to 12
  • Acute Diarrhea - Pediatric Patients 8 to 12 years (greater than 30 kg)
    • First day: 2 mg three times daily (6 mg total daily dosage)
    • Subsequent doses 1 mg/10 kg body weight only after a loose stool
    • Maximum: Total daily dosage should not exceed recommended dosages for the first day
    • Capsules or oral solution may be used for ages 6 to 12
  • Chronic Diarrhea - Adults
    • Initial dose 4 mg (two capsules) followed by 2 mg (one capsule) after each unformed stool until diarrhea is controlled, then reduce to individual requirements
    • May be given as a single dose or in divided doses
    • Average daily maintenance dosage in clinical trials was 4 to 8 mg (two to four capsules per day)
    • Maximum: 16 mg (eight capsules) per day
    • If no improvement after 16 mg per day for at least 10 days, symptoms are unlikely to be controlled by further administration
  • Chronic Diarrhea - Children
    • Therapeutic dose for chronic diarrhea in a pediatric population has not been established
    • Studied in a limited number of children
  • Children under 2 years
    • Contraindicated in pediatric patients less than 2 years of age due to risks of respiratory depression and serious cardiac adverse reactions
  • Elderly
    • No dosage adjustment is required
    • Avoid in elderly patients taking drugs that prolong the QT interval or with risk factors for Torsade de Pointes
  • Renal impairment
    • No dosage adjustment is required
    • Metabolites and unchanged drug are mainly excreted in the feces
  • Hepatic impairment
    • No dose given
    • Use with caution
    • Reduced first pass metabolism
Read the label’s full dosing text

DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION Loperamide hydrochloride capsules are contraindicated in pediatric patients less than 2 years of age due to the risks of respiratory depression and serious cardiac adverse reactions (see CONTRAINDICATIONS ). Avoid loperamide hydrochloride capsules dosages higher than recommended in adult or pediatric patients 2 years of age and older due to the risk of serious cardiac adverse reactions (See WARNINGS and OVERDOSAGE ). (1 capsule = 2 mg) Patients should receive appropriate fluid and electrolyte replacement as needed. Acute Diarrhea Adults and Pediatric Patients 13 Years and Older: The recommended initial dose is 4 mg (two capsules) followed by 2 mg (one capsule) after each unformed stool. The maximum daily dose is 16 mg (eight capsules). Clinical improvement is usually observed within 48 hours. Pediatric Patients 2 years to 12 Years of Age : In pediatric patients 2 years to 5 years of age (20 kg or less), the non-prescription liquid formulation of loperamide (1 mg/5 mL) should be used; for ages 6 to 12, either loperamide hydrochloride capsules or non-prescription liquid formulation of loperamide may be used. For pediatric patients 2 years 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 (13 kg to 20 kg): 1 mg three times daily (3 mg total daily dosage) Six to eight years (20 kg to 30 kg): 2 mg twice daily (4 mg total daily dosage) Eight to twelve years (greater than 30 kg): 2 mg three times daily (6 mg total daily dosage) Recommended Subsequent Daily Dosage Following the first treatment day, it is recommended that subsequent loperamide hydrochloride capsules doses (1 mg/10 kg body weight) be administered only after a loose stool. The total daily dosage should not exceed recommended dosages for the first day. Chronic Diarrhea 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 loperamide hydrochloride 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 mg to 8 mg (two to four capsules per day).

Excerpted — the section continues on the label. Read the full Dosage and Administration section on DailyMed →

Loperamide side effects

▾

Side effects are often hard to tell apart from the diarrhea itself.

Common side effects

  • Constipation
  • Nausea
  • Abdominal cramps or discomfort
  • Dizziness
  • Drowsiness or tiredness
  • Dry mouth
  • Gas (flatulence)

When to get medical help

  • Fainting, a racing or irregular heartbeat, or chest symptoms: get emergency help, as loperamide can cause dangerous heart rhythm problems.
  • Stop and call your doctor if diarrhea gets worse or lasts more than 2 days.
  • Stop and call your doctor if your belly swells or bulges, or you become constipated. These can be signs of a serious bowel problem.
  • Seek help for rash, hives, swelling, or trouble breathing, which can be signs of a severe allergic reaction.
  • Seek help for severe drowsiness, confusion, or slow or shallow breathing, which can occur with too much loperamide.
  • Bloody or black stool, or fever with bloody stool: do not use and call a doctor.

Loperamide warnings and precautions

▾
  • Heart rhythm problems: doses above the recommended amount have caused QT prolongation, Torsades de Pointes, cardiac arrest and death.
  • Fainting and ventricular tachycardia have been reported at recommended doses in people with other risk factors.
  • Dehydration: loperamide does not replace fluids and electrolytes.
  • Ileus, megacolon and toxic megacolon are possible; stop if constipation or belly swelling develops.
  • Children respond more variably, and it is dangerous under 2 years.
  • Stop and ask a doctor if diarrhea lasts more than 2 days or worsens.

Loperamide interactions

▾

Some drugs raise loperamide levels or add to heart rhythm risk.

  • Itraconazole, gemfibrozil, quinidine and ritonavir: raise loperamide levels.
  • QT-prolonging drugs (amiodarone, sotalol, antipsychotics, moxifloxacin, methadone): added heart rhythm risk.
  • Saquinavir: loperamide lowered its levels by 54%.

Interactions listed in the FDA-approved label

From the Loperamide prescribing information (“Drug Interactions”): what the manufacturer studied or reported to the FDA.

  • CYP3A4 inhibitors (e.g., itraconazole): Can increase exposure to loperamide; itraconazole 100 mg twice daily increased peak plasma concentration 2.9-fold and systemic exposure 3.8-fold with a single 4 mg dose. Monitor patients for cardiac adverse reactions.
  • CYP2C8 inhibitors (e.g., gemfibrozil): Can increase exposure to loperamide; gemfibrozil 600 mg increased peak plasma concentration 1.6-fold and systemic exposure 2.2-fold with a single 4 mg dose. Monitor patients for cardiac adverse reactions.
  • Itraconazole and gemfibrozil together: Peak plasma concentration of loperamide increased 4.2-fold and systemic exposure 12.6-fold. Monitor patients for cardiac adverse reactions, especially those taking multiple CYP enzyme inhibitors.
  • P-glycoprotein inhibitors (e.g., quinidine, ritonavir): Resulted in a 2- to 3-fold increase in loperamide plasma concentrations, with potential for enhanced CNS adverse reactions. Exercise caution when capsules are given at recommended dosages (2 mg, up to 16 mg maximum daily dose); monitor for cardiac adverse reactions.
  • Saquinavir: Loperamide decreased saquinavir exposure by 54%, which may be clinically relevant due to reduced therapeutic efficacy of saquinavir. Closely monitor the therapeutic efficacy of saquinavir.
Read the label’s full interactions text

Drug Interactions Effects of Other Drugs on Loperamide Concomitant use of loperamide hydrochloride capsules with inhibitors of CYP3A4 (e.g., itraconazole) or CYP2C8 (e.g., gemfibrozil) or inhibitors of P-glycoprotein (e.g., quinidine, ritonavir) can increase exposure to loperamide. The increased systemic exposure to loperamide may increase a risk for cardiac adverse reactions especially in patients who are taking multiple CYP enzyme inhibitors, or in patients with underlying cardiac conditions (see WARNINGS ). Monitor patients for cardiac adverse reactions. CYP3A4 Inhibitors Itraconazole Concomitant administration of multiple doses of 100 mg itraconazole twice daily, an inhibitor of both CYP3A4 and P-glycoprotein, with a single 4 mg dose of loperamide hydrochloride increased the peak plasma concentration and the systemic exposure to loperamide by 2.9-fold and 3.8-fold, respectively. CYP2C8 Inhibitors Gemfibrozil When a single 4 mg dose of loperamide hydrochloride was coadministered with 600 mg gemfibrozil, a strong inhibitor of CYP2C8, on day 3 of a 5-day treatment with gemfibrozil twice daily, the mean peak plasma concentration and the systemic exposure to loperamide was increased by 1.6-fold and 2.2-fold, respectively. CYP3A4 and CYP2C8 Inhibitors When multiple doses of both 100 mg itraconazole and 600 mg gemfibrozil twice daily were administered with a single 4 mg dose of loperamide hydrochloride, the mean peak plasma concentration and the systemic exposure to loperamide was increased by 4.2-fold and 12.6-fold, respectively. P-glycoprotein Inhibitors Concomitant administration of a 16 mg single dose of loperamide hydrochloride with a 600 mg single dose of quinidine or ritonavir, both of which are P-glycoprotein inhibitors, resulted in a 2- to 3-fold increase in loperamide plasma concentrations.

Excerpted — the section continues on the label. Read the full Drug Interactions section on DailyMed →

Not a complete list. The label covers the interactions the manufacturer studied or reported, and our own interaction database does not cover every medicine either. Bring your full medication list, including vitamins and herbal products, to your pharmacist.

🌿82 supplements and herbs with documented Loperamide interactions, ranked by severity Check Loperamide against a supplement or herb →

Before taking Loperamide

▾
  • Children under 2 years: must not use.
  • Allergy to loperamide or its ingredients.
  • Abdominal pain without diarrhea.
  • Bloody stool with high fever (acute dysentery), acute ulcerative colitis, or certain bacterial intestinal infections.
  • Antibiotic-associated pseudomembranous colitis.
  • Heart conditions, arrhythmia history, long QT syndrome, electrolyte problems, and older age raise heart risk.
  • AIDS: stop at the first sign of belly swelling.

Loperamide overdose

▾

Too much loperamide can cause life-threatening heart rhythm problems, drowsiness, confusion and slowed breathing. Children may be more sensitive. Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 or seek emergency care. Naloxone may reverse some effects, and standard opioid drug screens do not detect loperamide.

What Loperamide does in the body

▾

Loperamide lengthens the time intestinal contents take to move through the gut. It reduces daily stool volume, makes stool thicker and denser, and reduces loss of fluid and electrolytes. Tolerance to its antidiarrheal effect has not been observed.

How your body processes Loperamide

▾

Blood levels of unchanged loperamide stay low. They peak about 5 hours after a capsule and about 2.5 hours after the liquid. About 95% is bound to plasma proteins. The elimination half-life is about 10.8 hours. The liver breaks it down mainly using CYP2C8 and CYP3A4, and it leaves mostly through the feces.

How to store Loperamide

▾

store at 20°-25°C (68°-77°F). Protect from light. avoid excessive heat above 40°C (104°F) do not use if blister unit is torn or broken

Written from the FDA-approved label with AI and reviewed by our pharmacy team. How we use AI →

82

Supplements & herbs that interact with Loperamide

82 supplements and herbal products have documented interactions with Loperamide in the licensed clinical database we use. Most are manageable — but your pharmacist should know about everything you take, including vitamins and herbals.

Severity mix
  • Major · 4
  • Moderate · 59
  • Minor · 19
ACTIVATED CHARCOAL Major HENBANE Major SCOPOLIA Major ST. JOHN'S WORT Major ANGEL'S TRUMPET Moderate BACOPA Moderate BELLADONNA Moderate BETEL NUT Moderate +74 more
Every supplement checked against Loperamide — ranked by severity The full interaction hub: 4 major · 59 moderate · 19 minor · every one linked to its full report. Check Loperamide against your exact supplements

Educational information from a licensed clinical database (Natural Medicines) — see our data sources & update cadence. Not medical advice: an interaction being documented does not mean it will happen to you; do not start or stop medications or supplements without professional guidance.

Loperamide: pharmacist answers to common questions

Quick, plain-English answers to the questions patients ask most about Loperamide — the kind of thing our pharmacy team would talk through with you at the counter.

What is loperamide used for?

▾
It controls the symptoms of diarrhea, including travelers' diarrhea in over-the-counter products. Prescription-labeled capsules are also used for chronic diarrhea in adults with inflammatory bowel disease and for ileostomy output. It treats symptoms only, not the underlying cause.

How should I take it?

▾
Take it by mouth, usually after loose stools, following the label chart for your age and weight. Drink lots of clear fluids so you don't get dehydrated. With liquids, shake well and use only the cup that came with the product.

Can I take extra if the diarrhea isn't stopping?

▾
No. Taking more than directed can cause serious, even fatal, heart rhythm problems. If diarrhea lasts more than 2 days or gets worse, stop and call your doctor.

What side effects should I expect?

▾
Constipation, nausea, cramps, dizziness, drowsiness, tiredness and dry mouth are the usual ones. Be careful driving until you know how it affects you. Get help right away for fainting, a racing heartbeat, belly swelling or an allergic reaction.

Can I give it to my child?

▾
Never to a child under 2. For ages 2 to 5, the over-the-counter labels say to ask a doctor first. Do not use it for bloody or black stool in children under 12, and use extra caution in young children.

Do other medicines matter?

▾
Yes. Some drugs raise loperamide levels or also affect heart rhythm, and it can lower saquinavir levels. Tell me or your doctor about everything you take, especially heart rhythm, antipsychotic or antifungal drugs.

Is Loperamide available over the counter?

▾
Both. Some Loperamide products are sold over the counter and others need a prescription. According to their FDA listings, the capsule form is sold both ways, at different strengths or package sizes and the tablet, oral solution and oral suspension forms are sold over the counter. The package says which kind you have. Your pharmacist can tell you which product is right for you.

When was Loperamide first available?

▾
The earliest FDA record we hold for Loperamide is from 1976: its first approval in Drugs@FDA or its earliest product listing in the NDC Directory, whichever is older. Many older medicines were in use before their first formal FDA approval, so this is the earliest date on record, not necessarily when Loperamide was first used.

Who makes Loperamide?

▾
100 companies currently list Loperamide products in the FDA's NDC Directory, including Amazon.com Services LLC, Bryant Ranch Prepack, Chain Drug Marketing Association Inc.. That count includes repackagers and distributors as well as manufacturers (companies that sell only the raw ingredient are not counted), so fewer companies actually make it; the label on your bottle names the one that supplied yours.

Answers drafted from the FDA-approved label with AI and reviewed by our pharmacy team. How we use AI →

More about Loperamide on HelloPharmacist

📊Loperamide supplement interactions82 checked — ranked by severity 🌿Drug & Supplement CheckerLoperamide vs. vitamins & herbs 💬Ask a PharmacistFree answer, usually < 24h 🔎NDC & pricing lookupFind Loperamide NDCs & costs 🅰️Browse Drugs A–ZLook up any medication
Detailed data & references for Loperamide Forms & strengths, pricing, billing codes, manufacturers, safety reports and sourcing — the data behind the page. Most people can stop here. Each section below opens on a tap.

Loperamide forms and strengths (how it comes)

Loperamide is available in 4 forms. Different forms and brands can have different approved uses, doses, schedules, and directions. Follow the instructions for your exact product, and do not switch forms without guidance from your prescriber or pharmacist.

Tablet

By mouth
Brands Anti-Diarrheal Anti Diarrheal Basic Care Loperamide Hydrochloride Good Sense anti diarrheal Imodium Leader Anti Diarrheal MEDIQUE Diamode
How this form is used
What it may be used for
  • Anti-Diarrheal tablets are labeled to control diarrhea symptoms, including travelers' diarrhea.
Important instructions
  • Amazon Basic Care Loperamide Hydrochloride tablets: dose by weight or age per the chart, and drink plenty of clear fluids.
  • Amazon Basic Care Loperamide Hydrochloride tablets: children 2 to 5 years should ask a doctor first.
  • Amazon Basic Care Loperamide Hydrochloride tablets: do not use in children under 2 years old.
Available strengths 1 strength
2 mg
179 FDA-listed product records ⓘ

Capsule

By mouth
Brands Anti-Diarrheal Anti Diarrheal Imodium A-D
How this form is used
What it may be used for
  • Loperamide Hydrochloride capsules are labeled for acute nonspecific diarrhea in people 2 years and older.
  • Loperamide HCl capsules are labeled for chronic diarrhea in adults with inflammatory bowel disease.
  • Loperamide HCl capsules are also labeled for reducing ileostomy discharge volume.
  • Imodium A-D liquid-filled capsules are labeled to control diarrhea symptoms, including travelers' diarrhea.
Important instructions
  • Loperamide Hydrochloride capsules are contraindicated in children under 2 years old.
  • Loperamide Hydrochloride capsules should not be used at doses above the recommended amount.
  • Loperamide Hydrochloride capsules are used together with fluid and electrolyte replacement as needed.
Available strengths 1 strength
2 mg
133 FDA-listed product records ⓘ

Oral solution

By mouth
Brands Anti-Diarrheal Anti Diarrheal Basic Care Loperamide Hydrochloride Imodium Leader Anti Diarrheal
How this form is used
What it may be used for
  • Loperamide Hydrochloride oral solution is labeled to control diarrhea symptoms, including travelers' diarrhea.
Important instructions
  • Good Sense antidiarrheal and similar solutions: shake well before using.
  • DG Health Anti Diarrheal and similar solutions: use only the enclosed dosing cup, not another device.
  • Good Sense antidiarrheal and similar solutions: dosing is by weight or age on the label chart, with drinking clear fluids.
  • Good Sense antidiarrheal and similar solutions: do not use in children under 2 years old.
Available strengths 2 strengths
1 mg/7.5 mL 2 mg/15 mL
51 FDA-listed product records ⓘ

Oral suspension

By mouth
Brands Basic Care Loperamide Hydrochloride Leader Anti Diarrheal
How this form is used
What it may be used for
  • Up and Up anti diarrheal suspension is labeled to control diarrhea symptoms, including travelers' diarrhea.
Important instructions
  • Up and Up anti diarrheal: shake well before using.
  • Up and Up anti diarrheal: use only the enclosed dosing cup.
  • Up and Up anti diarrheal: children under 6 years should ask a doctor first, and it is not for children under 2.
  • equate diarrhea control: dose by weight or age per the label chart, and drink clear fluids.
Available strengths 1 strength
1 mg/7.5 mL
13 FDA-listed product records ⓘ

Loperamide on the U.S. market: products, makers and brands

How Loperamide appears in the FDA’s National Drug Code Directory — including its dosage forms, strengths, brand names, manufacturers, and FDA-listed product records. These are directory records, not sales or prescription volume.

100 companies list 197 Loperamide product records with the FDA, mostly as tablet, capsule, oral solution; the earliest marketing or approval year on record is 1976. Brand names on the directory include Imodium, Imodium AD, Imotil and 13 more; the rest are generics.

4
Dose forms ⓘ
100
Labelers (makers, repackagers, distributors)
34
Brand names
197
FDA-listed product records ⓘ
1976
Earliest FDA record ⓘ

FDA-listed product records by dose form (tablet variants merged) — FDA National Drug Code Directory. Record counts are not sales or prescription volume.

Also listed with the FDA, not a patient dose form: Powder (13) — bulk drug substance sold to compounders/manufacturers and multi-item kits. These aren’t counted in the dose-form total above.

Amazon.com Services LLC3%
Bryant Ranch Prepack3%
Chain Drug Marketing Association Inc.3%
Lil' Drug Store Products, Inc.3%
Yyba Corp3%
Aphena Pharma Solutions - Tennessee, LLC2%
Other makers83%

Share of FDA-listed product records by manufacturer — FDA National Drug Code Directory. Record counts are not sales or prescription volume.

How widely Loperamide is used (Medicaid data)

A general measure of how commonly Loperamide is prescribed, based on Medicaid — one of the largest public drug programs. The figure below is prescriptions filled in Q1–Q4 2025, summed across every form and brand of the drug.

Think of this as a proxy for how widely Loperamide is used, drawn from freely available public data. Medicaid is just one program — these numbers don’t include Medicare, other government coverage, or commercial and cash-pay prescriptions, so real-world use is higher than what’s shown here.

409,237
Medicaid prescriptions filled (Q1–Q4 2025)
$5.4M gross Medicaid reimbursement (before mandatory rebates — net cost is lower)

How commonly is Loperamide prescribed? Of the 1,601 medications we measure, Loperamide ranks #285 by Medicaid prescriptions — more than 82% of them.

Where Loperamide ranks among the drugs we measure · Q1–Q4 2025 · neighbors ±5
Total prescriptions — #285 of 1,601
#280 Diltiazem 435,096 Rx #281 Warfarin 433,961 Rx #282 Acetaminophen, Butalbi... 425,589 Rx #283 Varenicline 417,684 Rx #284 Human Insulin Injectio... 414,373 Rx #285 Loperamide 409,237 Rx #286 Tacrolimus Topical 408,485 Rx #287 Cyclosporine 403,927 Rx #288 Betamethasone 403,381 Rx #289 Betamethasone Topical 402,754 Rx #290 Midazolam 401,717 Rx

Utilization by Loperamide product

Pick a product to see its own Medicaid numbers. Each chip is one clinical product — a specific strength & dosage form as defined by RxNorm — with brand-name and generic versions combined.

The 2 mg oral capsule is the most-dispensed Loperamide product — about 76% of these Medicaid prescriptions.

loperamide hydrochloride 2 MG Oral Capsule Most dispensed

309,171 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) 76% of Loperamide prescriptions shown $4.3M gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $14 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 21 of 226 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 978006

loperamide hydrochloride 2 MG Oral Tablet

80,049 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) 20% of Loperamide prescriptions shown $876,759 gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $11 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 12 of 244 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 978010

loperamide hydrochloride 0.133 MG/ML Oral Suspension

20,017 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) 5% of Loperamide prescriptions shown $180,368 gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $9.01 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 6 of 79 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 1250685

Shares are of the Medicaid prescriptions shown here. Product grouping follows RxNorm (the National Library of Medicine’s drug terminology), so “one product” means one strength & dosage form regardless of manufacturer. Dollar figures are gross Medicaid reimbursement before mandatory rebates — rebates (often large, especially for brand-name drugs) are confidential, so actual net cost to Medicaid is lower than shown.

Source: Medicaid State Drug Utilization Data (CMS), aggregated by generic ingredient — summed across every NDC (all brands, strengths, salt forms and dosage forms) of Loperamide, and across all states and both fee-for-service and managed-care claims. A general popularity signal; it excludes Medicare, commercial insurance and cash prescriptions, so it is not total U.S. use. Based on the 39 of 549 listed Loperamide NDCs with Medicaid activity.

Compare Loperamide products

A representative set of FDA-listed product records for Loperamide — across manufacturers, strengths, and dosage forms, grouped by form with each product’s manufacturer and how the FDA approved it. The same medicine may be made and packaged by different companies, so a single drug can have many directory entries. (It’s also why a refill can look different — a new shape, color, or box — even though it contains the same medication.)

Showing 113 of 197 products — FDA National Drug Code Directory. See every product, package size and price: browse all 197 Loperamide NDCs →

Loperamide recall history

A recall is when a specific batch of a medicine is pulled from the market — usually a manufacturing issue, not a problem with the drug itself. Class I is most serious, Class III least.

The FDA’s enforcement reports list one Loperamide recall since July 2021. It is no longer listed as ongoing. A recall names specific lots from one company, so check the lot number on your own bottle rather than assuming every product is affected; your pharmacist can check whether your supply came from an affected lot.

Class II Apr 13, 2022 · Terminated · Mckesson Medical-Surgical Inc. Corporate Office
cGMP deviations: Temperature abuse
  • Loperamide Hydrochloride capsules, USP, 2 mg, 100-count bottle, Rx only, MFG: Mylan Pharma, NDC 0378-2100-01 Lots: McKesson Medical-Surgical (MMS) is not able to identify the particular lot number received by a particular consignee for the recalled prescription products. Each letter includes the date it was distributed to customers and the dates that i… FDA record D-1092-2022 →

Source: FDA enforcement (recall) reports, via openFDA; our copy was last updated Sep 24, 2026.

RxNorm Concept Web — From Ingredient to Every Form and Strength

This page starts with one ingredient concept (IN). The branches below show its dose-form concepts (SCDF), then the available clinical drug and strength concepts (SCD). Combination products remain separate concepts with their own pages.

Ingredient (IN) Loperamide RxCUI 6468 4 dose forms · 5 strengths
  1. Dose form (SCDF) Oral Capsule RxCUI 372632 In current FDA listings
    Clinical drug / strength (SCD) hydrochloride 2 MG RxCUI 978006
  2. Dose form (SCDF) Oral Solution RxCUI 372633 In current FDA listings
    Clinical drug / strength (SCD) hydrochloride 0.2 MG/ML RxCUI 977986 hydrochloride 2 MG/ML RxCUI 1432291
  3. Dose form (SCDF) Oral Suspension RxCUI 1250684 In current FDA listings
    Clinical drug / strength (SCD) hydrochloride 0.133 MG/ML RxCUI 1250685
  4. Dose form (SCDF) Oral Tablet RxCUI 372634 In current FDA listings
    Clinical drug / strength (SCD) hydrochloride 2 MG RxCUI 978010

Look up RxCUI 6468 in the RxCUI Atlas →

RxNorm is the U.S. National Library of Medicine’s normalized drug vocabulary. Its concept hierarchy can include forms that are not currently marketed; the status on each branch compares that concept with current FDA listings. RxCUIs identify vocabulary concepts, not individual packages or manufacturers.

💵 What Loperamide costs pharmacies (NADAC benchmark)

The national average invoice price pharmacies pay for the drug itself, from CMS's NADAC survey (data as of Sep 30, 2026). This is a supply-cost benchmark — not a retail price and not what you'd pay at the counter.

FormStrengthPharmacy acquisition benchmark
Capsule · Oral 2 mg $0.055 per capsule NDC details & price history
Solution · Oral 1 mg/7.5 mL $0.026 per mL NDC details & price history
Tablet, Film Coated · Oral 2 mg $0.130 per tablet NDC details & price history
Why show this? Your out-of-pocket cost depends on insurance, pharmacy markup, and discounts — but the acquisition benchmark tells you whether the medication itself is inexpensive or costly, which strengths cost more per dose, and whether a cash-price quote is in a reasonable range. Each row links to the NDC-level record with its full price history.

Source: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC), a survey of retail pharmacy invoice prices. Benchmarks shown are the range across package sizes of a representative product for each form and strength — other manufacturers' products may differ.

Loperamide brand names

Loperamide is sold under 16 brand names in the FDA directory — Imodium, Imodium AD, Imotil, K-Pek II and others. A brand and its generic contain the same active ingredient; the brand name belongs to one company's product.

Imodium Imodium AD Imotil K-Pek II Kao-Paverin Kaopectate 1-D Maalox Anti-Diarrheal Pepto Diarrhea Control Diamode Anti-Diarrheal anti diarrheal Leader Anti Diarrheal Good Sense anti diarrheal MEDIQUE Diamode Imodium A-D basic care loperamide hydrochloride

Who makes Loperamide: manufacturers and labelers

100 companies list Loperamide products with the FDA. By number of product records, the largest are Amazon.com Services LLC, Bryant Ranch Prepack, Chain Drug Marketing Association Inc.. Labelers include manufacturers and repackagers; the product in your bottle depends on which one your pharmacy stocks.

Amazon.com Services LLC 6 Bryant Ranch Prepack 6 Chain Drug Marketing Association Inc. 6 Lil' Drug Store Products, Inc. 6 Yyba Corp 5 Aphena Pharma Solutions - Tennessee, LLC 4 Bionpharma Inc. 4 Cardinal Health 110, LLC. dba Leader 4 H E B 4 L. Perrigo Company 4 NuCare Pharmaceuticals,Inc. 4 Preferred Pharmaceuticals Inc. 4 Proficient Rx LP 4 Wal-Mart Stores Inc 4 Amerisource Bergen 3 Aurohealth LLC 3 CVS Pharmacy 3 Cardinal Health 107, LLC 3 Dolgencorp, Llc 3 Kenvue Brands LLC 3 Kroger Company 3 L.N.K. International, Inc. 3 Major Pharmaceuticals 3 Meijer Distribution Inc 3

…and 76 more on the FDA NDC directory.

Loperamide drug class (RxNorm)

Loperamide belongs to the Opioid Agonist class.

Pharmacologic class Opioid Agonist
Drug family (ATC) Antipropulsives
How it works Opioid Agonists

Classified by RxNorm RxClass — the U.S. National Library of Medicine's standardized drug-classification service (Established Pharmacologic Class from the FDA, the ATC drug family from the WHO, and mechanism of action). Reference only, not medical advice.

Sources for this Loperamide page

Core label, product, RxNorm, safety, and utilization data on this page come from the sources identified below. AI-written, editorial, and licensed sections are labeled separately.

📄
FDA-filed drug labels (SPL) Uses, dosing, warnings & side effects from SPL records retrieved through openFDA; the linked representative set can be verified on DailyMed. ✓ Linked label effective Dec 22, 2025
🏭
Forms, brands & labelersAggregated from ingredient-matched FDA National Drug Code Directory product records for Loperamide.
📈
Real-world reportsThe FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS), served through openFDA.
🚨
Recalls & shortagesopenFDA drug-enforcement reports and the FDA drug-shortage database.
🧾 Clinical label set — FDA-filed SPL labels retained for Loperamide after exact ingredient or ingredient-combination matching and applicable route/form matching
Clinical labels in scope
199
Finished products in the current FDA directory
197
Companies listing them (makers, repackagers, distributors)
100
FDA labeler codes behind them ⓘ
97
Linked representative label ⓘ
Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc., McNeil Consumer Healthcare Division
Linked label effective
Dec 22, 2025
Composite sections available
25
Linked SPL Set ID
31bfcbb4-c58c-4edc-ac68-356a448b7507
Linked SPL Document ID
460d0a84-5c0c-b974-e063-6294a90ab761
Open the linked representative label on DailyMed ↗

How this page is built

HelloPharmacist combines public FDA and NLM records and does not author the underlying clinical facts. The plain-language sections are written with AI from the FDA-approved label text and reviewed by our pharmacy team before publication. Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc., McNeil Consumer Healthcare Division is the representative DailyMed label linked for verification and dates. This is general education, not medical advice: always talk to your doctor or pharmacist about your own medicines. How we build and review drug pages →