Yashoda Hospitals > Medicine FAQS > Lomotil

Lomotil: Frequently Asked Questions Answered

What is Lomotil?

Lomotil is a prescription antidiarrheal drug that doctors often prescribe to treat diarrhoea in adults and children who are 13-years old or more. It is a combination medicine that comprises two active ingredients: atropine and diphenoxylate. 

Atropine is an anticholinergic. It helps dry up the fluids in your body and slow the movement of your gut. Diphenoxylate is an opioid drug. It relieves pain and also slows down your gut movement.

What are the uses of Lomotil?

Doctors prescribe Lomotil to manage the symptoms of acute (short-term) diarrhoea that usually lasts for a day or two.

It is also used to heal chronic diarrhoea that may last for up to 4-weeks or more.

The dosage of Lomotil depends on the severity of your condition and how well you respond to the drug. Make sure to continue the course of this medication as recommended by your doctor. If you stop having it early, your symptoms may return.

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    What are the side effects of Lomotil?

    Some of the common side-effects of Lomotil includes the following:

    • Constipation
    • Loss of appetite
    • Indigestion
    • Headache
    • Stomach pain
    • Vomiting and nausea
    • Dry mouth
    • Dizziness
    • Restlessness
    • Rashes on the skin
    • Weakness

    In most cases, the side effects of Lomotil go away on their own within a couple of days without any medical attention. However, if your symptoms persist, make sure to consult your doctor at the earliest.

    What is Lomotil

    Uses of Lomotil

    Side effects of Lomotil

    References

    1. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326631
    2. https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-6876/lomotil-oral/details

    Disclaimer: The information provided herein is accurate, updated and complete as per the best practices of the Company. Please note that this information should not be treated as a replacement for physical medical consultation or advice. We do not guarantee the accuracy and the completeness of the information so provided. The absence of any information and/or warning to any drug shall not be considered and assumed as an implied assurance of the Company. We do not take any responsibility for the consequences arising out of the aforementioned information and strongly recommend you for a physical consultation in case of any queries or doubts.

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    Frequently Asked Questions about Lomotil

    Lomotil comes under the Schedule V controlled substance category because it contains limited quantities of narcotics (to help relieve pain). Although it has medical use, it has some potential for abuse if you take it more than the recommended dose. Therefore, it is crucial to take the medication as advised by your doctor.

    According to federal regulation, Lomotil is a Schedule V controlled substance. One of the active drugs in Lomotil, diphenoxylate hydrochloride, is a Schedule II controlled substance. And therefore, it is chemically related to a narcotic pain reliever (meperidine). However, as Lomotil is a combination drug, another active ingredient in Lomotil, atropine, lowers the risk of misuse.

    Your symptoms are likely to improve within 48 hours of taking Lomotil. It means you should see changes in the consistency (firmer) and frequency (lesser) of your stools. If your symptoms do not improve even after taking Lomotil for 10-days (adults) and 48-hours (children), make sure to get in touch with your doctor.

    Lomotil is an antidiarrhoeal medicine that is a combination of diphenoxylate and atropine. Although Lomotil itself is not an opioid, one of its active ingredients, diphenoxylate, is an opioid. Therefore, Lomotil is categorized as a Schedule V controlled substance. It has some potential for abuse in case of a drug overdose.

    If you follow your prescription, it may take up to 48 hours to relieve the symptoms of diarrhoea, including firm stools and fewer visits to the toilet. However, if your diarrhoea and other related symptoms do not improve within 10 days and 48 hours in adults and children, respectively, consult your doctor.

    Always take your medicines as prescribed by your doctor. In the case of Lomotil, your doctor is likely to advise two tablets four times per day. Make sure not to exceed the recommended dose, i.e., eight tabs with 20 mg of diphenoxylate per day. Overdose can be dangerous for you.

    Although Lomotil (atropine and diphenoxylate) and Imodium (loperamide hydrochloride) are antidiarrheal medications, both are different in composition. One of the main differences between these two drugs is that you can buy Imodium as an OTC (over-the-counter) medicine. However, Lomotil is a prescription drug because it is a Schedule V controlled substance.

    Higher doses of atropine, one of the ingredients in Lomotil, are likely to cause constipation. However, the quantity of atropine that enters your body by taking the prescribed doses of Lomotil is not high. Therefore, the chances of getting constipated are low. However, if you experience constipation after taking Lomotil, consult your doctor.

    Lomotil is a combination of two drugs - diphenoxylate and atropine. Out of these two drugs, the former is an opioid, and the latter is an anticholinergic drug. As atropine is an anticholinergic drug, it helps dry your body fluids and slows the movement of your intestine when you have diarrhoea.

    Lomotil overdose can lead to various life-threatening complications including difficulty breathing, permanent brain damage, and even death. The symptoms of early overdose include blurred vision, fast heartbeats, mumbled speech, slow breathing, and seizures, among others. Seek immediate medical assistance in case of an overdose, or else the outcomes can be fatal.