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Therapeutic action
- Opioid antidiarrhoeal
Indications
- Symptomatic treatment of persistent diarrhoea in HIV patients, in combination with rehydration
Forms and strengths
- 2 mg capsule or tablet
- Also comes in 1 mg/5 ml oral solution.
Dosage
- Child from 2 to 5 years: 1 mg 3 times daily
- Child from 6 to 8 years: 2 mg 2 times daily
- Child over 8 years: 2 mg 3 times daily
Age Weight |
0-2 years < 13 kg |
2-5 years 13 - 20 kg |
6-8 years 20 - 30 kg |
> 8 years > 30 kg |
---|---|---|---|---|
Oral solution |
Do not |
1 tsp x 3 |
2 tsp x 2 |
2 tsp x 3 |
Capsule |
– |
1 cap x 2 |
1 cap x 3 |
- Adult: 4 mg (2 capsules), then 2 mg (1 capsule) after each loose stool, without exceeding 16 mg daily (8 capsules daily)
Duration
- According to clinical response
Contra-indications, adverse effects, precautions
- Do not exceed indicated doses.
- Do not administer to children under 2 years.
- Do not administer to patients with bloody diarrhoea, acute inflammatory bowel disease, diarrhoea due to antibiotics.
- May cause: constipation, allergic skin reactions, drowsiness, dizziness.
- In the event of overdosage, treat with naloxone.
- Pregnancy: no contra-indication
- Breast-feeding: no contra-indication
Remarks
- Rehydration is essential and must be adapted to the severity of diarrhoea.
- Loperamide is not included in the WHO list of essential medicines.
Storage
- Below 25 °C