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warnings
WARNINGS Fluid and electrolyte depletion often occur in patients who have diarrhea. In such cases, administration of appropriate fluid and electrolytes is very important. The use of loperamide does not preclude the need for appropriate fluid and electrolyte therapy. In general, loperamide should not be used when inhibition of peristalsis is to be avoided due to the possible risk of significant sequelae including ileus, megacolon and toxic megacolon. Loperamide must be discontinued promptly when constipation, abdominal distention or ileus develop. Treatment of diarrhea with loperamide is only symptomatic. Whenever an underlying etiology can be determined, specific treatment should be given when appropriate (or when indicated). Patients with AIDS treated with loperamide for diarrhea should have therapy stopped at the earliest signs of abdominal distention. There have been isolated reports of toxic megacolon in AIDS patients with infectious colitis from both viral and bacterial pathogens treated with loperamide hydrochloride. {ref EDMS-PSDB-2564186, pg 12} Loperamide should be used with special caution in young children because of the greater variability of response in this age group. Dehydration, particularly in younger children, may further influence the variability of response to loperamide.
ADVERSE REACTIONS The adverse effects reported during clinical investigations of loperamide hydrochloride are difficult to distinguish from symptoms associated with the diarrheal syndrome. Adverse experiences recorded during clinical studies with loperamide hydrochloride were generally of a minor and self-limiting nature. They were more commonly observed during the treatment of chronic diarrhea. The adverse events reported are summarized irrespective of the causality assessment of the investigators. The adverse events with an incidence of 1% or greater, which were reported at least as often in patients on loperamide hydrochloride as on placebo, are presented in the table below. Acute Diarrhea Loperamide Hydrochloride Placebo No. of treated patients 231 236 Gastrointestinal AE% Constipation 2.6% 0.8% The adverse events with an incidence of 1% or greater, which were more frequently reported in patients on placebo than on loperamide hydrochloride, were: dry mouth, flatulence, abdominal cramp and colic. The adverse events with an incidence of 1% or greater, which were reported at least as often in patients on loperamide hydrochloride as on placebo, are presented in the table below. Chronic Diarrhea Loperamide Hydrochloride Placebo No. of treated patients 285 277 Gastrointestinal AE% Constipation 5.3% 0.0% Central and peripheral nervous system AE% Dizziness 1.4% 0.7% The adverse events with an incidence of 1% or greater, which were more frequently reported in patients on placebo than on loperamide hydrochloride were: nausea, vomiting, headache, meteorism, abdominal pain, abdominal cramp and colic. The adverse events with an incidence of 1% or greater in patients from all studies are given in the table below. Acute Diarrhea Chronic Diarrhea All Studies * No. of treated patients 1913 1371 3740 Gastrointestinal AE% Nausea 0.7% 3.2% 1.8% Constipation 1.6% 1.9% 1.7% Abdominal cramps 0.5% 3.0% 1.4% All patients in all studies, including those in which it was not specified if the adverse events occurred in patients with acute or chronic diarrhea. The following adverse events have been reported: Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders: Rash, pruritus, urticaria, angioedema, and extremely rare cases of bullous eruption including erythema multiforme, Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis have been reported with use of loperamide. Immune System Disorders: Isolated occurrences of allergic reactions and in some cases severe hypersensitivity reactions including anaphylactic shock and anaphylactoid reactions have been reported with the use of loperamide. Gastrointestinal Disorders: Dry mouth, abdominal pain, distention or discomfort, nausea, vomiting, flatulence, dyspepsia, constipation, paralytic ileus, megacolon, including toxic megacolon (see CONTRAINDICATIONS and WARNINGS ). Renal and Urinary Disorders: Urinary retention Nervous System Disorders: Drowsiness, dizziness General Disorders and Administrative Site Conditions: Tiredness A number of the adverse events reported during the clinical investigations and post-marketing experience with loperamide are frequent symptoms of the underlying diarrheal syndrome (abdominal pain/discomfort, nausea, vomiting, dry mouth, tiredness, drowsiness, dizziness, constipation, and flatulence). These symptoms are often difficult to distinguish from undesirable drug effects.