Anyone used Imodium ? Does it work ?

[MarxistMags]

I've got a 'nervous ' tummy which happens when I travel. I've become travel phobic, to coin a phrase. I am so worried that I'll mess myself that I find it very hard to travel. Anywhere.
I am taking Sertraline and Propanol for anxiety. We're supposed to be meeting family at the weekend but I am already stressing about it. What if I need the toilet ? What if I can't get to a toilet ,? What if I mess myself because I didn't get to the toilet ?
So I was wondering if taking Imodium as a pre-emptive measure would work ? Or buy, and wear, incontinence pads
Or am I being too paranoid and unrealistic ? Would it work ?
Any help greatly appreciated.

I often use Immodium preventativly, it is rare for me to get on a flight without having taken it as I get stressed about having a dodgy tummy when travelling. If it’s not all the time I can’t see the harm thought someone who knows better might say different.

Yes it does work if you take it in advance. My son has an over-active stoma and we use immodium to calm things down.

Good luck, it's miserable to live like that.

Yes but it's only a very short term measure. Good luck

I also get a nervous tummy when travelling. I take Immodium as soon as it hits. It works.

I have IBS and occasionally rely on Imodium to get through a tricky day. It works extremely well. Different people have different reactions to it some people take a tablet and it stops them going for a couple of days other people it wears after 12 hrs. The tablets don’t stop the cramping feeling, if you get that, just stops you needing to rush to the loo. Oh and you tend to need to be near a loo when it wears off, if you had a bit longer before you need it I would suggest a practice run to see how long it works on you so you could plan for that. There are also Imodium instants that you can take just as you get the feeling, they do taste horrible though, if you don’t want to preemptively take them.

Just to add that Bisoprolol is good for the cramping. (I have a diagnosis of IBS and it tends to hit when I'm going anywhere important or on holiday.)

Yes it does work. Takes 1-2 hours to resolve all symptoms. Keep drinking water though or you will have a different problem altogether.

Hope you feel better soon.

Don't take too much of it! I did this once, worried I'd have an IBS episode while visiting a new partner for a few days. The constipation following was horrendous.

I also take this preventively when travelling, especially long haul flight. It works well, but stay hydrated.

I’ve been in this situation OP, I couldn’t leave my house out of fear of needing to use the toilet/messing myself. I had to have therapy in the end.

like you, I would often think about wearing adult nappies basically 🤣

With therapy though I learnt that my ‘nervous tummy’ wasn’t something that was going to happen every time I go out or am on a journey. I also had to tell myself what’s the worst that happens? I shit myself, great we stop and I have to change. But realistically, how many people genuinely can’t make it to the toilet even in an ‘urgent’ situation? Not many normal healthy people.
I started basically just sitting with the thought, and yeah a few times for a while I would get that pinching feeling, but usually it was just gas/digestive from nerves, not the actually need to use the toilet. My nerves sometimes did mean I needed to go to the toilet, but not in a dire need situation.
this became less and less, and now we go everywhere and anywhere I don’t have any issues (except when I have Covid and I had to sit for nearly 40 minutes on the brink of shitting my pants 🤣.. but still didn’t!) I think that gave me more faith in myself too 🤣

take the Imodium if you want to, or just have it on you just in case, like a safety behaviour. Actually taking it while not having an upset stomach may lead to constipation though and imo, that’s so much worst than the shits.

Always take it before long flights and it works and also if going to an event such as festival or sporting event where access to toilets may be an issue.

I’m just adding this info into the mix.
I am unable to take sertraline (& many other drugs) because they give me microscopic colitis. Then I sometimes don’t get to the loo in time & am unable to go anywhere where I might not be able to get to a loo immediately. And it hurts. I self diagnosed 6 weeks after starting sertraline & my GP agreed & tries to prescribe around it. My dad was the same but we didn’t realise then, he was unable to leave his house for his last couple of years.
Sertraline was wonderful for me until the colitis started

Lots of people take it before a marathon as a preemptive measure as the trots are quite common. It’s worked for me when I’ve remembered.

Yes it does. Got food poisoning type thing last year when was a flight away from home. Had to carry on for DC as we were in hotel with 3 days left.

Took it and it stopped the problem after a few hours. I still felt awful and didn’t eat anything for two days but it kept me going and I was able to then fly home.

I always take a pack on holiday with me. They work very well.

Very useful for most tummy upsets but beware the prices.
Tesco own diarrhoea relief 2mg £1 for 6 capsules
Imodium 2mg capsules £3.85 for 6 capsules.
Both contain the same active ingredient Loperamide.

Yes, it does work, but check with pharmacist that it’s okay to take with your other meds. Also I wouldn’t take it if I didn’t have symptoms, but always carry some with me

Also, Imodium is the branded version and is really expensive. Get ‘loperamide’ - it’s exactly the same (in the same way that it’s cheaper to get ibuprofen rather than Nurofen).

I take it preventatively when travelling or otherwise not guaranteed access to a toilet for more than a couple of hours as I have ibs, works very well.

Buy loperimide instead it's the same thing just unbranded
I rely on it most months as I have bile acid malabsorbtion and have horrific bouts of running to the loo with little to no notice

Make sure you still drink lots

I think it interacts with Sertraline

Google confirms it can cause heart rhythm complications if taken together. Speak to a dr first i suppose

Thank you all for your responses. I'm going to buy some Imodium, and give it a try. Thank you all.

Just be aware to follow the instructions in terms of when to take more tablets. If you overdo it, you can constipate yourself. (ISTR that it's two capsules at first and then one after each movement if the problem continues.)

Also, Loperamide is the generic name and much cheaper than buying the brand.

Despite it interacting with Sertraline? 😵‍💫

2nd Loperamide, tho you can then get stuck in the constipation mode of IBS.

Also, for me I'm trying to get off sertraline. It's helped my anxiety but played havoc with my bowels.
I had non stop diarrhea for 4 weeks which led to inflammation, onset of piles.
Colonoscopy found this.

Being on sertraline is very difficult for some.