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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

Loperamide/imodium

19 replies

beeboo92 · 29/01/2024 11:11

Has anyone taken loperamide/imodium in small doses throughout their entire pregnancy?
I've seen mixed research online & my dr has been zero help.
I have to take 4mg a couple of times a week due to really bad IBS-D & have had to take it through second trimester so far as my stomach has been a mess since 14 weeks. First trimester wasn't too bad as I was being sick so much I was mostly constipated & housebound.
Just want to know other people's experiences.
Currently 18 weeks pregnant.

OP posts:
Ttcmumma · 29/01/2024 11:59

I asked the hospital during a bout of week long diarrhea and was told it is not recommended as there isn't enough research into its affects in pregnancy

Original poster
beeboo92 · 29/01/2024 12:22

Ttcmumma · 29/01/2024 11:59

I asked the hospital during a bout of week long diarrhea and was told it is not recommended as there isn't enough research into its affects in pregnancy

My problem is if I don't take it I can't leave the house, I can't work & I end up (embarrassingly) incontinent because my IBS is so bad. But I've been given zero alternatives and it's not like a stomach bug where it will pass, it's a medical condition.
I just feel horrendous every time I take it but have no other option.

OP posts:
idontlikealdi · 29/01/2024 12:25

I did for the same reason as you op, on my Drs recommendation.

I am not a medic though. Can you see another Dr to OK it for you?

Ttcmumma · 29/01/2024 12:27

@beeboo92 it's a risk I guess but you are weighing up your options. The fact there isn't enough evidence doesn't mean there is actually any harm going to be done, just that they can't tell you there won't be. Realistically it may have no affect at all on baby! It's a hard one but surely I'd you are pretty much incontinent otherwise, that wouldn't be healthy for baby either.

Original poster
beeboo92 · 29/01/2024 12:41

Ttcmumma · 29/01/2024 12:27

@beeboo92 it's a risk I guess but you are weighing up your options. The fact there isn't enough evidence doesn't mean there is actually any harm going to be done, just that they can't tell you there won't be. Realistically it may have no affect at all on baby! It's a hard one but surely I'd you are pretty much incontinent otherwise, that wouldn't be healthy for baby either.

It's so difficult because you don't know what's right or wrong for your baby and just want it to be safe and healthy. This is our first after unfortunately miscarrying a few years a go so I think that adds to anxiety as well (which obviously doesn't help the IBS issue either).
Thank you for taking the time out to reply to me though & sorry for my stressful sounding reply's. I do appreciate it :) x

OP posts:
Original poster
beeboo92 · 29/01/2024 12:45

idontlikealdi · 29/01/2024 12:25

I did for the same reason as you op, on my Drs recommendation.

I am not a medic though. Can you see another Dr to OK it for you?

How often did you find you had to take it? And was everything ok in the end?
I have an appointment with an obstetrician to discuss other possible pregnancy complications to see if I need an eye keeping on me so I'm going to see if they can help at all and try to discuss again then. But that appointment isn't until the 12th February & I'll be nearly 21 weeks.
I've spoken to a couple of GP's from my practice since getting pregnant and they have all pretty much said they can offer me peppermint oil capsules in pregnancy and that's it and apart from giving me lovely heartburn they're pretty rubbish.

OP posts:
Bonnybairn · 11/02/2024 20:32

@beeboo92 hello! Fellow pregnant IBS sufferer here. I have had the same sort of response as you. GP actually apologised and said because Imodium/loperamide is a cheap drug the companies don't think it's beneficial to test it in pregnancy properly. Which doesn't help us! GP did say it should be avoided due to a potential risk but the if the benefit outweighs the risk then to take it because you do need to live a life too.

I have now not taken any for 5 weeks (I'm 10 weeks now) so basically as soon as I found out and I've been following a low Fodmap diet which helps. Not totally symptom free and it's a lot of hard work to get your head around but I have found it beneficial. I'm due to travel in a couple of weeks and know I'll need to take something to get me through journeys etc.

I have also seen that some people have taken it all the way through as prescribed by their doctor so if I have it the odd time (although I am crazy stressing about it) it's not as bad as taking the full dose all the time. If you get any info tomorrow would you mind sharing? I'm not booked in to see consultant until back end of March!

Please try not to stress. You have to be able to live your life as normally as possible during this time, but I understand how hard it is. X

Original poster
beeboo92 · 14/02/2024 07:36

Bonnybairn · 11/02/2024 20:32

@beeboo92 hello! Fellow pregnant IBS sufferer here. I have had the same sort of response as you. GP actually apologised and said because Imodium/loperamide is a cheap drug the companies don't think it's beneficial to test it in pregnancy properly. Which doesn't help us! GP did say it should be avoided due to a potential risk but the if the benefit outweighs the risk then to take it because you do need to live a life too.

I have now not taken any for 5 weeks (I'm 10 weeks now) so basically as soon as I found out and I've been following a low Fodmap diet which helps. Not totally symptom free and it's a lot of hard work to get your head around but I have found it beneficial. I'm due to travel in a couple of weeks and know I'll need to take something to get me through journeys etc.

I have also seen that some people have taken it all the way through as prescribed by their doctor so if I have it the odd time (although I am crazy stressing about it) it's not as bad as taking the full dose all the time. If you get any info tomorrow would you mind sharing? I'm not booked in to see consultant until back end of March!

Please try not to stress. You have to be able to live your life as normally as possible during this time, but I understand how hard it is. X

Sorry I've only just seen your reply. The consultant really didn't have much to say when I asked him. In fact he actually said he didn't know about loperamide.
I did mention that I've read all the research I can find online and there's no conclusive answer to which he said that usually means it's not been tested so best to be avoided where possible.
My bowels are actually getting worse though so I keep trying to get back in with the GP to talk to them again.
I've got my 20 week scan today and I'm just praying everything is ok, because I have been having to take the medication often, as of late, to be able to: Get out of the house, work and to stop me spending all day every day with the runs (which I'm sure is not doing my body any favours or helping with a healthy pregnancy).

OP posts:
Bonnybairn · 14/02/2024 08:12

@beeboo92 the lack of help is absolutely ridiculous and to just expect people to go through 9months of the turmoil just isn't fair. Personally I've even thought along the lines of "there's worse things out there that people have taken or are doing in pregnancy so if I need something to help me live a normal life then to me those benefits outweigh the risks"
Have you tried low fodmap? It's tedious sometimes and hard work but I downloaded the monash app n I've managed over the last couple of month to have a hair appointment and nail appointment without taken any medication... which is so rare for me!! I usually take it to pop to Tesco Confused

I'm sure every thing will be okay for you and baby. I'm just really sorry there's no support for us, the stress makes everything worse!

Original poster
beeboo92 · 14/02/2024 11:56

Bonnybairn · 14/02/2024 08:12

@beeboo92 the lack of help is absolutely ridiculous and to just expect people to go through 9months of the turmoil just isn't fair. Personally I've even thought along the lines of "there's worse things out there that people have taken or are doing in pregnancy so if I need something to help me live a normal life then to me those benefits outweigh the risks"
Have you tried low fodmap? It's tedious sometimes and hard work but I downloaded the monash app n I've managed over the last couple of month to have a hair appointment and nail appointment without taken any medication... which is so rare for me!! I usually take it to pop to Tesco Confused

I'm sure every thing will be okay for you and baby. I'm just really sorry there's no support for us, the stress makes everything worse!

I'm back from my scan and everything looks to be absolutely fine :) all the organs they looked at seemed healthy and in perfect working order :)

I have managed to get an appointment with a different GP this afternoon too so I'll let you know what they say.

I've tried every diet under the sun I think but it's never made any difference. I've had the same issue since I was 16 (I'm 31 now) but all I can think of is pregnancy hormones are just ramping it up at the minute.
I've never had investigations either which is something I'm going to try and insist on when baby is here. X

OP posts:
Bonnybairn · 14/02/2024 12:38

@beeboo92 I'm so pleased you had a lovely scan!! Congratulations Star I bet you're over the moon!!

Please do, my GP was lovely but said there's just not enough evidence for her to provide a definitive "yes you can take" however if you absolutely need it, which it sounds as though you do! And I'm sure I will soon too, then take it.

Honestly, don't be so hard on yourself! Today was fabulous news!

Original poster
beeboo92 · 14/02/2024 20:58

Bonnybairn · 14/02/2024 12:38

@beeboo92 I'm so pleased you had a lovely scan!! Congratulations Star I bet you're over the moon!!

Please do, my GP was lovely but said there's just not enough evidence for her to provide a definitive "yes you can take" however if you absolutely need it, which it sounds as though you do! And I'm sure I will soon too, then take it.

Honestly, don't be so hard on yourself! Today was fabulous news!

Absolutely :) it definitely feels like somewhat of a relief. I've got an anterior placenta so haven't really felt any early movements as yet so to see and hear everything looks to be as it should be was amazing.

As far as the dr goes he's sending me for blood tests to check for deficiencies and celiac disease and he's prescribed very low dose codeine (which I'm more anxious about taking than the loperamide due to risk of addiction etc) but it's apparently pregnancy safe. He said that with there being no conclusive evidence about loperamide he doesn't want to say yes or no to taking it, which I think is the general consensus of drs in the UK and that he'd rather not take the risk.

OP posts:
Bonnybairn · 14/02/2024 22:34

@beeboo92 awww that sounds much more positive than your last experience! I really really hope the codeine works for you! I'm not sure anything is ideal but neither is IBS and if he's confident there no risk then you can stop worrying too.

Please keep me updated with how you get on? I'd love to know if it works for you!

Ttcmumma · 15/02/2024 06:44

@beeboo92 I was given codiene in labour, if that helps reassure you about it's safety. I had it twice over 3 days of labour. God sent 🤣. It does however slow labour down tho, so maybe something you may want to stop taking when you get to the stage of actually going into labour! It made my contractions more spaced out. Even when pushing they were still 7 CMS apart! But yes didn't affect babies health at all x

Ttcmumma · 15/02/2024 06:44

7 minutes not CMS, baby brain lol

snapple21 · 15/02/2024 07:11

There are very few drugs tested in pregnancy as it's usually not ethical to do so.

Original poster
beeboo92 · 15/02/2024 08:31

Bonnybairn · 14/02/2024 22:34

@beeboo92 awww that sounds much more positive than your last experience! I really really hope the codeine works for you! I'm not sure anything is ideal but neither is IBS and if he's confident there no risk then you can stop worrying too.

Please keep me updated with how you get on? I'd love to know if it works for you!

Will do :)

OP posts:
Original poster
beeboo92 · 15/02/2024 14:33

Ttcmumma · 15/02/2024 06:44

@beeboo92 I was given codiene in labour, if that helps reassure you about it's safety. I had it twice over 3 days of labour. God sent 🤣. It does however slow labour down tho, so maybe something you may want to stop taking when you get to the stage of actually going into labour! It made my contractions more spaced out. Even when pushing they were still 7 CMS apart! But yes didn't affect babies health at all x

Thanks for the response :) having been reading it says to be stopped a few weeks prior as it may cause withdrawal symptoms in baby if it's been taken regularly in pregnancy. So I'm reluctant to take it really. Plus I don't like the fact it can be addictive.

I'm getting to the point where I'm thinking about just getting a sick note, putting in all my holiday for next year in a block and then taking early maternity leave if I'm being honest. My baby is far more important than work right now.

OP posts:
Bonnybairn · 11/03/2024 21:27

@beeboo92 Hi lovely! Just checking in to see how you are? Hoping everything's working for you! X

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