First Trimester Imodium Use

[ClearB21]

Hiya everyone I am 5 weeks pregnant and I am suffering. I can’t stop going to the toilet. I have had IBS since I was about 15 and I’ve used Imodium 3/4 times a week for about 10 years. I’ve had to come home from work today because I literally can’t eat without having to run the loo. I’ve been like this since last Wednesday.
I seen my GP last week who basically didn’t have a clue if I could use Imodium or not during pregnancy and prescribed me omeprazole??? I have had heartburn but not to the point I need those. So I haven’t been taking Imodium since I found out I was pregnant at week 3 because let’s be honest Google is my best friend.

My GP basically said wait until you see your midwife but that isn’t until week 9 (no appts for week 8 🙄)

Has anyone taken Imodium in the first trimester or heard from a midwife it’s ok? I don’t know how I can cope any longer. I’ve stopped taking my pregnancy multivitamins in case it was the iron and instead just taking Vit D and Folic Acid.

This is my first baby and I’m so excited, nervous, scared, petrified of anything going “wrong” and I won’t even say the M word so any advice or help would be appreciated!

Of course nobody can say for sure, only you can decide. I had to take loperamide a few times in both my first trimesters (bile acid malabsorption, lifelong condition) and just tried to keep it to an absolute minimum. I agonised over it but didn't have a choice a few times and the kids are fine. I hated doing it though. I asked my midwife and GP, even rang the maternity ward to ask them but nobody could tell me for certain.

If you haven't already, maybe try probiotics and/or Enterosgel first - it's natural and absolutely brilliant for me, and I use it for the kids when they have upset stomachs.

Final thought. I am not generally allergic to anything but I dis end up cutting out wheat in my first pregnancy which made a big difference (I was trying everything that my GP suggested to minimise loperamide use). Second time it was fine, ate normally. Maybe you could try a food diary too and see if anything appears to be irritating your stomach. Hope it settles down.

Thank you so much for your advice. I’ve never heard of enterosgel before but just had a google and it could definitely be worth trying so thank you!

I’ve been taking probiotics for about 3 months just in general but doesn’t seem to be helping. A friend said it could be an intolerance to something which can be kicked off by pregnancy but to be honest I’ve barely eaten the last 5 days and it’s still happening but I’ll definitely see if I can find a trigger.

I have to go into work tomorrow so I’ll have no choice but to take Imodium if I’m still the same in the morning. It’s horrible isn’t it. You feel like you might as well be taking heroin because no idea if there’s an effect on baby 😩

Have you been taking the omeprazole? A very common side effect of omeprazole is diarrhea.

I would speak to a pharmacist, who is probably more clued up on medication specifics, or call 111 for confirmation. There becomes a point when have constant diarrhoea is itself causing issues. However, they do recommend speaking to a doctor or pharmacist before taking Loperamide, which is the active ingredient, I think because it can impact on heart rhythm and cause faintness/dizziness.

Maybe try and the BRAT diet plus a probiotic for a couple of days, see if you can get some food to stick?

Thanks everyone for replying. I haven't started taking the omeprezole yet because I seen that its side effects can make it worse. I'm still struggling a lot and have lost 2lb this week from not eating properly/going to the toilet.
My local midwife only works Thursdays in my GP so I think I'll be calling them tomorrow to see if there's anything she can advise.
It's just so hard, I'm so happy to be pregnant but this is making me miserable and I'm terrified I'll be like this for 9 months.

Fwiw my 'morning sickness' was all out the other end. Was never sick but if I ate it would all need to come out very shortly afterwards! It settled in second trimester.

To be fair I never vomit, ever! Even when I'm sick. I've had hangovers where I've had to forcefully make myself sick to make my stomach feel better so I'm not surprised really that this could be my version of morning sickness too 😂
Thank you because that's helped knowing it could settle in the second trimester, at this point it just feels like I'll forever be on a toilet!

The reference book that the pharmacist would use (the BNF), says the manufacturer says avoid in pregnancy. You could double check with a pharmacist though.