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Chemo-induced Diarrhea

Management of chemotherapy-induced diarrhea

  • Often cancer patients on chemotherapy treatment experience diarrhea. 
    Diarrhea is frequent liquid-like loose stools. Imodium (Loperamide) can be used to manage diarrhea.
  • Diarrhea, chronic - Irritable bowel syndrome
    • initial; 4 mg ORALLY followed by 2 mg after each loose stool up to a maximum of 16 mg/day 
    • maintenance; Average daily dosage 4 mg to 8 mg ORALLY up to a maximum of 16 mg/day, may be taken as a single dose or in divided doses 
  • Diarrhea, acute
    • 4 mg ORALLY followed by 2 mg after each loose stool up to a maximum of 16 mg/day
Reference: Product Information: IMODIUM(R) oral capsules, Janssen Pharmaceutica Inc, Titusville, NJ, 2005.


 Contraindications

  • pseudomembranous colitis, associated with the use of broad spectrum antibiotics; do not use as primary therapy
  • bacterial enterocolitis, caused by invasive organisms including Salmonella, Shigella, and Campylobacter; do not use as primary therapy 
  • dysentery, acute; do not use as primary therapy
  • hypersensitivity to loperamide or to any of the excipients 
  • infants below 24 months of age 
  • ulcerative colitis, acute; do not use as primary therapy 

    • Monitoring

  • Improvement in stool frequency and consistency 
  • periodic fluid and electrolyte status during long term therapy
  • abdominal pain, nausea or constipation
  • CNS toxicity in patients with hepatic impairment

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