Imodium (loperamide) is an over-the-counter drug that’s used to treat diarrhea. This drug can interact with some supplements and other medications. For example, Imodium can interact with Lexapro (escitalopram).
Imodium is used in adults and certain children to treat diarrhea.
An interaction can occur because one substance causes another substance to have a different effect than expected. Interactions can also occur if you have certain health conditions.
Keep reading to learn about Imodium’s possible interactions. And for more information about Imodium, including details about its uses, see this article.
Find the answers to some frequently asked questions about Imodium and possible interactions.
Is there an interaction between Imodium and omeprazole?
No. There’s no known interaction between Imodium and omeprazole.
Imodium is used to treat diarrhea in adults and certain children. Omeprazole is used to treat certain digestive conditions, such as stomach ulcers, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and Zollinger-Ellison syndrome in adults. Doctors also prescribe omeprazole for certain children with GERD or erosive esophagitis due to GERD.
If you have questions about taking Imodium with omeprazole, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Is it safe to take Imodium if I’m also taking an antacid, such as Pepcid?
Yes, it should be safe to take Imodium with Pepcid. There is no known interaction between these drugs.
Imodium is used to treat diarrhea, while Pepcid is used to treat heartburn.
If you have other questions about taking Imodium and Pepcid together, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Before you start using Imodium, tell your doctor and pharmacist about any prescription, over-the-counter, or other drugs you take. Sharing this information with them may help prevent possible interactions. (To learn whether Imodium interacts with herbs or vitamins and supplements, see the “Are there other interactions with Imodium?” section below.)
If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
The table below lists drugs that may interact with Imodium. Keep in mind that this table does not include all drugs that may interact with Imodium. For more information about some of these interactions, see the “Drug interactions explained” section below.
| Drug group or drug name | Drug examples | What can happen |
| certain antibiotics | • azithromycin (Zithromax) • ciprofloxacin (Cipro) | can increase the risk for long QT syndrome as a side effect of Imodium or the antibiotic |
| certain antidepressants | • escitalopram (Lexapro) • citalopram (Celexa) | can increase the risk for long QT syndrome as a side effect of Imodium or the antidepressant |
| certain antifungal drugs | • fluconazole (Diflucan) • itraconazole (Sporanox, Tolsura) | can increase the risk for long QT syndrome as a side effect of Imodium or the antifungal |
| certain antiarrhythmic drugs | • amiodarone (Pacerone) • dronedarone (Multaq) | can increase the risk for long QT syndrome as a side effect of Imodium or the antiarrhythmic |
| certain antipsychotic drugs | • clozapine (Clozaril, Versacloz) • thioridazine | can increase the risk for long QT syndrome as a side effect of Imodium or the antipsychotic drug |
| certain blood pressure medications | • carvedilol (Coreg) • verapamil (Verelan, others) | can increase the risk for side effects of Imodium |
| certain antimalarials | • hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil, Sovuna) • chloroquine | can increase the risk for long QT syndrome as a side effect of Imodium or the antimalarial |
| ritonavir (Norvir) and treatments that contain it | • lopinavir/ritonavir (Kaletra) • ritonavir/nirmatrelvir (Paxlovid) | can increase the risk for side effects of Imodium |
| cobicistat (Tybost) and treatments that contain it | • cobicistat/elvitegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (Stribild) • cobicistat/elvitegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide fumarate (Genvoya) | can increase the risk for side effects of Imodium |
| pitolisant (Wakix) | — | can increase the risk for long QT syndrome as a side effect of Imodium or Wakix |
Certain health conditions or other factors could raise your risk of harm if you take Imodium. In such cases, your doctor may not recommend Imodium for you. These are known as contraindications. The list below includes contraindications of Imodium.
If you have blood in your stool: Imodium should not be used to treat diarrhea if you have blood in your stool. This is a sign of a more serious condition that should be evaluated by a doctor as soon as possible.
In children under age 2 years: Imodium contains loperamide, which should not be used in children under age 2 years. Instead, talk with your child’s doctors about safe ways to treat their diarrhea.
In children under age 12 years, for Imodium A-D liquid filled capsules only. Imodium A-D liquid filled capsules should only be used in persons ages 12 years and older.
If you’ve had an allergic reaction: If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Imodium or any of its ingredients, your doctor likely will not recommend Imodium for you. This is because taking the drug could cause another allergic reaction. You can ask your doctor about other treatments that may be better options for you.
Before you start using Imodium, talk with your doctor if any of the factors above apply to you. Your doctor can determine whether Imodium is safe for you to take.
Imodium is not known to interact with alcohol. But Imodium and alcohol can cause some similar side effects, such as fatigue and dizziness. So you may be more likely to experience these side effects if you drink alcohol during your Imodium treatment.
If you have questions about consuming alcohol while using Imodium, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Learn more about certain drug interactions that can occur with Imodium.
Interaction with certain antidepressants
Imodium can interact with certain antidepressants, which are used to treat depression and certain other mental health conditions.
Examples of antidepressants that can interact with Imodium include:
- citalopram (Celexa)
- escitalopram (Lexapro)
What could happen
Taking Imodium with citalopram or escitalopram can increase the risk for long QT syndrome as a side effect of Imodium or the antidepressant.
What you can do
Your doctor will likely recommend you avoid this interaction, if possible. This means they may recommend a different treatment for diarrhea besides Imodium.
Long QT syndrome typically develops over time. Imodium is a short-term treatment. You’re unlikely to develop long QT syndrome from this interaction if Imodium is used short-term as directed, but it is possible in very rare cases. This is more likely if you already have an abnormal heart rhythm or take additional medications that can cause long QT syndrome. If you have existing long QT syndrome, this interaction could worsen your condition.
Long QT syndrome rarely causes symptoms. But let your doctor know right away if you notice a fluttering feeling in your chest, passing out for no apparent reason, or noisy gasping while sleeping.
If you have questions about taking Imodium with citalopram or escitalopram, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Interaction with certain blood pressure medications
Imodium can interact with carvedilol (Coreg) and verapamil (Verelan, others). These medications are also prescribed for other uses, including irregular heart rhythm (arrhythmia).
What could happen
Taking Imodium with carvedilol or verapamil can increase the risk for side effects of Imodium. Carvedilol and verapamil can slow the activity of enzymes and proteins that help your body break down and get rid of Imodium after you take a dose. This can increase the level of Imodium in your body, raising your risk for side effects.
What you can do
Since Imodium is a short-term treatment, your doctor may have you monitor closely for side effects if you need to take it with carvedilol or verapamil. Important symptoms to watch for include fainting and a fluttering feeling in your chest. But based on other medications you take or your medical history, they may suggest a different treatment instead of Imodium to avoid this interaction.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have additional questions about taking Imodium with carvedilol or verapamil.
Imodium may have other interactions. They could occur with supplements, foods, vaccines, or even lab tests. See below for details. Note that the information below does not include all other possible interactions with Imodium.
Does Imodium interact with supplements?
Before you start using Imodium, talk with your doctor and pharmacist about any herbs or vitamins and supplements you take. Sharing this information with them may help you avoid possible interactions.
If you have questions about interactions that may affect you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Imodium interactions with herbs
There are currently no reports of Imodium interacting with herbs. But this doesn’t mean that interactions with herbs won’t be recognized in the future.
For this reason, it’s still important to check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any of these products while using Imodium.
Imodium interactions with vitamins
There are currently no reports of Imodium interacting with vitamins. But this doesn’t mean that vitamin interactions won’t be recognized in the future.
For this reason, it’s still important to check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any of these products while using Imodium.
Does Imodium interact with food?
Imodium can interact with grapefruit and grapefruit juice. Grapefruit can slow the activity of enzymes that help your body get rid of Imodium after you take a dose. This can increase your risk for side effects caused by Imodium.
Your doctor will likely suggest you avoid consuming grapefruit or grapefruit juice while taking Imodium. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you have additional questions about Imodium and interactions with food.
Does Imodium interact with vaccines?
There are currently no reports of Imodium interacting with vaccines. If you have questions about getting certain vaccines during your Imodium treatment, talk with your doctor.
Does Imodium interact with lab tests?
There are currently no reports of Imodium interacting with lab tests. If you have questions about having certain lab tests during your treatment with Imodium, talk with the healthcare professional ordering the test.
Does Imodium interact with cannabis or CBD?Cannabis(commonly called marijuana) and cannabis products, such as cannabidiol (CBD), have been specifically reported to interact with Imodium.
CBD, a component of cannabis that is also available as a stand-alone product, can increase the level of Imodium in your body. This can raise your risk for side effects caused by Imodium.
Before you start treatment with Imodium, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you use cannabis. By sharing this information with them, you may help prevent possible interactions.
Note: Cannabis is illegal at a federal level but is legal in many states to varying degrees.
Certain medical conditions or other health factors may raise the risk of interactions with Imodium. Before using Imodium, talk with your doctor about your health history. They’ll determine whether Imodium is right for you.
Health conditions or other factors that might interact with Imodium include:
Fever: You should not take Imodium for diarrhea related to a bacterial infection. If you have fever or other symptoms of an infection, contact your doctor to make an appointment to have your symptoms checked in person.
Long QT syndrome or other irregular heart rhythm: Imodium can cause or worsen long QT syndrome, which is a type of heart arrhythmia. You may be at higher risk for this side effect if you have an existing irregular heartbeat. And if you already have long QT syndrome, taking Imodium could worsen your condition.
Liver condition: Having a liver condition, such as cirrhosis, can affect how well your body breaks down Imodium after you take a dose. A liver condition can cause levels of Imodium to build in your body, which can raise your risk for side effects from taking it.
Mucus in your stool: Mucus in your stool can be a symptom of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or other conditions related to your digestive health. You should not use loperamide to treat diarrhea if you also have mucus in your stool. Instead, contact your doctor and let them know about your symptoms. They’ll advise you on the next steps to take.
Pregnancy: It’s not known whether Imodium is safe to use during pregnancy. If you’re pregnant or planning a pregnancy, talk with your doctor before using Imodium.
Breastfeeding: It may be best to avoid Imodium while breastfeeding. The drug passes into breast milk, and your doctor may recommend other options for treating diarrhea instead. If you’re breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed, talk with your doctor about your options.
Allergic reaction: If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Imodium or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not recommend Imodium. This is because using the drug could cause another allergic reaction. You can ask your doctor about other treatments that may be better choices for you.
Taking certain steps can help you avoid interactions with Imodium. Before starting treatment, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Things to discuss with them include:
- whether you drink alcohol or use cannabis
- other medications you take, as well as any vitamins, supplements, and herbs (they can also help you fill out a
medication list ) - what to do if you start taking a new drug during your Imodium treatment
It’s also important to understand Imodium’s
If you have trouble reading or understanding this information, your doctor or pharmacist can help.
Using Imodium exactly as your doctor has described can also help prevent interactions.
Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.
