Loperamide 2 mg: uses, price & cheaper substitutes
Prescription required (Schedule H)
Common uses: Short-term acute diarrhoea in adults – reduces the number of loose motions; Travellers' diarrhoea without fever or blood in the stool.
Listed MRPs range from ₹0.46 to ₹4.07 per capsule across 7 listings. Use only on a doctor's prescription.
Price comparison
| Brand | Manufacturer | Pack | MRP | ₹ / capsule | As on |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loperamide Capsules IP 2 mgJan Aushadhi | Jan Aushadhi (PMBJP) | 10 | ₹7.22 | ₹0.72 | 19 October 2026 |
| Loopra | Intas Pharmaceuticals Ltd | 10 | ₹4.57 | ₹0.46 | 19 October 2026 |
| Lopidus | Zydus Healthcare Limited | 10 | ₹5.86 | ₹0.59 | 19 October 2026 |
| Roko | Cipla Ltd | 10 | ₹24.45 | ₹2.44 | 19 October 2026 |
| Megalop | Scott Edil Pharmacia Ltd | 10 | ₹32.68 | ₹3.27 | 19 October 2026 |
| Imodium | Janssen Pharmaceuticals | 4 | ₹16.00 | ₹4.00 | 19 October 2026 |
| Eldoper | Micro Labs Ltd | 15 | ₹61.09 | ₹4.07 | 19 October 2026 |
MRPs as printed/listed on the date shown; actual price may vary.
Uses
- Short-term acute diarrhoea in adults – reduces the number of loose motions.
- Travellers' diarrhoea without fever or blood in the stool.
- Diarrhoea in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D), on a doctor's advice.
- Long-lasting diarrhoea from bowel conditions or an ileostomy, under medical supervision.
How to take it
Adults start with two 2 mg capsules, then take one capsule after each loose motion. Do not take more than 6 capsules in 24 hours when self-medicating, or 8 if your doctor has prescribed it. Swallow with water. Most people need it for only 1 or 2 days; stop as soon as the stools firm up. Loperamide only slows the gut – it does not treat the cause – so keep drinking ORS and fluids to replace what you lose. Do not use it if you have a high fever, blood or mucus in the stool, or diarrhoea after antibiotics; see a doctor instead. If diarrhoea continues beyond 48 hours, see a doctor.
Side effects
Common
- Constipation.
- Nausea.
- Headache.
- Wind or bloating.
- Dizziness or dry mouth.
Serious
Stop and get medical help urgently if you notice any of these.
- Severe constipation, swollen painful abdomen or being unable to pass wind – a blocked or paralysed bowel; stop and see a doctor.
- Fast or irregular heartbeat, fainting – a danger with overdose.
- Severe stomach pain with fever and vomiting – possible pancreatitis.
- Severe allergic reaction – swelling of the face or throat, difficulty breathing.
Safety information
Alcohol
Avoid alcohol during diarrhoea; it dehydrates you and can add to dizziness and drowsiness with loperamide.
Pregnancy
Tell your doctor or pharmacist before using it if you are pregnant or breastfeeding; ORS and fluids are the first treatment, and loperamide is used only if clearly needed.
Kidney problems
No specific dose change, but dehydration from diarrhoea itself can harm the kidneys, so keep drinking fluids.
Liver problems
Use with caution in liver disease – the medicine can build up and cause drowsiness. Tell your doctor.
Children
Not for children under 12 unless a doctor prescribes it. In young children loperamide can cause dangerous bowel paralysis; ORS and zinc are the treatment.
Missed dose
There is no fixed schedule – take your usual dose after the next loose motion. Never take an extra dose to make up.
Interactions
- Ritonavir and other HIV medicines, quinidine, itraconazole, ketoconazole – raise loperamide levels and the risk of heart rhythm problems.
- Clozapine – tell your doctor.
- Gemfibrozil – raises loperamide levels.
- Desmopressin – levels can rise.
- Other medicines for diarrhoea, constipation or stomach problems – do not combine without advice.
- Metformin, blood pressure and heart failure medicines – in severe diarrhoea your doctor may pause these for a few days.
Frequently asked questions
How many Imodium capsules can I take in a day?
Start with two, then one after each loose motion, up to 6 capsules in 24 hours without a prescription or 8 if your doctor prescribed it. Stop once the stools firm up, usually within a day or two.
Is Eldoper safe for children?
Not under 12 unless a doctor prescribes it. In young children loperamide can paralyse the bowel and cause serious harm. Children with diarrhoea need ORS, zinc and continued feeding, and a doctor if they are drowsy, have fever or blood in the stool.
Can I take Imodium with ORS?
Yes. In fact ORS is the most important treatment for diarrhoea, because it replaces water and salts. Loperamide only reduces the number of motions and should never replace fluids.
Should I take loperamide if I have fever or blood in my stool?
No. Fever, blood or mucus suggest an infection like dysentery, where slowing the gut can keep the bacteria inside and worsen things. See a doctor – you may need an antibiotic.
Can I take Eldoper with alcohol?
Avoid alcohol during diarrhoea. It dehydrates you further and may add to dizziness and drowsiness with loperamide.
Is loperamide safe in pregnancy?
Use it only if your doctor or pharmacist advises. ORS and fluids are the first treatment for diarrhoea in pregnancy; loperamide is used when clearly needed.
How quickly does Imodium work?
It usually starts reducing loose motions within an hour of the first dose. If you still have diarrhoea after 48 hours, stop and see a doctor.
Can I take loperamide for diarrhoea after antibiotics?
No. Diarrhoea during or after antibiotics can be an infection called C. difficile, and loperamide can make it dangerous. See a doctor instead.
Is loperamide available without prescription in India?
Loperamide is a Schedule H medicine and should be sold only against a prescription. Many chemists sell it over the counter, but it is safest to take it for short courses only and never in children.
Sources
- NHS – Loperamide (19 October 2026)
- NPPA Pharma Sahi Daam (ceiling prices) (19 October 2026)
- PMBI Jan Aushadhi Product & MRP List (19 October 2026)
Medyzen Editorial Team · Last updated
This page is general information, not medical advice. Do not start, stop or change a medicine without asking a doctor or pharmacist. Terms