Symptoms
In case of overdose (including relative overdose due to hepatic dysfunction), CNS depression (stupor, coordination abnormality, somnolence, miosis, muscular hypertonia, and respiratory depression), constipation, urinary retention and ileus may occur. Children and patients with hepatic dysfunction may be more sensitive to CNS effects than adults.
In individuals who have ingested overdoses of loperamide HCl, cardiac events such as QT interval prolongation, torsades de pointes, other serious ventricular arrhythmias, cardiac arrest and syncope have been observed. Fatal cases have also been reported.
Treatment
In cases of overdose, ECG monitoring for QT interval prolongation should be initiated.
If the patient develops respiratory depression, airway obstruction, vomiting with impaired consciousness or other CNS symptoms of overdose, give naloxone urgently. Since the duration of action of loperamide is longer than that of naloxone (1 to 3 hours), repeated treatment with naloxone might be indicated. Therefore, the patient should be monitored closely for at least 48 hours in order to detect possible CNS depression. Other measures should be as indicated by the patient's clinical condition.
Loperamide-Akri is contraindicated in:
- patients with a known hypersensitivity to loperamide hydrochloride or to any of the excipients.
- children less than 4 years of age.
- when inhibition of peristalsis is to be avoided due to the possible risk of significant sequelae including ileus, megacolon and toxic megacolon, in particular:
-when ileus, constipation or abdominal distension develop,
- in patients with acute ulcerative colitis,
- in patients with bacterial enterocolitis caused by invasive organisms including Salmonella, Shigella, and Campylobacter,
- in patients with pseudomembranous colitis associated with the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics.
Loperamide-Akri should not be used alone in acute dysentery, which is characterised by blood in stools and elevated body temperatures.
Not applicable.
The safety of loperamide hydrochloride was evaluated in 3076 adults and children aged >12 years who participated in 31 controlled and uncontrolled clinical trials of loperamide hydrochloride used for the treatment of diarrhoea. Of these, 26 trials were in acute diarrhoea (N=2755) and 5 trials were in chronic diarrhoea (N=321).
The most commonly reported (i.e. >1% incidence) adverse reactions in clinical trials with loperamide hydrochloride in acute diarrhoea were: constipation (2.7%), flatulence (1.7%), headache (1.2%) and nausea (1.1%). In clinical trials in chronic diarrhoea, the most commonly reported (i.e. >1% incidence) adverse reactions were: flatulence (2.8%), constipation (2.2%), nausea (1.2%) and dizziness (1.2%).
Table 1 displays adverse reactions that have been reported with the use of loperamide hydrochloride from either clinical trials (in acute or chronic diarrhoea or both) or post-marketing experience.
The frequency categories use the following convention: very common (>1/10); common (>1/100 to <1/10); uncommon (>1/1,000 to <1/100); rare (>1/10,000 to <1/1,000); and very rare (<1/10,000).
Table 1: Adverse Reactions
| System Organ Class and Frequency | Adverse Reaction |
| Immune System Disorders | |
| Rare | Hypersensitivity reaction, Anaphylactic reaction (including Anaphylactic shock), Anaphylactoid reaction |
| Nervous System Disorders | |
| Common | Headache, Dizziness |
| Uncommon | Somnolence |
| Rare | Loss of consciousness, Stupor, Depressed level of consciousness, Hypertonia, Coordination abnormality |
| Eye Disorders | |
| Rare | Miosis |
| Gastrointestinal Disorders | |
| Common | Constipation, Nausea, Flatulence |
| Uncommon | Abdominal pain, Abdominal discomfort, Dry mouth, Abdominal pain upper, Vomiting, Dyspepsia |
| Rare | ), Abdominal distension |
| Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders | |
| Uncommon | Rash |
| Rare | Bullous eruption (including Stevens-Johnson syndrome, Toxic epidermal necrolysis and Erythema multiforme), Angioedema, Urticaria, Pruritus |
| Renal and Urinary Disorders | |
| Rare | Urinary retention |
| General Disorders and Administration Site Conditions | |
| Rare | Fatigue |
A number of the adverse reactions reported during the clinical investigations and post-marketing experience with loperamide hydrochloride are frequent symptoms of the underlying diarrhoeal syndrome (for example abdominal pain/discomfort, nausea, vomiting, dry mouth, tiredness, drowsiness, dizziness, constipation, and flatulence). These symptoms are often difficult to distinguish from undesirable drug effects.
Paediatric population
The safety of loperamide hydrochloride was evaluated in 607 patients aged 10 days to 13 years, who participated in 13 controlled and uncontrolled clinical trials of loperamide hydrochloride used for the treatment of acute diarrhoea. In general, the adverse reactions profile in this patient population was similar to that seen in clinical trials of loperamide hydrochloride in adults and children aged 12 years and over.
Reporting of suspected adverse reactions
Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk.
Acute and chronic studies on loperamide showed no specific toxicity. Results of in vivo and in vitro studies carried out indicated that loperamide is not genotoxic. In reproduction studies, very high doses (40mg/kg/day - 240 times the maximum human use level) loperamide impaired fertility and foetal survival in association with maternal toxicity in rats. Lower doses had no effects on maternal or foetal health and did not affect peri- and post-natal development.
Non-clinical in vitro and in vivo evaluation of loperamide indicates no significant cardiac electrophysiological effects within its therapeutically relevant concentration range and at significant multiples of this range (up to 47-fold). However, at extremely high concentrations associated with overdoses , loperamide has cardiac electrophysiological actions consisting of inhibition of potassium (hERG) and sodium currents, and arrhythmias.
For the symptomatic treatment of acute diarrhoea of any aetiology including acute exacerbations of chronic diarrhoea for periods of up to 5 days in adults and children over 4 years. For the symptomatic treatment of chronic diarrhoea in adults.
Pharmacotherapeutic Group: Antipropulsives; ATC code: A07DA03
Loperamide binds to the opiate receptor in the gut wall, reducing propulsive peristalsis and increasing intestinal transit time. Loperamide increases the tone of the anal sphincter.
Absorption: Most ingested loperamide is absorbed from the gut, but as a result of significant first pass metabolism, systemic bioavailability is only approximately 0.3%.
Distribution: Studies on distribution in rats show a high affinity for the gut wall with a preference for binding to receptors of the longitudinal muscle layer. The plasma protein binding of loperamide is 95%, mainly to albumin. Non-clinical data have shown that loperamide is a P-glycoprotein substrate.
Metabolism: Loperamide is almost completely extracted by the liver, where it is predominantly metabolised, conjugated and excreted via the bile.
Oxidative N-demethylation is the main metabolic pathway for loperamide, and is mediated mainly through CYP3A4 and CYP2C8. Due to this very high first pass effect, plasma concentrations of unchanged drug remain extremely low.
Elimination: The half-life of loperamide in man is about 11 hours with a range of 9-14 hours. Excretion of the unchanged loperamide and the metabolites mainly occurs through the faeces.
Paediatric Population: No pharmacokinetic studies were performed in the paediatric population. It is expected that pharmacokinetic behaviour of loperamide and drug-drug interactions with loperamide will be similar to those in adults.
In patients with diarrhoea, especially young children, fluid and electrolyte depletion may occur. Use of Loperamide-Akri does not preclude the administration of appropriate fluid and electrolyte replacement therapy.
Treatment of diarrhoea with Loperamide-Akri is only symptomatic.
Since persistent diarrhoea can be an indicator of potentially more serious conditions, Loperamide-Akri should not be used for prolonged periods of time and the underlying cause of the diarrhoea should be investigated if clinical improvement is not observed within 48 hours of initiating treatment. Whenever an underlying etiology can be determined, specific treatment should be given when appropriate.
Although no pharmacokinetic data are available in patients with hepatic impairment, Loperamide-Akri must be used with caution in these patients because of reduced first pass metabolism (eg in cases of severe hepatic disturbance), as this might result in a relative overdose leading to CNS toxicity.
Loperamide-Akri must be discontinued promptly when constipation, abdominal distension or ileus develop.
Patients with AIDS treated with Loperamide-Akri for diarrhoea should have therapy stopped at the earliest signs of abdominal distension. There have been isolated reports of toxic megacolon in AIDS patients with infectious colitis from both viral and bacterial pathogens treated with loperamide hydrochloride.
Cardiac events including QT prolongation and torsades de pointes have been reported in association with overdose. Some cases had a fatal outcome. Patients should not exceed the recommended dose and/or the recommended duration of treatment.
Loperamide-Akri oral solution contains:
- glycerol: may cause headache, stomach upset and diarrhoea
- sodium saccharin (4.85 mg of sodium per 5 ml dose): To be taken into consideration by patients on a controlled sodium diet
- methyl parahydroxybenzoate (E218) and propyl parahydroxybenzoate (E216): these may cause an allergic reaction (possibly delayed)
- cochineal red A (E124): may cause allergic reactions
- small amounts of ethanol (alcohol), less than 100 mg per dose
Loss of consciousness, depressed level of consciousness, tiredness, dizziness, or drowsiness may occur when diarrhoea is treated with Loperamide-Akri. Therefore, it is advisable to use caution when driving a car or operating machinery.
Acute diarrhoea
| Adults: | Four 5 ml doses initially, followed by two 5 ml doses after each loose stool. The total daily dose should not exceed sixteen 5 ml doses. |
| Children: | The following doses should not be exceeded. |
| Children over 8 years: | Two 5 ml doses four times daily with the duration limited to 5 days. |
| Children 4 - 8 years: | One 5 ml dose three or four times daily with the duration limited to 3 days. |
Not recommended for children under 4 years of age.
There is limited data available regarding use in children below 12 years of age.
Further investigation into the cause of the diarrhoea should be considered if there is no improvement within two days of starting treatment with Loperamide-Akri.
Chronic diarrhoea
| Adults: | Patients may need widely differing amounts of Loperamide-Akri. The starting dose should be between four and eight 5 ml doses per day in divided doses, depending on severity. If required this dose can be adjusted up to a maximum of sixteen 5 ml doses daily. Having established the patient's daily maintenance dose, Loperamide-Akri may be administered on a twice daily regimen. Tolerance has not been observed and therefore subsequent dosage adjustment should be unnecessary. |
Use in Elderly:
No dose adjustment is required for the elderly.
Renal impairment
No dose adjustment is required for patients with renal impairment.
Hepatic impairment
Although no pharmacokinetic data are available in patients with hepatic impairment, Loperamide-Akri should be used with caution in such patients because of reduced first pass metabolism (see 4.4 Special warnings and special precautions for use).
Method of Administration: Oral use.
No special requirements.
