is it safe to take zantac with imodium

Taking Zantac (ranitidine

) with Imodium (loperamide) can result in increased concentrations of loperamide, potentially increasing the risk of side effects, such as abnormal heart rhythms. The risk of the interaction is low, but the combination should be avoided unless specifically recommended by your doctor. Answer

Full Answer

Is it safe to take Imodium?

Imodium is a safe medication for most people. However, it should be used carefully. And in some cases, it should be avoided. The following warnings can help keep you safe. Talk with your doctor before taking Imodium if you have any of the following conditions: Do not take more than the maximum daily dosage of Imodium.

Is Zantac safe to take?

While Zantac has been on the market for years, it has recently been recalled because of significant safety concerns. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) conducted an investigation to determine if Zantac is safe, which eventually led to recalls from a slew of manufacturers in late 2019 and early 2020.

How does Imodium interact with other medications or foods?

Imodium interacts with certain drugs that break down in the body in the same way. The interactions can lead to increased levels of either medication in your body. Imodium also interacts with other anti-diarrheal drugs or medications that cause constipation. Some examples of medications that can interact with Imodium include:

Why do people take Zantac and other antacids?

Often, Zantac and other antacids are prescribed in order to treat episodes of heartburn and acid reflux. However, many patients may continue to take these medications long after the issue has subsided. Some research indicates that more than 60% of patients who take these medications frequently may not have a medical reason to do so.

What should you not mix Imodium with?

What drugs and food should I avoid while taking Loperamide (Imodium)? Avoid drinking tonic water. It can interact with loperamide and may cause serious heart problems. Avoid becoming dehydrated by drinking plenty of fluids.

What should you not take with Zantac?

There may be an interaction between ranitidine and any of the following:amiodarone.antacids (e.g., magnesium hydroxide, calcium carbonate; within 2 hours of taking ranitidine)"azole" antifungals (e.g., itraconazole, ketoconazole, posaconazole)cefuroxime.clavulanic acid.cyclosporine.delavirdine.dexmethylphenidate.More items...

Does Zantac stop diarrhea?

In the present study, we noted that a daily dose of oral ranitidine effectively resolved the symptoms of toddler's diarrhea on the tenth day of treatment. A substantial reduction in daily stool frequency and improvement in stool consistency had also occurred by the fifth day of therapy.

Can you take Imodium and Pepcid at the same time?

Interactions can make one or more of the drugs involved less effective. They can also increase your risk of side effects. Because of this, you shouldn't take Imodium A-D and Pepto-Bismol together. Taking them together won't increase how well they work for you.

Can Zantac cause diarrhea?

Common side effects of Zantac (ranitidine) include headaches, diarrhea and nausea. These side effects are mild and temporary. Rare, serious Zantac side effects include liver failure, acute porphyria attacks in patients with acute porphyria and pneumonia.

When should you not take Zantac?

Who should not take Zantac?stomach cancer.chronic kidney disease stage 3A (moderate)chronic kidney disease stage 3B (moderate)chronic kidney disease stage 4 (severe)chronic kidney disease stage 5 (failure)kidney disease with likely reduction in kidney function.

What medicine stops diarrhea fast?

What stops diarrhea fast? Diarrhea can be stopped quickly with OTC medicines such as loperamide (Imodium) and Pepto-Bismol (bismuth subsalicylate).

What can I take for diarrhea and acid reflux?

Pepto-Bismol (bismuth subsalicylate) Other brand names: Pepti-Calm. Find out how Pepto-Bismol treats heartburn and acid reflux, indigestion, diarrhoea and feeling sick, and how to take it.

Which antacid is good for diarrhea?

For example, antacids (such as Tums and Rolaids) are a good choice for heartburn and sour stomach. Medicines that have bismuth subsalicylate (like Pepto-Bismol) are most often used to treat diarrhea and nausea.

Can I take anti diarrhea medicine with Pepcid?

No interactions were found between A-D Anti-Diarrheal and famotidine.

When should you not take Imodium?

Check with your doctor before taking loperamide if you: have had an allergic reaction to loperamide or any other medicines in the past. have had diarrhoea for more than 48 hours. have HIV and your stomach becomes swollen.

What happens if Imodium doesn't stop diarrhea?

Imodium will usually help to slow down your acute diarrhea in the first hour, but if your diarrhea continues you may need to take additional doses in the same day. Take no more than the recommended maximum dose per day.

Can you take Zantac with other meds?

Some affected products include atazanavir, dasatinib, certain azole antifungals (such as itraconazole, ketoconazole), levoketoconazole, pazopanib, among others. Do not take this medication with other products that contain famotidine or other H2 blockers (cimetidine, nizatidine, ranitidine).

Can you take antacids with Zantac?

Antacids may be taken alongside ranitidine if needed for gastric-acid associated pain. Effervescent forms of ranitidine for adults should be dissolved in a 6-8 ounce glass of water prior to ingestion.

Can u take ibuprofen and Zantac together?

Ranitidine with painkillers It is safe to take painkillers such as paracetamol or co-codamol with ranitidine. However, you should avoid taking anti-inflammatory painkillers like ibuprofen or aspirin if you have heartburn or indigestion, because these can make your symptoms worse.

Does Zantac interfere with blood pressure medication?

Discuss Your Zantac Injury Claim with an Attorney While Zantac can affect blood pressure, this typically only occurs through taking far more than the recommended amount of the medication.

Can you take cipro (ciprofloxacin) and zantac together?

YES: There is no adverse interactions between Cipro ( ciprofloxacin) and zantac, and they can be safely taken together.

Can i take zantac (ranitidine) 75 and advil together?

Yes: In fact zantac ( ranitidine) may reduce the irritation in the stomach from advil.

How long does it take for imodium to work?

Keep in mind that Imodium will be at its highest level of effectiveness approximately 16 to 24 hours after you take it.

What is the best medicine for diarrhea?

Imodium is a medication that is effective in reducing the symptoms of diarrhea. 1  Specifically, Imodium works in the following ways:

Is Imodium a toxic megacolon?

The use of antidiarrheal medications such as Imodium places IBD patients at risk for the development of toxic megacolon, a potentially life-threatening disorder. 3 . Toxic Megacolon Is a Rare but Serious Complication of IBD.

Does imodium cause addiction?

Common Side Effects. Imodium tends to be well-tolerated and to cause minimal side effects. This is because it works primarily within the large intestine. Very little of the medication enters the bloodstream and it does not cross the blood-brain barrier, thus there is no risk of addiction.

Is imodium safe for pregnant women?

Except for precautions taken with young children, pregnant women, and those with IBD, Imodium is considered to be a relatively safe, well-tolerated option for dealing with diarrhea. As the medication only acts on the digestive tract, there appears to be little risk associated with long-term or frequent use.

Can Imodium cause vomiting?

Vomiting. In 2016, the FDA issued a warning regarding the misuse of Imodium. This involves the increased risk of serious heart problems from very high dosages and interactions with other medications. 4  The warning was primarily triggered by people self-treating opioid withdrawal symptoms with high amounts of Imodium.

Can you take a medication while pregnant?

If you are pregnant, you should not use any medication without first getting approval from your healthcare provider.

How long does diarrhea last with imodium?

Also call your doctor if your symptoms get worse or your diarrhea lasts longer than two days. A range of OTC medications can help treat diarrhea. The information above can help you decide if Imodium is a good choice for you.

How old do you have to be to give imodium?

Children 29-47 pounds (ages 2-5 years): Use Imodium only by the advice of your child’s doctor. Children under 2 years: Do not give Imodium to children younger than 2 years of age.

How does imodium work?

The active ingredient in Imodium is the drug loperamide. It works by making the muscles in your intestines contract more slowly. This in turn slows the movement of food and fluids through your digestive tract, which allows the bowel to absorb more fluids and nutrients.

How long does it take for imodium to work?

Do not take more than the maximum daily dosage of Imodium. Also, do not take it longer than two days unless directed by your doctor to do so. You should see an improvement in your symptoms within two days. If you don’t, call your doctor. Your diarrhea may be caused by bacteria, a virus, or another cause. This may require treatment with a different medication.

Is imodium safe to take?

Imodium is a safe medication for most people. However, it should be used carefully. And in some cases, it should be avoided. The following warnings can help keep you safe.

Does imodium cause constipation?

The interactions can lead to increased levels of either medication in your body. Imodium also interacts with other anti-diarrheal drugs or medications that cause constipation.

Is imodium a prescription?

The prescription-strength form is used to treat diarrhea caused by digestive diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease. The recommended dosage for Imodium is based on age or weight.

What Are the Zantac Ingredients?

Zantac’s active ingredient is ranitidine hydrochloride (HCI), USP, a histamine H2-receptor antagonist. Zantac belongs to a class of drugs known as H2 blockers. Zantac is sold under the generic name ranitidine.

When will Zantac be removed from shelves?

Following an investigation, the FDA on April 1, 2020 issued an order requesting all manufacturers of ranitidine medications, including the brand name Zantac, remove the drugs from store shelves as soon as possible. The order came on the heels of a voluntary recall by two major manufacturers in January 2020.

Does Zantac Cause Cancer?

The FDA recall has many wondering whether Zantac causes cancer . Zantac itself does not cause cancer, but ranitidine can degrade into the NDMA impurity, which is considered a probable human carcinogen, or substance capable of causing cancer in humans. While low levels of NDMA are common (it can be found in food and water), higher levels of exposure may increase the cancer risk.

Is Zantac Safe to Take Long Term?

Some research indicates that long-term use may not be worth the risk. Most patients only require these medications for short term treatments, and long term use of Zantac may end up doing more harm than good, especially if the medication has been contaminated. There are a number of alternate medications to use as well.

Does ranitidine contain NDMA?

According to the FDA, the NDMA impurity in certain ranitidine products “increases over time and when stored at higher than room temperatures and may result in consumer exposure to unacceptable levels of this impurity .” Unfortunately, this means all Zantac products may be at risk of containing the contaminant, leaving the question of is Zantac safe up in the air.

Is Zantac a contaminant?

Despite these concerning findings, it’s now believed that the contaminant in Zantac is not due to the manufacturing process. Instead, NDMA may be formed by a breakdown in the substances that comprise the drug. Some evidence suggests that ranitidine may be an unstable molecule.

Can NDMA cause nausea?

In addition to cancer risk, NDMA exposure may also result in unpleasant side effects such as nausea, vomiting, jaundice, headache, fever, abdominal cramps, and dizziness. Exposure to the contaminant can also cause serious health issues including an enlarged liver, reduced liver function, or damage to the kidneys and lungs.