Daily Imodium?

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Tmitchell
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Joined: Sat Dec 24, 2011 12:49 pm

Daily Imodium?

Postby Tmitchell » Tue Aug 13, 2013 9:59 pm

Here I am 18 months post reversal, and I am still trying to figure things out! Does anyone take Imodium on a regular bases? What I mean by that is daily or a few times a week, for preventative measures. I am tired of spending hours in the bathroom, having anxiety about being away from home, and being fearful of eating when I'm at work or eating when I'm not able to go straight home. My fear is that if I take it more frequently will it work when I really need it to? If anyone has any other suggestions I am more then open to suggestions, options, or advice. Thanks as always for taking the time to hear about my woos. This place truly keeps me sane!

Ktwirls
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Location: Quad Cities IA/IL
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Re: Daily Imodium?

Postby Ktwirls » Wed Aug 14, 2013 12:50 am

I am 3 yrs out since dx and while I did not have surgery I did have radiation that messed me up my bowels just as you are describing. I also have stomach pain too. I am very sensitive to the imodium so I was always afraid to take it daily but I have finally given in and because it was driving me crazy so for the last month I have been taking it daily and so far so good. My stomach finally doesn't hurt like it used to and now at a happy medium with bathroom issues. I only take 1 pill a day. I hope it works for you
Kim Ann, mom to 6
dx May 2010 age 37 (symptoms started in pregnancy age 36)
Rectal Cancer stage 3b T4,N1
FolFox 8, chem/rad 6wks
It came back March 2014
APR w/ PPE surgery, now on chemo
Back with rising CEA since Feb.2020 now 137
http://cancercaughtme.blogspot.com/ (haven't updated in years!)

pog451
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Re: Daily Imodium?

Postby pog451 » Wed Aug 14, 2013 2:32 am

In my house immodium is referred to as "smarties" (if not known in the US they are well-known sugar-coated chocolate drops in Europe). I dont take it daily, but often a couple of days in a row up to five tablets at a shot. basically, for CRC, all doasage rules are of the table - pop em til they work. You cant overdose on Immodium, the worst you can do to yourself is switch into constipation.

I generally only take it to treat chronic immediate symptoms, but I do pop a couple prophylactically if I absolutely do no want to have to go, on a journey, in a meeting etc, which seems to work for me.

As long as it works, take it until it works.
09.11 Dx @ 46, uT3uN1M0 G2
11.11 radio+Xeloda
01.12 LAR
03.12 Xeloda
09.12 Liver mets, 2 LN
09.12 Folfox+Avastin
02.13 Resection
04.13 Folfox & Avastin
11.13 Local recurrence
02-07.14 FOLFIRINOX
08.14 Re-rediation
Left us 28.05.2015

DogMom
Posts: 63
Joined: Wed Jul 17, 2013 5:11 pm
Location: Irvine, CA

Re: Daily Imodium?

Postby DogMom » Wed Aug 14, 2013 6:01 am

Does anyone take Imodium on a regular bases?

I take three Lomotil (atropine) every day to help with urgency and diarrhea. I have found oncologists mostly unhelpful on this subject. You should take what you need to function and have a life.
Best wishes to you! Bonnie
DX 2/08 St 2 Rectal C, 47 y/o
Transanal excision/radiation/Xeloda
mult Lung Mets found 7/09
Xelox + Avastin 5 TX
neuropathy: Xeloda + Avastin 12/09
12/10 40 day Avastin headache, Xeloda
6/11 SBRT lungs
1/13 Regorafenib
11/13 Xeliri-fail
3/14 Gemzar

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Nanette
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Re: Daily Imodium?

Postby Nanette » Wed Aug 14, 2013 8:10 am

Yes...Bruce takes two to four Imodium daily since his surgery back in 2008. They definitely help him. And if we go out to eat, he might pop an extra one, just in case!! :wink:

I also buy the store brand (Top Care at Wegmans) instead of Imodium. It is the exact same pill and works just as well as Imodium (I also take it for IBS). And it is so much cheaper!! 96 pills for $9.99!!

Good luck and hope you find out soon what works best!!
-Nanette
Husband, Bruce - diag. 12/07/08 at age 50
Stage IIIB CC, poorly diff, muc. adeno, sig. ring cell
Stage I bladder cancer
1 of 17 LN affected
Colonectomy 12/11/08
Finished chemo/rad on 8/19/09
Four years NED on 12/11/12 - Thank God!!
Livin' life!!!!!!

so-scared
Posts: 1059
Joined: Wed Jun 01, 2011 12:53 pm

Re: Daily Imodium?

Postby so-scared » Wed Aug 14, 2013 11:32 am

My husband uses it daily too. We buy the store brand also .... way cheaper and same stuff! It does help but things still are not perfect. If he has to be sure that he will not have to use the bathroom he uses Vicodin to slow things down.
DH 51 yo
dx 5/16/11 stg 4 RC
mets both lobes liver & lung
6/11 chem/rad
FOLFOX 9-12/11
12/11 TME/liver resect/rfa (15 tumors)
more Folfox w/Avastin
5/12 innumerable mets liver
Folfox/Avas FAIL
9/12 FOLFIRI/Erb FAIL
HAI pump 12/12
Had to leave 5/23/14

Cj51
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Location: Midwest

Re: Daily Imodium?

Postby Cj51 » Wed Aug 14, 2013 11:48 am

I use a combination of Immodium (generic from Sam's club, really cheap) and Lomotil. I pop an Imodium or two to ward off problems for a few hours. If i need longer coverage, 6 hours or so, I use Lomotil instead. When whatever I took wears off, things resume as normal for me, so I can sort of time when that will happen on any given day. If I'm troubled by the big D, and the Imodium isn't working well enough, I follow up with a Lomotil or even two in extreme cases. I had the OK from the Dr. on doing this. I still run into problems from time to time, but for the most part, these two drugs work for me to allow me to participate in life outside of my home.

I pretty much use both drugs as I need to. I am nearly two years out.

Cj
DX Stage IIIb RC, T3N1M0, April 2010, 51
6 wks Xelox/rad 6/10
resection, temp illeostomy 8/10 Complete response!
12 rounds FOLFOX for clean up 9/10, Allergic to Oxi, started Xeloda only 12/10
Ileo takedown 9/28/11
4/2020 NED

teachpdx
Posts: 634
Joined: Wed Jan 16, 2013 12:29 am
Location: Portland, OR

Re: Daily Imodium?

Postby teachpdx » Wed Aug 14, 2013 12:38 pm

I usually take one Immondium (generic) after I have emptied to slow digestion down and if I'm eating out I take one or two before I eat. It really seems to make a difference as I have a very fast digestive system and slowing things down after I've eaten/emptied seems to work.
4/24/12 RC T3N1M0 age 53
5/23-7/2 - 26 chemorad - Xeloda
7/16 Lynch- MSH2
8/28 LAR w/ temp ileo, CR, 0/11,M0, hysterectomy
10/13 6 cycles Xeloda - completed only 1 1/2 due to HFS
3/12/13 - reversal
8/13 NED
6/15 - HFS gone!

so-scared
Posts: 1059
Joined: Wed Jun 01, 2011 12:53 pm

Re: Daily Imodium?

Postby so-scared » Wed Aug 14, 2013 1:11 pm

Night time has been a real problem for my DH. Dr Kemeny recently prescribed a tincture of opium which has worked really well for him at night.
DH 51 yo
dx 5/16/11 stg 4 RC
mets both lobes liver & lung
6/11 chem/rad
FOLFOX 9-12/11
12/11 TME/liver resect/rfa (15 tumors)
more Folfox w/Avastin
5/12 innumerable mets liver
Folfox/Avas FAIL
9/12 FOLFIRI/Erb FAIL
HAI pump 12/12
Had to leave 5/23/14

justin case
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Location: Katy, Texas

Re: Daily Imodium?

Postby justin case » Wed Aug 14, 2013 4:46 pm

I take the expensive Immodium, with extras to help with gas, and whatever. My daily intake of drugs, ( yes for those of you who have thought different) are my blood pressure pill, 1 Immodium, and my multivitamin in the morning. When I don't take the Immodium, I start leaking in about 3 days, and believe me, I have tried to quit taking Immodium several times. It may be the coffee, but I AIN"T giving that up :shock:
Regards,
Michael
7/11 diagnosed Stage 2 colon and rectal cancer
chemo/rad
lar/temp ilio
Reversal & port removal
21 round of chemo Folfox 9tx, 5fu 12 tx
Last treatment July 2012

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Voxx66
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Facebook Username: Michael Void Ward

Re: Daily Imodium?

Postby Voxx66 » Wed Aug 14, 2013 4:54 pm

Been researching it but getting mixed information about how habit forming Imodium is. I just bought a big value box of 200 tabs as I expect I'll need it with chemo. (Actually it was Walgreen's version. Much cheaper. I hope it works about the same)
DX and resect 10/2012 age 46
Stage IIa CRC
liver mets both lobes 8/2013
CEA 28
FOLFOX + Avastin 8/26/13 3 rounds
Folfox only 3 rds + rd 8
platelets low round 7,9,10 5FU only
1/14 CEA 1.0 y90
5fu
10/14 mets lung and peri
1/15 Folfiri

lorrainem
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Re: Daily Imodium?

Postby lorrainem » Wed Aug 14, 2013 10:55 pm

My understanding is that it is not habit forming, but you need to find your personal balance to avoid backing yourself up. I've been using it on and off for almost six years and don't ever feel like it has taken over my digestive system.
Monitoring is best, I use as needed; if not leaving the house I don't take. If leaving I do, and then amount depends on food/drink intake.
I have used up to six a day when needed.

Good luck, still scratching my head about that habit forming thing...I've never heard it before.
Chemorad/Surgery/Chemo
Stage II, no mets, no nodes NED 05/08 again 08/08 again 11/08
Ileostomy reversal 10/16/08

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Voxx66
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Re: Daily Imodium?

Postby Voxx66 » Thu Aug 15, 2013 12:25 am

The reason I was interested in habit forming potential is that Loperamide, the active ingredient in Imodium, is an opioid. It does not however have much if any effect on the CNS unlike many others in the class- meaning it won't get you high and you probably can't hurt yourself much with it by overdosing. (Chemically speaking it is a piperidine derivative like its cousin meperidine hydrochloride (Demerol))The intestines however are affected by it and it functions on them much like the other drugs in the group. Some studies claim if used in large doses or for long periods of time it can be mildly addictive. Others claim - not-so-much and certainly not if used as directed. I think it probably isn't enough of an issue to worry about but I like to understand these things going in.
DX and resect 10/2012 age 46
Stage IIa CRC
liver mets both lobes 8/2013
CEA 28
FOLFOX + Avastin 8/26/13 3 rounds
Folfox only 3 rds + rd 8
platelets low round 7,9,10 5FU only
1/14 CEA 1.0 y90
5fu
10/14 mets lung and peri
1/15 Folfiri

teachpdx
Posts: 634
Joined: Wed Jan 16, 2013 12:29 am
Location: Portland, OR

Re: Daily Imodium?

Postby teachpdx » Thu Aug 15, 2013 2:05 pm

justin case wrote:When I don't take the Immodium, I start leaking in about 3 days, and believe me, I have tried to quit taking Immodium several times. It may be the coffee, but I AIN"T giving that up :shock:
Regards,
Michael


Michael, I'm with you. We've had to give up alot and I'm not giving up coffee. One of my last vices. Kristi
4/24/12 RC T3N1M0 age 53
5/23-7/2 - 26 chemorad - Xeloda
7/16 Lynch- MSH2
8/28 LAR w/ temp ileo, CR, 0/11,M0, hysterectomy
10/13 6 cycles Xeloda - completed only 1 1/2 due to HFS
3/12/13 - reversal
8/13 NED
6/15 - HFS gone!

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Rob in PA
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Joined: Wed Dec 09, 2009 9:16 pm
Location: Pennsylvania

Re: Daily Imodium?

Postby Rob in PA » Thu Aug 15, 2013 2:19 pm

Absolutely! I buy it in bulk from Costco (kirkland brand). I pop em like tic tacs! Usually two to four per day as needed. If I'm home I don't take as much because I want to flush out my system when in comfort of my own home. When I have activities planned for the day, that is when i lean on immodium. No way have I noticed it becoming habit forming. Like I said, when I'm home the whole day, i have no desire to take them.

Sometimes I'll switch it up and take prescription lomotil for a couple months and then switch back to imodium.

Good luck!
Rob
dx 11/07 crc IIIb @ 39
Xelox/Rad/ temp colostomy
LAR/J-pouch/ temp ileo
Folfox-8
Failed reversal
2/09 liver mets; liver resect/ileo reversal
Folfiri/Avastin - 12
2/11 5 lung mets
Folfiri/Avastin 2011
SBRT 3/12
Lung met 5/13/ said NO to more chemo
SBRT 8/13
2 lung mets 5/14, VATS 8/14, NED


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