The FDA has announced plans to make the anti-diarrhea pill loperamide (Imodium) more difficult to obtain. The agency has developed this initiative as part of the government’s efforts against the opioid epidemic. Because loperamide works through some of the same pathways that opiate drugs use, people have found ways to abuse this compound. Consequently, many readers who rely on it are quite upset at the prospect of the forthcoming limit on loperamide.
How Will the Limit on Loperamide Affect You?
Q. I have IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) controlled with two to four loperamide pills per day. My nearest pharmacy is a two-hour round trip. Limiting my purchase of Imodium will mean spending the rest of my life commuting to the drug store.
How can I let the FDA know that the proposed restrictions are ill-advised? If they really wanted to protect people from dangerous drugs they would limit access to sugar.
Tell the FDA What You Think:
A. The FDA has asked manufacturers to limit the amount of loperamide sold in packages to eight pills, enough for about two days of diarrhea control. You may wish to let the agency know what you think about their planned limit on loperamide by emailing Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, MD at: Commissioner@fda.hhs.gov
