1. Name Of The Medicinal Product
IMODIUM PLUS CAPLET
2. Qualitative And Quantitative Composition
Each tablet contains loperamide hydrochloride 2 mg and simeticone equivalent to 125 mg dimeticone.
For a full list of excipients, see section 6.1.
3. Pharmaceutical Form
Tablet, uncoated
White, capsule-shaped tablets debossed with “IMO” on one side, the other side is debossed with a line between “2”and “125”.
4. Clinical Particulars
4.1 Therapeutic Indications
Imodium Plus Caplets are indicated for the symptomatic treatment of acute diarrhoea in adults and adolescents over 12 years when acute diarrhoea is associated with gas-related abdominal discomfort including bloating, cramping or flatulence.
4.2 Posology And Method Of Administration
The tablets should be taken with liquid.
Adults over 18 years:
Take two caplets initially, followed by one caplet after every loose stool. Not more than 4 caplets should be taken in a day, limited to no more than 2 days.
Adolescents between 12 and 18 years:
Take one caplet initially, followed by one caplet after every loose stool. Not more than 4 caplets should be taken in a day, limited to no more than 2 days.
Use in children:
Imodium Plus must not be used in children under 12 years.
Use in the elderly:
No dosage adjustments are required for the elderly.
Use in renal impairment:
No dosage adjustment is necessary in renal impairment.
Hepatic impairment:
Although no pharmacokinetic data are available in patients with hepatic insufficiency, Imodium Plus should be used with caution in such patients because of reduced first pass metabolism (see section 4.4).
4.3 Contraindications
Imodium Plus must not be used in:
• Children less than 12 years of age
• Patients with a known hypersensitivity (allergy) to loperamide hydrochloride, simeticone or any of the excipients
• Patients with acute dysentery, which is characterised by blood in stool and high fever
• Patients with acute ulcerative colitis
• Patients with pseudomembranous colitis associated with broad spectrum antibiotics
• Patients with bacterial enterocolitis caused by invasive organisms including Salmonella, Shigella and Campylobacter
Imodium Plus should not be used when inhibition of peristalsis is to be avoided due to the possible risk of significant sequelae including ileus, megacolon and toxic megacolon. It must be discontinued promptly if constipation, ileus or abdominal distension develop.
4.4 Special Warnings And Precautions For Use
Treatment of diarrhoea with loperamide-simeticone is only symptomatic. Whenever an underlying etiology can be determined, specific treatment should be given when appropriate.
In patients with (severe) diarrhoea, fluid and electrolyte depletion may occur. It is important that attention is paid to appropriate fluid and electrolyte replacement.
If clinical improvement is not observed within 48 hours, the administration of Imodium Plus must be discontinued. Patients should be advised to consult their physician.
Patients with AIDS treated with Imodium Plus for diarrhoea should have therapy stopped at the earliest signs of abdominal distension. There have been isolated reports of obstipation with an increased risk for toxic megacolon in AIDS patients with infectious colitis from both viral and bacterial pathogens treated with loperamide hydrochloride.
Although no pharmacokinetic data are available in patients with hepatic impairment, Imodium Plus should be used with caution in such patients because of reduced first pass metabolism. This medicine must be used with caution in patients with hepatic impairment as it may result in a relative overdose leading to central nervous system (CNS) toxicity. Imodium Plus should be used under medical supervision in patients with severe hepatic dysfunction.
4.5 Interaction With Other Medicinal Products And Other Forms Of Interaction
Non-clinical data have shown that loperamide is a P-glycoprotein substrate. Concomitant administration of loperamide (16 mg single dose) with quinidine, or ritonavir, which are both P-glycoprotein inhibitors, resulted in a 2 to 3-fold increase in loperamide plasma concentrations. The clinical relevance of this pharmacokinetic interaction with P-glycoprotein inhibitors, when loperamide is given at recommended dosages, is unknown.
The concomitant administration of loperamide (4 mg single dose) and itraconazole, an inhibitor of CYP3A4 and P-glycoprotein, resulted in a 3 to 4-fold increase in loperamide plasma concentrations. In the same study a CYP2C8 inhibitor, gemfibrozil, increased loperamide by approximately 2-fold. The combination of itraconazole and gemfibrozil resulted in a 4-fold increase in peak plasma levels of loperamide and a 13-fold increase in total plasma exposure. These increases were not associated with measured CNS effects, as measured by psychomotor tests (i.e. subjective drowsiness and the Digit Symbol Substitution Test).
The concomitant administration of loperamide (16 mg single dose) and ketoconazole, an inhibitor of CYP3A4 and P-glycoprotein, resulted in a 5-fold increase in loperamide plasma concentrations. This increase was not associated with increased pharmacodynamic effects as measured by pupillometry.
Concomitant treatment with oral desmopressin resulted in a 3-fold increase of desmopressin plasma concentrations, presumably due to slower gastrointestinal motility.
It is expected that drugs with similar pharmacological properties may potentiate loperamide's effect and that drugs that accelerate gastrointestinal transit may decrease its effect.
Since simeticone is not absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, no relevant interactions between simeticone and other drugs are expected.
4.6 Pregnancy And Lactation
Use in pregnancy
Safety in human pregnancy has not been established, although from animal studies there are no indications that loperamide or simeticone possesses teratogenic or embryotoxic properties. Imodium Plus should not be given during pregnancy, especially during the first trimester, unless clinically justified.
Use in lactation
Small amounts of loperamide may appear in human breast milk. Therefore Imodium Plus is not recommended during breast-feeding.
4.7 Effects On Ability To Drive And Use Machines
Tiredness, dizziness and drowsiness have been reported in patients taking loperamide. If affected, patients should not drive or operate machinery. See Section 4.8 Undesirable effects.
4.8 Undesirable Effects
The use of loperamide plus simeticone, in the treatment of the symptoms of diarrhoea, and gas-related abdominal discomfort associated with acute diarrhoeal illness, was studied in five placebo-controlled, and active-controlled, clinical trials involving 462 adults treated with loperamide plus simeticone. The most frequently reported Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) associated with the use of the drug in these clinical trials were nausea and dysgeusia, reported in 1.7% and 1.9% of patients, respectively, and were considered Common.
Including the above-mentioned ADRs, the following table displays ADRs that have been reported with the use of loperamide plus simeticone, or loperamide alone, from either clinical trial or post-marketing experiences. The displayed frequency categories use the following convention:
Very common (
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4.9 Overdose
Symptoms
In case of overdosage (including relative overdosage due to hepatic dysfunction), central nervous system depression (stupor, co-ordination abnormality, somnolence, miosis, muscular hypertonia, respiratory depression), dry mouth, abdominal discomfort, nausea and vomiting, constipation, urinary retention and paralytic ileus may occur. Children may be more sensitive to CNS effects than adults.
Treatment
If symptoms of overdosage occur, naloxone can be given as an antidote. Since the duration of action of loperamide is longer than that of naloxone (1 to 3 hours) repeated treatment with naloxone may be indicated. Therefore, the patient should be monitored closely for at least 48 hours in order to detect possible CNS depression.
5. Pharmacological Properties
5.1 Pharmacodynamic Properties
Pharmacotherapeutic group: Antipropulsive antidiarrheals, ATC code: A07D A53
Loperamide binds to the opiate receptor in the gut wall, reducing propulsive peristalsis, increasing intestinal transit time and enhancing resorption of water and electrolytes. Loperamide does not change the physiological flora. Loperamide increases the tone of the anal sphincter. Imodium Plus does not act centrally.
Simeticone is an inert surface-active agent with anti-foaming properties thereby potentially relieving gas-related symptoms associated with diarrhoea.
5.2 Pharmacokinetic Properties
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%. The simeticone component of loperamide-simeticone is not absorbed.
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 metabolized, 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.
5.3 Preclinical Safety Data
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.
Simeticone is a member of the class of linear polydimethylsilicones, which have been in wide general and medicinal use for many years and are regarded as biologically inert and not exhibiting toxic properties and has not been the subject of specific animal toxicity studies.
6. Pharmaceutical Particulars
6.1 List Of Excipients
Calcium hydrogen phosphate anhydrous
Microcrystalline cellulose
Acesulfame potassium
Artificial vanilla flavour (includes propylene glycol, maltodextrin and benzyl alcohol)
Sodium starch glycolate (Type A)
Stearic acid.
6.2 Incompatibilities
Not applicable.
6.3 Shelf Life
3 years
6.4 Special Precautions For Storage
This medicinal product does not require any special storage conditions.
6.5 Nature And Contents Of Container
Push through blisters comprising polychlorotrifluoroethylene/PVC film, heat seal coating and aluminium foil.
or
Bend and peel blisters comprising polychlorotrifluoroethylene/PVC film, heat seal coating, aluminium foil/PET/paper.
Blister strips of 2, 4, 5, or 6 tablets in pack sizes of 6, 8, 10, 12, 15, 16, 18 and 20 tablets packed in printed cardboard cartons.
Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
6.6 Special Precautions For Disposal And Other Handling
No special requirements
7. Marketing Authorisation Holder
McNeil Products Limited
Foundation Park
Roxborough Way
Maidenhead
Berkshire
SL6 3UG
United Kingdom
8. Marketing Authorisation Number(S)
PL 15513/0342
9. Date Of First Authorisation/Renewal Of The Authorisation
01/09/2007
10. Date Of Revision Of The Text
21/09/2011
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