1 May 2026Oral drugsSource update: January 2024

Loperamide Oral: Dosing and Precautions

Loperamide guidance for persistent diarrhea in adults with HIV, always alongside rehydration.

Also searched as

Loperamide

Prescription under medical supervision

Source reviewed

January 2024

Guide category

Oral drugs

Safety boundary

Prescription medicine information for clinician-guided use.

Kenza Health Hub presents this medicine page as structured health education. Check dose, route, interactions, pregnancy or breast-feeding considerations, and local protocol with a qualified clinician or pharmacist. Read our medical editorial policy.

This guide page is for structured reference only and does not replace a clinician, pharmacist, or emergency review. Dose choice, route choice, interactions, and safety decisions still need professional judgment.

Therapeutic action

Opioid antidiarrhoeal.

Indications

Symptomatic treatment of persistent diarrhoea in adults with HIV infection, in combination with rehydration.

Forms and strengths

2 mg capsule or tablet.

Dose

Adult: 4 mg (2 capsules), then 2 mg (1 capsule) after each loose stool, without exceeding 16 mg daily (8 capsules daily).

Duration

According to clinical response.

Contra-indications, adverse effects, precautions

Do not exceed indicated doses.
Do not administer to children.
Do not administer to patients with bloody diarrhoea, ulcerative colitis, or diarrhoea due to antibiotics.
May cause constipation, allergic skin reactions, drowsiness, and dizziness.
In the event of overdosage, treat with naloxone.
Pregnancy: no contra-indication.
Breast-feeding: no contra-indication.

Source

MSF Essential drugs practical guidelines (January 2026)

This page combines source-derived medicine reference sections with Kenza editorial context, while leaving out the Storage and Remarks sections from the source batch.

Rate this guide

Be the first to rate this guide.