Also known as the ‘winter vomiting bug’ – as it’s most common from November to early April – the name is deceptive, because you can catch it any time of the year. As it may lead to gastroenteritis, which in itself causes diarrhoea, many of the symptoms are the same and include:

We know what can potentially trigger IBS, but the medical community is yet to fully understand what causes the condition for some people, and not for others. Some studies point to hypersensitivity in the colon, which causes the bowel muscles to spasm instead of digesting food with steady, slow movements. Other theories flag certain chemicals made by the body and their interaction with nerve signals in the brain. There’s also research on whether bacteria in the bowels can lead to IBS. Summary of Product Characteristics: Imodium Original 2mg Capsules. McNeil Products Ltd. Revised January 2020. Regular exercise can also be a great stress reliever – this may mean you’re less likely to swallow larger amounts of air which can cause trapped wind. There are no period-specific treatments for diarrhoea, but using IMODIUM® will help reduce your symptoms. It is strongly recommended that the UK National Poisons Information Service be consulted on cases of suspected or actual overdose where there is doubt over the degree of risk or about appropriate management.feeling dizzy – if loperamide makes you feel dizzy when you stand up, try getting up very slowly or stay sitting down until you feel better. If you begin to feel dizzy, lie down so that you do not faint, then sit until you feel better. Avoid driving, cycling, or using tools or machines if you feel dizzy.

A viral or bacterial infection of the gut usually causes gastroenteritis – which is an inflammation of your stomach or bowels. Sometimes known as a stomach bug or traveller’s diarrhoea and commonly linked to food poisoning, its main symptoms include diarrhoea, vomiting and abdominal pains. Eat at regular times. Don't skip meals, and try to eat at about the same time each day to help regulate bowel function. If you have diarrhea, you may find that eating small, frequent meals makes you feel better. But if you're constipated, eating larger amounts of high-fiber foods may help move food through your intestines.

Eating more slowly and opting for smaller, more regular meals can help reduce trapped wind. Try to chew each mouthful sufficiently and keep your mouth closed to avoid taking in more air. constipation – stop taking loperamide. If you have constipation, eat more fibre by having fresh fruit, vegetables and cereals, and drink plenty of water. Try to exercise regularly, for example by going for a daily walk or run. If this does not help, talk to your pharmacist or doctor. capsules or tablets: take 2 capsules or tablets, taken immediately. Then take 1 capsule or tablet after each runny poo. Your doctor may carry out some simple tests to find out if you are lactose intolerant. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

However, some foods can be more likely to cause diarrhoea than others. Fatty, greasy and spicy foods can be harder to digest and trigger gut movements. Capsaicin is found in spicy food and can irritate your intestine, speeding up the digestive process and preventing your colon from absorbing enough water.

When your digestive system is in its normal rhythm, food and fluid pass regularly from the stomach into the small intestine. Food is then broken down and nutrients are absorbed along with most of the fluid. The remaining waste and some water pass into the colon (large intestine) where more water is absorbed and finally the waste is passed in the form of stools. What happens when you get diarrhoea If patients are taking this medicine to control episodes of diarrhoea associated with Irritable Bowel Syndrome previously diagnosed by their doctor, and clinical improvement is not observed within 48 hours, the administration of loperamide HCl should be discontinued and they should consult their doctor. Patients should also return to their doctor if the pattern of their symptoms changes or if the repeated episodes of diarrhoea continue for more than two weeks.