Loperamide-Simethicone Coupons & Prices

Loperamide and simethicone is an over-the-counter combination caplet that treats two problems at once: the loose stools of sudden diarrhea and the gas, bloating, pressure, and cramping that often come with it. It is sold as Imodium Multi-Symptom Relief (also marketed as Imodium Advanced) and as store-brand "Anti-Diarrheal / Anti-Gas" caplets, including CVS Health, Walgreens, Equate (Walmart), and Up&Up (Target). Because it is an over-the-counter product, most people simply buy it off the shelf, but prices differ from store to store, and pharmacies also carry it behind the counter, where the price can be looked up like any other medication. Use the free Rx.com loperamide-simethicone coupon and enter your ZIP above to see today's pharmacy price near you, then compare it with the shelf price before you pay.

What loperamide and simethicone is and how it works

Each caplet is a fixed-dose combination of two active ingredients. Loperamide hydrochloride 2 mg is an antimotility (antidiarrheal) drug. It acts on opioid receptors in the wall of the gut, slowing down the muscle contractions that push stool through the intestine. That gives the bowel more time to absorb water, so stools become firmer and less frequent. Simethicone 125 mg is an antiflatulent, or anti-gas, agent. It works as a defoaming agent, breaking up trapped gas bubbles in the digestive tract so they pass more easily. Simethicone is not absorbed into the bloodstream and has no effect anywhere else in the body.

The Drug Facts label for this combination states one use: it relieves symptoms of diarrhea plus bloating, pressure, and cramps, commonly referred to as gas. (Travelers' Diarrhea appears on the label of loperamide-only products such as Imodium A-D, not on the label for this loperamide-plus-simethicone combination.) It is meant for short-term use. If diarrhea lasts more than two days, stop taking it and see a doctor. Loperamide by itself is sometimes used by clinicians to manage longer-lasting diarrhea, but that is a decision for your provider, and this combination product is only labeled for short-term relief.

How to take it (label dosing)

Follow the Drug Facts label on the package you buy. The labeled directions are:

• Drink plenty of clear fluids to help prevent dehydration from diarrhea.
• Take only on an empty stomach, meaning 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal.
• Take with a full (8 oz.) glass of water.
• Dose by weight when you can; otherwise dose by age.

The labeled dosing chart is:

• Adults and children 12 years and over: 2 caplets after the first loose stool, then 1 caplet after each later loose stool, but no more than 4 caplets in 24 hours.
• Children 9 to 11 years (60 to 95 lbs): 1 caplet after the first loose stool, then half a caplet after each later loose stool, up to 3 caplets in 24 hours.
• Children 6 to 8 years (48 to 59 lbs): 1 caplet after the first loose stool, then half a caplet after each later loose stool, up to 2 caplets in 24 hours.
• Children 2 to 5 years (34 to 47 lbs): ask a doctor.
• Children under 2 years (up to 33 lbs): do not use.

The daily maximum is a hard ceiling, not a suggestion. This is general information and not medical advice, so talk with your doctor or pharmacist about your own situation.

Cost and how to save on loperamide-simethicone

You do not need a prescription for this product, and there is no manufacturer copay card for it. The generic version is widely available: store-brand "Anti-Diarrheal / Anti-Gas" caplets sold at CVS, Walgreens, Walmart (Equate), and Target (Up&Up) contain the same loperamide 2 mg plus simethicone 125 mg as Imodium Multi-Symptom Relief. Compare the store-brand box to the national brand, since the active ingredients are identical.

Prices for this product vary by store and by pharmacy, so it is worth checking more than one. Pharmacies also stock it and will quote a price for it, which is not always the same as the shelf price at the front of the store. Enter your ZIP above to see today's pharmacy price for loperamide-simethicone near you and to pull up a free Rx.com coupon, then compare that with what the box costs off the shelf. The coupon is free to use, there is no membership, and you simply show it at the counter. Because it is an over-the-counter drug, it is eligible for HSA and FSA funds without a prescription.

Alternatives and how they compare

If you are deciding between products, it helps to know what each one actually does:

• Loperamide HCl alone (plain anti-diarrheal caplets and liquids) treats the diarrhea but does nothing for gas. It is the right pick when bloating and cramping are not part of the problem, and it is the form whose label also covers Travelers' Diarrhea.
• Simethicone alone (sold as Gas-X and store brands) treats only gas and bloating. It does not slow diarrhea.
• Imodium A-D is the brand-name loperamide-only product. It sits in the same brand family as this multi-symptom combination but does not contain simethicone, so check the box carefully for which one you are buying.
• Bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol, Kaopectate) is a different OTC approach to diarrhea and upset stomach. It contains a salicylate, so it is not appropriate for everyone.
• Diphenoxylate and atropine (Lomotil) is a prescription-only antidiarrheal and a controlled substance.
• Dicyclomine HCl (Bentyl) is a prescription antispasmodic used for cramping in irritable bowel syndrome, not an antidiarrheal.

Your pharmacist can help you match the product to your symptoms, and can flag interactions with anything else you take.

Safety: what to know before you use it

The most important safety point with loperamide is the heart. The label carries a heart alert: taking more than directed can cause serious heart problems or death. The FDA has warned that higher-than-recommended doses can cause QT interval prolongation, torsades de pointes and other abnormal rhythms, fainting, and cardiac arrest. These cases have been seen mostly with intentional misuse of very large doses (for example, to self-treat opioid withdrawal or to get high) and in people taking medicines that block how loperamide is cleared from the body, such as quinidine, ritonavir, itraconazole, gemfibrozil, and clarithromycin. Never take more than the labeled maximum of 4 caplets in 24 hours, and ask your doctor or pharmacist before using it if you take any prescription drug.

The label also carries an allergy alert: do not use this product if you have ever had a rash or other allergic reaction to loperamide HCl. Do not use it if there is blood in the stool or the stool is black, or if the person has trouble swallowing the caplet. Do not use it in children under 2 years. Ask a doctor before use if you have a fever, mucus in the stool, a history of liver disease, or a history of an abnormal heart rhythm. Avoid it in dysentery or in diarrhea linked to C. difficile or an invasive bacterial infection, because slowing the gut can lead to serious complications such as toxic megacolon or ileus. It may cause tiredness, drowsiness, or dizziness, so be careful driving or using machinery. Stop use and ask a doctor if symptoms get worse, if diarrhea lasts more than 2 days, if you have trouble swallowing the caplet, or if your abdomen swells or bulges. Ask a health professional before use if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. In case of overdose, get medical help or call Poison Control (1-800-222-1222) right away. This page is general information, not medical advice, so check with your provider or pharmacist about what is right for you.