Immodium or NO?

[Rafiki Rafiki Rafiki]

If you're bothered by TMI questions, move along....


When your older child/teen has had a stomach virus and has diarrhea, do you give him/her an anti-diarrhea medicine?

I always understood that when you get to that point, diarrhea is the natural progression of a virus and is a signal that your body is getting rid of it. If the problem continues after a couple of days, I would do it...but what about the first day of it?

Do you give 'em the medicine or let it run its course?

 

[HeatherH]

NO, I don't do those drugs for kids at all, even older kids. Most cases of diarrhea are self-limiting, and viral, and they NEED to get the toxins out of their system...as unpleasant as it is.

Anything that lasts longer than 48 hours I would have a doctor evaluate. I would not give ANY of those meds to a child without a doctor's okay. They can cause even more problems.

 

[LisaNJ25]

Yes, I have given it to my teenager before.

 

[Imzadi]

Maybe TMI on my part: I had a stomach virus about a two years ago. Against my own better judgement, I took some Immodium or something like that. I was concerned about the same thing, not letting the virus run it's course, flush it's self out of my system.

Well, sure enough, the medicine fixed the diarrhea, but I didn't quite feel the same intestinally afterwards. Since I wasn't in pain, I let it go. But I, umm started having a particular chronic gassy problem, but I wasn't sure if it was related to the stomach virus, maybe I just couldn't eat all the stuff like I used to.

But in December, I had to have a root canal & the dentist gave me around of penicillin to take for a week. I suddenly noticed my gas problem was gone!!! It's been three months now. I'm back to my old self. Upon doing some research, penicillin is used to get rid of certain bacterial infections. The gassy problem is caused by certain types of bacteria that builds up in the colon.

I'm pretty sure the penicillin wiped it out. I haven't had a problem since. Had I not screwed around with the the anti-diarrhea medicine, maybe my body would have wiped out ALL the bacterial problem on it's own, instead of being left with enough to just be chronically annoying, but not enough for my body to kick into high gear, to try to get rid of it all again.

 

[pearlieq]

Let it run it's course. Give plenty of fluids and contact the doctor if dehydration sets in or it doesn't clear up in a few days.

Immodium is more for the "I can't believe I ate the whole thing" stomach problems!

 

[Rafiki Rafiki Rafiki]

Well, against better judgment and after a tongue-lashing from DH on the subject, I gave DD an Immodium.

DH is acting like I'm uninformed--and he likens Immodium to antihistimines for a cold. I say that's wrong because antihistimines do not block the body's attempts to rid itself of the problem...while Immodium can stop the body from ridding itself of the virus.

Am I wrong?

 

[SeaSpray]

Fortunately my DSs have never had diarhea bad enough to have to consider medication. However, I have IBS (Irritable bowel syndrome), and if my DSs had it too, I'd definitely give them medication (like Immodium) so they could live a normal life. I have to take Immodium for maintainence of my IBS.

If my DSs had a virus that made them sick enough to warrant giving them Immodium, I don't think I'd hesitate. I honestly didn't think that diahrea was the way that the body rid itself of the virus, I thought it was a symptom, cause-and-effect, your body's reaction, kind of thing? For example, when you have a cold, your runny nose is not ridding your body of the germs (although yes, there are germs in the mucus), it's simply a reaction that your body has TO the germs.

At any rate, I hope your DD is feeling better soon, RafikiX3

 

[1Prince2Princesses]

I've given Immodium to my 12 year old when that was his only symptom and he needed to go to school.

If he seems to have a viral infection, and can be at home, I try to let it run its course. I have, however, given it to him with a virus when he was unable to keep down liquids because of vomiting. In my opinion (and that of my son's doctor), dehydration is worse than the side effects of the medication.

 

[slo]

I would give the Immodium if my DD had somewhere she had to be, but if she was at home, I would let it run its course.

 

[Christine]

No, I would not use it for a virus. And if I did, only in a true emergency (like the virus hits me at work and I need to get home).

Anyway, the only time I use Immodium is when I have "overdone" it in the food department and I'm paying for it!

On my last Disney trip, after way too many good meals, I was hit with IBS during the last two mornings of my trip. I had to use it in order to get on the plane. However, I was not ill--just "overindulged."

 

[SeaSpray]

Anyway, the only time I use Immodium is when I have "overdone" it in the food department and I'm paying for it!

On my last Disney trip, after way too many good meals, I was hit with IBS during the last two mornings of my trip. I had to use it in order to get on the plane. However, I was not ill--just "overindulged."

I realize that you are not implying this, but I want to make it clear for anyone who might be reading this and is unfamiliar with IBS; IBS and it's symtoms are NOT a result of "overindulging". Yes, if someone overindulges it definitely could spark a flare up, but overindulging in and of itself is generally not the cause of IBS.

 

[Christine]

I realize that you are not implying this, but I want to make it clear for anyone who might be reading this and is unfamiliar with IBS; IBS and it's symtoms are NOT a result of "overindulging". Yes, if someone overindulges it definitely could spark a flare up, but overindulging in and of itself is generally not the cause of IBS.

You're right, I wasn't implying it. I have IBS and usually keep it under control with proper eating. When I go to WDW and I eat out for 5 days, it definitely flares up the old IBS. Sorry if I confused anyone.

 

[shortbun]

Nope, don't use it and would NEVER give it to a child. We start using Acidolpholus around here as soon as a stomach flu starts to subside. Otherwise, clear fluids only and lots of rest. There is a reason your body is evacuating it's contents. Stopping that process, imho, is not a great idea.

 

[SeaSpray]

You're right, I wasn't implying it. I have IBS and usually keep it under control with proper eating. When I go to WDW and I eat out for 5 days, it definitely flares up the old IBS. Sorry if I confused anyone.

Thanks for not taking offense Your comment just reminded me of when I was in my early 20's, very healthy, I weighed 115 pounds, and within 15-20 minutes after dinner I'd get the runs, and my mother would say to me "Why do you eat so much that you make yourself sick??" Well my mother, who rarely said anything negative, didn't realize I had IBS, and she only said that because she was concerned that I was doing something wrong and causing myself to get sick. Believe me, I definitely was not overeating, especially back then when I ate very healthfully and weighed only 115 pounds. lol

 

[Christine]

Believe me, I definitely was not overeating, especially back then when I ate very healthfully and weighed only 115 pounds. lol

Sadly, for me, too much creme brulee is a sure cause of an IBS flare-up. On my last trip, I just WAY overdid it. Lots of heavy meats, dessert each night, rich food, you name it. I'm surprised I made it as far as I did.

But I will have the occasional flare up that happens about 20 minutes after a restaurant meal (here at home) and I have NEVER figured out what the culprit was.

 

[sugarpie]

Your body does not rid itself of a virus with diarrhea. The only time it's necessary to allow diarrhea to run it's course is if there is a bacterial infection, which are rare and usually due to antibiotic use.

I wouldn't give Immodium after one loose stool, but if it was excessive I would.

 

[Kath2003]

Immodium only if you're in a situation where having the runs would be very undesirable (i.e. anywhere in public/at work).

Otherwise, weather the storm

 

[Imzadi]

The only time it's necessary to allow diarrhea to run it's course is if there is a bacterial infection... I wouldn't give Immodium after one loose stool, but if it was excessive I would.

That is what I was trying to explain. Sometimes it's hard to tell if you have a virus or a bacterial infection when you have diarrhea. But the body IS trying to flush it out as quickly as possible, without even hardening the stool.

All Immodium does is harden the stool, which may make things worse. My body wasn't able to flush everything out. Whatever bacterial problem I had lingered and built up enough to cause a different problem. Our bodies are really good at self-healing if we don't interfere with it's natural process. You'll know soon enough if you need a doctor for stronger medication.

 

[Luv2Roam]

My kids are my dogs. And my oldest has a sensitive system. If she needs Immodium -- she gets it!

 

[Christine]

That is what I was trying to explain. Sometimes it's hard to tell if you have a virus or a bacterial infection when you have diarrhea. But the body IS trying to flush it out as quickly as possible, without even hardening the stool.

All Immodium does is harden the stool, which may make things worse. My body wasn't able to flush everything out. Whatever bacterial problem I had lingered and built up enough to cause a different problem.

Actually, Immodium doesn't harden the stool. What it does is slow down the motility of the colon. When you are having diarrhea from whatever cause, the motility of the colon is very fast and very hard, in order to make the waste "rush" through the intestines. Immodium causes the colon to stop the spasms and relax a bit.