Hi All!
As we know, some time ago Johnson and Johnson stopped making the original Imodium A-D. I have called them frequently to lobby for the return of the original prep. Every time I called they gave me a different reason for its disappearance but always promised that the old prep would eventually return and that they would notify me. The replacement prep offered was Imodium Multi-Symptom Relief, which contains simethicone in addition to loperamide. I do not like it - it is much larger than the original pill and doesn't swallow easily. Plus IMHO it does not help to reduce gas to any great degree.
Imagine my surprise today when I received a postcard in the mail announcing that the original Imodium A-D is coming back! The photo of the box on the card looks just like the original. Of course, I immediately called to make sure that the same inert ingredients are being used, since most people seemed to tolerate them well. Well, you guessed it! The manufacturer in its wisdom has changed the inert ingredients. Now the first one listed is LACTOSE, which was not in the original! Can you imagine??? Of all things to put in a pill for people with diarrhea! I can't believe it. Tex, another example of pharm stupidity. The poor fellow I spoke with had to listen to me rant and rave about how his company got it all wrong. I was gobsmacked.
When they took the original off of the market, I checked every other company's loperamide generic prep, and ALL of them contained lactose (Rite, CVS, etc.). So, I will not be buying any of the "original" (NOT) Imodium.
OK, I'm hopping off of my soapbox now. Sigh.
Polly
Stupidity with Regard to Imodium A-D
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Stupidity with Regard to Imodium A-D
Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be amused.
Polly,
I never cease to be amazed at how many manufacturers feel obligated to "improve" their products until they are no longer usable.
I also don't understand the logic behind redesigning/reformulating a product so that it is pretty much identical to what the competition offers. Why would there even be a need for a product if it is identical to what the competition offers?
This is another example of design stupidity at it's best. That's a real shame.
Tex
I never cease to be amazed at how many manufacturers feel obligated to "improve" their products until they are no longer usable.
I also don't understand the logic behind redesigning/reformulating a product so that it is pretty much identical to what the competition offers. Why would there even be a need for a product if it is identical to what the competition offers?
This is another example of design stupidity at it's best. That's a real shame.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Polly,
A couple of years ago when the original Imodium "disappeared" from the market, I went through the same frustration, searching everywhere. I finally found some on Amazon, paying a premium price, as I think they realized that the supply had dried up.
Anyhow, the good news for me was that I found a comparable product at a local supermarket called "Equaline" and the inactive ingredients were the same as in the A-D with the exception of corn starch (safe for me). Since it's quite some time since I bought it, I googled it and it seems that they have now added "Anhydrose Lactose" to the inactive ingredient list (replacing corn starch)!!!
Love,
Kari
A couple of years ago when the original Imodium "disappeared" from the market, I went through the same frustration, searching everywhere. I finally found some on Amazon, paying a premium price, as I think they realized that the supply had dried up.
Anyhow, the good news for me was that I found a comparable product at a local supermarket called "Equaline" and the inactive ingredients were the same as in the A-D with the exception of corn starch (safe for me). Since it's quite some time since I bought it, I googled it and it seems that they have now added "Anhydrose Lactose" to the inactive ingredient list (replacing corn starch)!!!
Love,
Kari
"My mouth waters whenever I pass a bakery shop and sniff the aroma of fresh bread, but I am also grateful simply to be alive and sniffing." Dr. Bernstein
I recently purchased some lactose-free loperamide from Walgreen's that is just 2 mg loperamide, no simethicone, called Walgreen's Anti-Diarrheal. It looks just like the original Imodium AD, the tiny greenish caplets. So that is a source for those that don't have a problem with corn starch. Here are the inactive ingredients:
Corn Starch , D&C Yellow 10 Aluminum Lake , Dicalcium Phosphate Dihydrate , FD&C Blue 1 Brillant Blue Lake , Magnesium Stearate , Microcrystalline Cellulose , Silica Gel
Rosie
Corn Starch , D&C Yellow 10 Aluminum Lake , Dicalcium Phosphate Dihydrate , FD&C Blue 1 Brillant Blue Lake , Magnesium Stearate , Microcrystalline Cellulose , Silica Gel
Rosie
Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time………Thomas Edison
Thanks for the info. Rosie - those ingredients are identical to those in my Equaline product, so now I know my new source 
.
Love,
Kari
P.S. I hope Walgreen's doesn't "enhance" the ingredients like the others did!!!
.Love,
Kari
P.S. I hope Walgreen's doesn't "enhance" the ingredients like the others did!!!
"My mouth waters whenever I pass a bakery shop and sniff the aroma of fresh bread, but I am also grateful simply to be alive and sniffing." Dr. Bernstein
Rosie,
Thank you for sharing that information. Call me a pessimist, but I wonder how long it will be before they join the pack and ruin their product, also.
Tex
Thank you for sharing that information. Call me a pessimist, but I wonder how long it will be before they join the pack and ruin their product, also.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Almost sounds conspiratorial, add the number one ingredient to cause upset stomachs, lactose, to an anti-diareha medication.
It wouldn't surprise me if the new imodium medication was manufactured at one plant that everyone bought from. Just a guess, but remember it was that way for many supplements such as vitamin D. Often one or two facilities would manufacture the basic supplement, that everyone would buy from and then place their label onto.
It wouldn't surprise me if the new imodium medication was manufactured at one plant that everyone bought from. Just a guess, but remember it was that way for many supplements such as vitamin D. Often one or two facilities would manufacture the basic supplement, that everyone would buy from and then place their label onto.
Might be a good idea to stock up on a lifetime's supply while they are still available............ Think I'll head to the local Walgreens and clean out their stock before the hoarders get them...... 
Rosie
Rosie
Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time………Thomas Edison
This blows my mind!
I have had to use it twice this week already. Guess there's not one without corn starch or lactose?? If so, I can't find it. Both cause me gas.
I guess I'll go back to pepto.........it just doesn't work as good.
I have had to use it twice this week already. Guess there's not one without corn starch or lactose?? If so, I can't find it. Both cause me gas.
I guess I'll go back to pepto.........it just doesn't work as good.
Martha E.
Philippians 4:13
Jul 2008 took Clindamycin for a Sinus infection that forever changed my life
Dec 2014 MC Dx
Jul 15, 2015 Elimination Diet
Aug 17, 2015 Enterolab Test
Dec 2015 Reflux
Sept 2016 IC
Philippians 4:13
Jul 2008 took Clindamycin for a Sinus infection that forever changed my life
Dec 2014 MC Dx
Jul 15, 2015 Elimination Diet
Aug 17, 2015 Enterolab Test
Dec 2015 Reflux
Sept 2016 IC
Just bought Walgreens lopermide 2 mg and ingredients are butylated hydroxyanisole, edible ink, fd&c blue #1, gelatin, glycerin, glycerol caprylate, polyoxl 40 hdrogenated castor oil and purified water. Checked Wal-Mart brand and same ingredients plus cheaper.....
Martha E.
Philippians 4:13
Jul 2008 took Clindamycin for a Sinus infection that forever changed my life
Dec 2014 MC Dx
Jul 15, 2015 Elimination Diet
Aug 17, 2015 Enterolab Test
Dec 2015 Reflux
Sept 2016 IC
Philippians 4:13
Jul 2008 took Clindamycin for a Sinus infection that forever changed my life
Dec 2014 MC Dx
Jul 15, 2015 Elimination Diet
Aug 17, 2015 Enterolab Test
Dec 2015 Reflux
Sept 2016 IC
It's interesting how the people in charge of formulating these products think. Is I recall, castor oil is a traditional, old-time laxative dating back at least several generations. So even a dumb-ass pharmaceutical product formulator should know what it is.
I would assume that there's not enough in there to produce laxative effects, thus the formulator's opinion that this is an "OK" ingredient to add. But my question is, "Why on earth would anyone feel the need to use a laxative ingredient in a medication designed to prevent diarrhea?"
Are all of the so-called pharmaceutical "experts" hired to formulate these products totally nuts, or do they just have a twisted sense of humor?
Tex
I would assume that there's not enough in there to produce laxative effects, thus the formulator's opinion that this is an "OK" ingredient to add. But my question is, "Why on earth would anyone feel the need to use a laxative ingredient in a medication designed to prevent diarrhea?"
Are all of the so-called pharmaceutical "experts" hired to formulate these products totally nuts, or do they just have a twisted sense of humor?
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
