I have been taking Loperamide 2 mg daily for IBS-D for at least 6 months. For a while now,  I have had a lot of dizziness, faintness + general sluggishness. I have a low heart rate and stopped taking 5mg Amylodipine (daily) over 3 weeks ago, assuming that these bp pills were lowering my bp too much.  Since then, the practice nurse has taken my b.p - 122/76 but I measured it today as 160/70 - I was stressed to be fair. The symptoms however have persisted. Could these be caused by the Loperamide instead ? I wonder if anyone has had similar problems with Loperamide ?

Edited October 15, 20241 yr by Higgie D
Left out detail

From what I just read about loperamide toxicity, that could be the cause for these symptoms. I'm a little baffled how 2 mg daily could be causing this, but you have been using it for at least 6 months. The best way to find out is to stop the loperamide and see how you feel.

I good substitute would be viberzi; however, AbbVie has stopped marketing that in the UK. Another medication in place of loperamide could be ondansetron. Ask your doctor to look for a recent study in the UK using ondansetron for IBS-D. That's a much better choice than loperamide.

I think you are right. The lightheadedness, dizziness etc remained unchanged after ceasing to take the loperamide but the diarrhoea has been so bad without the pills that I have restarted them. The cause of the problem must lie elsewhere.

Many thanks for your advice. Much appreciated.