Chemotherapy Causing Diarrhea

[arwyn]

MY mother in law has just started treatment for lung cancer. Is it safe to give her Imodium. She is now puffed out from rushing to the loo. TIA..

[Mamyalynne]

Ring the unit where she has her chemo, they will advise. Cannot see a problem really though.

[rowanwitch]

Ring the unit for advice they may want to bring her in for fluids as avoidng dehydration is especially important with some types of chemo.

[Buenchico]

A bit of googling (and restricting my viewing to reputable websites, such as universities and cancer charities) suggests that loperamide (a.k.a Imodium) can be used for chemotherapy-related diarrhea but ONLY under the supervision of a doctor, as the dosage is different. (However a pharmacist is also likely to have the relevant knowledge). It also seems more likely that, upon hearing of the problem, a doctor might prefer to prescribe Diphenoxylate (a.k.a Lomotil).

[arwyn]

Thank you Mamy she has just rang and told me that it started at 2am this morning, she sent her hubby to the shop and he came back with Dyrolite (sp). She said she rang the hospital and thats what they told her to buy.

[arwyn]

Thank you Roman sorry I type slow.

[Mojo-Jo-Jo]

Diarolite replaces the salts lost through dehydration so that your mum won't feel so bad.
I hope she feels better soon. Chemo is no fun.

[arwyn]

Thank you Chris I have always loved you .. I'll go to her house in the morning as I'm too far and I'm home alone with no car tonight. I'll see who she did or did'nt ring, and sort a cure.

[arwyn]

Thanks mo-jo We have been told the chemo is not a cure its to buy extra time. But its not so nice if she's ill all the time..

[arwyn]

Update for those who replied.. I rang M.I.L this morning and she was still the same so I rang the hospital ward where she gets her chemotherapy. They said that she is on a low dose and should not have diarrhea as a side effect. and she must have caught a bug and it was safe to give her Imodium. I drove over with some and she has just rang me to say things are improving. Thank you everyone xx