What is Loperamide used for?

Loperamide is indicated for: Acute noninfectious diarrhea, Antidiarrhoeal, Diarrhea, Diarrhoea, Enteropathies (nonspecific diarrhea), Non-infectious diarrhea, reduce gut motility.

Which species have cited Loperamide dosing data?

Loperamide dosing in the ExoticRx formulary covers 10 species: Chinchilla, Degu, Dog (Domestic), Dwarf Hamster, Ferret, Gerbil, Guinea Pig, Mouse, Pet Rat, Rabbit (Domestic).

Is Loperamide a controlled substance?

Loperamide is not federally scheduled in the US. Controlled-drug status differs by country — verify your local rules.

What are the warnings or contraindications for Loperamide?

CONTRAINDICATED in MDR1-mutant dogs (crosses BBB — severe CNS depression). Avoid in cats. Do not use in infectious diarrhea. May cause constipation, bloating, ileus.

What are the side effects of Loperamide?

Reported side effects, adverse reactions, and contraindications for Loperamide: CONTRAINDICATED in MDR1-mutant dogs (crosses BBB — severe CNS depression). Avoid in cats. Do not use in infectious diarrhea. May cause constipation, bloating, ileus.

How does Loperamide work?

Mu-opioid receptor agonist in GI tract, slowing motility and increasing segmental contractions. Increases fluid/electrolyte absorption.

Loperamide

US brand names:Imodium

Calculate dosage

Sourced from published veterinary references. Awaiting credentialed clinical reviewer — our editorial process.

Loperamide is dosed at 0.1 mg/kg PO q8h in chinchillas, per Harkness JE. A Practitioner's Guide to Domestic Rodents, American Animal Hospital Association, Lakewood, CO; 1993. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.801 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.7 (Miscellaneous Agents Used in Rodents). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929. Verify against current literature before clinical use.

Drug Class

Gastrointestinal

Routes

Indications

Acute noninfectious diarrheaAntidiarrhoeal

Backed by 8 published sources

· 66. Harkness JE. A Practitioner's Guide to Domestic Rodents, American Animal Hospital Association, Lakewood, CO; 1993. | 122. Meredith A. BSAVA Small Animal Formulary: Part B: Exotic Pets, British Small Animal Veterinary Association, Quedgeley, Gloucester, UK; 2015. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.801 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.7 (Miscellaneous Agents Used in Rodents). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, Part B — Exotic Pets — ISBN 9781910443712, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781910443712; Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929
· 66. Harkness JE. A Practitioner's Guide to Domestic Rodents, American Animal Hospital Association, Lakewood, CO; 1993.; 122. Meredith A. BSAVA Small Animal Formulary: Part B: Exotic Pets, British Small Animal Veterinary Association, Quedgeley, Gloucester, UK; 2015. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.801 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.7 (Miscellaneous Agents Used in Rodents). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, Part B — Exotic Pets — ISBN 9781910443712, ; Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929,

Sample dosing (2 of 11 cited rules)

A dog/cat sample is shown here. Cited dosing for all 10 species — reptiles, birds, pocket pets, livestock, and equine — is free on the per-species pages above. Pro adds the weight-based calculator for every species.

Species	Route	Dose	Frequency	Evidence	Source
Dog (Domestic)	PO	0.1–0.2 mg/kg	q8-12h	Moderate	Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.803 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.775, Loperamide monograph spanning p.775-776; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, verified to name the drug in its body text. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207
Dog (Domestic)	PO	0.08–0.2 mg/kg	q8-12h	Moderate	Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.803 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.775, Loperamide monograph spanning p.775-776; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, verified to name the drug in its body text. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207,

· Harkness JE. A Practitioner's Guide to Domestic Rodents, American Animal Hospital Association, Lakewood, CO; 1993. / Meredith A. BSAVA Small Animal Formulary: Part B: Exotic Pets, British Small Animal Veterinary Association, Quedgeley, Gloucester, UK; 2015. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.801 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.7 (Miscellaneous Agents Used in Rodents). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, Part B — Exotic Pets — ISBN 9781910443712, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781910443712; Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929

· Harkness JE. A Practitioner's Guide to Domestic Rodents, American Animal Hospital Association, Lakewood, CO; 1993. | Meredith A. BSAVA Small Animal Formulary: Part B: Exotic Pets, British Small Animal Veterinary Association, Quedgeley, Gloucester, UK; 2015. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.801 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.7 (Miscellaneous Agents Used in Rodents). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, Part B — Exotic Pets — ISBN 9781910443712, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781910443712; Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929

· Harkness JE. A Practitioner's Guide to Domestic Rodents, American Animal Hospital Association, Lakewood, CO; 1993. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.801 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.7 (Miscellaneous Agents Used in Rodents). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929

· Johnson-Delaney CA. Formulary Ferret Medicine and Surgery, CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL; 2017:457-467. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.956 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 11.10 (Miscellaneous Agents Used in Ferrets.a). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929

· Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023, held copy; the original seed cited the 9th, which was never consulted) — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.878 — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.776, Loperamide monograph spanning p.775-776; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, and carries this exact dose under the matching species heading. — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 10.10 (Miscellaneous Agents Used in Rabbits). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207; Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929

· Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.803 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.775, Loperamide monograph spanning p.775-776; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, verified to name the drug in its body text. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207

Loperamide

Drug Class

Routes

Indications

Mechanism of Action

Side effects & warnings

Species with Loperamide dosing data (11 dose rules)

Evidence levels across 11 dose rules

Backed by 8 published sources

Sample dosing (2 of 11 cited rules)

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Loperamide

Drug Class

Routes

Indications

Mechanism of Action

Side effects & warnings

Species with Loperamide dosing data (11 dose rules)

Evidence levels across 11 dose rules

Backed by 8 published sources

Sample dosing (2 of 11 cited rules)

Upgrade for Full Details

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