I am taking 150mg of clindamycin for a major infection; however, I also have a severe case of IBS-D and I am forced to take 4 mg loperamide (anti-diarrheal) first thing ever morning. If I do not take it, then everything I eat and drink causes extreme painful cramping followed by hours of diarrhea. Now, my question is this. I went to look at the Drugs.com website for more information on clindamycin (mainly what the usual course for this drug is) and it mentions at the bottom not to take anti-diarrheals with the clindamycin. Why? Is there a specific reason? I ask because if it is just to see if you will have diarrhea while on it, then it would not matter in my case as I will, whether I was taking it or not. If there is another more urgent reason, then I need to know as I will deal with laying on the floor with earth shattering stomach cramps (the pain is around a 25 on a 1-10 scale, and no, I am not exaggerating), then deal with possible issues, or worse, death.


Anyways, all help is appreciated.

Hi eyanosa,
You're in a tricky situation I'm sorry but I would definitely be checking with your Doctor who prescribes the Loperamide.

I read a couple of different drug/drug interaction sites - the drugs.com one and the Johns Hopkins ABX Guide. I think the info that I read on the drug.com site, although confusing in itself, was more a warning about self treating with anti diarrhea medications if you developed diarrhea while on the Clindamycin in case it was covering up side effects that could be potentially very serious.

I read your other posts and understand the situation as best that I can. I realize it's complicated, but please call your Doctor who treats you for your IBS (or your Doctor's office to speak to an RN) to check.

Please let us know how you get on.
take care.

Actually, the loperamide is otc. My doctors have tried for 9 years to find a medication that worked for my IBS and nothing did. I ended up finding out myself that the loperamide worked. As for the question, I just wanted to make sure there wasn't some major interaction that I couldn't find. Thank you for the help.