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Diarrhoea

Loperamide (Imodium®), a green/grey capsule, and Diphenoxylate (Lomotil®), a very small white tablet, are both used for the symptomatic treatment of diarrhoea. 'Symptomatic treatment' means treatment of the diarrhoea only and not of the underlying cause, which may or may not require separate investigation or treatment. Dosage of antidiarrhoeals is dependent on severity of symptoms but involves a set maximum number of tablets per day. Overdose causes constipation and drowsiness. Chemical additives decrease the potential for abuse of antidiarrhoeal medication by causing unpleasant side effects.