eluxadoline vs loperamide
Side-by-side comparison of eluxadoline and loperamide. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
moderate Known Drug Interaction
Examples: cyclosporine, gemfibrozil, antiretrovirals (atazanavir, lopinavir, ritonavir, saquinavir, tipranavir), rifampin, eltrombopag Drugs that Cause Constipation Clinical Impact: Increased risk for constipation related adverse reactions and potential for constipation related serious adverse reactions Intervention: Avoid use with other drugs that may cause constipation (see below); loperamide may be used occasionally for acute management of severe diarrhea but avoid chronic use. Discontinue loperamide immediately if constipation occurs.
Recommendation: Do not use loperamide long-term with this drug, and stop it immediately if you become constipated.
Viberzi
Imodium
Viberzi is a medicine used to treat irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea (IBS-D) in adults. It helps to reduce diarrhea associated with IBS-D.
Loperamide (Imodium) helps control diarrhea symptoms. It is also used for Traveler's Diarrhea.
Viberzi is used to treat irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea, also known as IBS-D, in adults. IBS-D can cause stomach pain, bloating, and frequent bowel movements. This medicine can help reduce diarrhea and other symptoms of IBS-D.
This medicine treats diarrhea. It can also help with Traveler's Diarrhea. It works to reduce bowel movements and relieve symptoms like stomach cramps.
Viberzi works by acting on opioid receptors in your gut. It slows down bowel movements. This helps to reduce diarrhea and abdominal pain.
Loperamide works by slowing down your intestines. This allows more water to be absorbed from your stool. This makes your stools less watery and reduces how often you need to go to the bathroom.
- • Constipation
- • Nausea
- • Abdominal pain
- • Headache
- • Dizziness
- • Constipation
- • Nausea
- Stomach pain 348
- Diarrhea 340
- Constipation 281
- Inflammation of the pancreas 276
- Feeling sick to your stomach 216
- Diarrhea 8,466
- Feeling sick to your stomach 4,091
- Feeling tired 3,692
- Throwing up 2,673
- Having trouble pooping 2,352
Viberzi can cause serious side effects, including pancreatitis and sphincter of Oddi spasm. These conditions can cause severe abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. If you have new or worsening abdominal pain, stop taking Viberzi and get medical help right away. Do not take Viberzi if you do not have a gallbladder.
Taking too much loperamide can cause serious heart problems. Always follow the recommended dose.
It is not known if Viberzi can harm an unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is also not known if Viberzi passes into breast milk. Talk to your doctor about the best way to feed your baby if you take Viberzi.
Talk to your doctor before taking this medicine if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. It is not known if loperamide can harm your unborn baby or pass into breast milk.
How to Read This eluxadoline vs loperamide Comparison
eluxadoline is classified in the Mu-Opioid Receptor Agonist (IBS-D) drug class, while loperamide sits within the Antidiarrheal (Opioid Receptor Agonist) class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are split between OTC and prescription status, which affects access and supervision.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, eluxadoline has 1,461 submissions while loperamide has 21,274. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known moderate interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to these medicines both work to slow down your bowels, and using them together can cause dangerous levels of constipation.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between eluxadoline and loperamide - always consult your physician or pharmacist first.
Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.