Norimode
- Treats Diarrhoea
- Eases symptoms
- Fast acting
Please note brand received may vary
prescription included
order before 2pm
and team of dispensers
What is Norimode?
Norimode tablets contain the active ingredient loperamide hydrochloride and are an effective form of treatment for diarrhoea.
This medicine is only available if you have a prescription from your doctor and should only be ordered from a registered pharmacy.
Norimode gets to work very quickly and can be taken for up to five days.
What is Norimode used to treat?
Norimode is used for the treatment of sudden flare ups of acute diarrhoea and longer lasting episodes (chronic diarrhoea) in adults and children over the age of 9 years old.
Diarrhoea causes your stools to become watery and makes you need to go to the toilet more frequently than you would normally. It can be very uncomfortable and cause you to feel sick.
Norimode works by slowing down an over-active bowel and reducing how often you need to go to the toilet, allowing you to go about your life as you normally would.
How does Norimode work?
Norimode contains loperamide hydrochloride, which is an anti-motility medicine. It works by slowing down food as it travels through the gut, which allows your body more time to draw in more water from the intestines. This makes your faeces firmer, meaning you will not need to empty your bowels as frequently, relieving diarrhoea.
Loperamide provides fast acting relief from diarrhoea, generally getting to work within one hour of being taken.
How to take Norimode
Adults will normally be told to take 2 tablets to start with, followed by 1 tablet after each loose bowel movement.
The maximum dose for adults is 6 tablets in 24 hours.
Children aged 9 to 17 will normally take 1 tablet to start with, then 1 tablet after each loose bowel movement for up to 5 days.
The maximum dose for children is 6 tablets in 24 hours.
Do not take Norimode for longer than 5 days. If your problem persists after this time, speak to your doctor.
Always follow your doctor’s dosage instructions and read the patient information leaflet for further instructions.
Swallow the tablets whole with a drink of water. Norimode can be taken with or without food.
Who can take Norimode?
Norimode is a widely prescribed treatment for diarrhoea, but it is not suitable for all sufferers.
Children under 9 years old must not take Norimode.
If you have any of the below conditions, you should consult your doctor before you start taking Norimode:
- Your diarrhoea is caused by inflammation of the gut as a result of antibiotic treatment
- You have diarrhoea that contains either yellow or green mucus or blood, while also suffering from a fever
- You are suffering from constipation or any other condition that is preventing you from having regular bowel movements
- You have an inflammatory bowel disease such as acute ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease
- Your diarrhoea is caused by an infection of the gut
- You are allergic to loperamide hydrochloride or any of the other ingredients listed
- You have had an allergic reaction to any other medicine you have previously used
If you are pregnant, trying to get pregnant or are currently breastfeeding, you should speak to your doctor for more information before you start to use Norimode.
Norimode can also be affected by other medicines. For more information on the particular drugs that can interact with Norimode, please see the Warnings tab on this page.
Can you buy Norimode over the counter?
No, you must have a prescription from a doctor to be able to buy Norimode. It is not for sale over the counter.
Can you buy Norimode online in the UK?
This is a prescription-only medicine (POM), meaning you must have been prescribed it by a doctor. You can buy Norimode online from Medicine Direct, but first you will need to complete a confidential online questionnaire for one of our prescribers to review. This is to make sure that this medication is suitable for you to take.
If it is suitable for you, you can order Norimode from our online pharmacy. Order by 2pm and we can offer you next day delivery.
Medicine Direct is regulated by the General Pharmaceutical Council, which means that we can guarantee all of the medication we sell is approved for sale in the UK. Only order medicine online from regulated pharmacies, like Medicine Direct.
Norimode alternatives
There are various alternatives you can use instead of Norimode if this medication is not suitable for you.
Loperamide hydrochloride is the active ingredient in Norimode, and the generic version of this medicine is also available to buy from Medicine Direct. You do not need a prescription to order this medicine if you are suffering with short-term diarrhoea.
An over the counter medicine that can help with diarrhoea is Dioralyte. This medicine comes as a sachet that should be mixed with water to create a sweet-tasting drink. Dioralyte can be used by people of all ages. It works to prevent dehydration, which can occur due to loss of bodily fluids when you suffer from diarrhoea.
To view our full range of diarrhoea treatments, visit our Diarrhoea product page.
Norimode Dosage
Our pharmacists and prescribers follow NICE guidelines when prescribing Norimode.
You should always read the patient information leaflet before you take any medicine. Always follow your doctor's instructions when taking Norimode and any other medicine.
How much Norimode you are instructed to take will depend on your age and the severity of your symptoms.
Do not take this medication for more than 5 days. If you have acute diarrhoea and your symptoms have not improved within 48 hours, go back to your doctor.
Norimode should be swallowed whole and be taken with a glass of water. It does not matter whether you take this medicine with or without food.
The most common dosage for adults is 2 tablets (4mg) to begin with. This will usually be followed by 1 tablet after you begin to notice firmer stools.
However your doctor instructs you to take Norimode tablets, the maximum dose for adults is 6 tablets in a 24 hour period (16mg).
Children aged 9-17 years old will usually be instructed to take 1 tablet initially, which will then be followed by 1 tablet after each loose tool, for a maximum of 5 days.
If your diarrhoea symptoms do not improve after your course of treatment ends, you should go back to the doctors.
What if I forget to take it?
If you forget to take a dose of Norimode, take it as soon as you remember, unless it is almost time for your next dose.
If it is almost time for your next dose, just skip the missed dose altogether; take your next scheduled dose and then continue to use the drug as instructed by your doctor.
Never double dose a medicine in order to make up for a missed dose.
If you are taking medication at the same time each day, it can help to set an alarm to remind you to take it.
What if I take more than I am supposed to?
If you take more of this medicine than you should have, you should contact your doctor or go to A&E immediately. Make sure you take your medication with you so that medical professionals are aware of what you have taken and how much you should have taken.
Symptoms of an overdose can be found on the Side Effects tab on this page, take particular note of severe allergic reaction symptoms.
You should never deviate from the prescribed dose your doctor has advised you to take.
Norimode FAQ's
Is it available over the counter?
Am I allergic to anything in the medicine?
How should I store it?
Can I take this medicine while pregnant?
Will I still be able to drive?
Can I still drink alcohol?
Is this medicine right for me?
Norimode Side Effects
The more common side effects can be found on the main page for this product.
Not everyone will experience undesired effects from taking this medication, but you should always refer to the information leaflet that will accompany your medication.
In rare instances, it is possible for people taking this medication to experience more serious adverse effects.
You should contact your doctor or call 111 straight away if you experience any of the following reactions to Norimode:
- You lose consciousness
- The pupils in your eyes become smaller
- Abnormally increased muscle tension
- Your tongue has a painful or burning sensation
- Tiredness
- Enlargement of the large intestine - this can cause tenderness of the stomach, bloating and constipation
- Bloating of the stomach
- You have a blockage of the bowel
- You have difficulty coordinating movement
- You have a fever
In rare cases, you might experience a severe allergic reaction to the medication and require urgent treatment in a hospital.
If any of the below symptoms occur you should go to A&E or call 999 immediately:
- You have swelling of the mouth, face, lips, throat or tongue
- You have tightness in your throat or chest
- You are wheezing
- You have a skin rash that is either peeling, blistering, itchy, red or swollen
- You are finding it difficult to breathe or speak
Please read the patient information leaflet, which will come with your medication, for full details on side effects. If you have any concerns about side effects, please speak to your doctor or pharmacist before you start using this medication.
Norimode Warnings and Drug Interactions
Norimode may interact with other medications you are currently taking, either for diarrhoea or any other condition.
You should always make sure you inform your doctor of any other medicine you are already taking, before you start to use Norimode; this includes prescription and non-prescription medicine, supplements, herbal remedies and vitamins.
You should tell your doctor if you are already taking any of the following medicines:
- Diafix
- Diah-limit
- Diaquitte
- Diocalm ultra
- Dioraleze
- Entrocalm diarrhoea relief
- Imodium
- Lomodine
- Normaloe
This list is not exhaustive. For the full list of medications that may interfere with the effectiveness of Norimode, you should refer to the information leaflet that will come with your medicine.
If you have any concerns or questions at all, we advise you to speak to your doctor for more information.
You should never take this medicine unless it has been given to you on prescription. You should only purchase it from a registered pharmacy such as Medicine Direct. If you order by 2pm, we are able to offer you the option of next day delivery.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
If you are pregnant, trying to get pregnant or are currently breastfeeding, you should speak to your doctor for more information before you start to use Norimode.
We recommend BUMPS for additional information on taking Norimode during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Norimode Ingredients:
The main active ingredient within this medicine is: Loperamide hydrochloride
For a full list of the inactive ingredients, please read the Summary of Product Characteristics
| Delivery Company | Delivery Service | Price | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Standard UK Tracked | £2.99 | 3 - 4 Working Day Delivery |
 |
Next Day Delivery - Tracked | £5.95 | Order by 2pm (subject to Dr approval) Next Working Day Delivery |
|
Next Day Tracked Morning Delivery by 12:00pm | £12.95 | Next Working Day Morning Delivery by 12:00pm |
|
Tracked Saturday Delivery | £9.95 |
Delivery specified for Saturday Order Friday by 2pm (subject to Dr approval) |
Please note that next day delivery to Northern Ireland, Scottish Highlands & Islands and British Isles cannot be guaranteed. Please contact our team for more information.
Updated on: 07/06/2021
This content has been written by our Superintendent Pharmacist Hussain Abdeh and has been medically reviewed by our Pharmacist Sonia Khan
Hussain Abdeh
MPharm: 2211840
Pharmacist Independent Prescriber
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- 1 Choose your treatment Select the treatment or medication you need and answer a few questions online regarding your condition.
- 2 Online consultation Our Independent Prescribers will review your questions and assess your suitability for the medication.
- 3 Receive your delivery Your medication is dispensed and delivered directly to you from our UK based Pharmacy.
