Why was the Imossel withdrawn from the market?

What was the Imossel?

Currently, this specialty is no longer available in France. Imossel® was a loperamide antidiarrheal drug having a structure comparable to that of opiates. It was a transit retarder used in short-term treatment of acute diarrhea in children from 15 years old and in adults. Available without a prescription, it came in the form of capsules.

Was it the same as Imodium?

In terms of composition, Imossel® was strictly equivalent to Imodium® since each capsule contained 2 mg of loperamide hydrochloride. It should be noted that only the generics of Imodium® are still marketed. Their price is fixed and they are obtainable only upon presentation of a prescription giving rise to reimbursement by Health Insurance. On the other hand, Imossel® was not reimbursed and was freely available at a variable price depending on the pharmacy.

Why was it taken off the market?

The discontinuation of the marketing of this medicinal product is based on a laboratory decision. The exact reason is not known but could be explained by a desire to relaunch sales by changing only the name of the specialty commercial without modifying the composition.

In a context of overdose, heart damage such as arrhythmias and cardiac arrest may occur.

What are the dangers and contraindications of Imossel?

► The loperamide contained in Imossel® frequently induces dizziness, fatigue and drowsiness, which requires vigilance among vehicle drivers and machine users. In a context of overdose, heart damage such as arrhythmias and cardiac arrests can occur. In addition, rare allergic reactions but serious have been reported.
► Taking loperamide is contraindicated in people who are allergic to any of the components of the drug and in the child of under 15. Similarly, loperamide should be avoided in case of diarrhea caused by an antibiotic, bacterial inflammation (eg salmonellosis) or acute dysentery manifested by fever and blood in the stool. Indeed, the induction of a slowing down of transit promotes bacterial proliferation.
► The treatment must be interrupted in the event of constipation, bloating induced by an accumulation of intestinal gas and bowel obstruction (stopping the transit of stools and gases). Loperamide is not contraindicated in pregnant or breastfeeding women but should only be used when absolutely necessary.

What has it been replaced by?

Imossel® has been replaced by Imodiumcaps® which has identical characteristics: composition, dosage of loperamide and presentation (box of 12 capsules). To achieve a similar therapeutic effect, any loperamide-based drug can be used as a replacement: Diaretyl®, Diastrolib®, Imodium lingual®, Imodium liquicaps® and generics of Imodium®.