Loperamide (Eldoper) — for Chemotherapy Diarrhoea
Loperamide — sold as Eldoper and other brands — is an anti-diarrhoeal medicine your team may prescribe when chemotherapy causes loose motions. The safety question matters more than the medicine itself: there are situations where taking it can make things worse rather than better.
Medically reviewed by Dr. C. Raghavendra Reddy, Medical Oncologist, MBBS (Gold Medal) · DNB · DM (Medical Oncology, Gold Medal) · Last reviewed September 2026
- Prescribed, not self-started — Loperamide is safe only when your oncology team has confirmed the diarrhoea is not caused by infection.
- Fever means do not take it — A fever alongside diarrhoea during chemotherapy means call your team, not reach for loperamide.
- Blood in stool means stop — Blood or mucus is a signal to call your team immediately, not to try to slow things down.
- Low white cells changes everything — When your white cell count is low, the risk of a hidden gut infection is high and loperamide can mask it.
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Loperamide — sold in India as Eldoper among other brands — is an anti-diarrhoeal tablet your oncology team may prescribe when chemotherapy causes loose motions. It must not be taken if you have a fever, blood in the stool, or a low white cell count. Always check with your team before using it.
What is loperamide (Eldoper) used for during chemotherapy?
Loperamide slows the movement of the gut so that stools pass less frequently. It is prescribed as a supportive medicine — not a cancer treatment — to manage loose motions that chemotherapy itself causes by irritating the gut lining.
Not all chemotherapy causes diarrhoea, and not all diarrhoea during chemotherapy needs loperamide. Your oncology team decides whether it is the right choice for your regimen and your current condition.
Do not start loperamide on your own, even if it is available over the counter. The decision depends on information about your blood counts and temperature that only your team has.
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When should you not take loperamide?
Do not take loperamide if you have a fever. During chemotherapy, fever can be the first sign of neutropenic sepsis — a serious infection that needs urgent treatment, not a medicine that slows the gut. Loperamide can mask how unwell you are and delay care that cannot wait.
Do not take it if you see blood or mucus in your stool. That is not a side effect to push through. Call your team the same day.
When your white cell count is low, even mild gut symptoms can mean a developing infection. Loperamide is not safe in that setting without your team explicitly saying it is. If you are unsure whether your counts are low, that is a reason to call rather than to take anything.
If the diarrhoea started after a course of antibiotics, tell your team before taking loperamide. Antibiotic-associated gut infections can be worsened by loperamide. NCCN guidance specifically identifies infection as a contraindication.
Did you know?
Chemotherapy-induced diarrhoea is one of the most common reasons a treatment cycle is delayed or the dose is reduced.
Reporting loose motions to your team early — before they become severe — is what keeps your treatment on track.
Source: ASCO Guidelines for Chemotherapy-Induced Diarrhea
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Frequently asked questions
Is Eldoper exactly the same as loperamide?
Yes. Eldoper is a brand name sold in India whose active ingredient is loperamide hydrochloride. Several other brands contain the same ingredient. Your team may write the prescription using the generic name or a specific brand — both refer to the same medicine. Tell your team which brand you have at home so they can confirm the strength is what they intend.
Can I use loperamide I already have at home without calling?
Only if your oncology team has already prescribed it for this episode of diarrhoea and you have no fever, no blood in your stool, and no reason to think your white cell count is low. If any of those conditions apply — or if you are unsure — call before taking it. The loperamide on your shelf is the same medicine; the question is whether the situation right now is one where it is safe.
When should I call my team instead of taking loperamide?
Call the same day if you have a fever alongside the diarrhoea, if you see blood or mucus in your stool, if your abdomen is painful or swollen, or if you cannot keep fluids down. Call also if the diarrhoea is getting worse despite taking loperamide as directed, or if it has continued without improving. These are signs that something other than straightforward chemotherapy-related diarrhoea is happening.
What is neutropenia and why does it change the rules for loperamide?
Neutropenia means a low count of neutrophils — the white blood cells your body uses to fight bacterial infection. Many chemotherapy regimens cause it in the days after each cycle. When you are neutropenic, an infection can be subtle at first. Diarrhoea in that window may be an infection presenting quietly, and loperamide can prevent your gut from clearing it rather than helping you recover.
What if loperamide is not working?
Tell your team. If loose motions are continuing or increasing despite taking loperamide as prescribed, that is information your team needs to decide whether a different medicine, intravenous fluids, or investigation is required. Do not increase the amount you are taking on your own. The answer to loperamide not working is a call, not a higher amount.
Can loperamide interact with my other medicines?
It can. Tell your oncologist and pharmacist about all medicines you take, including anything bought without a prescription. Some medicines used in cancer care affect the way loperamide is processed in the body. Your team can check for interactions before prescribing it. This is one more reason not to start it without asking.
Will I need loperamide for every chemotherapy cycle?
Not necessarily. Whether you need it depends on which chemotherapy you are receiving, how your gut responded in previous cycles, and what your blood counts look like at the time. Some regimens cause more diarrhoea than others. Your team will advise you ahead of each cycle whether to have it ready and under what conditions to use it.
Is loperamide a cancer treatment?
No. Loperamide is a supportive medicine. It manages a side effect of chemotherapy — loose motions — so that you stay comfortable, maintain hydration, and keep your treatment on schedule. It has no effect on the cancer itself. Supportive medicines are a standard and important part of chemotherapy care; they exist to protect you through treatment, not to treat the disease.
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