Dr. Pavia-Please help with this question. I am taking Viracept and Combivir and have achieved an undetectable viral load and my T-cell count is well within normail range. Therefore, from a counts standpoint, I am very hapy with this regimen. However, the one down side of this med schedule is that I have severe and I mean SEVERE diarrhea every single day without fail. I have been playing with different dosages of Immodium for several months now trying to get the diarrhea under control. Sometimes a certain dosage works and sometimes it doesn't and it seems really hard to figure out the exact number of pills I should be taking and when to get this under control. THIS IS MY MAIN QUESTION: Are there any negative side effects to taking too many caplets of Immodium in a single 24 hour period? If so, how many caplets should you not try to go over? Also, what are the negative side effects, if any, of taking a lot of Immodium even if technically speaking it is OK to take however many you want in one day? Thanks for your help. This issue has been bugging me because there are some days when I take up to 6-7 caplets a day!

Great question. Immodium is pretty safe stuff. The major side effect is constipation if you take too much, and a little viracept can cure that. Other side effects of high doses could be dry mouth, sleepiness, blurry vision or urinary retention, but the last two are very rare. Up to 8 a day is usually considered safe, but some people take 12 or more. Get a prescription for generic loperamide which is cheaper than immodium brand over the counter

Our patients often have some relief from oat bran tablets - 1 or 2 with each time you take viracept. Some new preliminary work suggests that calcium might help. It remains to be proven, but 3 Tums with each dose might be worth a try. Good luck

ATP