When discussing survival, we often gravitate towards the bad-ass, like which knife to carry or the fashionably practical question of which tactical backpack is best. It’s fun, it’s interesting, no issues with that – so long as we aren’t completely ignoring the negative realities of survival – it’s dirty, it’s messy, and chances are, your bowels (I know, who wants to think about that) won’t be even remotely happy with the situation.
When travelling under duress/stress your body typically responds pretty badly to the food you encounter and encourage it to eat. Traveller’s diarrhea is a legitimately dangerous thing to have in emergency situations (diarrhea = dehydration), and yet it’s something very easily caused by contact with any sort of contaminated food or water, which can be loaded with nasties from Salmonella, to E. coli, Shigella, Giardia, as well as many others.
That’s bad enough, but considering the fact that you can also have pretty bad bowel problems as a consequence of adrenaline, fear, or stress, you’ll finally start to get a picture of how uncomfortable you may be as a result of a SHTF situation.
As I am sure you can imagine, a survival situation is positively loaded with stresses and unknowns – these bowel-related issues are just the icing on the top of the mud cake.
As I’ve already stated, besides the obvious discomfort diarrhea can bring, it also dehydrates you a considerable amount. The other outcomes of having diarrhea you would know if you’d even had it once – it seeps your energy and truly does negatively impair your mental faculties. It’s uncomfortable, incredibly dangerous if you don’t have clean water to replace what you just lost with, and just downright to be avoided in an already bad situation if it’s at all possible.
Imodium in Emergency/Survival Situations
I’m not exaggerating when I say this – if a disaster were to strike right this moment, besides assessing the situation, making sure my family is okay, grabbing my gear, and getting ready to bolt into action if necessary, I would 100% pre-emptively pop an Imodium.
I’ve had my share of difficult times with contaminated food (looking at you, AYCE Korean BBQ), as I’m sure we have all had from time to time, and I know just how foolish it is to let random chance or bad luck with food affect my survival when popping a single, over-the-counter pill can pre-emptively nip the chances of me having diarrhea in the bud.
For those of you who have no idea what the hell an Imodium is and why it seems to work such magic, Imodium (Loperamide) is a pill that works by slowing down your digestive system (gut movements) to an absurd degree. Practical applications – it makes stool altogether much less watery, even in the case of diarrhea, and also overall really decreases the number of bowel movements you would have to take – I’m talking a significant decrease here.
I am personally regular as clockwork (too much information?) but when I opt to pop an Imodium for peace of mind, I can attest that it shuts down my digestive system for a solid 48 hr period.
So back to the diarrhea prevention – those jitters you feel right before you have the runs? You won’t be getting those. Not on Imodium, because of its ability to slow down your digestive system. Even if you’ve had sushi that happened to be not even close to as fresh as it was supposed to be – Imodium to the rescue. It takes a maximum of two Imodiums, in my personal experience, to shut pretty much everything down, making it near impossible to get the runs (note* still possible, just unlikely).
Now, Imodium is not something that should be taken regularly. Don’t take it every time you go out to eat – and definitely don’t take it on a daily basis. You build up an immunity to Imodium, so make sure to use it only when it counts. If you feel you might need it, but don’t want too much, I’d also advise splitting a pill in half and using just a half – as it’s really useful to keep your immunity to Imodium down so it can work it’s magic when you really need it.
This stuff is somewhat fast-acting, so you don’t have to take it before the issues start, but I’d recommend it, as it still does take some time to kick in. That being said, Imodium does also make proper fast-acting tablets that dissolve in your mouth, making them truly ideal for on the run/emergency situations where you don’t want to pop one before you go (because you don’t want to increase you immunity) or where you just plain forgot to pop one prior to heading out.
For irregular use when emergencies and disasters strike or for pre-emptive measures; hell, even should you wish to gamble with your life and visit a particularly sketchy KFC or Taco Bell, Imodium can be a real life saver.
Real World Considerations: Everyday Carrying Imodium
As you can plainly see, Imodium is actually one of the handiest tiny tools you can have around for survival and prepper purposes. If you drudge through my past EDCs, you will notice that I have an aluminium canister/capsule that lives on my keychain at all times which contains Imodium and actually a tiny magnet compass. Surviving is more than just (see what I did there?) waiting for the apocalypse, but rather being that guy (or gal) who is always prepared for all the terrible shit life will throw at you.
I’ve mentioned this in the examples before, but if you’re going to a sushi place of questionable repute with a group of friends one night, or venturing out to a local KFC/Taco Bell with the fam to kick that craving you’ve been having for the past week, you might want to bring along some Imodium with you. Then, when a bathroom emergency strikes, hand out the Imodium to those who appear to be suffering and bask in the admiration you will receive from your peers as you rescue them from what is one of the most unpleasant emergencies that can occur in day to day life.
Preparedness gets a bad rap by virtue of focusing on extremes, but what the mainstream doesn’t seem to grasp is that we focus on extremes to cover the whole spectrum. If you can deal with a hurricane, you can deal with a flooded kitchen. If you can deal with diarrhea in a survival situation, you know how to deal with it in everyday situations as well.
More First Aid Resources
When it comes to first aid, you need two important things to help you on your quest to keep yourself and those around you safe & healthy: knowledge and (to a lesser extent) supplies. To tackle the prior, take a look through our list of the top 22 emergency & survival first aid books and grab those that you think will best help you gain the knowledge you’ll need. For the latter, take a look at our Ultimate First Aid Supplies List to see if there’s anything you should be adding to your at-home first aid supplies stockpile, or if there’s something you’ve forgotten to add to one of your first aid kits.
Do you know how to tell if a cut is infected, whether to use Advil, Tylenol, or Aspirin, and how to quickly assess and address emergency situations? Did you know you can superglue cuts?
Have some time? You can quickly browse through all our first aid articles here, to see if there’s anything valuable you’ve yet to learn on the topics we’ve written about.
I like the easily-overlooked/common sense aspect of prepping vs. diarrhea. I haven’t looked yet to see if you also list carrying a (DIY?) electrolite packet to help restore someone who didn’t get their immodium in time. If you’re already on that, great, but that could be a life-saver and it’s an easy to make, light weight item to add to a kit–pretty much just sugar and salt:
https://www.food.com/recipe/oral-rehydration-salts-230966
We traveled remotely often-as in holes in the ground poopers and no medics nearby. We learned the hard way to let it run at least 12 hours before application. If you have injested parasites or toxins, your chances are high you will poop them out. We had one in our group apply too soon. He was the only one with a parasite on our return to good water sources. If you are running for your life, I get the application. If you had bad chicken, slow it down with pink and then plug it with white after 24 hours. This is also why certain remote locations serve extra spicy food, it helps the body move stuff out faster.
I agree your experience may vary, but it is a word to those who are new to the game.
Good advice JaBow- much appreciated.
Hi.I live in Zimbabwe Imodium and Valoid(anti nausea prep) are staples in our lives.I had to resort to imodium for a bad stomach due to our water,the only problem was it also stopped my bladder working!No problem,just keep a few sachets of cites soda on hand.I think us Zimbabweans could teach you a few tricks on survival,at the moment we only have water in Bulawayo(2nd largest city)four day us a week and electricity is very erratic.
Thanks for sharing Margaret, your enviroment sounds rough- I am sure you have more than a few stories to share! I have no doubt that you could teach us (spoilt westerners ;) ) a few things about what a disaster is really like.
Take some activated charcoal…….
Activated charcoal is fine to settle your stomach but for extreme cases and especially SHTF (literally) situations, I prefer the guarantee that imodium provides.
All good thoughts but how about constipation in an emergency? This can be painful after 3 plus days. X-lax?
X-Lax or even just mineral oil are valid options.
Good idea! When SHTF, better for the S to be solid than liquid.
My thoughts exactly!
My Wife has had IBS for about 30 years. It was in remission for about 20 years and then returned with a vengeance.I do not think think we could have survived without Imodium A-D.or an otc equivalent Ron.
IBS is truly grim. One of our friends has Crohns and the struggle is painful. I have nothing but love for people who suffer from Gastro issues- really one of the worst things humans have to deal with.
Thanks for sharing Ron.
I read through most and did not see any comments about Dysentery this kills more people than the larger named diseases if you are in a shtf kind of day. Then preventing dehydration can be a very important task…
If one were ill with food poisoning or something similar, wouldn’t immodium be a bad idea? Yes, diarrhea is dehydrating, but if you have access to drinking water, would it be better to “let it go”?
In an ideal world, you should always let nature run its course. Your body is trying to detox for a reason! But in an emergency situation where I can’t be caught with my pants down (figuratively) then a choice will have to be made & thats for everyone to decide for themselves.
While I don’t refute the survival benefits of Immodium, Pepto Bismol or other “pink bismuth” medications can be equally effective in slowing down the gi system, but it only lasts about 24 hours. Plus it can relieve heartburn that Immodium cannot. Just a thought
I always have Pepto Bismol in my kit, definitely great option, especially for regular use for those with digestive issues (my grandparents-in-law wouldn’t be able to live without it I think!).
Thanks for dropping by Rogue!
I was in Hospital, in I good sized city, with many great Hospitals. I don’t remember exactly why I was in Hospital, possibly a UTI. Any way I got Diaherria very, very bad. Put on Imodium no results. My wife went & got some Pepto Bismol bam in a couple oh Hrs. started getting better. Was discharged in a couple of Hrs. Still had to take Pepto till next day & all BETTER.
In otherwise healthy individuals, diarrhea isn’t always a bad thing. After the ingestion of bad food or some infective organisms, the body’s first response is to induce vomiting if the substances are still in the stomach but once past the stomach, diarrhea is often the reaction to speed up expulsion of the offending substances. By shutting down the diarrhea immediately, you effectively keep the organisms in the GI tract longer. A day or two of diarrhea serves a healthy purpose. After 3 days it likely requires some attention.
Diarrhea is definitely not a bad thing, your body responds a certain way just for a reason. The article wasn’t for general consumption but for survival in an emergency situation like bugging out.
Personally, I would lock my GI tract down until I was somewhere safe & I could deal with whatever happens. Thats my personal opinion though- if I was on the run, diarrhea would not be an option for me.
Excellent article highlighting what some “first timers” will never even considerd.
Thanks for the compliment. I am glad it started a discussion at the very least!
Does it work after eating Taco Belle or a Serious Vindaloo Curry?
To be honest, never had an issue with Curry (personally) but it definitely works. ;)
Great little article, spot on!
Thanks Lee, glad you like it!
Under the heading of paper goods for various wiping projects, have you considered paper towels?
When the roll of paper towels in the kitchen gets down to about a third remaining, I change out the roll. Squash the smaller roll flat and cut in half. I’ve got these smaller rolls stashed in all my camping gear.
I suppose if you really wanted to reduce bulk you could tease out the cardboard tube in the center of the roll, just saying, haven’t done it.
When it comes time I’ve got something that needs wiped, I don’t need a handful of paper “fluff”!
I hope it doesn’t come to this for any of us but paper towels can be used to make a absorbent bandage that will serve well. And when the time comes to change the dressing, few fibers are left behind.
In theory, if you really wanted to be frugal, the section of towel you blew your nose on could later be used to wipe your backside. Just remember the order of use.
Hi, take wet ones/baby wipes instead. Can be used a face freshener or handwipes. Then put in another bag for later use as toilet paper or fire lighters when dry.
Some great advice there! Definitely a good idea to remember the order- spat out some beer when reading that! Lol.
Thanks for sharing moldie ;)
Reading this article makes me think that I should carry some toilet paper with me as well as everything else. The list just keeps growing
I always have some kleenex in my back pocket just in case, nothing worst than needing to use a public restroom & finding that there is no toilet paper.
When I travel, I always carry a roll of tp with me – pull out the cardboard and it fits nicely in a sandwich sized ziplop baggie. This was a wise precaution for many hotels in Russia, Italy, and the Balkans. When long distance trekking, I do likewise even if it’s not the best solution in terms of weight or disposal. And yes, Imodium has been part of my pocket first aid kit for over a decade.
Nice tip Peter, never thought to EDC toilet paper with me! For travelling though- definitely a good idea.
Thanks Thomas, I know that this is an overlooked prep. I was just making my EDC trauma kit for the go bag and need to put some of the tabs in there for this issue. In the mean time I will enjoy a Havana wrapper Nub stogie tonight!
I have looked at those Nub cigars, how well does a 60 gauge cigar burn? Would you say you get a solid 1hr of smoking out of them? Always seemed to me like a gimmick but then again I haven’t tried them so what do I know!
Thanks for commenting Robert.
There are times when diarrhea is beneficial. You don’t always benefit by stopping it. In fact under some conditions diarrhea is what saves you from worse problems. Take a look at this article: http://www.thesurvivalistblog.net/survival-diarrhea/ Imodium can be very useful under the right conditions but it is not always the best first thing to do.
Of course under ideal situations one would let the body deal with diarrhea naturally- this article is written in the context of being in a crisis situation and needing to deal with it pronto- the risks of using Imodium are negligible but at the end of the day- its a judgement call we will all have to make in such a situation. You can’t switch to a BRAT diet when on the run in less than ideal situations- sometimes life hands you a shitty (heh) card and you simply have to make do.
Naturally, if I was bugging in, my approach would be different.
After reading the linked article and the Wikipedia page for Loperamide, I think it is no good idea to pop in Imodium after eating bad food with germs. Especially in the descripted non SHTF-situation out with family and friends at KFC/Taco Bells.
But your mileage may vary.
Many people with various medical conditions pop loperamide on a daily basis (look at crohn’s disease, IBS amongst others)- whilst its always better to let your body handle its business (so to speak) naturally, sometimes, at your discretion- you can take steps to deal with it pre-emptively. I know I won’t fly without popping an Imodium before take off. But thats my choice and as you said, your mileage may vary.
At the end of the day, we are all accountable for our own decisions (for better or worst), should an emergency strike- we will have to deal with it in the way we see fit.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts Thomas, hope you stick around!
Absolutely excellent advice diarrhea can ruin a day or night very rapidly carrying just a few imodium pills can make all the difference in the world thank you very much for pointing this alt details will save your life
Thanks for dropping by Bruce!
Be very careful about using Imodium! There is a reason your body is trying to quickly evacuate the contents of your bowels and keeping that poison in your body can cause WORSE problems than the runs. I agree that dehydration can be life-threatening, but in my humble opinion Imodium should be used carefully. FYI, I took Imodium once after having loose bowel movements and feeling really lousy. The resulting two days of cramping, fever and chills resulted in a visit to the ER, where they promptly gave me a laxative and advised me to never take Imodium when my body is trying to get rid of the “germs” or whatever was ailing me…
Always follows your doctors advice (naturally) but at the same time, when in a crisis situation you will have to make a judgement call and taking a time out to switch to a BRAT diet & letting your body deal with it naturally might not be an option (sadly). I rarely take medication as I don’t like the idea of building resistance to it (same with antibiotics) however I won’t shy from Imodium in a high stress situation, especially in one where I don’t have the opportunity to replenish electrolytes & need to keep moving.
If I could plan for expected diarrhea within a set time frame (wouldn’t that be nice) I would prefer pre-emptive Bismuth Subsalicylate (Pepto Bismol) & a BRAT diet but planning for the best case scenario isn’t what we are talking here!
My two cents, at the end of the day, we are all responsible for our own well being. Take care & thanks for sharing your experiences!
You beat me to my comment.
Great information as always.
Thanks David!
If you carry medicines as an EDC how important becomes the shelf life if you take the temperature variations because of this in account?
Good question Flip! Honestly, its in a sealed container in my pocket all the time, I don’t over think the shelf life but I do cycle through my medicine (oldest first) when I have to use it. I think switching out the Imodium once every 2-3 years would be a solid option.
One of these days I will scribble down an article on the shelf life of common OTC medicine with a nice table!
What a great article! Probably not something most of us think about until we’re in distress but following the good advice provided will sure help.
The poor old gut; once things get to rocking and rolling, it becomes more and more irritated and can take a while to calm down, all the more reason to be ready to act quickly with the Imodium.
I take pains with my camp cooking and clean up, I figure the time expended well worth it. If I have any doubts about the quality of some food I’ll just pitch it.
Nice write up Thomas, Thanks!
Yeah, its definitely not as fun to think about compared to topics like home defense or bushcraft knife options but its definitely an important subject. Thanks for dropping by!
I’m a paramedic who works nights trust me when I say I always carry Imodium and ASA always with me .
The first time I needed it I of course did not have any and as I drop of my patient at the ER I asked the nurse if I could get some there and they did not carry any…
Lessen learned !!
I now carry a small pharmacy in case at all times. …
Do you carry this small pharmacy on your person or in a dedicated bag/pouch?
In my personal bag, it is not to give to patient only for self medication in a emergency there are not a lot of bathrooms available on the night shift…
How often do you use Imodium? Have you ever experienced negative side effects or an increase in drug tolerance? Being a paramedic is a brutal job/calling. My hat goes off to you.
The first time I did not have it the second and last time I needed it it was great solved the problem and no side effects. I only use it in desperate condition . If I am home there is no problem there’s a bathroom nearby !
And will let it take its course .
Little known fact about Loperamide, it is the OTC version of Lomotil and both are morphine derivitives. In an extended survival scenario, extraction of the morphine alkali is possible to produce a mild painkiller to treat moderate injuries. Loperamide is also effective in alleviating symptoms of opiod withdrawal to a certain degree if you happen to be treating a patient with such an affliction in the field. However, there are considerable risks in disrupting bowel function and therefore these suggestions are only applicable in post SHTF situations where no other FDA recommended drugs are available. Should also be noted I am a chemist, not a doctor, and this advice is intended applicable only for a hypothetical societal collapse scenario.