Opioid as codeine, has similarly demonstrated little benefit in several recent studies.) Low dose morphine may help chronic cough but its use is limited by side effects. In cases of diarrhea-predominate irritable bowel syndrome, opioids may be used to suppress diarrhea. Loperamide is a peripherally selective opioid available without a prescription used to suppress diarrhea. The ability to suppress diarrhea also produces constipation when opioids are used beyond several weeks. Naloxegol, a peripherally-selective opioid antagonist is now available to treat opioid induced constipation. Opioids may help with shortness of breath particularly in advanced diseases such as cancer and COPD among others.
Loperamide 2-mg tablets was added to WHO Model List of Essential Medicines. It is sold as a generic medication and is not very expensive. The wholesale cost in the developing world is about US$0.004 to 0.040 a dose. In August 2016, the US retail cost is about US$0.31 per dose. In 2016, Imodium was one of the biggest-selling branded over-the-counter medications sold in Great Britain, with sales of £32.7 million. Loperamide was originally marketed as Imodium, and many generic brands are sold. Loperamide has typically been deemed to have a relatively low risk of misuse. In 2012, no reports of loperamide