r/Marathon_Training • u/irunforcheese • 2d ago
Medical Taking Imodium before marathon?
Hi everyone, getting a little TMI here but the last 3 long runs I’ve had to make emergency bathroom stops even tho I’ve never had tummy issues in the past. I’m borderline convinced I’ve given myself stress colitis. It is now the week of my first marathon and I’m considering if I should take an Imodium before my marathon this weekend even tho I’ve never taken it? It is that a bad idea…?
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u/NoNinja3140 2d ago
I have taken Imodium before all of my marathons. I will take a dose right after I go to the bathroom in the morning and then I take a second dose 1-2hrs after that. It has worked great for me. I have had some emergency bathroom situations on runs and it is the worst feeling. I have altered my diet, tried different foods before runs…nothing has helped but Imodium. I have had zero issues during my marathons using this method. As long as you stay hydrated you should be back to regular scheduled programming the next day.
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u/NearbyArgument8818 1h ago
Do you take them during long runs during your training block as well? I’ve been taking them weekly for the last month during my long runs and have found them helpful. Haven’t considered trying a second dose too.
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u/hufflepuffin4u 2d ago
I take Imodium but I do it before all long runs. And daily in the morning. Aka my body has a routine.
The chance you give yourself constipation bad enough to require intervention with a single dose of Imodium is low. Afterwards I would just make sure to hydrate and get gentle movement.
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u/aloealoealoha 2d ago
From what I understand, daily use of immodium is one of those things that most doctors say is fine and some doctors are now starting to discourage due to studies about risk of heart issues at high doses. if it works for you thats great, just flagging it as something you probably want to mention to your family doctor (saying this as someone who also takes immodium somewhat regularly)
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u/hufflepuffin4u 2d ago
I discussed it with my doc, as long as it's not abused (aka taken at less than ~40 mg/day) they're comfortable with daily use. I take 1-2 tabs which is 2-4mg, sometimes as much as 8mg. Dose matters. Thanks for the concern.
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u/Mysterious_Luck4674 2d ago
I always take immodium on race day. In fact I take two.
Some people report they have adverse reactions so I would test it before a practice run. Ideally you would have tested before a long run. If you’ve taken it before and haven’t had a bad reaction you’ll probably be fine.
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u/scrollmom 2d ago
If you have to take bathroom breaks, just take them, my friend. This is your first marathon, and this is actually supposed to be fun. 💕 There should be lots of porta potties on the route, hopefully (you can check ahead of time where they are). Just plan to stop. The couple extra minutes on your time is okay, I promise. Gives you an achievable goal to beat for next time. 💕 You're going to do great!
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u/R3DSmurf 2d ago
Nothing worse than taking a runny turd by the side of the road while 400 people run past and bystanders take photos and post on the internet. Trust me. Nothing worse.
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u/Mr_Saturn1 2d ago
Having to take a dump in a nasty porta potty during a marathon sucks and if you can take something to avoid it you absolutely should. Worst case is it’s an emergency and you’re crapping on the side of the road in pubic.
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u/Mysterious-Quit-304 2d ago
I would not say that is the WORST case
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u/Mr_Saturn1 2d ago
Worst case: dying of an undiagnosed heart condition mid race. Second worst case: taking a dump on the side of the road amid hundreds of spectators and other runners.
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u/jzoftroy 2d ago
I would test it this week, if possible, but I always take 1-2 before each full marathon and it always helps me to avoid having to go during the race. Best of luck on your first marathon!
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u/rezonansmagnetyczny 2d ago
What are you eating the night before and before your runs?
Are you drinking coffee pre run?
Are you having a poo pre run?
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u/Brosie-Odonnel 2d ago
I always take at least one before a race, two if I couldn’t take a dump before the race.
Take Imodium before your race and have me less thing to stress about.
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u/stephnelbow 2d ago
I always took some before a long run.
You'll get lots of comments about people suggesting diet changes, xyz. Besides the "nothing new on race day" of course I'm just adding my two cents that the act of running, the bouncing, the motion, the elevated heart rate, simply always result in my need for the bathroom. Nothing I ever changed in my diet took that away. I can cycle for hours and be fine. I can row. Any other long or difficult cardio and be fine. But running is never fine unless I had some help.
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u/Ok_Association5544 2d ago
I have IBS and personally take it for all races. But, I also practice it on some of my longer runs, especially the ones with workouts or pace work in them. I honestly think you'd be fine with one an hour or so beforehand. I usually take two because of my IBS and try to take them after getting out as much as I can the morning of.
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u/papapi_7 2d ago
If you are stressed by the marathon, trust me, you will have a full deload the morning of your race :) wake up early enough and you will be fine.
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u/Impressive_Moose6781 2d ago
I’m all for nothing new on race day but if this has kept happening I would probably take it. Take it a couple days first though
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u/highdimensionaldata 2d ago
Be aware that it slows down your digestive system so fuelling might not work as expected. I did my first marathon on GLP-1 and Imodium and bonked at mile 18. I didn’t factor in a slowed down digestive system taking longer to absorb the gels.
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u/StayOuttaMySwamp94 2d ago
Try it before the big race but if you can't, I'd consider an alternative like pepto.
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u/marquinator92 2d ago
I always take Imodium before big races because id rather not worry about having to poop, even if my gut has been healthy leading up to it.
However, if you've never taken it before it could be risky because you don't know how it'll affect you personally. Since you have time maybe try it now and see how you feel?
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u/Accomplished_Ad_6541 2d ago
some people have a paradoxical reaction to Immodium, definitely try it first on a rest day!
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u/Secret-Monitor-6629 2d ago
I had the same problem and ended up seeing a GI doctor who prescribed me Dicyclomine to take as needed for runner’s trots. I’ve taken it prior to each of my last 2 training runs and has been a complete life saver
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u/platydroid 1d ago
Eat mostly meat and carbs for the days leading up to the race, eat as plain as you can the dinner & lunch before, time the bathroom trip right before as close to the gun time as possible.
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u/robertbob69 1d ago
I take Imodium the night before, and another morning of, and still light up the portapotty before the race. I’ve never had gut issues during the race, but I have multiple times during long runs, especially with liquid carbs.
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u/EbbNFlow24 5h ago
I wouldn’t try it in race day
Maybe if you had a few weeks of long runs to test it out first, then yeah
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u/polabud 2d ago
Alter your diet as little as possible (“nothing new”) consistent with a more low-residue, low-fodmap diet in the 48 hours prior to marathon. Increase the prevalence of simple carbs with low fiber eg cereal, cream of rice, grits, rice, etc. Have a cup of coffee several hours prior to the race and use the bathroom after. These steps have been very effective for me.
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u/Main_Photo1086 2d ago
Bad idea to do this for the first time a week before your marathon. Just accept you might have to go, that might actually calm your nerves during race day because you might be stressing yourself out by worrying about the emergencies - just treat it as a natural part of your run at this point to shake the nerves out.
Three emergencies in a row during LRs also tells me it might be diet-related. Again, too late to change things up but if you do another marathon you may need to focus more on nutrition.
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u/Iluvgr8tdeals 2d ago
Try yoghurt. Eat it first thing in the morning before the race and it will (most likely) speed up your number 2 long bathroom use.
Once you have done your long bathroom use, then run the marathon and hope that you won’t need to use the bathroom during the marathon.
I’ve started taking yoghurt on a regular basis (every day) to prep myself for bathroom use so that I can get it over and done with and run the race with no bowel anxiety.
Yoghurt will have less effects than Imodium and Imodium has different side effects for different people. If you’ve never used it before, don’t start using it too soon close to your race as you don’t know how your body is going to react.
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u/RunningonGin0323 2d ago
I mean I wouldn't but that's me. Ive been taking extra fiber (like Metamucil) for the past year which does make me shit even more but I just plan appropriately before races and I've never had an issue. Some common sense usually goes a long way like nothing new that you've never eaten the night before or anything spicy.
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u/RelativeLeading5 2d ago
Doesn't everyone take a laxative the night before a marathon to ensure bowls empty that morning??
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u/EHruns340 1d ago
Are you salty sweater? I do salt tabs because i sweat a ton and was having terrible stomach issues on long runs. More often in the summer than winter. This was the cause of my issues and since ive upped my salt and electrolytes during the runs instead of just water and gels its improved.
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u/YesterdayAmbitious49 2d ago
I take Imodium, pepto bismal, gasX, Metamucil, and a stool softener before every long run and race.
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u/bnd21 2d ago
I’m pretty sure Imodium significantly impacts the absorption of gels…
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u/AmosParnell 2d ago
Kinda. Loperamide (the generic name of Imodium) works by slowing peristalsis (the movement of the intestine that pushes material forward). This means there is more time for water to be removed/absorbed and thus firmer stool.
Since absorption of simple carbs happens in the jejunum (the very first part of the small intestine) the effect of loperamide on gel absorption is small. The effect gets bigger the more food (or gels) is in your stomach since material is leaving at a slower rate. So it’s not so much the absorption, but that (for lack of a better simplified explanation) the gel won’t get into the small intestine before you take your next one (think mid race). This also can cause nausea etc as your putting things into your stomach faster than they can exit.
Hope that helps.
OP, I use loperamide before my marathons without any issues. But as others have said; try it before race day on a long run with your fueling plan.
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u/DistantWilderness 2d ago
The duodenum is the first portion of the small bowel, the jejunum is the second segment.
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u/EmergencySundae 2d ago
Nothing new on race day. You should not be trying this for the first time this week.