If I take more than 2 I experience severe constipation. Unless I am having an active explosive diarrhea, I only take one in any 6 hours.

My doc says wrote my script for 2-3 per day. I take one at 4pm and one before bed. It does the trick.

I currently take  3 per day (breakfast, dinner, bedtime).  

My GI doc wants me to get to 2 per day.

Every time I  attempt 2 per day I get watery and burning stools.

my pouch takes a little extra time to empty during my first BM of the day, but the rest of the day I have ok BMs and pouch fully empties .

after months and months of trial and error my magic number is 3 per day.

Everyones motility is different, so too much Imodium is the amount that would cause an uncomfortable constipation situation. My understanding it is safe on a long term basis for us pouchers. It has given me a very decent QOL.

My gi doctor and nurses have all said that it's safe to take up to 8 Imodium per day. With my loop ileostomy, I was taking 5/day and still never got to applesauce consistency consistently, but I was afraid to take more and slow things too much. This week i left the hospital after my takedown with a script to take 2 Imodium every 6 hours. While you only want to take as much as you need, taking up to 8/day is safe, according to multiple gi doctors.

8 sounds like a lot….

8 is a lot. You don't want to start at 8, for sure. But if you need one more than whatever you're taking, you don't have to fear kidney shutdown or some such until you *gradually* get to 7 or 8. Obviously your own gi can offer you the best advice for you.

Ooo...I just reread your original question, and I didn't quite answer what you were asking. I have taken 8/day without issue, but I've never taken 3 at a time. I would feel comfortable doing it once in a while, like you describe, but I would ask my doctor before I would take three at once too often.

I have been on 8 immodium per day, 2 with each meal and before bed, for 15 years.  I have about 6 BMs per day.  Pouchitis maybe 1 per year.  Taking Entyvio also for 3+ years.  I hate to think of the Entyvio the rest of my life but have been told if you stop, the UC or Cronhs gets worse.  Any info out there for me ?  I would like to try the Metamusil.  Should my trial period be a week or more for my body to get used to it or ?   Any info you can give me would be appreciated.

@De posted:

I have been on 8 immodium per day, 2 with each meal and before bed, for 15 years.  I have about 6 BMs per day.  Pouchitis maybe 1 per year.  Taking Entyvio also for 3+ years.  I hate to think of the Entyvio the rest of my life but have been told if you stop, the UC or Cronhs gets worse.  Any info out there for me ?  I would like to try the Metamusil.  Should my trial period be a week or more for my body to get used to it or ?   Any info you can give me would be appreciated.

A week is likely to be plenty of time to dee if psyllium (Metamucil) is working for you at all. It might take longer to find the ideal dose/frequency.

My surgeon told me not to use the metamucil in the first two weeks post-op, because it "could make things worse." Then he had me start 1tsp/day starting at two weeks post-op. He told me that it could be weeks before my body got used to the psyllium husk. I have an active intestine like you, De. I noticed a difference immediately. My next poops afterwards are more gelled. He warned about not stopping it just because of some uncomfortable bloating. But I don't notice the bloating as much as I notice that I have less of that constant feeling that I have to go to the bathroom. I am only 4 weeks post takedown, though, so everything is very new and raw for me. He said we can increase husk as I get used to it. If it can reduce my Imodium use, I would prefer it. YMMV.