Immodium shut me down in that my pouch just quit performing. I could not pass stool. There were literally no spasms to tell me I had to go. I would try to go, bit it would have involved massive straining and I know that is not good. I already have issues (pouchitis, cuffitis, possible stricture, small hernia) and knew straining would just make those things worse. I was using enemas to pass stool and even that was a challenge because of my "stricture." I put stricture in quotes because we are not sure that is what I have. It comes and goes and I hear strictures do not do that. I finally got mad and dropped the Immodium and went back on the opium as I had some left over. Once I told the doctor, she was so relieved I had kicked teh opium habit, she was more than happy to prescribe Lomotil.