I suffer with ibs. i have plans today that i can't miss. no symptoms today except a bit of pain, but can i take loperamide just in case it plays up?

Yes: If your manifestation of irritable bowel syndrome is diarrhea, then loperamide, or Imodium, can help control that. Clearly you would not want to take it on a regular basis without oversight by a gastroenterologist, since there are reports that it can be habit forming. If you are having frequent bouts of IBS, you may want to also see a nutritionist to see if your diet should be modified.