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Why People Are Intentionally Overdosing on an Anti-Diarrhea Drug

PriestTheyCalledHim

PriestTheyCalledHim

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Jenna Birch said:
Why People Are Intentionally Overdosing on an Anti-Diarrhea Drug

The drug loperamide has been widey available over the counter for decades as a remedy for diarrhea, but it's been making headlines more recently for an entirely different reason: Opioid addicts are using the medication to get high or self-treat symptoms of withdrawal.

While OTC drugs are typically very safe if taken properly, misuse can result in some serious side effects-and loperamide, sold under the brand name Imodium A-D, is no different. In June 2016, the FDA warned healthcare professionals that taking loperamide in large quantities can cause major damage to the heart.

Why loperamide?
It's not uncommon for addicts to seek out alternative ways to achieve a similar high, says Edwin Salsitz, MD, assistant professor of psychiatry at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. "Opioid receptors are distributed throughout the body," he explains. When loperamide is taken correctly, it only works on the opioid receptors in the GI tract to counter diarrhea symptoms. But when the medication is taken in large quantities-around 200 milligrams, or 25 times the maximum approved daily dose-it doesn't stay strictly in the colon, and travels to other areas of the body, he says. "Users want the drug to get into the brain's receptors for that sense of euphoria."

The risks of overdosing
"The problems arising primarily have to do with the heart," says Dr. Salsitz. "Large doses of loperamide affect rhythm, leading to abnormalities that will show on an EKG. These can lead to dangerous arrythmias."

In its safety alert, the FDA warned that taking more than the dose listed on the label "can cause severe heart rhythm problems or death." And a study published in January in the Annals of Emergency Medicinedescribed two deaths from severely misusing loperamide.

Signs someone is abusing the drug

According to the FDA, loperamide misuse is occurring primarily among opioid addicts who want to avoid painful withdrawal symptoms or nab an easy high. But curious teens and young adults may be at risk as well, says Dr. Salsitz, since a quick online search reveals the OTC med can cause euphoria.

"The effect of misusing loperamide would be very similar to the effect of opioids like heroin or oxycodone," says Dr. Salsitz. "The person would appear to be intoxicated." Keep an eye out for other signs, too, like nausea, flushed skin, slurred speech, altered mental state, and a reduced ability to feel pain.

If someone you know is taking Imodium, and they experience symptoms like fainting, rapid heartbeat, irregular heartbeat, or unresponsiveness, call 9-1-1 or get them to an ER immediately.

This unfortunate trend is also a reminder to always take medications as directed by a doctor, or as indicated on the label, says Dr. Salsitz: "Even a safe drug can become toxic ... when taken in large quantities. And something about Imodium is affecting the heart rhythm in a serious way."

This article was originally published on Health.com
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Full article link: http://www.msn.com/en-us/health/hea...a-drug/ar-BBzQVcQ?li=BBnbfcL&ocid=mailsignout
 
alpha_centauri said:
Junkies have death wishes and will do ANYTHING to get high.
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What a judgmental comment. People are using Imodium because it takes the edge off withdrawal symptoms just a little. To say anyone with an opiate addict is getting high from Imodium is absurd. It drives me crazy when people say 'junkies' are always looking to get high. Anyone who's been addicted to opiates knows that once your heavily addicted you need the drugs just to feel normal and function- having enough to actually get high is a rare luxury. Your comment is offensive and indicates an intolerance and lack of understanding of addiction.
 
This is ridiculous. Most addicts only ever use immodium in desperation or during detox.
This kind of scare-mongering will only make like harder for everyone (including people using loperamide as directed).


alpha_centauri said:
Junkies have death wishes and will do ANYTHING to get high.
Click to expand...
This is a harm reduction forum and comments like this are not accurate or constructive.
Please keep such judgemental comments to yourself.
 
alpha_centauri said:
Junkies have death wishes and will do ANYTHING to get high.
Click to expand...

Alpha, at least have the courtesy to speak for yourself if this comes from personal experience. Most "junkies" as you so benevolently refer to people with addictions do not have a death wish; to the contrary, they have a wish to live pain free. Now we can all debate that wish and the manner of addressing it, but surely you can agree that every human being on earth has sought ways to minimize their pain--whether it is effective, damaging, useful, counter-productive or downright life threatening is another topic that is so complex that the entire history of human attempts to address it are still unable to agree on even the fundamentals of causation. Your very black and white assessments of the world around you lead me to think you are probably pretty hard on yourself, too. Did you or do you have an opiate addiction? Are you in recovery? How is that going?
 
Thank you for this article Priest!

I'm glad we have a bit more awareness of the potential for cadriotoxic side effects with extremely high doses loperamide use. I have taken it in super high doses to treat severe opioid use disorder before, and I could only stomach the side effect for a day or two. I can't imagine doing it regularly!
 
alpha_centauri said:
Junkies have death wishes and will do ANYTHING to get high.
Click to expand...

Including Jenkem

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Fuck. Once it hits the papers its the begining of the end. It's like an all outime rush to keep people on heroin. Cut pain med scripts make kratom illegal now immodium. So it's either methadone suboxone or whatever the D man is selling.
 
yeah, i doubt this'll get controlled or restricted.

'straight people' get the shits too.
 
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