After years of opiate abuse, I started going to a Methadone clinic. This went on for six years. I ended up moving to a different state rather abruptly, where I had no access to Methadone, or any other opiate, once my small stash had run out. While browsing the Internet for ANY viable options, I found Loperamide. I know it sounds like a bunch of excuses but I had a job I needed to get to and bills to pay...I didn't have the strength or motivation to put my life on hold and kick through the absolutely intense withdrawal I was experiencing. To be honest, at that point, I was willing to try just about anything.
Now, fast forward six months later. I can't even imagine what the long term affects are of taking so much anti-diarrhea medicine, but it has definitely helped. Helped in the sense that I haven't been withdrawing, I can sleep more than four hours in a row, and I can definitely feel a certain euphoria at times. (Like when your opiates kick in and you feel warm and fuzzy and talkative...ready to conquer your own little world.) But the fact of the matter is that I'm still HEAVILY addicted to something. If I don't take it daily, I wake up that first night with the sweats and major RLS.
This has just been my experience with it. So, if you can help it, I definitely don't recommend anyone take this on. Especially because I do experience intermittent side effects, other than the obvious constipation... Specifically, vision problems (difficulty focusing) and/or difficulty getting a full, deep, satisfying breath. Has anyone else experienced these with Loperamide?
I know it seems ridiculous to some, taking 60 to 80 anti-diarrhea pills...like downing a bottle of Robitussin to trip. But this is coming from someone who was on the needle for years with pills, heroin, then Methadone...
Loperamide has become just as much a prison than any other opiate I've been addicted to.