Misc Loperamide Question

[nonayerbiz]

I've been taking Loperamide for about 4-5 years roughly and was at a dose of up to 12 2mg pills a day until a few days ago when I started taking Lotronex (I'm a guy in a drug study program). The Loperamide use is known to both my GP and Gastroenterologist.

As of about 2 days ago I've started to get fever/chills/goosebumps and I figured it was just my body adjusting to the Lotronex and the stoppage of the Loperamide. Further reading suggests there is such a thing as Loperamide withdrawal. I'm going to call the doctor back tomorrow, but is this just in my head or is it possibly real? I never took it for a high, only to avoid the runs.

Thanks

 

[Deleted member 80237]

Well yes, there is certainly such a thing as loperamide withdrawal. It is classical opiate/opioid withdrawal. Your dose is much lower than a person would take while abusing it, which is generally when I'd expect to see them experience withdrawal. However, loperamide has a crazy long half-life, so taking it at 24mg/day for a few years might have been enough for it to build up in your body to a point that your doses were effectively higher than just what you were taking that day.

I can only advise that you taper the loperamide if the symptoms become too much. I would, unfortunately, be pretty surprised if your doctor was aware of loperamide withdrawal and honestly given the specifics of the stuff I don't know that there's anything he could do for you anyway. I guess there's always clonidine.

 

[nonayerbiz]

Thanks, for the response. I can't take both drugs at once because they are intended to work toward the same effect. This isn't too bad, I'm just getting tired of it.

 

[Deleted member 80237]

Ah, gotcha. I have heard that loperamide withdrawal can last awhile but if you're doing okay now then hopefully it won't get any worse. You would probably find clonidine helpful and assuming that you don't have low blood pressure, I can't imagine any doctor objecting to prescribing it, regardless of whether they are aware of loperamide withdrawal or not. I have always found it most useful for precisely the symptoms you complained about: the temperature disregulation and goosebumps/tingling skin as well as the restless legs and sweating. (I am speaking about withdrawal from more "traditional" opiates/-oids. I have never personally experienced loperamide withdrawal.)

Good luck!

 

[nonayerbiz]

Thanks for the advice, I appreciate it!

 

[nonayerbiz]

I went to the doctor today and he prescribed Clonidine and Ativan for a week or two after doing some quick research. I just took them about 30-40 minutes ago, so hopefully this will make it easier.