TUESDAY, Jan. 30, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Increasingly, people addicted to opioid painkillers are using dangerously high doses of the diarrhea drug Imodium (loperamide), either to get high or to help ease withdrawal.
Why is loperamide restricted?
Loperamide acts on opioid receptors in the gut to slow the movement in the intestines and decrease the number of bowel movements. It
is safe at approved doses
, but when much higher than recommended doses are taken, it can lead to serious problems, including severe heart rhythm problems and death.
Is loperamide the same as Imodium?
Imodium, also stylized as Imodium A-D, is the brand name for
loperamide
. Unlike Lomotil, Imodium can be purchased over the counter (OTC). Therefore, it's more widely available. Loperamide is a synthetic opioid that binds to opioid receptors in the intestinal wall to slow gut movement.
Who should not take loperamide?
You should not use loperamide if you have
ulcerative colitis
, bloody or tarry stools, diarrhea with a high fever, or diarrhea caused by antibiotic medication. Loperamide is safe when used as directed. TAKING TOO MUCH LOPERAMIDE CAN CAUSE SERIOUS HEART PROBLEMS OR DEATH.
Is taking loperamide bad for you?
Loperamide
may increase your risk for stomach or bowel problems
. Check with your doctor right away if you have bloating, blood in the stools, constipation, fever, loss of appetite, nausea or vomiting, or stomach pain.
Is loperamide safe to take daily?
Constipation. According to the Food and Drug Administration, Imodium slows your intestines, increasing the time between bowel movements. The
maximum recommended daily dose is 16 mg (eight capsules)
, but studies by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) show that constipation can occur in some patients even at low doses …
What are the side effects of loperamide?
Dizziness, drowsiness, tiredness, or constipation
may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, contact your doctor promptly.
Is it better to stop diarrhea or let it go?
If you suffer from acute diarrhea, it's
best to treat it straight away
. By treating diarrhea, your body can start to recover so you can feel better and get on with your day as quickly as possible.
When should you not take Imodium?
You should not use loperamide if you have
ulcerative colitis
, bloody or tarry stools, diarrhea with a high fever, or diarrhea caused by antibiotic medication. Loperamide is safe when used as directed.
What's stronger than Imodium?
Diphenoxylate
is similar to loperamide. It slows down your bowel activity to lessen the frequency of diarrhea. Diphenoxylate is an oral medication that can be taken up to four times per day. In the United States, diphenoxylate is only available by prescription, and is given in combination with a drug called atropine.
What does loperamide do to the body?
How does loperamide work? Loperamide is an
anti-motility medicine
. This means that it slows down food as it goes through your gut. Your body can then draw in more water from your intestines, so that your poos get firmer and you poo less often.
Is loperamide bad for liver?
Loperamide is synthetic opioid that primarily affects opiate receptors in the intestine and is used to treat diarrhea.
Loperamide has not been linked to serum enzyme elevations during therapy
or to clinically apparent liver injury.
Does loperamide raise blood pressure?
Loperamide is generally safe at approved doses
, but when large doses are taken, or if it is taken in conjunction with other drugs of abuse it can lead to severe heart rhythm problems (arrhythmia, slow or fast rhythms), fainting (syncope), low blood pressure, and death.
Is Imodium good for IBS?
Over-the-Counter (OTC) Medicines. Your doctor may suggest trying OTC diarrhea medicines such as bismuth subsalicylate (Kaopectate, Pepto-Bismol) and loperamide (Imodium) for relief. Researchers have found these drugs can help slow diarrhea, but
they won't help with other IBS symptoms like belly pain or swelling
.
How does loperamide affect the heart?
Higher than recommended doses of loperamide can cause serious cardiac events, including
QT interval prolongation
, Torsades de Pointes, other ventricular arrhythmias, cardiac arrest, syncope, and death. Consider loperamide as a possible cause of these unexplained cardiac events.
How long does loperamide stay in your system?
After you stop taking Imodium, it takes about 11 hours for the level of Imodium in your body to be reduced by half. After this amount of time, Imodium will have less and less of an effect on controlling your diarrhea. It typically takes
about 2 to 3 days
for the drug to be fully removed from your body.
