Citation

Stanciu CN, Gnanasegaram SA. J. Psychoactive Drugs 2017; 49(1): 18-21.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, Haight-Ashbury Publications in association with the Haight-Ashbury Free Medical Clinic)

DOI

10.1080/02791072.2016.1260188

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Loperamide is widely available as an inexpensive, over-the-counter remedy commonly used for management of diarrhea. Although an opioid, at therapeutic doses it acts primarily on the gastrointestinal tissues; however, larger than recommended amounts facilitate central nervous system (CNS) penetration. Such high doses of loperamide have recently gained popularity among users of opioids to manage withdrawal symptomatology and, less frequently, to achieve psychoactive effects. Chronic loperamide use can result in development of tolerance and, upon abrupt cessation of use, withdrawal. With increasing prevalence of use, side-effects are noted, one particularly being life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias. Users are often not forthcoming and routine drug screens do not detect loperamide, so providers need to be alert to such practices in order to recognize intoxication, be able to screen for use, and facilitate entry into treatment.

Language: en