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Latest Drug Scare: Loperamide (Imodium)

posted by martyb on Wednesday May 04 2016, @04:27PM   Printer-friendly
from the Antidiarrheal-overdose?-Oh,-crap! dept.

takyon writes:

NPR is reporting on the latest drug scare, involving an over-the-counter antidiarrheal drug that is being used for its opioid-like effects by addicts:

Some people addicted to oxycodone and other opioids are now turning to widely available diarrhea medications to manage their withdrawal symptoms or get high. The results can be dangerous to the heart — and sometimes fatal — warn toxicologists in a study [open, DOI: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2016.03.047] recently published online in the Annals of Emergency Medicine.

The researchers describe two case studies where people who were addicted to opioids tried to ease their withdrawal symptoms by taking many times the recommended dose of loperamide, a drug commonly used treat diarrhea. Both patients died.

"Because of its low cost, ease of accessibility and legal status, it's a drug that is very, very ripe for abuse," says lead author William Eggleston, a doctor of pharmacy and fellow in clinical toxicology at the Upstate New York Poison Center, which is affiliated with SUNY Upstate Medical University.

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Original Submission

 
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  • (Score: 3, Insightful) by jdavidb on Wednesday May 04 2016, @05:00PM

    by jdavidb (5690) on Wednesday May 04 2016, @05:00PM (#341544) Homepage Journal

    So soon when I desperately need imodium at 1:30 A.M. at Wal-Mart because of "digestive issues," I won't be able to obtain it and will have to wait until regular business hours when the pharmacy opens. Just like sudafed. Thanks, statism, for always spreading fear [youtube.com].

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  • (Score: 3, Funny) by Runaway1956 on Wednesday May 04 2016, @05:04PM

    by Runaway1956 (2926) Subscriber Badge on Wednesday May 04 2016, @05:04PM (#341546) Journal

    Like you, I'm grateful to our masters for showing me something else to be afraid of. The Ruling Class is so helpful, I don't know how we would survive without them. /sarcasm

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  • (Score: 3, Funny) by Nerdfest on Wednesday May 04 2016, @05:15PM

    by Nerdfest (80) on Wednesday May 04 2016, @05:15PM (#341553)

    I'd say the people abusing this drug should be sorry for that happening, but I'm pretty sure they don't give a shit.

    • (Score: 2) by jdavidb on Wednesday May 04 2016, @05:19PM

      by jdavidb (5690) on Wednesday May 04 2016, @05:19PM (#341556) Homepage Journal
      I don't blame them. People have the right to do whatever nonsensical thing with drugs that they want to do. I blame the people who want to club everybody to try to save people who are virtually unsaveable.
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    • (Score: 1) by jdavidb on Wednesday May 04 2016, @07:57PM

      by jdavidb (5690) on Wednesday May 04 2016, @07:57PM (#341667) Homepage Journal
      Didn't get the joke till you got modded funny. :)
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