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

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.

Related:

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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.

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  • (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.
    --
    ⓋⒶ☮✝🕊 Secession is the right of all sentient beings
  • (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. :)
    --
    ⓋⒶ☮✝🕊 Secession is the right of all sentient beings