2021 AM Posters-Loperamide A Cheap and Easy High

Loperamide A Cheap and Easy High - 1

Pdf Summary

Loperamide, an antidiarrheal medication available over the counter, is being misused and abused as a cheap and easily accessible way to get high. Compared to other opioids, loperamide has minimal central nervous system effects at therapeutic doses, making it an ideal antidiarrheal agent. However, at high doses, it can induce a euphoric effect and is being used to offset withdrawal symptoms. There has been a significant increase in non-medical use of loperamide, and it poses significant neurological and cardiovascular health risks.<br /><br />A case is presented of a woman who used loperamide at high doses to target her depression after failing multiple antidepressant drug regimens. She developed tolerance over time and increased her dosage to 100 times the maximum therapeutic level. This led to withdrawal symptoms when she stopped taking the drug. The misuse of loperamide has been documented in several case reports, and it is often associated with intoxication and the need for medical interventions such as oxygen, naloxone, and intubation.<br /><br />To address the misuse of loperamide, health care providers should consider utilizing maintenance agonist therapy, such as Suboxone, which combines buprenorphine and naloxone. In a case presented, Suboxone was effective in curbing cravings for loperamide and mitigating the associated health risks. Increased awareness of maintenance agonist therapy is crucial in addressing loperamide misuse.<br /><br />In conclusion, loperamide misuse is on the rise due to its easy accessibility, low cost, and inability to be detected on standard drug screens. It poses significant health risks and requires interventions such as maintenance agonist therapy for long-term solutions. Health care providers should be aware of the misuse of loperamide and consider appropriate interventions for affected individuals.

Keywords

Loperamide

misuse

abuse

opioids

withdrawal symptoms

neurological health risks

cardiovascular health risks

depression

maintenance agonist therapy

Suboxone

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