Biomaterial Database

Loperamide dependence and abuse. 2015

Ryan MacDonald, and Jason Heiner, and Joshua Villarreal, and Jared Strote

Department of Emergency Medicine, Madigan Army Medical Center, Tacoma, Washington, USA.

Loperamide is a common over-the-counter antidiarrheal considered safe in a broad range of dosages and thought devoid of abuse potential. We describe the first case of a patient with loperamide dependence due to misuse of its opiate-like effects achieved by chronic massive oral ingestions. A 26-year-old man who was taking 800 mg of loperamide per day presented requesting detoxification referral. Loperamide has potential for euphoric effects and information on how to facilitate such effects is easily available. It is important for physicians to be aware of the potential for misuse of and dependence on loperamide, with symptoms mimicking opiate use.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008139	Loperamide	One of the long-acting synthetic ANTIDIARRHEALS; it is not significantly absorbed from the gut, and has no effect on the adrenergic system or central nervous system, but may antagonize histamine and interfere with acetylcholine release locally.	Imodium,Loperamide Hydrochloride,Loperamide Monohydrochloride,R-18553,Hydrochloride, Loperamide,Monohydrochloride, Loperamide,R 18553,R18553
D008297	Male		Males
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328	Adult	A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available.	Adults
D000930	Antidiarrheals	Miscellaneous agents found useful in the symptomatic treatment of diarrhea. They have no effect on the agent(s) that cause diarrhea, but merely alleviate the condition.	Antidiarrheal,Antidiarrheal Agent,Antidiarrheal Drug,Antiperistaltic,Antiperistaltics,Antidiarrheal Agents,Antidiarrheal Drugs,Antiperistaltic Agents,Antiperistaltic Drugs,Agent, Antidiarrheal,Agents, Antidiarrheal,Agents, Antiperistaltic,Drug, Antidiarrheal,Drugs, Antidiarrheal,Drugs, Antiperistaltic
D017809	Fatal Outcome	Death resulting from the presence of a disease in an individual, as shown by a single case report or a limited number of patients. This should be differentiated from DEATH, the physiological cessation of life and from MORTALITY, an epidemiological or statistical concept.	Fatal Outcomes,Outcome, Fatal,Outcomes, Fatal
D019966	Substance-Related Disorders	Disorders related to substance use or abuse.	Chemical Dependence,Drug Abuse,Drug Addiction,Drug Dependence,Drug Habituation,Drug Use Disorder,Drug Use Disorders,Organic Mental Disorders, Substance-Induced,Substance Abuse,Substance Dependence,Substance Related Disorder,Substance Use,Substance Use Disorder,Substance Use Disorders,Prescription Drug Abuse,Substance Addiction,Abuse, Drug,Abuse, Prescription Drug,Abuse, Substance,Addiction, Drug,Addiction, Substance,Chemical Dependences,Dependence, Chemical,Dependence, Drug,Dependence, Substance,Dependences, Chemical,Disorder, Drug Use,Disorder, Substance Related,Disorder, Substance Use,Disorders, Substance Related,Drug Abuse, Prescription,Habituation, Drug,Organic Mental Disorders, Substance Induced,Related Disorder, Substance,Related Disorders, Substance,Substance Abuses,Substance Uses,Use, Substance