HealthDay News reports that many addicts are now turning to the diarrhea drug Imodium for a high because they cannot get access to their painkillers of choice, opioids such as Oxycontin and Vicodin.
The key ingredient of Imodium is loperamide, and according to HealthDay News, people are overdosing on loperamide with sometimes deadly consequences.
“Loperamide is . . . extremely dangerous in high doses,” says William Eggleston in a news release from the Annals of Emergency Medicine.
Between 2010 and 2011, there was a 10-fold increase in web forum postings about oral loperamide abuse. While most users were attempting to self-treat a withdrawal from Oxycontin or Vicodin, most users were simply trying to get high. A lot of them are dying.
It’s a dangerous situation. The drug is easily accessible, cheap, and available to anyone over the counter. Plus, immodium has no social stigma attached to it– yet.
Parents need to be aware of the increasing problem.
“This is another reminder that all drugs, including those sold without a prescription, can be dangerous when not used as directed,” Eggleston said.
