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Loperamide Dependency: A Case Report.

Mehran Zarghami1, Maryam Rezapour2

  • 1Professor, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine AND Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Addiction Institute, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.

Addiction & Health
|October 14, 2017
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

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High doses of loperamide, an over-the-counter antidiarrheal, pose risks for fatal cardiac arrhythmias, even in individuals with a history of opioid abuse. Careful monitoring is crucial for patients taking large amounts of this medication.

Area of Science:

  • Pharmacology
  • Cardiology
  • Toxicology

Background:

  • Loperamide is an over-the-counter antidiarrheal medication.
  • It is generally considered to have low abuse potential and does not cross the blood-brain barrier.
  • However, high doses can lead to dangerous cardiac arrhythmias.

Observation:

  • A case report details a 35-year-old male with a 13-year history of opioid abuse.
  • The patient underwent detoxification after daily use of 200 mg loperamide, along with other medications.
  • No cardiac arrhythmias were observed in this specific patient during detoxification.

Findings:

  • Despite the absence of arrhythmia in this case, the study highlights the inherent danger of high-dose loperamide use.
  • Tolerating substantial amounts of loperamide significantly elevates the risk of potentially fatal cardiac arrhythmias.
Keywords:
AddictionCardiac arrhythmiaLoperamide

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Implications:

  • This case underscores the critical need for awareness regarding the cardiac risks associated with loperamide abuse.
  • Healthcare providers should be vigilant about high-dose loperamide consumption, especially in patients with a history of substance abuse.
  • Further research may be warranted to fully elucidate the mechanisms and prevalence of loperamide-induced cardiotoxicity.