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Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Opioids as Antidiarrheal Agents

Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Opioids as Antidiarrheal Agents

Diarrhea, a condition marked by frequent loose or watery bowel movements, can be triggered by multiple factors such as viral or bacterial infections, food intolerances, anxiety, medications, and digestive disorders. Symptoms may include abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, and cramping. Severe or prolonged diarrhea can lead to complications like electrolyte imbalances, malnutrition, and dehydration if left untreated.
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Drugs for Treatment of Constipation-Predominant IBS

Drugs for Treatment of Constipation-Predominant IBS

Pharmacological therapies for IBS-C are designed to alleviate abdominal discomfort and enhance bowel function. In patients with IBS-C, fiber supplements may help soften stools and decrease straining, but may also lead to increased gas production and bloating. Osmotic laxatives like milk of magnesia are frequently used to soften stools and increase stool frequency in IBS-C patients. In addition, two drugs approved for use in severe IBS-C adult cases are linaclotide (Linzess) and lubiprostone...

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Drugs for Treatment of Diarrhea-Predominant IBS

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Osmotic or saline laxatives, like magnesium hydroxide or milk of...

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Related Experiment Videos

Loperamide Abuse and Its Sequelae.

Lauren Strzyzewski¹, Phillip Key, Prentiss Jones

¹From the Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine, Department of Pathology, Kalamazoo, MI.

The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology

|August 16, 2020

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Loperamide overdose can mimic opioid overdose, leading to cardiac arrest and death. This case highlights the risks of high-dose loperamide use for symptom relief.

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Area of Science:

Pharmacology
Toxicology
Gastroenterology

Background:

Loperamide, an over-the-counter opioid, acts as a μ-agonist in the enteric nervous system to reduce intestinal motility.
Its peripheral action makes it valuable for managing inflammatory bowel disease symptoms.

Observation:

A 42-year-old male presented in cardiac arrest after reportedly consuming large amounts of loperamide.
Symptoms suggested opioid overdose, with improvement after naloxone administration.
ECG showed a prolonged QTc interval, progressing to Torsades de Pointes.

Findings:

The patient died from hypoxic brain injury, with autopsy revealing acute pancreatitis.
Blood samples confirmed loperamide and its metabolite, desmethylloperamide.
Death was attributed to loperamide toxicity.

Implications:

Loperamide abuse is uncommon due to limited central nervous system effects at therapeutic doses.
This case illustrates that loperamide overdose can occur, presenting similarly to opioid overdose.
High-dose loperamide can cause severe cardiac events and mortality.