Over-the-counter opiates used to stop diarrhea and maybe withdrawal
by Chris Strosser
11/29/06
Discussion: http://www.thatspoppycock.com/phpBB...wtopic.php?t=20
Did you know that opiates can be found over-the-counter at your local drugstore? It's true, and anyone can buy them. In fact, they aren't even restricted to those under 18. Loperamide, meperidine's weird distant cousin, and the active ingredient in Imodium AD, is an opioid. Diphenoxylate, also an opioid, is the active ingredient in Lomotil, which is also used to stop diarrhea. One annoyingly persistent side effect of all opiates is constipation.
The inner workings
Opiates cause constipation by binding to receptors throughout the gastrointestinal tract. This binding causes muscles in the gastrointestinal tract to become tense. The increased muscle tension causes the normal progressive movement of food waste to stopthus, causing the infamous, unrelenting, opiate-induced constipation. Though a powerful effect is exerted on the gastrointestinal tract, loperamide and diphenoxylate do not affect the brain. Ultimately, this means no euphoric high. The powerful high is avoided because the molecules cannot cross the blood-brain barrier which works sort of like a "drug filter." Typical opiates are fat-soluble enough to cross the BBB, and bind to opioid receptors in the brain.
From controlled substance to over-the-counter wonder
When loperamide was first introduced to the public, it was classified as a Schedule V controlled substance. This was done because opiate withdrawal symptoms were present upon abrupt cessation of long-term therapy with lopermide. It was eventually downgraded to nothing more than an over-the-counter medicine. Recent studies have put forth evidence that it is possible to get the molecules across the BBB. "Drug-containing nanoparticles were coated with polysorbate 80 and injected intravenously into mice." A prolonged, as well as significant analgesic effect occurred upon injection of the coated loperamide.
As withdrawal treatment?
Loperamide may also work as an aid in detoxification. Several medical journals, as well as a countless unofficial accounts report significantly diminished withdrawal symptoms upon dosing loperamide; however, there is a lot of mixed information on this topic. It will, at the least, get rid of the gut-retching diarrhea that comes with most opiate detoxifications. It works for some, and doesn't work for others. As always, you should check with your doctor before starting any sort of withdrawal treatment.
Sources
Delivery of loperamide across the blood-brain barrier with polysorbate 80-coated polybutylcyanoacrylate nanoparticles
RxMed: Pharmaceutical Information: Imodium AD
Wikipedia - Loperamide
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Hey Donna two
This is so weird..i was just thinking about that the other day and wondering if it has ever been posted on the board...
I read it several years ago by an ex-pharmacist....he said that the diarrhea stopping medicine was originally made as a narcotic for pain...and that it was turned down by the FDA so was made into the anti diarrhea med...
He actually had a website that included taking the liquid form to help with the withdrawals, but it had to be the liquid form and in double dose of what they recommend.
In a way it makes sense cus narcotic do constipate ....( stops diarrhea)
I didnt believe it at first but when researched the drug..he was right..
it is interesting and when i was going through the worst of the withdrawals, i had the liquid form on hand just in case...
Its so weird that you posted this when you did...thanks for doing so though.
Hugs
Ali
This is so weird..i was just thinking about that the other day and wondering if it has ever been posted on the board...
I read it several years ago by an ex-pharmacist....he said that the diarrhea stopping medicine was originally made as a narcotic for pain...and that it was turned down by the FDA so was made into the anti diarrhea med...
He actually had a website that included taking the liquid form to help with the withdrawals, but it had to be the liquid form and in double dose of what they recommend.
In a way it makes sense cus narcotic do constipate ....( stops diarrhea)
I didnt believe it at first but when researched the drug..he was right..
it is interesting and when i was going through the worst of the withdrawals, i had the liquid form on hand just in case...
Its so weird that you posted this when you did...thanks for doing so though.
Hugs
Ali
That makes so much sense!
In pharmacology class the other day we were going over controlled substances again and learned the immodium used to be a class V (and still is in some places I think) and nobody could figure out why.
Oh I love learning new things!!!
In the hospital, for intractable diarrhea, they use tincture of opium. How wild is that ? It's brown and thick and makes me shudder just looking at it. *gahgghhhh* :P
In pharmacology class the other day we were going over controlled substances again and learned the immodium used to be a class V (and still is in some places I think) and nobody could figure out why.
Oh I love learning new things!!!
In the hospital, for intractable diarrhea, they use tincture of opium. How wild is that ? It's brown and thick and makes me shudder just looking at it. *gahgghhhh* :P
Sp
i think i feel some intractable diarrhea coming on ....lolol
just kidding...it really is super cool learning things like that..
Amazing that they are still teaching this is Pharmacology and yet really so few people know it...
i kid you not when i read this guy used the liquid diarrhea stuff as a narcotic to fight off his withdrawal, and then recommended it to others, I just couldnt get my brain around it...but once I did..it does make sense...
Too bad we all didnt think and research all this stuff and how it affects our bodies BEFORE we put so many pills in our mouths...
better late then never i guess...
Hugs
Ali
i think i feel some intractable diarrhea coming on ....lolol
just kidding...it really is super cool learning things like that..
Amazing that they are still teaching this is Pharmacology and yet really so few people know it...
i kid you not when i read this guy used the liquid diarrhea stuff as a narcotic to fight off his withdrawal, and then recommended it to others, I just couldnt get my brain around it...but once I did..it does make sense...
Too bad we all didnt think and research all this stuff and how it affects our bodies BEFORE we put so many pills in our mouths...
better late then never i guess...
Hugs
Ali
Im still trying to figure out what it means. Does the immodium also help with opiate withdrawal? Just what is the relation?
Donna2
the Loperamide liquid...is the ANTI DIARREAH remedy sold over the counter
( here in Canada it only comes in pill form and in liquid only by RX)
Anyway there in the U.S its sold for when you get the runs.
ORIGINALLY...it was manufactured AS A NARCOTIC pain med....
It was refused by the FDA , but because it is a narcotic, and as such makes you constipated.....they decided to turn it into an ANTI DIARRHEA med...
The relation is that narcotics makes one constipated, thus stopping runs....
Since they couldnt sell it as a NARCOTIC, they sold it as a OTC run stopper..lol
and since it really is a low grade narcotic, it could in larger doses actually help withdrawals in more then just stopping diarreah...( hear say )
Get it??
it is a bit confusing and a little hard to follow i know..lol
Have a great weekend..
Hugs
Ali
the Loperamide liquid...is the ANTI DIARREAH remedy sold over the counter
( here in Canada it only comes in pill form and in liquid only by RX)
Anyway there in the U.S its sold for when you get the runs.
ORIGINALLY...it was manufactured AS A NARCOTIC pain med....
It was refused by the FDA , but because it is a narcotic, and as such makes you constipated.....they decided to turn it into an ANTI DIARRHEA med...
The relation is that narcotics makes one constipated, thus stopping runs....
Since they couldnt sell it as a NARCOTIC, they sold it as a OTC run stopper..lol
and since it really is a low grade narcotic, it could in larger doses actually help withdrawals in more then just stopping diarreah...( hear say )
Get it??
it is a bit confusing and a little hard to follow i know..lol
Have a great weekend..
Hugs
Ali
Donna2
P.S. There is a pharmacist that has his own website and has directions as to how much Lopera....whatever its called he took to ward off his withdrawals....
So yes, some people have used it to take the edge off the withdrawals and as well i suppose to stop the runs...
A
P.S. There is a pharmacist that has his own website and has directions as to how much Lopera....whatever its called he took to ward off his withdrawals....
So yes, some people have used it to take the edge off the withdrawals and as well i suppose to stop the runs...
A
Hey Donna this is so interesting! I have read this somewhere before. Can't really remember where but I know that it has to be the real Immodium and not the generic.
I read that it will take the edge off...I think it might...I know I used it and it did seems to help in more way than one!
I read that it will take the edge off...I think it might...I know I used it and it did seems to help in more way than one!
I truly wouldn't suggest though, that anyone use this for withdrawals. To use as directed for the runs is one thing, but in large amounts to help with withdrawals (using it as a narcotic), to me would just prolong your agony...what's next then, you get addicted to that and have to start all over? Plus, in large amounts, you have no idea how dangerous it could be. I don't know if this is good information for a recovery board.....when I was getting clean, I would take any suggestion, applied or not, in order to avoid withdrawals. JMO
I have to agree Lisa! I would only use as directed. Never in huge quantities....it never even crossed my mind. I found out that it did have some opiate properties way after detoxing. Perhaps that is a very good thing...because had I known...well...I don't even want to go there. I would highly recommend Imodium for the bathroom issues and that is it!!!!. It was such a relief to not have to literally live in the bathroom.
Lisa,
I did not and would not for a second recommend Immodium for detoxing other than in helping with diarrhea. Not sure who said they found it helpful - I sure didnt. I just found it very interesting that something with opiate properties was sold over the counter but this part of the article makes it clear why:
"Though a powerful effect is exerted on the gastrointestinal tract, loperamide and diphenoxylate do not affect the brain. Ultimately, this means no euphoric high. The powerful high is avoided because the molecules cannot cross the blood-brain barrier which works sort of like a "drug filter."
I did not and would not for a second recommend Immodium for detoxing other than in helping with diarrhea. Not sure who said they found it helpful - I sure didnt. I just found it very interesting that something with opiate properties was sold over the counter but this part of the article makes it clear why:
"Though a powerful effect is exerted on the gastrointestinal tract, loperamide and diphenoxylate do not affect the brain. Ultimately, this means no euphoric high. The powerful high is avoided because the molecules cannot cross the blood-brain barrier which works sort of like a "drug filter."
