4 Things to Know About the Dangers of Imodium Abuse

Table of Contents

1. Imodium for an Opiate High
2. Slows Down the Body’s Responses
3. Getting Away Cheap With Imodium
4. Imodium for Opiate Withdrawal
5. Summary

Even though Imodium is a common over-the-counter medicine, Imodium abuse is becoming increasingly common. With the current opioid epidemic, drug users are taking this everyday medication to get high when opioids aren’t available [1]. Loperamide hydrochloride, sold as Imodium, treats diarrhea as an opioid agonist. Unlike other opioids, this medication doesn’t pass the blood-brain barrier to affect opioid receptors. Instead, Imodium stays in the digestion tract and slows contractions while easing diarrhea.

Used as prescribed, loperamide doesn’t provide any psychoactive effects. But users have found that when taken in huge quantities, it passes the blood-brain barrier and causes sedative and euphoric effects, like opioid drugs.

Imodium Abuse Side Effects

Individuals have to consume hundreds of Imodium pills at a time to achieve an Imodium high, putting themselves at risk for injury and death. 

Here are the Imodium abuse side effects and risks:

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Imodium for an Opiate High

At very high doses, Imodium binds to opioid receptors in the brain. It works the same way as heroin, oxycodone, and other opioids, leading to an “Imodium High.” Using Imodium to get high can allure those with addiction or those suffering from withdrawal.

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Slows Down the Body’s Responses

High amounts of Imodium cause the heart, kidneys, and liver to slow down. It also stresses the lungs, making it difficult to breathe. If someone overdoses, they can experience depressed breathing, paralyzed intestines, cardiac problems, dehydration, and urine retention. Most users aren’t aware that abusing Imodium can be fatal. In fact, the National Poison Center reports a 71% increase in calls related to loperamide overdosing in 2011 to 2014.[2]

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