Imodium, aso known as loperamide, is safe when used as directed but can cause serious heart problems when it’s used with other drugs or used in excessive amounts. Using the drug with doses of certain antibiotics and antacids has been found to produce potentially fatal effects.
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The FDA also advises people that if diarrhea lasts more than two days, they should stop the drug and contact their health care professional.
However, the FDA said patients should still follow the recommended daily dose for the drug. It also notes that in cases of abuse, individuals often use other drugs together with loperamide in attempts to increase its absorption and penetration across the blood-brain barrier, inhibit loperamide metabolism, and enhance its euphoric effects. There could be more cases as well as many drug overdose cases are not reported to the government. The FDA has also mentioned that it would continue to assess the safety issues revolving around the matter and find out if additional FDA actions are needed.
Many are accidental overdoses but people also report taking the drug, called Imodium, on objective to help curb cravings for highly addictive opioid drugs.
According to the National Poison Control Center, there has been more than 70 percent increase in calls regarding Imodium overdose in 2011 to 2014, CBS News noted.
Out of the 48 reported cases, 31 were in need of hospitalization, while 10 cases resulted to death. The agency told doctors and patients Tuesday that the drugs, taken at abnormally high levels can lead to deadly heart conditions.
The Annals of Emergency Medicine recently published a study detailing the dangers of loperamide, the primary ingredient in Imodium, which is sold over-the counter. Healthcare workers are advised to consider high doses of loperamide as a possible cause for ventricular arrhythmias, syncope and cardiac arrest. Eggleston, who is based at SUNY Upstate Medical Center, said the drug is easily abused because it is so cheap and accessible. Main aim of the drug is to control diarrhea, but abusers try to achieve a heroin-like high.
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Researchers suggest that actions to regulate the sale of drugs containing loperamide should be taken. Some are reported to be taking as much as 300mg in one sitting when the recommended dosage is 8-16 mg per day.
