Loperamide - possible to overdose/become dependent?

[LondonBrooklyn]

Thought I'd post as I seem to have found a treatment that makes me feel great and it's an unlikely source for someone with Crohns - loperamide (I.e Imodium which you can pick up off the shelf, though I use the supermarket own brand as its 1/3 of the price!)

Though the dosage is huge. I found I felt pretty good taking 1 pack I.e six capsules last week, today I took 12 (albeit not in one go) and feel even better!

Some background to me- took entocort initially but recently weened off. Take humira injection once per fortnight which is ok I suppose, it was far better when I took the loading dose - I'm going to ask my doctor to increase the dose to see if that helps but that's for a different thread

Secondly I've never really had much of a problem with diarrhoea. I do suffer from dehydration a lot though, I feel as though my body has issues absorbing water but doctor says that is unlikely. At my worst, I have a lot of gas and occasional loose stools, but feel totally horrendous - extremely tired, often light headed/faint, skin dry as a bone and drinking (and urinating) constantly (diabetes was ruled out numerous times).

I couldn't see anything online that suggested loperamide was dangerous but clearly I'm taking more than the recommended dose so just wanted to see what everyone thought or if anyone had similar experiences? I ordered 20 boxes online from a reputable pharmacy wth no issues, so I'm sure it can't be THAT dangerous, but hoping someone could shed some light

Thank you.

 

[Scipio]

I would not recommend talking that much loperamide. It may make you feel great because you are getting high to some degree. As an opiate, loperamide is the latest entrant in the ongoing nationwide opiate addiction mess. See article:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...-the-counter-diarrhea-medicine-you-know-well/

 

[LondonBrooklyn]

Oh god! People are going to think I'm a junkie haha. Definitely no more Imodium once I hopefully get an increased Humira dorage...

 

[scottsma]

What led you to take so many ? I get Loperamide on repeat script and it says not to take more than eight a day.I have used it for ten years for urgency problems and have never taken more than four a day,and only when I absolutely need to.They do what it says on the tin,(a UK saying) so unless you're running to the bathroom constantly,I don't understand why you need them.I'm scared of causing a blockage and at the very least too many can cause constipation, therefore laxatives.Vicious circle.

 

[LondonBrooklyn]

It's strange, I just noted how much better I felt after taking them, and I don't mean "high" (although based on Scipio said there may have been an element of that) - just much more energy, less thirst / dehydration, no faintness or dizziness. I'm not anemic, according to tests, but I do struggle to eat the amount I'm supposed to so am often a bit weak/faint. However loperamide seemed to counter this extremely effectively. I guess I am just an odd ball...

 

[scottsma]

If you're sure it's not doing you harm and you think it's the reason you're feeling so well,then who are we to judge,and I wasn't incidentally.Just because it's unusual,doesn't mean it's not doing as you say.I would mention it to your G.I. though personally I wouldn't dare.I hope you continue to feel well,just be aware of side effects.Please keep us updated,you could be a medical phenomanen hahaha.

 

[LondonBrooklyn]

Haha agreed! I am 99% convinced my gut has some problem absorbing water as the worst of my symptoms are exactly that of quite severe dehydration. Plus I was urinating clear fluid constantly which suggested the water was just passing straight through to some extent. Though both my doctor and his senior both dismissed that quite off-hand, I will have to keep pestering them!

 

[ronroush7]

Haha agreed! I am 99% convinced my gut has some problem absorbing water as the worst of my symptoms are exactly that of quite severe dehydration. Plus I was urinating clear fluid constantly which suggested the water was just passing straight through to some extent. Though both my doctor and his senior both dismissed that quite off-hand, I will have to keep pestering them!

Agreed. You might want to get a second opinion.

 

[Scipio]

Haha agreed! I am 99% convinced my gut has some problem absorbing water as the worst of my symptoms are exactly that of quite severe dehydration. Plus I was urinating clear fluid constantly which suggested the water was just passing straight through to some extent.

These two statements are contradictory. If your gut was not absorbing water then your urine would be the opposite of clear fluid. It would be very dark yellow or orange. That's because your kidneys produce urine from the water in the blood, not the gut. So the gut must absorb it first before the kidneys get any access to it.

The path of water you drink:
Gut --> absorbed into the blood --> kidney filters blood --> excess water into urine --> urine excreted.

 

[Axelfl3333]

12 is way to many absolute max is 8 and I,m not happy when I need that many.

 

[aypues]

if you're having that much D it may be an infection. I would have stool studies does to rule out C diff and other infections.

 

[LondonBrooklyn]

Thanks aypues, but as I mentioned, I've never had a problem with D- but I find it dramatically reduces the other symptoms