[A young woman's loperamide abuse for the achievement of euphoric effect]

Ugeskr Laeger. 2020 Mar 16;182(12):V11190650.
[Article in Danish]

Abstract

Loperamide is an over-the-counter anti-diarrhoeal agent. In supratherapeutic doses, loperamide penetrates the blood-brain barrier, exceeds the efflux capacity of P-glycoprotein and binds to central opioid receptors. We report a case of a 33-year-old woman with a history of opioid abuse, who had a long-term excessive daily intake of loperamide in order to achieve a euphoric effect. Cardiac arrhythmias, respiratory depression and death have been reported in relation to excessive loperamide use.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Arrhythmias, Cardiac
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Loperamide* / adverse effects
  • Opioid-Related Disorders*

Substances

  • Loperamide