Increasing Reports of Loperamide Abuse

Loperamide is a synthetic opioid available over the counter for treatment of diarrhea. It is rapidly metabolized and cleared from the cerebrospinal fluid at recommended doses, but at high doses may alleviate symptoms of opioid withdrawal or induce euphoria. Like any medication, it may also be used in suicide attempts. Investigators reviewed a national database of calls to poison control centers to determine whether calls for loperamide overdose increased from 2010 through 2015.

During the study period, there were 1736 reports of loperamide overdose. Half involved suicidal intent, and most of the remainder were intentional abuse or misuse. The number of cases increased 91% over the study period, equivalent to an average of 38 more cases per y…