Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards

I've used Imodium for the last 15+ years and have not developed a tolerance or addiction to it. I discontinue its use for a period of time, usually 3 weeks, when I either run out or become stable. It's never caused me any withdrawal symptoms which has me wonder if the medical possibility of becoming addicted is really a possibility at all.

Imodium reacts with anal opiod receptors but does not release dopamine into the system like narcotics which react with brain opiod receptors. While narcotics also pull water from the intestines, this is not their primary function; Imodium's primary function seems to be exactly the opposite-- the pulling of water from the intestines and not the release of dopamine.

I take 240 loperamide 2mg (Imodium) a month, supplemented by 40+ OTC Imodium advanced (loperamide plus simethicone). I have never gotten "high" from Imodium or even sleepy.

Sorry I can't be of help with this theory. I occasionally hear it from an uninformed pharmacist who can't tell me where he's heard it. The last time I heard it was from a med student who'd extrapolated it from something he'd read about opiates. He'd lumped all opiod receptors into one category and was getting confused why he couldn't get high from OTC Imodium.

~nelly~ Empirical researcher number 487

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