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immodium for wd becuz it is structured like an opiate??

going thru opiate wd...24 hrs. was told to take immodium..not only for trots but because it is an opiate..how many do i take??? is this true??takes the edge off??ANYBODY PLEASE???
Best Answer
569676 tn?1315641158
Ashelen is indeed correct...

Loperamide Hcl (Immodium) is an opioid as its a synthetically created drug, not derieved from opium.  

We have 4 different types of opioid receptors distributed through our bodies at different locations that cause different reactions to opioids.  The main receptor that is responsible for euphoria, and physical dependance is the Mu Receptor, which is located in the brain and Intestinal tract.  Another action of this Receptor is a decrease in gastric motility which is what causes that dreaded constipation we all know.

It is the limited amount of receptors in the Intestinal tract that are responsible for this.  Which is the basis of how immodium works. Loperamide binds to these receptors and and slows down the intestine giving some relief.

Standardly immodium will not cross the blood brain barrier, however in large doses it can produce a very mild opiate effect. Many users that have found withdrawal relief from immodium have taken many times the reccomended daily dosage, and this is not suggested.  There are also reports of long term immodium users exhibiting an abbreviated and mild opiate type withdrawal after stopping therapy.

I think Laurel pointed out the most important fact.... It doesnt matter what it is, the main point is that immodium when taken as directed will do nothin other than help with diarrhea, is non addictive, and will certainly help with our stomach issues during detox.

We can only aide the detox process along to a degree, and after that point we have to admit "It is what it is" and trying to avoid wd with other drugs OTC or prescription is useless, because inevitably we all have to go through it at some point... Its our rite of passage to a free life as addicts. :-)
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Avatar universal
thank you for the great expanation about immodium, opiates, opiuds, etc...very informative..i know we have to admit "it is what it is", but we DO take things like the Thomas recipe or the amino acid regiminto help us through so....if immodium helps with more than just the obvious why not add it...rationally of course...to the mix?
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Avatar universal
I found that if you take just a little bit more than the recommended dose, it helps ever so slightly... maybe it's because you stop with the digestive crap (ha!) but I think it helps with some of the shaking and general malaise. It won't get you high.... not even a little bit. but in my case, I took it for the first like 10 days when I had to leave the house and function and I thought it helped.... goodluck!
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Avatar universal
OK was told it attached to brain receptors...therefore fillinf that gap, if you will, temporarily. didnt even know the stomach had receptors!!
Helpful - 0
1035252 tn?1427227833
It is an opioid,  but not an opiate, and that's an important distinction. It attaches itself to the opiate receptors in the stomach and intestine and eases those, but as mentioned before it does not cross the blood/brain barrier.

It will ease some symptoms...the runs, cramps, but it won't help much more than that.
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Avatar universal
again thanks for the encourtagement...just have to go to work here soon...willing to try anything..cant handle it
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617347 tn?1331293081
ok, loperamide is an opioid drug as far as i know...but what it is important is that it is non addictive and it is safe for us
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Avatar universal
honey you can get things to minimize a few of the various of symptoms of opiate withdrawl,such as advil or tylenol for pain, but nothing is going to take away your misery other than time. remember its just a few days, people get the flu all the time, but when they have to go through opiate withdrawl which pretty much feels the same everbody freaks out. trust me its so worth it, and you will begin to feel much better very soon.
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Avatar universal
thank you for responding..was told you obviously dont get the euphoria, but it supposedly engages with the receptors that are "dangling" or not "hitting" because of sudden lack of opiate injestion..during the wd period. because it's structured the same..
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Avatar universal
it is structurally similar to meperidine which is demerol but it is not an opiate. opiates attach to opiate receptores in the central nervous system. i dont know why people keep calling immodium an opiate, opiates come from the opium poppy, are class 2 scheduled narcotics and are not sold at the corner store legally.


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617347 tn?1331293081
sorry ... "kind of " ***
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617347 tn?1331293081
it is an opiate but it doesn't cross the blood/brain barrier so it will only help with the diarrhea, opiates cause constipation, thus this one will cut the "runs" down but it will not give you any king of euphoria... about the quantity, follow the instructions and see how it works
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Avatar universal
doesnt work for anything besides the diarrhea.  its not an opiate.
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