"I just wanted to tell you that loperamide WILL WORK": a web-based study of extra-medical use of loperamide.
نویسندگان
چکیده
AIMS Many websites provide a means for individuals to share their experiences and knowledge about different drugs. Such User-Generated Content (UGC) can be a rich data source to study emerging drug use practices and trends. This study examined UGC on extra-medical use of loperamide among illicit opioid users. METHODS A website that allows for the free discussion of illicit drugs and is accessible for public viewing was selected for analysis. Web-forum posts were retrieved using web crawlers and retained in a local text database. The database was queried to extract posts with a mention of loperamide and relevant brand/slang terms. Over 1290 posts were identified. A random sample of 258 posts was coded using NVivo to identify intent, dosage, and side-effects of loperamide use. RESULTS There has been an increase in discussions related to loperamide's use by non-medical opioid users, especially in 2010-2011 Loperamide was primarily discussed as a remedy to alleviate a broad range of opioid withdrawal symptoms, and was sometimes referred to as "poor man's" methadone. Typical doses ranged 70-100mg per day, much higher than an indicated daily dose of 16mg. CONCLUSIONS This study suggests that loperamide is being used extra-medically to self-treat opioid withdrawal symptoms. There is a growing demand among people who are opioid dependent for drugs to control withdrawal symptoms, and loperamide appears to fit that role. The study also highlights the potential of the Web as a "leading edge" data source in identifying emerging drug use practices.
منابع مشابه
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متن کاملAntidiarrheal Action of Hydroalcoholic Extract of Pycnocycla spinosa in Comparison with Loperamide and Dicyclomine
Pycnocycla spinosa Decne. ex Boiss. var. spinosa (Fam. Umbelliferae) is an essential oil-containing wild plant growing in central part of Iran. Hydroalcoholic extract of Pycnocycla spinosa has antispasmodic and antidiarrheal activity. The aim of this study was to further investigate antidiarrheal and small intestinal transit effect of P. spinosa extract for a comparison with loperamide and dicy...
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Hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channels are responsible for the functional hyperpolarization-activated current (I(h)) in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons, playing an important role in pain processing. We found that the known analgesic loperamide inhibited I(h) channels in rat DRG neurons. Loperamide blocked I(h) in a concentration-dependent manner, with an IC(50) = ...
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ورودعنوان ژورنال:
- Drug and alcohol dependence
دوره 130 1-3 شماره
صفحات -
تاریخ انتشار 2013