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Category: Drug Detox

Drug detoxification (informally, detox) is variously the intervention in a case of physical dependence to a drug; the process and experience of a withdrawal

Mixing Klonopin and Xanax

Xanax, which is the brand name for alprazolam, belongs to a group of drugs called benzodiazepines. Xanax is commonly used to treat panic disorders and anxiety. Klonopin, or the brand name of Clonazepam, is normally used to control seizures as an anticonvulsant and is also used to treat panic attacks and anxiety. This drug also belongs to the same group of drugs, benzodiazepines. Both act as tranquilizers that work on the central nervous system by causing the brain to be less sensitive to outside stimulation, creating a calming effect on the person.

Both of these drugs can be very dangerous on their own as they both have a high likelihood of dependency and also abuse. When mixing Xanax and Klonopin, the dangers of each drug are even greater. Often, people mix substances to enhance the effects of the other drug. These two drugs are often mixed, but this even more so heightens the likelihood of an overdose.

Mixing Klonopin and Xanax

Why Are Xanax and Klonopin Mixed Together?

Since Xanax and Klonopin both cause the same kind of effects, people mix and use the two drugs together simultaneously to enhance the effects of each drug. Xanax has a shorter half-life, which means the effect begins to take place much quicker on the body whereas Klonopin lasts longer than Xanax does. Mixing the two gives long-lasting effects as well as quick-acting results. People who abuse benzodiazepines want the relaxed feeling that they cause. These drugs mixed also cause the following desired symptoms:

  • Sedation
  • Muscle relaxation
  • Reduced worry and anxiety
  • Extreme relaxation
  • Confusion

It is also possible that people mix Xanax and Klonopin because they have already developed a tolerance for one of the drugs, so taking the two together is an attempt to feel the same effects they once felt before they built up a tolerance. They may also just want to extend the time that the high lasts.

Risks of Mixing Xanax and Klonopin

Mixing Xanax and Klonopin on a regular, long term, basis potentially increases the severity of the long term effects of benzodiazepine abuse. Chronis and prolonged abuse of this class of drugs can cause brain deficits. For example, those who abuse these two substances together may have permanent difficulty with focusing and concentration, memory impairment, and difficulty speaking.

When mixed, these drugs also have the potential to cause brain damage to a person. Those who regularly abuse these together can enter states of delirium, develop depression, have psychotic experiences, have aggressive episodes, mood swings, and poor impulse behavior.

Benzodiazepines like Xanax and Klonopin will very quickly cause physical dependence. This occurs after a person builds up a tolerance to the substances. This means a person will continually require more and more of the drugs to achieve the same effects. Once a person is physically dependent on benzos, reducing the dosage, or stopping immediately can result in extremely life-threatening withdrawal symptoms. The risks for a dangerous withdrawal process are even higher when you combine the to benzodiazepines. Without the drugs in the person’s body, the brain goes into overdrive to compensate causing convulsions, seizures, and can even lead to death.

Treatment for Benzodiazepine Addiction

Once you have detoxed, the best and safest option to get off of and stay off Benzodiazepines is by the use of one of the many treatment programs we offer at Recreate Life Counseling We offer many different treatment programs that provide therapeutic education and guidance for each individual to help them safely reintegrate into society.

With the help of our team of therapists, we offer one on one, group therapy, as well as many other specialized options to fit each person’s needs. Benzodiazepine treatment requires a multi-layered approach for maximum success. We want to make sure you have the tools you need to avoid relapse in the real world.

  • Is it safe to alternate between Clonazapam and Xanax?

Published on: 2020-06-30
Updated on: 2024-11-08

Mixing Valium and Vodka

Valium, also known as Diazepam, is used to treat anxiety, seizures, alcohol withdrawal, as well as sedation before medical procedures. It works by calming the nerves and the brain. Valium belongs to the class of drugs known as benzodiazepines.

Benzos are central nervous system depressants, and so is alcohol, such as Vodka.  These two substances work the same on the brain. So when they are mixed and taken at the same time, this can be very dangerous and can lead to overdose and death. According to SAMHSA :

In 2014, approximately 20.2 million adults aged 18 or older had a past year SUD. Of these adults, 16.3 million had an alcohol use disorder and 6.2 million had an illicit drug use disorder (Figure 1). An estimated 2.3 million adults had both an alcohol use disorder and an illicit drug use disorder in the past year. Of the adults with a past year SUD, 4 out of 5 had an alcohol use disorder, nearly 3 out of 10 had an illicit drug use disorder, and 1 out of 9 had both an alcohol use disorder and an illicit drug use disorder.

Because both vodka and Valium work on the Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors in the brain, they both stimulate similar effects especially when taken in high doses. Both vodka and Valium increase the bioavailability of the drugs so when they are taken together, it increases the risk of an overdose. When you mix them, it increases the potency of both substances.

Valium and Vodka

Side Effects of Mixing Valium and Alcohol

Separately, both Valium and vodka create alarming side effects. When combined, this synergetic effect can be even more dangerous. Common side effects with Valium abuse include:

  • Nausea
  • Tremors
  • Hyperactivity
  • Restlessness
  • Vertigo
  • Fatigue
  • Seizures
  • Psychosis
  • Panic attacks

Common side effects of alcohol abuse include:

  • Memory loss
  • Impaired muscle coordination
  • High blood pressure
  • Arrhythmias
  • Cirrhosis of the liver
  • Unconsciousness/ blackouts
  • Impaired judgment
  • Vomiting

When vodka and Valium are mixed, there can be plenty of dangerous and unpleasant side effects such as:

  • Confusion
  • Dizziness
  • Disorientation
  • Sedation
  • Stumbling
  • Nausea
  • Diarrhea
  • Changes in appetite
  • Restlessness and/or excitement
  • Memory problems
  • Drowsiness
  • Depression
  • Decreased mental ability
  • Loss of motor function
  • Poor coordination
  • Loss of consciousness

Is Valium Safe? What About Alcohol?

Valium is considered a relatively safe prescription drug when taken as prescribed. Some people mix Valium with vodka to purposely intensify the effects of the calming effects of each substance. It isn’t always easy to tell when someone is abusing these two substances. If you or someone you love are ready to take the steps to get sober, the best way is, to begin with, a medically assisted detox. The withdrawal symptoms from alcohol like vodka and Valium can be extremely dangerous and painful. These symptoms include muscle pain and cramps, seizures, and even coma, just to name a few. Medically assisted detox is very much recommended to safely get the substances from your system.

Once you’ve detoxed from Vodka and Valium, the best way to remain sober and avoid relapse is the use of one of our many treatment programs offered at Recreate Life Counseling. We offer many different treatment programs so we can ensure that you will find a program that fits best for you. We combine our treatment programs with therapeutic education and guidance to help each patient safely reintegrate into your life.

Overcome Addiction With Drug Treatment

Addiction isn’t an easy thing to face. Luckily you do not have to face it on your own. Our admissions counselors and professionals are available around the clock. We are ready to help you or a loved one overcome the disease of addiction. Now is the time to change your life. Let Recreate Life Counseling help you do it.

Published on: 2020-06-23
Updated on: 2024-06-26

Using Opiates While on Subutex

Subutex is a widely used prescription medication utilized in the treatment of individuals who are struggling with severe opiate abuse disorders. Subutex and Suboxone are commonly confused, however, they are different medications – though they do share the same active ingredient. Subutex is most commonly used in inpatient treatment settings and is administered by medical professionals to help combat the severe psychological cravings and withdrawal symptoms that are common in very early recovery. The active ingredient found in Subutex is buprenorphine, a partial opioid antagonist that was initially used as a pain reliever, and is now used in the treatment of opiate addiction.

When used in a medically monitored setting, this specific medication is extremely beneficial. Unfortunately, when it is used in combination with opiates like prescription painkillers or heroin and can pose several significant issues. Take a look at the dangers involved in using opiates while you are on Subutex, and please feel free to reach out to Recreate Life Counseling with any additional questions you may have.

Using Opiates While You’re on Subutex

More on Subutex

Some of the benefits of taking Subutex in a treatment setting include:

  • Aiding in medical detox. Subutex will help alleviate physical symptoms of withdrawal while minimizing cravings that often lead to relapse when left untreated.
  • Working to prevent relapse in early sobriety – cravings have been known to last long after medical detox and can lead to relapse within the first three to six months of sobriety when not properly treated. Eliminating cravings is essential in preventing relapse.
  • Allowing the individual, the opportunity to focus on his or her treatment goals without struggling through uncomfortable symptoms of post-acute withdrawal.

This is a short-term solution, but one that has been proven effective time and time again.

More on Opiates 

Over the past two decades, opiate addiction throughout the United States has spiked significantly. Currently, prescription painkiller addiction and heroin addiction remain leading causes of accidental death. Not only are these drugs extremely lethal, but they are extremely hard to quit without professional assistance. Recreate Life Counseling specializes in the treatment of individuals who are struggling with opiate addiction of all types and severities. We understand how impossible quitting may seem, and how devastating the effects of long-term addiction can be.

We also specialize in the treatment of individuals who struggle with polydrug abuse (meaning using more than one drug at a time to feel the effects more intensely). If you or someone you love has been combining Subutex and opiates professional help must be sought immediately, both long and short-term effects of polydrug abuse can lead to lasting – sometimes permanent – health-related issues.

Combining Subutex and Opiates

At Recreate Life Counseling, we provide medication-assisted treatment to those who require it, though we always ensure that prescription medication ingestion is closely monitored, and if we believe that any of our clients are attempting to abuse a medication we prescribe we will immediately switch to a more holistic method of recovery. When used correctly, Subutex can be extremely effective in the treatment of opiate addiction. However, we do understand that this drug can be a predominant source of abuse, thus we also treat individuals who may be struggling exclusively with Subutex addiction.

Our comprehensive program of recovery caters to men and women who are struggling with addictive disorders of all kinds, and our team of dedicated medical professionals thoroughly understands that while prescribing an opioid antagonist to one client might work, prescribing the same medication to another client might backfire. Our program is highly personalized, and each client will undergo an intensive assessment upon admission, which will help us determine which course of treatment will be the most appropriate and effective. To learn more, please give us a call today.

FAQ

  • What will happen if I take Heroin AFTER I have taken SUBATEX?

Published on: 2020-06-10
Updated on: 2024-07-08

What Does Ativan Feel Like?

Ativan is a benzodiazepine that relieves feelings of anxiety but also can lead to addiction and dependence. Getting off Ativan safely after abusing it for a long period is not recommended and requires a medical detox.

The National Institute of Health, NIH , describes Ativan also known as Lorazepam as an anxiolytic. It has a chemical formula of 7-chloro-5-(o-chlorophenyl)-1,3-dihydro-3-hydroxy-2H-1,4-benzodiazepine-2-one. It is a practical water-soluble and virtually white powder. These orally ingested tablets have 0.5 mg, 1 mg, or 2 mg of lorazepam. Lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, and polacrilin potassium are the dormant elements present.

With no significant impact on the respiratory or cardiovascular systems, solo elevated quantities of Ativan have a tranquilizing action on the central nervous system. With an indisputable bioavailability of 90 percent, Ativan is instantly absorbed.

Within 2 hours of being consumed the highest amounts of intensity take place in the plasma. That high amount of intensity from a 2mg dose of Ativan in plasma is about 20 ng/mL. 12 hours is the average half-life of unconjugated Ativan in plasma and is 18 hours approximately for its foremost metabolite, lorazepam glucuronide. Studies show that its effects can last about 20% longer if injected with no regard to the age of the subject.

Ativan

How Does it Feel to Use Ativan?

The indicated use of Ativan is meant to combat anxiety disorders that stem from depression and short-term relief from the symptoms of anxiety associated symptoms. The stress or anxiety from a regular daily routine is not to be treated with an anxiolytic such as Ativan. Short-term relief is under 4 months of use. When a patient using Ativan consumes it as prescribed under the close supervision of a physician, they will not be feeling high as the drug directly serves one purpose and that is to balance out the previously unbalanced nervous system.

When comparing the high of Ativan, it can be directly correlated to that of Xanax as they are both used to treat anxiety, though Ativan leaves the central nervous system more quickly. If a person takes a high dose and is not suffering from some form of anxiety or depression stemming from anxiety this subject can get the euphoric sensations to peak within 30-60 minutes of using. That high can last between 5-8 hours where the subject will experience feelings of an amplified sedation effect.

Is Ativan Addictive?

Though Ativan is not a narcotic it can have the same adverse effects which can cause addiction and chemical dependency. When taken over long periods it can cause mental health troubles and cognitive issues. When abused the person will begin to risk issues of memory the ability to speak properly. It has been associated with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. The reason its maximum prescription term is 4 months is due to its extremely addictive properties.

Someone that has used Ativan longer than the 4 months it’s supposed to be used can expect liver damage. The enzymes in the liver will increase causing it to inflame and in turn damage the tissue of the liver. Once jaundice begins the eyes and skin frequently begin to turn a yellowish color. When you stop using Ativan after a long period, painful withdrawal symptoms can develop that often last weeks.

How Can Recreate Life Counseling Help You?

Recreate Life Counseling is a drug and alcohol rehab center that is prepared to help with Ativan addiction. We take delight in our personalized treatment programs that are tailored to meet the needs of men, women, and families affected by addiction. Our Delray Beach or Boynton Beach, Florida locations, offer partial hospitalization which is a day and night treatment with community housing and we also offer intensive outpatient therapy. It is our purpose to bind the client’s support to rebuild their natural life.

We are dedicated to assisting the habituated individual start off and continue in the recovery route. We will construct a treatment schedule in a way that is beneficial to the vision you or your loved one has for a dependency-free life. Neither you nor a loved one must be addicted to Ativan. Call now to speak with one of our experts or come in for a tour.

Published on: 2020-05-13
Updated on: 2024-04-18

Can You Potentiate Xanax?

Xanax, or alprazolam, is a very powerful benzodiazepine used to treat anxiety disorders and panic disorders and can even be used as a muscle relaxant during medical procedures. It was created to take the place of barbiturates believing benzos would be less addictive. However, this is far from the truth. It is extremely addictive when used long term. Xanax is the most commonly prescribed Benzodiazepine in the United States. According to the NIH :

Between 1996 and 2013, the number of adults who filled a benzodiazepine prescription increased by 67%, from 8.1 million to 13.5 million. In 2015, 23 percent of people who died of an opioid overdose also tested positive for benzodiazepines.

Benzodiazepines such as Xanax are not typically primary drugs that are abused. This means they are commonly used in combination with other drugs. They are commonly mixed with narcotic pain medications, alcohol, stimulants, and illegal opiates such as heroin.

Can You Potentiate Xanax?

Potentiation of Xanax

When a user mixes two or more different drugs at the same time, they heighten the risk of experiencing effects that are different than what they would feel taking a drug individually. There are different kinds of reactions a person will have depending on what is mixed together. The four major groups are:

  • Antagonism: This happens when one drug reduces the effect of another drug. For example, taking Xanax while taking cocaine at the same time will reduce the effects of both the cocaine and the Xanax taken.
  • Synergism: This happens when two or more drugs work jointly to produce a therapeutic effect.
  • Interactions: With a person, metabolism will occur in multiple places in the body and can either facilitate or slow down the elimination of the drug from one’s system.
  • Potentiation: Happens when the effects of one drug strengthen the effects of another drug. For instance, taking Xanax with alcohol will produce and enhancement of the depressant effects in both things that are taken.

The potentiation of Xanax occurs when a person abuses Xanax with other central nervous system depressants mixed in for a synergetic effect. This can include drugs like narcotic pain medications, alcohol, sedatives, cannabis, and other benzo products. When taken on their own, central nervous system depressants result in reduced blood pressure, heart rate, breathing rate, and reaction time that will result in effects such as poor coordination, poor balance, impaired reflexes, and impaired judgment. When taking central nervous system depressants with other depressants, you will potentiate these effects. Different potentiating effects are depending on the doses of each drug. It is important to know that the amount of a drug that can produce an overdose is decreased when combined with other central nervous system depressants.

Get Help Now With Xanax Addiction

If you or someone you love are ready to take the necessary steps to get sober, the best way to start is with a medically assisted detox process. Due to the brains rewiring after prolonged use, withdrawal symptoms can be extremely intense and even deadly when you abruptly stop. These symptoms include seizures, coma, hallucinations, muscle pain, and cramping, and even suicidal thoughts, to name a few. Medical detox is always recommended and your doctors will come up with the best plan for you to safely detox the benzos from your system.

Once you have detoxed, the best and safest option to get off of and stay off Benzodiazepines is by the use of one of the many treatment programs we offer at Recreate Life Counseling We offer many different treatment programs that provide therapeutic education and guidance for each individual to help them safely reintegrate into society. With the help of our team of therapists, we offer one on one, group therapy, as well as many other specialized options to fit each person’s needs. Benzodiazepine treatment requires a multi-layered approach for maximum success. We want to make sure you have the tools you need to avoid relapse in the real world.

Addiction isn’t an easy thing to face. Luckily you do not have to face it on your own. Our admissions counselors and professionals are available around the clock. We are ready to help you or a loved one overcome the disease of addiction. Now is the time to change your life. Let us help you do it.

FAQ

  • What potentiate’s Xanax?
  • What chemicals potentiate benzodiazepines, antagonize them or have an adverse reaction when mixed?
  • What can cause a Xanax overdose?

Published on: 2020-04-25
Updated on: 2024-04-18

Can You Get High on DXM Cough Syrup?

Dextromethorphan, also known as DXM, is an active ingredient cough suppressant in cough medicines. Dextromethorphan (DXM) on its own can cause a high, however, it is most often found in cold and flu medicines that can enhance the effects of DXM when taken synergically. Other ingredients found are things like acetaminophen or pseudoephedrine. When this is taken as directed, the drug is very safe and effective. However, when it is taken in large doses, it can cause a psychedelic effect. The effects can range from similarity to marijuana to ecstasy to PCP. The high will generally begin to start within 15-30 minutes after consumption and last anywhere from 3- 6 hours. According to an article written by the DEA :

There were 12,077 case mentions, 9,223 single exposures, and one death related to dextromethorphan preparations (not otherwise classified or in combination with other substances) for 2016.

Recreation use of DXM cough syrup is extremely dangerous and also has a high likelihood of being abused. If you or a loved one abuse DXM recreationally, getting help for your addiction is very important if you want to be healthy.

Can You Get High on DXM Cough Syrup?

What Does A DXM Cough Syrup High Look Like?

DXM has been known to become habit-forming and has an intoxicating effect when taken in high doses. Repeated use of high doses can do serious damage to a person’s body. Not only is the risk for overdose very likely, but it also impairs a person’s cognitive function and memory. It is very possible to abuse this drug and it can even cause a life-threatening overdose. When a person is high on DXM, the symptoms will include:

  • Numbness
  • Impaired motor skills
  • Audio hallucinations
  • Visual hallucinations
  • Dissociative experiences
  • Nausea and/or vomiting
  • High blood pressure
  • Increased heart rate
  • An agitated state
  • An elevated body temperature

Signs and symptoms of a dextromethorphan overdose include:

  • Breathing problems such as irregular or shallow breathing
  • Bluish colored lips and fingernails (due to lack of oxygen)
  • Blurred vision
  • Vomiting
  • Stomach or intestinal pain
  • Blacking out
  • Restlessness
  • Hallucinations
  • Anxiety
  • Paranoia
  • Convulsions
  • Dizziness
  • Extreme tiredness
  • Changes to blood pressure
  • Heart palpitations
  • Elevated body temperature
  • Muscle twitching

If someone is overdosing on DXM cough syrup, they will require immediate medical help. There are no drugs that can counteract an overdose on this drug so the only way to survive is with the help of medical professionals. This is so the patient can be stabilized and monitored until they are no longer in a life-threatening situation.

How Can I get Sober from DMX Abuse?

If you or someone you love are ready to take the necessary steps to get sober, the best way to start is with a medically assisted detox process. Withdrawal symptoms are very likely with a person who is abusing or addicted to DXM cough syrup. They will experience things like insomnia, cold flashes, diarrhea, vomiting, muscle and bone aches, weight loss, as well as strong cravings for the drug which makes it that much harder to get off of them on your own. Medical detox is always recommended and your doctors will come up with the best plan for you to safely detox the DXM cough syrup from your system.

Once you have detoxed, the best and safest option to get off of and stay off this drug is by the use of one of the many treatment programs we offer at Recreate Life Counseling. We offer many different treatment programs that provide therapeutic education and guidance for each individual to help them safely reintegrate into society. With the help of our team of therapists, we offer one on one, group therapy, as well as many other specialized options to fit each person’s needs. Treatment for this drug requires a multi-layered approach for maximum success. We want to make sure you have the tools you need to avoid relapse in the real world.

Addiction and abuse aren’t an easy thing to face. Luckily you do not have to face it on your own. Our admissions counselors and professionals are available around the clock. We are ready to help you or a loved one overcome the disease of addiction. Now is the time to change your life. Let us help you do it.

Published on: 2020-04-17
Updated on: 2024-04-18

Benefits of a Service Pet for Recovering Addicts

Staying sober is harder than getting sober. This statement is something that most addicts and treatment professionals agree on. Detox and quitting their drug of choice is extremely difficult and dangerous as physical withdrawals can last from days to weeks to months. Once the initial detox is over, the question then is, what next? The goal is to not relapse and to ultimately create a life that you don’t want to let go of.

To obtain long term sobriety, the addict must address and heal the mental and emotional causes of their substance abuse. Many addicts suffer from a mental illness and their substance abuse is a form of self-medication. Anxiety, social isolation, depression, loneliness, and suicidal ideation are all effects of mental illness. When not addressed during recovery, the chance of relapse multiplies. Depending on how long they have been self-medicating as a way to avoid their feelings, the addict will have no idea how to move forward and tackle emotions and fears daily.

Benefits of a Service Pet for Recovering Addicts

How can a Service Pet Help You in Recovery?

Service dogs are a proven way to help the addict recover and stay sober. Psychiatric service dogs are trained to help those with mental health disorders or disabilities and are trained specifically to meet the individual’s needs based on their mental illness as well as the severity of the disorder. If there is not a specified mental health disorder, the recovering addict can still be helped by the companionship of a service pet because they help relieve anxiety and lessen symptoms of depression. Some of the many benefits include: reducing negative emotions, coping mechanisms for stress, mood boosters, encouraging responsibility and healthy habits in daily life.

Addicts can be prone to a negative mindset, which hinders their recovery and causes anxiety, shame, guilt, and loneliness. The unconditional love of a service pet can soothe the addict and reduce their feelings of isolation. This encourages a more positive outlook on their life and environment and the addict will begin to develop healthy daily habits and hobbies. Addicts are encouraged to develop interests in healthy activities that will take them outside of their minds. As we all know, the mind can be our own worst enemy, and service dogs can help change the addict’s mindset. Taking care of a service dog requires grooming, bathing, playing with, feeding, and walking their pet. This allows the addict to think of positive ways to plan out their day because they have someone else to care for.

Get into Good Habits to Erase the Bad Ones

Caring for their service pet can also create positive reinforcement for the addict and they will see the benefits of positive daily habits. The addict will see that if they care for their pet each day, the pet stays happy and healthy. The addict, in turn, sees it is possible to take care of themselves and maintain their health and happiness, and therefore their sobriety.

Social isolation is much less of a choice when the addict has a pet to care for. Service dogs require daily walks, during which the addict might be “forced” to stop and engage in simple conversations. Having a scheduled activity that they are responsible for will, in turn, get the addict to wake up, shower, get dressed, make their bed, and put food out for their pet. In doing these little things for someone else, the addict will start developing a routine and begin caring for themselves as well. All of these are steps that can either help in pulling a person out of depression or keep it at bay.

The simple fact that the addict now has someone to love and that depends on them to stay alive can keep the addict motivated to make better choices and avoid relapse. Many addicts have low self-worth and self-esteem. They might think of themselves as unloved or unlovable. A cat that playfully runs around and paws at you or a dog that barks loudly and jumps up and down when you enter a room is unconditional love. This is a feeling that the addict has been chasing their whole lives and they will be motivated to stay sober.
Service pets can also increase an addict’s sense of trust and loyalty.

Addicts can have experiences that have caused them to become distrusting of the world. Animals are known for their loyalty and of course, they cannot be dishonest! A service pet can change this outlook for the addict and allow them to start having faith in others, but in a safe way. This is part of one of the most beneficial factors of working with a service pet – PTSD symptoms. Their calming and soothing effect on people – just the rhythm of their breathing or cuddling with their soft fur – can bring peace. The combination of this peaceful presence with the security that a dog, for example, can bring, is a great way to heal from PTSD.

Recreate Life Counseling is Here to Help

Recreate Life Counseling in Boynton Beach is an outpatient treatment center that teaches the addict how to achieve, maintains, and enjoy a new way of life in long term recovery. We offer a PHP program of Day / Night Treatment with Community Housing. We engage the addict in therapy and activities that will teach life skills and behaviors to prevent relapse. It is so important to one’s sobriety to have the ability to care for yourself and someone else, and our staff teaches the addict how to do this in a healthy and safe environment. If you or a loved one are suffering from addiction, please reach out and a Recreate Life Counseling staff member will be happy to help you begin your new life in recovery.

Published on: 2020-03-21
Updated on: 2024-10-28

Do Large Doses of Imodium Get You High?

TL;DR – No, large doses of Imodium (loperamide) do not produce a “high.” Imodium is an anti-diarrheal medication and, when taken in large doses, can be dangerous and lead to serious heart problems and other adverse effects, but it does not cause euphoria like some other substances.

Loperamide also referred to by it’s over the counter brand drug name Imodium A-D is being abused by opiate addicts to counter physical withdrawal symptoms from opiate addiction. Imodium A-D is an OTC medication that helps relieve diarrhea and other abnormal gastrointestinal symptoms.

Opiate addicts are taking loperamide to lessen opioid addiction withdrawal symptoms. Although loperamide is not an opioid drug, when used in very high doses it acts on mu-opioid receptors, which are the same receptors that initiate addiction to opiates, like heroin, morphine, and fentanyl.

Loperamide has become known as the poor man’s methadone. Loperamide is taken by opiate addicts when they cannot get heroin or other opioid drugs the same way an alcoholic may drink mouthwash when they don’t have access to alcohol.

The amount of loperamide that is needed to help relieve opiate withdrawal symptoms is extremely dangerous. A normal dose of Imodium is 2 milligrams to be taken up to four times a day. A person who is attempting to take Imodium to get high is taking up to 500 milligrams a day.

What are the Effects of Imodium in High Doses?

The euphoric effects that high doses of loperamide have for an opiate addict is at best minimal. Opiate addicts have reported that taking Imodium at large doses does decrease the withdrawal symptoms but does not get them high.

At dangerous doses, loperamide crosses the blood-brain barrier, which will allow the opioid receptors to produce endorphins and other neurotransmitter reactions that cause a person to feel better. The effects of loperamide only minimize withdrawal symptoms; it does not compare to the euphoria that heroin, Fentanyl, or other opiate drugs cause.

When a person increases the dose past, what is recommended for any type of OTC drug or prescription drug, they risk enduring serious medical problems and death. The history of persons taking Imodium to get high began as early as the 1990s. The Federal Drug Administration did not class Imodium as an over the counter drug until 1988.

Do Large Doses of Imodium Get You High

Before that, it was in fact, classed as a controlled substance, not unlike cocaine or and other illegal drugs. Now that there is a greater awareness of people abusing Imodium the FDA drug safety communications announced to the public this September 2019, that they will require limits on the amounts that can be sold in the packaging of loperamide.

 9/20/2019 Update

To help address loperamide abuse and misuse, FDA approved changes to the packaging for tablet and capsule forms of the brand-name over the counter (OTC) anti-diarrheal medicines Imodium A-D, Imodium Multi-Symptom Relief, and Be Health Loperamide HCl Capsules. These changes limit each carton to no more than 48 mg of loperamide and require the tablets and capsules to be packaged in individual doses. Some individuals are taking high doses of loperamide to treat symptoms of opioid withdrawal. Loperamide acts on opioid receptors in the gut to slow the movement in the intestines and decrease the number of bowel movements. It is safe at approved doses, but when much higher than recommended doses are taken, it can lead to serious problems, including severe heart rhythm problems and death. (FDA )

What are the Imodium Abuse Side Effects?

There have been numerous reports and documentation about people damaging their hearts and bodies as a result of taking loperamide in very high doses. Numerous deaths have been documented from all over the United States from emergency rooms to poison control centers. Heart problems arise quickly for people who are taking loperamide in large doses as Loperamide affects the amount of calcium that is delivered to the heart, which regulates the functions of the heart muscle.

The greatest scare of people turning to an anti-diarrhea drug to prevent experiencing opiate addiction withdrawal symptoms is that it can kill them. They may temporarily relieve some withdrawal symptoms but will pay for it with their lives. Another tragedy of this growing trend is the misinformation about Imodium available on the internet. Websites dedicated to drug-seeking cultures are promoting Imodium, as a quick fix, but not providing all the facts that it can kill them.

Most importantly,  is that addiction is a deadly disease that causes addicts to do and take anything to get high.

The safest way to help someone with their addiction to opiates like heroin, prescription pain killers, fentanyl, and others is to have them admitted into a medically supervised detox followed by opiate addiction treatment. The programs that we offer provide very effective medications that will eliminate withdrawal symptoms and help opiate addicts recover from their addictions.

Published on: 2019-10-04
Updated on: 2024-07-08

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