In this article, I’m going to teach you how to use Imodium AD for opiate withdrawal. Loperamide hydrochloride is the drug in the over-the-counter anti-diarrhea medication called Imodium AD. There is actually a lot of misleading and confusing information on the internet about using loperamide for opiate withdrawal. I intend to set the record straight and give you a clear, concise and correct assessment of the benefits and precautions of using loperamide for opiate withdrawal.
Why Opiate Withdrawal Leads to Diarrhea and Other Gastrointestinal Issues
Before I teach you how to use Imodium for opiate withdrawal, it’s important that you understand why withdrawal causes diarrhea in the first place. Drugs like heroin, Morphine, Methadone, hydrocodone, and oxycodone are opioids.
Opioids are a class of narcotic drugs that relieve pain and slow down the Central Nervous System. When you take an opioid, it binds to your opioid receptors in the brain. When the drug enters your system and fills these receptor sites, the receptor “turns on”.
To further illustrate this, imagine that the opioid drug is a key, and the opioid receptor is a lock. When the key (drug) is placed in the lock (receptor), the door opens (turns on) and that’s when you feel the effects (pain relief, euphoria, respiratory depression, dilated pupils, constipation, etc.)
Problems arise when you start taking opioids consistently over a period of time. Tolerance to the drug can develop quickly, so you start needing more opioids to achieve the same desired effects. Eventually, you can develop a physiological dependence from taking opioids consistently, even if you are taking low dosages prescribed by your doctor. If you stop taking opioids abruptly after a tolerance has been established, withdrawal symptoms can arise.
You see, our bodies weren’t designed to handle these powerful, concentrated drugs. When you take opioids on a regular basis, your body starts creating more opioid receptors. When you stop taking opioids, now you have all of these extra receptors that are empty, and that’s why you experience withdrawal symptoms. The withdrawal symptoms then become the opposite of the drug effects. So instead of relaxation, you have anxiety. Rather than pain relief, you experience exaggerated pain.
In place of the constipating effect opiates produce, your body rebounds quickly in the opposite direction. This leads to opiate withdrawal-induced diarrhea. Luckily, you can use Imodium for opiate withdrawal symptoms such as diarrhea, nausea and stomach cramping.
Imodium For Opiate Withdrawal Benefits
Many people have eased their symptoms by using Imodium for opiate withdrawal. Imodium is beneficial because it acts as a mu opioid-agonist on the myenteric plexus of the large intestine. This is just a fancy way of saying Imodium has the same effects that opioids do on your stomach. Loperamide, the active ingredient in Imodium AD, is a synthetic opioid, though it does not get you high. This is because Imodium doesn’t act on the Central Nervous System (CNS).
In fact, a common misconception is that Imodium doesn’t cross the Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB). In reality, Imodium DOES cross this barrier, however, it gets IMMEDIATELY pumped back out into NON-CNS circulation. So to sum things up, loperamide is a synthetic opioid drug that doesn’t get you high (doesn’t stay in the brain), although it does have powerful opioid effects (constipating) on the large intestine.
My Experience Using Imodium AD For Opiate Withdrawal
I used Imodium AD for opiate withdrawal several times during my addiction. Each time I knew I could count on Imodium to stop my diarrhea and stomach cramping. What I love about Imodium is how easily accessible and inexpensive it is. Since it is so cheap (only a few dollars), I started keeping it in my medicine cabinet for opiate withdrawal emergencies. For acute opiate withdrawal, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND using Imodium for opiate withdrawal diarrhea and stomach cramping. I actually recommend the generic form, loperamide HCL, because it’s the same thing and it’s much cheaper. 
How to Use Imodium For Opiate Withdrawal
When learning how to use Imodium for opiate withdrawal, it’s important to know the precautions as well as the benefits.
The following criteria will help you determine how to use Imodium for opiate withdrawal safely:
- Imodium can be addictive.
- Try to use Imodium for only 3-4 days to help ease the worst of the symptoms.
- Use Imodium for opiate withdrawal for no longer than one week.
- Imodium for opiate withdrawal can lead to a physiological dependence if used for too long.
- Use the least amount of Imodium possible to obtain relief from opiate withdrawal diarrhea and stomach cramping.
- Depending on your severity of addiction, you may need to use a small or a large dosage of Imodium for opiate withdrawal relief.
- Drink plenty of water and Gatorade while using Imodium for opiate withdrawal to avoid dehydration.
When you purchase Imodium for opiate withdrawal, the directions on the back of the box will say to take two caplets after the first loose stool, and one caplet after each subsequent loose stool. The directions will also inform you not to exceed four caplets in 24 hours. I will tell you right now, I greatly exceeded those directions when I used Imodium for opiate withdrawal. I used about four caplets at a time, and I probably took that dosage three times throughout the day, for a total of 12 caplets (24 mg) in 24 hours.
Note: Everyone is biochemically unique with varying degrees of addiction severity. You may only need a few caplets of Imodium like the directions say. Alternatively, you may need even more Imodium than I used.
Taking Mega-Doses of Imodium For Opiate Withdrawal
After reviewing many of the threads on forums, I’ve read some pretty cool stories on using Imodium for opiate withdrawal. Some people have stated that mega-doses of Imodium (15-60 mg) not only stopped diarrhea, but it also alleviated nearly ALL of their symptoms! I’ve also read about people actually getting high on these mega-doses, and some have even become very addicted to the high from Imodium. Apparently, many opiate abusers have reported things like Vitamin C, grapefruit juice and cimetidine (Tagamet) can help push Imodium to pass the Blood-Brain Barrier.
Note: I’m usually hesitant to believe absolutely everything I read in these forums because there is a lot of misleading information (there is also a lot of great info). However, everyone is biochemically unique, and since I’ve never tried these mega-doses of Imodium, I still completely believe in the drugs ability to produce these results in some people, though not all people. Furthermore, taking these mega-doses of Imodium for opiate withdrawal is generally considered safe as long as it’s only done for a few days during acute opiate withdrawal.
CAUTION!!! Some people have become addicted to Imodium. Do to using it for a prolonged period of time (usually a few months or more) at large doses, people have even ended up in the hospital with serious heart problems…some resulting in death.
To learn more about the dangers of Imodium abuse, click below:
To read articles on the medical consequences of Imodium abuse, click below:
Loperamide Abuse Case Studies>>
A typical Imodium mega-dosing protocol looks like this:
- Day 1: Take 400 mg of Tagamet followed by 24-30 mg of Imodium or less washed down with a glass of grapefruit juice (GFJ) every 5-8 hours, or as needed (some individuals will only need 16 mg of Imodium every 10-12 hours).
- Day 2: Take 400 mg of Tagamet followed by 20 mg of Imodium every 5-8 hours, or as needed, all washed down with GFJ.
- Day 3: Take 400 mg of Tagamet followed by 18 mg of Imodium every 5-8 hours, or as needed, all washed down with GFJ.
- Day 4: Begin to lower you Imodium dosage by half, but continue to take with 400 mg of Tagamet and wash down with GFJ.
Note: Since everyone has varying levels of addiction severity, this protocol may or may not work for you. Based on your unique needs, you may benefit from raising or lowering the Imodium for opiate withdrawal dosage. Listen to your body. Make adjustments as necessary.
To further reduce opiate withdrawal symptoms naturally, I always recommend taking a high-quality Opiate Withdrawal Supplement combined with Imodium. Click here now to view my best home detox program.
If you have any questions on how to use Imodium for opiate withdrawal, please feel free to post them in the comment box below.
Hi Matt and other amazingly helpful people on here. This has been my website holy grail for a few months now.
Back story. Two broken wrists after a cycling accident. Steel plate added to one wrist. Lots of do codamol for two months after it. After that I sourced my own Codeine phosphate after enjoying it way too much. Upped to doses of 200mg sometimes three times a day.
If you live in the uk I highly recommend speaking to your doctor. This is the second time I went to them for help with codeine problems and they were amazing again. I was a good patient for a while but when I lost the buzz for two weeks I got itchy. Bought kratom and thought I’d try myself but I was in the wrong mindset and ended up on 40 grams of Bali a day. Tried again on the taper and got down to about 100mg codeine a day and was very determined to get off it but scared mainly of withdrawal depression and restless legs. Thisstarted over a year ago.
Today is day five of no codeine and I’m buzzing.
Day one 24mg of loperamide in 3 separate doses.
Day two 14mg
Day three 14
Day four 3500mg phenibut. ( I take one or two times a month) was addicted once and won’t do that again. No more that once a week now)
Day five is today and I’m riding the afterglow of phenibut. No loperamide for almost 40 hours and BM feel normal ish. It’s been a while so hard to tell.
Im on top o f the world. First three days I took promethazine at night and it didn’t upset my restless legs however doxalymine did very badly. Don’t mix alcohol and antihistamines as I think that’s what upsets it. Yesterday was my birthday and it was the best present I’ve given myself.
I know 8n a few weeks this will wear off and I will have to work hard to stay off pills and potions but I’m riding the wave right now. Imodium was incredibly helpful in relatively small dos3s. I believe codeine doesn’t measure compared to Oxys and Hydros but as I’m UK based it’s hard to compare. Everyone’s battle is different but I highly recommend tapering and loperamide for a few days.
I’ve missed no work. In fact I’m here right now smiling at every customer.
Phenibut is fantastic. Do not be tempted to take everyday. The withdrawals are 100 times worse than codeine at least. Loperamide for me gave me stomach ache at 10mh hence the low dose age but I countered with a bit of lactolose for BM. Hieofulky ive been lucky and made it through unscathed. Fingers crossed eh?
Thank you Matt for this wonderful website,
Ben
Hi Ben,
Congrats on your success!!! You’ve really done a lot of studying and created a bullet-proof plan that is working so well you haven’t even had to take time off work. I’m impressed. Thanks for sharing your success story here and for the feedback on my website. You rock! Keep up the good work and I wish you the absolute best on your journey, Ben.
P.S. – I’m going to add a link to my article on phenibut in case anyone reading your post wants to learn more:
How To Use Phenibut For Opiate Wtihdrawal>>
My doctor had me on 7.5 mg of hydrocodone 4 times per day. Whatever was/is wrong with me came on suddenly. He refused, absolutely refused, to do any testing or give me a referral. He told me many times it was the only thing that would help me (but how did he know without knowing what was wrong?) and insisted I just take it regularly and live with the pain.
So I finally called my insurance Co and got released from managed care so I could get second opinions and see specialists. He found out I went to see a spinalist and infectious disease doc and got an MRI. He got made and said he wasn’t my doc anymore. Now I am facing withdrawals when my script runs out in about a week.
I have tried to come off of it before because the guy acts like some horrible drug dealer/pimp. But whenever I reduce the dosage the basic actual pain I have gets so bad I can’t.
Because of the opioid scare every other doc in town I have called for an appt says they don’t prescribe it. In fact, one of the things my original doc said was “no other doctor around here is going to prescribe you this medicine but me”. Unquote. And apparently that’s true.
So what do I do? Every time I reduce the dose down to half I start getting diarrhea, big pupils, shaking.
Plus i’ve had 5 heart attacks.
Any suggestions on what to do? I have tried kraytom but it gives me abdominal cramps and headache and I think makes my b/p go up.
It seems I have gotten a ‘legal’ drug pusher who wants to make me go cold turkey as punishment for going to another doctor.
Any suggestions or insight is appreciated. I am scared of what it might do to me because of my physical condition and don’t know how to handle it. What’s the best way to handle it? What might my options be?
I have a question, I’m a bit confused on the quantity of the tagamet. We bought 28 tablets of 20mg, so how many do we take of the tagamet. I think we have enough loperamide to last a few days
Trying this on day 15 of suboxone withdrawal, still sweating with awful RLS & anxiety quit cold Turkey 8-2mg sub strips 2x p.d. yeah stupid, I know had no choice husband decided I didn’t need it after 8 years and 3 back surgeries in a year. So… here goes, I took 4 two mg loperamide. Fingers crossed
Imodium was effective, but with unpleasant side effects. I’d say Kratom is a much better alternative, combined with other natural supplements (large amounts of vitamin C, L-tyrosine, B-complex).
Can u please explain the rest of the lopermide tapering dosege from day 4 – ??? Please
Hi Kevin,
Loperamide is usually not recommended for more than 4 days for opiate withdrawal. But if you wanted to continue tapering, you could lower it again by half on the 5th day and 6th day as well. If you take too much loperamide for longer than that you have the ability to become dependent upon it.
Disclaimer: I am a Strategic Intervention Coach, not a doctor, so I can’t give professional advice regarding aspects of the body, only the mind. What I write is for informational use only. It’s not intended to treat, diagnose or prevent any disease. Always check with your doctor before changing your diet, trying any new supplements, medications, exercise or opiate tapering programs.
So does the Imodium help get you through the w/d or does it prolong it? I have detox multiple time but for whatever reason I am having bad anxiety about getting ill this time. I just need help with three days and I will be fine after that. I do not want to do the Imodium f it’s just going to prolong my suffering.
Nobody has ever told me it prolonged their withdrawals. I’ve heard from many people that they’ve taken it for a few days to stop withdrawal, then when they stopped taking it, they were past the hump. Disclaimer: This comment is for informational use, and is not medical advice. Consult with your physician before trying any new over-the-counter medications.