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OBJECTIVE: Catatonic features are observed in several psychiatric illnesses but can also be found following substance misuse. Loperamide is an anti-diarrhoeal medication that acts on opioid receptors in the intestine, reducing peristalsis. It is normally unable to pass through the intestinal wall or the blood-brain barrier; however, high dosages can in fact induce the effects on the central nervous system. CASE REPORT: We describe the case of a 20-year-old man who presented with severe catatonia following excessive intake of loperamide, fully remitted with lorazepam. CONCLUSION: We speculate on a possible increase of loperamide's bioavailability after overdose owing to reduced expression and functioning of P-glycoprotein.
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Rosa et al. (2013) studied this question.
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