Lomotil is a prescription drug that is often used to treat acute diarrhea. It is a combination of two different drugs: Diphenoxylate and Atropine. Diphenoxylate works by disrupting the flow of the intestinal bowels, thus preventing and eliminating frequent bowel movements. However, since Diphenoxylate has narcotic properties, taking it in large doses can lead to a sense of euphoria. This can cause the drug to be misused and abused, or sold as an illicit street dug. In order to prevent this issue, the drug Atropine is usually combined with it. Atropine can assist Diphenoxylate in the relief of diarrhea in that it can reduce muscle spasms within the intestine. However the primary use of Atropine is the prevent Diphenoxylate from being abused.
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It works by acting on the opioid receptors in the GI tract, which slows intestinal contractions. As a result it will slow the movement of the bowels. This gives the intestine more time to absorb the liquid from the bowels, resulting in a drier bowel movement. However the main problem with Diphenoxylate is that it is a Meperidine congener and thus has extremely addictive opioid properties (2). It can produce a sense of euphoria if overconsumed, which may result in a drug addiction/habit. Furthermore, a person’s tolerance level toward opioids can increase, thus resulting in more needing to be consumed in order for euphoria to occur. In the long run this may lead to a drug overdose which would likely result in …show more content…
Its anesthetic and sedative properties were noted in the early 1st century AD. Opioids are neuroactive substances, therefore opioid receptors mediate their actions and reactions. The GI system is particularly sensitive towards neuroactive drugs due to the fact that it contains the enteric nervous system. The enteric nervous system is the second largest collection of neurons in the human body. The GI system’s function is modified by opioid peptides by the, “interruption of neuroneuronal and neuroeffector transmission within enteric nerve pathways governing muscle activity.”(4). As a result, GI muscle activity ceases or slows in the presence of opioids, which gives the large intestine more time to absorb the water from the bowel movement. This eliminates diarrhea, however it also may cause constipation.
The United States government classifies Diphenoxylate as a Schedule II Controlled Substance, which has highly addictive properties with some medical benefits. To put this in perspective, Morphine and Opium are also classified in this category. Diphenoxylate must be prescribed by a physician, and selling it would result in severe fines and penalties. However when it is combined with Atropine, it becomes a Schedule V Controlled Substance. This is due to Atropine mitigating any euphoric properties with unpleasant side effects, which lessens the likely hood of
It works by acting on the opioid receptors in the GI tract, which slows intestinal contractions. As a result it will slow the movement of the bowels. This gives the intestine more time to absorb the liquid from the bowels, resulting in a drier bowel movement. However the main problem with Diphenoxylate is that it is a Meperidine congener and thus has extremely addictive opioid properties (2). It can produce a sense of euphoria if overconsumed, which may result in a drug addiction/habit. Furthermore, a person’s tolerance level toward opioids can increase, thus resulting in more needing to be consumed in order for euphoria to occur. In the long run this may lead to a drug overdose which would likely result in …show more content…
Its anesthetic and sedative properties were noted in the early 1st century AD. Opioids are neuroactive substances, therefore opioid receptors mediate their actions and reactions. The GI system is particularly sensitive towards neuroactive drugs due to the fact that it contains the enteric nervous system. The enteric nervous system is the second largest collection of neurons in the human body. The GI system’s function is modified by opioid peptides by the, “interruption of neuroneuronal and neuroeffector transmission within enteric nerve pathways governing muscle activity.”(4). As a result, GI muscle activity ceases or slows in the presence of opioids, which gives the large intestine more time to absorb the water from the bowel movement. This eliminates diarrhea, however it also may cause constipation.
The United States government classifies Diphenoxylate as a Schedule II Controlled Substance, which has highly addictive properties with some medical benefits. To put this in perspective, Morphine and Opium are also classified in this category. Diphenoxylate must be prescribed by a physician, and selling it would result in severe fines and penalties. However when it is combined with Atropine, it becomes a Schedule V Controlled Substance. This is due to Atropine mitigating any euphoric properties with unpleasant side effects, which lessens the likely hood of