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The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced this week that overdosing on diarrhea drug may lead to heart problems. Loperamide, a generic name for popular name brand Imodium has been used to help stem opioid drug addiction and withdrawal on purpose.

Overdosing Imodium Can Lead to Heart Problems, Death

The FDA issued a warning that states that overdosing on Imodium diarrhea drug can lead to serious heart problems and can be potentially fatal. High doses of loperamide in the body can cause erratic heart rhythms, possible cardiac arrest and possibly death.

Imodium abuse: Anti-diarrhea medication containing loperamide dangerous for self-treatment of opiod addiction https://t.co/WerZkF0qoM

— DeeDelezeneBrowers (@deedeeb8) May 4, 2016

Imodium Abuse and Overdose is a Growing Concern

A number of people have been abusing Imodium to get high. Others also use the diarrhea drug to help curb the effects opioid drug addiction and their withdrawal symptoms, NBC News reported. Opioids can cause constipation among users and taking the Imodium can declog their bowels.

Imodium Overdose Cases Increased More than 70 Percent

According to the National Poison Control Center, there has been more than 70 percent increase in calls regarding Imodium overdose in 2011 to 2014, CBS News noted. Some people have been desperate to wean off the drugs or to control their withdrawal symptoms from using opioids that overdosing on 300 Imodium pills is quit commonplace.

Imodium was approved in 1976 and since then, the FDA has received 48 separate reports from people who have experienced serious heart problems from taking the diarrhea drug. In those cases, 31 people were hospitalized and 10 died, MD shared.

To curb the Imodium overdose epidemic in the country, the FDA recommends controlling the sale of the diarrhea drug. Imodium is an over-the-counter drug that is easily purchased from pharmacies and other stores that sell medicine.

Do you think Imodium abuse and overdose is a growing concern in the US? Will we see it as the next epidemic next to opioid misuse? Let us know what you think in the comments below.