Expanded 2-paragraph summary at a 6th grade reading level:
This study looked at reports of dangerous heart rhythm problems in people who used certain types of opioid drugs. Opioids are strong pain medicines that can be addictive. Some people who are addicted to prescription opioids have started using over-the-counter or recreational opioids instead. These include the diarrhea medicine loperamide (Imodium) and an herb called kratom.
The researchers looked at reports of heart rhythm problems in three different drug safety databases in the United States and Canada. They found that loperamide and kratom were linked to a higher risk of serious heart rhythm problems, including some that resulted in death. This is important because these drugs are easily available and some people may be using them to try to avoid opioid withdrawal symptoms or get high.
This study was done by analyzing real-world reports of adverse events, not in a lab setting. The data came from reports made by individuals, healthcare providers, and drug companies about problems with medications. The study looked at data on humans, not animals.
Key takeaways:
- Over-the-counter opioids like loperamide and recreational opioids like kratom are linked to a higher risk of serious, potentially fatal heart rhythm problems.
- These drugs are easily available and some people may be using them to try to manage opioid withdrawal or get high.
- More research is needed to fully understand the heart-related risks of these drugs.
- Healthcare providers should be aware of these potential risks when caring for patients who may be using these types of opioids.
For further reading:
Link: https://www.jacc.org/doi/10.1016/j.jacc.2023.04.009
Full Citation:
Krantz MJ, Rudo TJ, Haigney MCP, et al. Ventricular Arrhythmias Associated With Overthe-Counter and Recreational Opioids. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2023;81(23):2258-2268.
