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The research group led by Dr Sjoerd van Wijk from the Institute of Experimental Cancer Research in Paediatrics at Goethe University already two years ago found evidence indicating that the anti-diarrhoea drug loperamide could be used to induce cell death in glioblastoma cell lines. They have now deciphered its mechanism of action and, in doing so, are opening new avenues for the development of novel treatment strategies.
Several classes of opioids have been shown to cause neuronal degeneration via ATF4 activation. So, key points: 1. Loperamide is not unique. I don't know why these researchers have singled it out. Is it because they heard there's an opioid that doesn't get you high? It only avoids getting you high because it doesn't get into the brain. IF you deliver it to the brain to treat a brain tumor, it will get you high. 2. Pat…
Random lurker here - are you a biologist/researcher?
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Random lurker here - are you a biologist/researcher?
Medical doctor.
Edit: I don't mean this in a gatekeeping way, I honestly was just curious to hear an example of how this happens. Do people outside tech have someone in tech mention the site to them? Do they browse and just read the fraction of articles that aren't about something software related?
If Loperamide alone (as opposed to other opiods) ends up being useful for this treatment in humans, I wonder what the impact will be on the price or OTC availability, if any - possibly nil because a special method of application might be required (nanoparticles)? Has something similar to this happened previously with another OTC drug and actually made it to market?
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Medical doctor.
Just curious, how does an MD end up on Hacker News? Edit: I don't mean this in a gatekeeping way, I honestly was just curious to hear an example of how this happens. Do people outside tech have someone in tech mention the site to them? Do they browse and just read the fraction of articles that aren't about something software related?
2. Many people have areas of interest outside of their profession.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Medical doctor.
Just curious, how does an MD end up on Hacker News? Edit: I don't mean this in a gatekeeping way, I honestly was just curious to hear an example of how this happens. Do people outside tech have someone in tech mention the site to them? Do they browse and just read the fraction of articles that aren't about something software related?
Sooo, opiates have an anti-diarrhea action by slowing down the intestines/Bowel movements, which is why they cause constipation. Loperamide is an opiate that acts locally (and probably via the bloodstream too) on the intestines, but doesn’t get into the brain, so you get the anti-diarrhea effects without pain relief/getting high/slow breathing of opiates. Some randos on the internet believe that you could consume a b…
> Some randos on the internet believe that you could consume a bottle of loperamide and overcome that inability to get into the brain. In theory that’s true (since the brain barrier is actively pumping it back out and there’s gotta be a limit to that rejection), but I don’t think it’s worked out in practice other than causing massive constipation. It's a medication that gets stolen by drug users which is a bit frustr…
As someone who suffers from IBS and takes loperamide regularly, while its not necessarily an addiction, I see forums of people (especially on /r/ibs) saying that it causes a dependency. I saw posts where people kept upping the dose until it got to a point where it doesnt work anymore and you would have to increasingly take larger amounts to have the same effect. Heck some take as many as 3 after every meal. I cant imagine doing that.
I try to avoid doing this and luckily I can get away with one every few days but I dread the day I have to be in that situation.
One thing I noticed is that - it gives me incredible mental boost a day after taking it. It just makes me feel normal and that to me is a 'boost'.
Several classes of opioids have been shown to cause neuronal degeneration via ATF4 activation. So, key points: 1. Loperamide is not unique. I don't know why these researchers have singled it out. Is it because they heard there's an opioid that doesn't get you high? It only avoids getting you high because it doesn't get into the brain. IF you deliver it to the brain to treat a brain tumor, it will get you high. 2. Pat…
People do get high on immodium [0]. With huge doses, but still.
0: https://www.forbes.com/sites/robertglatter/2018/01/31/fda-cr...
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Medical doctor.
Just curious, how does an MD end up on Hacker News? Edit: I don't mean this in a gatekeeping way, I honestly was just curious to hear an example of how this happens. Do people outside tech have someone in tech mention the site to them? Do they browse and just read the fraction of articles that aren't about something software related?
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Re getting loperamide in the bloodstream If a drug is metabolized in the liver then instead of ingesting a bottle of pills (most likely not safe, certainly not recommended), the way to bypass the liver is to use suppositories. Again, safety-wise it is not a sensible thing to do.
> the way to bypass the liver is to use suppositories Or transdermal or intranasal or sublingual or through the lungs or ... But I think the issue here is that the blood-brain barrier is actively pumping it back out, not immediate liver metabolism. I’ve updated my post a bit. I probably shouldn’t have said “locally” since it gets into the bloodstream and should have an effect from the other side too.
Blood-brain barrier is another obstacle to cross. Quinidine taken with loperamide blocks transport protein P-glycoprotein and causing loperamide to have opioid like effects in the brain.