Coronary artery spasm after ingestion of Imodium (loperamide) in a 14-year-old boy

Abstract

We report a 14-year-old boy who presented with acute chest pain, following the ingestion of loperamide for acute diarrhea. Twelve lead electrocardiogram (ECG) showed evidence of acute ischemia indicating acute coronary artery spasm. The changes reverted with treatment within a few hours with no permanent effect on myocardial function. This report highlights a rare side effect of loperamide, often debated in adults and never reported in adolescents.

Keywords

• Chest pain
• coronary artery spasm
• loperamide
• myocardial ischemia