I'd like to find out what physiological mechanism causes libido to surge during opiate withdrawal. I've withdrawn from heroin or methadone dozens of times, and each time my sex drive increases approximately tenfold from my body's non-opiate-dependent norm, especially during days 2-6 of heroin w/d and days 4-12 of methadone w/d. I realize this aspect of withdrawal is well-known, but I can't find a detailed answer as to why sex drive is so acutely amplified during w/d.
To be precise, I'm not referring to the psychological desire for sex. I'm referring to the intensity and frequency of male sexual readiness, characterized by seemingly-instantaneous erection in response to even the most minimal sexual stimulus; characterized as well by the proverbial "hair-trigger orgasm," and the ability to replenish semen very rapidly and, consequently, ejaculate numerous times per day; also characterized by intensely pleasurable sensations in the penis during orgasm (enormously more pleasurable than during normal sex).
One day I'd like to look into formulating a substance which reproduces whatever physiological mechanism is responsible for this phenomenon--without, of course, any of the other symptoms of withdrawal. Has nobody attempted this already? The irony alone makes looking into it irresistible.
To be precise, I'm not referring to the psychological desire for sex. I'm referring to the intensity and frequency of male sexual readiness, characterized by seemingly-instantaneous erection in response to even the most minimal sexual stimulus; characterized as well by the proverbial "hair-trigger orgasm," and the ability to replenish semen very rapidly and, consequently, ejaculate numerous times per day; also characterized by intensely pleasurable sensations in the penis during orgasm (enormously more pleasurable than during normal sex).
One day I'd like to look into formulating a substance which reproduces whatever physiological mechanism is responsible for this phenomenon--without, of course, any of the other symptoms of withdrawal. Has nobody attempted this already? The irony alone makes looking into it irresistible.
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