Opiates
These are the natural derivatives of the opium poppy.
Morphine: The most effective pain killer known, it is a schedule II narcotic. Morphine sulphate is available under several brand names, most notably MSIR (instant release) and MScontin (sustained release). The drug comes in 15, 30, 60, and 100mg doses. The vast majority of morphine (around 90% ) is lost on the first pass through the liver, making morphine very inefficient orally. While Morphine sulphate is able to be injected, ampules of it are rarely seen on the streets.
Codeine: Another major component of opium, codeine is much weaker than morphine. Pure codeine is a Schedule II drug, but depending on the concentration it can be Schedule III or IV. It is often prescribed for moderate pain relief and as a cough suppressant. Codeine is metabolised into morphine in the liver. Codeine is seen in any number of drugs around the world, usually in combination with apap, ibuprofen, and caffeine. As most of the codeine is absorbed in the GI tract, and survives the first pass in the liver, other methods of ingestion besides oral are not really useful. DO NOT ATTEPMT TO IV CODEINE! Doing so can cause serious life threatening conditions, such as pulmonary edema. Codeine is normally found combined as Tylenol 1, 2, 3, 4 (7.5, 15, 30, 60mg codeine w/ 300mg apap respectively). Codeine is also found in cough syrups, but due to the low concentration it is not considered usable recreationally.
Opiods
These are the synthetic or semi-synthetic derivatives of opiates.
Oxymorphone: Numorphan, rarely seen but often asked after, this is considered by those lucky enough to try it to be the most euphoric of all. It is a Schedule II drug with approximately 10 times the pain killing ability of morphine. This powerful drug is one of the hardest to find. It is available in 5mg suppositories, and ampules of 1 or 1.5mg/ml
Hydromorphone: Dilaudid, a pain killer of the same approx strength as morphine, it is strangely noted for its lack of euphoria. Hydromorphone is available in pill form of 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, and 10mg, and ampules of 1, 2, 3, 4 and 10mg/ml. There is also a 3mg suppository form. Many find this drug to have no recreational value, with one exception. Administered IV, Dilaudid is said to have a rush comparable to heroin. This rush is said to be very short lived and after it is done many find the effects to be boring. Injection is not advised unless you are dealing with a sealed ampule. Injection of pills is not advised and can be dangerous to your health.
Fentanyl: Sublimaze is a potent opiod. This Schedule II drug’s active dose is measured in micrograms vice milligrams. It is available as Duragesic patches in 25, 50, 75, and 100 mcg/hr, and as a “lollypop” in 200, 400, 800, 1200, and 1600 mcg. Fentanyl can be administered IV, but this drug is very dose sensitive. I am not going to suggest a dosage for this, if you chose to IV this drug please research it fully. An overdose is very easy to reach on Fentanyl.
Oxycodone: A Schedule II drug, Oxycodone is available in many different forms. When combined with aspirin it is called Percodan (5mg oxycodone/325mg aspirin). When combined with Tylenol, it is Percocet (5mg oxycodone/500mg apap). Neither of these two types is considered to be the most recreational, due to the low concentration of oxycodone compared to the apap/aspirin. Other brand names for such mixtures include Roxicet, Tylox, Roxilox, and many others.
Oxycodone is also available alone, either as a time release (Oxycontin) or instant release (OxyIR) pill. There is also OxyFast, a 20mg/ml solution of oxycodone. Oxycontin is available in 10, 20, 40, and 80mg pills. OxyIR comes in 5mg. Other names include Percolone, and Roxicodone. Oxycodone is a highly abused drug, esp. in the form of Oxycontin.
Hydrocodone: A Schedule II drug in the US, hydrocodone is reduced to Schedule III when less than 15mg/pill. This lower scheduling makes hydrocodone a much more commonly prescribed drug than oxycodone. Commonly combined with apap under the brand names Lortab or Vicodin, it can also be combined with aspirin (Lortab ASA) or ibuprofen (Vicoprofen). Common doses are 5/500, 7.5/750, or 10/660 mg (hydrocodone/apap respectively).
Methadone: Sold under the names Dolophine, methadone is available in 5 or 10, and 40mg tablets, and in form for injection in 10mg/ml concentration. While it is prescribed for pain, methadone is famous for its use as treatment for opiate addiction. This is because methadone produces little to no high, but is effective in reducing withdrawal symptoms. Methadone is schedule II.
Demerol: Meperidine, a Schedule II narcotic, is prescribed for short term pain relief. It should not be use long term, either medically or recreationally, due to the build up of the toxic metabolite normeperdine in the body. Demoral is different from the other listed opiate, in that it does not share the opiate structure yet still acts on the same type of receptors. It is sold in 50 and 100mg pills, and is available in vials for IV use.
Action of Opiates
The action of Opiates is still much of a mystery. That said there have been three types of opiate receptors identified within the CNS: Mu, Kappa, and Delta. As is currently thought (and well supported by lab experiments) these drugs bond to these receptors. The difference in effects is modulated by a number of variables: the amount of receptors bonded to, the speed in which the drug crosses the blood brain barrier, the types of receptor bonded to (the Mu receptor is thought to be responsible for the euphoria and analgesia). Opiates also act upon the Serotonin, Dopamine, and Norepinephrine systems, but in a far lesser way.
Opiates, upon entering the brain, bond to the listed receptors, where they mimic the body’s natural pain killer, endorphin. The drug activates receptors in different areas of the brain, depending on the ability of the drug to penetrate into the brain, producing different effects.
Effects of Opiates
Opiates cause, in varying degrees: euphoria, respiratory depression, analgesia, constipation, light-headedness, dizziness, sedation, nausea and vomiting. Opiate use causes the contraction of the pupils. Opiate use can lead to dependency and addiction. Overdose can lead to respiratory failure and death.
Contradictions
Use of opiates is generally contradicted in persons with:
Depressed respiration
Urethral stricture
Acute head injury
Severe impairment of hepatic or renal function
Hypothyroidism
Addison's disease