Opioids weird things i've noticed the last 8 years on opiates.. might be interesting for some

[Phat5o]

this is really random but i just wanted to put some of these out there and hear if other people have made similar experiences more or less.....

- i haven't developed a tolerance to opioids. i still take 15 - 20mg oxycodone or 30mg morphine sulfate per serving and it feels the same every time. that's what i started with and that's where i still am today 8 years later. i never ever took any more than that at a time because i really hate the opiate sickness you get from taking too much. i experienced it a couple times when i first began taking and adjusted my dose. for some reason never testing my limits and always using a safe dose has worked for me. i think if i was to take like a 60 - 80mg serving of oxy i might die....no joke

- the only opioids i have ever noticed a tolerance with was dilaudid and tramadol but discontinued as soon as i noticed.
the only difference that i guess i have is that sometimes the serving doesn't last as long as it used to, but i can deal with that.

- some morphine based painkillers can give me headaches. also when i consciously sober out after like 5 hours or so after my last dose i can get a headache

- i can barely even feel my painkillers AT ALL if i take them on a full stomach, even high fat meal

- i never snorted any opioids because i never noticed a difference in strength

- nucynta (tapentadol) is just as strong as oxycodone to me and feels super similar in terms of everything lol. i would say 150mg tapentadol is similar to 20mg oxycodone

- benzos don't potentiate opioids for me but rather take the opioid buzz away

- i can't tell much of a difference between 10/325 of hydrocodone/apap and 10/325 of oxycodone/apap. strength wise they feel the same to me. so to me it wouldn't matter if i take 20mg of hydro or oxy. but this is were it gets weird.... i can NEVER ever feel the damn 5/500mg vicodin lol.... i could take 6 of those and it wouldn't feel like 2 or even 1 10/1000 or 10/325 hydrocodone/apap mix.. that's a weird one.. the best a 5/500 mg vicodin can do to me is keep my out of withdrawal.

- on short acting opioids i start having withdrawal symptoms anywhere from 7 - 10 hours after my last dose. this can be irritating because withdrawal symptoms usually wake me up.



i'll add more when i think of some

wanna hear if i'm not the only one experiencing these things.

 

[Bambooshoot]

All these things are your individual experiences. Everyone has different experiences with dosages, tolerance and how they react to different drugs. I don't really know what you are hoping to get out of this as you don't really have any questions. And certainly nothing remotely close to HR.
Sounds more like a blog entry to me. I would take a read at the BLUA and the OD posting guidelines.

 

[Znegative]

Yeah, this is more appropriate for a blog entry..
However, I am not entirely surprised by your consistent tolerance experience. It sounds to me like you just don't like to be to medicated. I know that I can continuously use the same amount of IV heroin, and I will still get the same rush and the same high, the only thing that really changes is the duration of the high and the intensity of the euphoria. However since I enjoy the effects of strong narcotics, I often end up raising my dosages with all opiates (aside from methadone and buprenorphine) as I chase that high. But methadone and buprenorphine are perfect example's of opioids which (at low enough dosages) seem to consistently give the same level of mood elevation/glow, though I too find this to be only the case when administered on an empty stomach.

I'll leave this open for a while longer, but it will probably end up getting closed if it doesn't generate any worthwhile discussion.

 

[Halif]

- some morphine based painkillers can give me headaches. also when i consciously sober out after like 5 hours or so after my last dose i can get a headache

LOL, I get this too and I find it ironic that I sometime have to take an aspirin to relieve a headache caused by a powerful narcotic painkiller.

- benzos don't potentiate opioids for me but rather take the opioid buzz away

Agree with this, too. Actually, any other downer added onto an opiate high detracts from the subtle opiate high and just makes me feel more sedated.

 

[diver]

- on short acting opioids i start having withdrawal symptoms anywhere from 7 - 10 hours after my last dose. this can be irritating because withdrawal symptoms usually wake me up.




wanna hear if i'm not the only one experiencing these things.

Me too with this... Occasionally accompanied by nightmares

 

[Jktm]

perhaps this thread would find a good home in DC?

 

[-Guido-]

Congratulations on not overdoing it with opiates but I think your are mixing up feeling normal with a recreational dose.

 

[smokemctoke420]

in the last 5-6 years i have used opiates (only w/ding twice both times ending up in detox) but i have never used more then 30 mgs at 1 time and i can count the number of times i have done that) 15-20 mgs still does me good to this day but i can redose often and if i got them which is only once or twice a month but i get upwards of 450 mgs at a time. i jujst think my tolerance is stuck or something. ill do the 450-500 mgs in 3-4 days and get 0 w/ds. maybe im just lucky

 

[Phat5o]

Congratulations on not overdoing it with opiates but I think your are mixing up feeling normal with a recreational dose.

i see what u mean there. didn't understand it at first. what you're saying is that without the drug i feel like shit and it only feels good because i'm getting myself well again? in that case, you're actually somewhat right, like 50% lol because getting well comes with the extra euphoria.

in the last 5-6 years i have used opiates (only w/ding twice both times ending up in detox) but i have never used more then 30 mgs at 1 time and i can count the number of times i have done that) 15-20 mgs still does me good to this day but i can redose often and if i got them which is only once or twice a month but i get upwards of 450 mgs at a time. i jujst think my tolerance is stuck or something. ill do the 450-500 mgs in 3-4 days and get 0 w/ds. maybe im just lucky

yes, i don't go through withdrawals either after 5 days of using like that. i dont notice anything close to resembling w/d symptoms until i'm at it 24/7 for 2+ weeks, and then it's still very minor. at that point it can get ugly fast though and i'll get stuck using for many many more months or years until i have to go through horrible paws after a somewhat intense detox.

 

[cook]

I believe that one's lifestyle and style of using can have a great effect on tolerance gaining. The more you are letting your own endorphine system rest (using, not exercising or doing anything for that matter) the greater the tolerance gain rate and the faster you are going to get dependent on external opioids.

I have been an endorphin addict long before I got into opioids and still prefer them more, but have got myself dependent on opioids couple times already. Seem to have gained little or no tolerance for the ~2 year period i've been on to opioids. The people who generate massive tolerance in short time in my opinion tend to rely on the drug and "chase" the high. Maybe most of them are not even aware how similar and powerful experiences their own body can create when properly stimulated.

 

[Choosing_Positive]

I believe that one's lifestyle and style of using can have a great effect on tolerance gaining. The more you are letting your own endorphine system rest (using, not exercising or doing anything for that matter) the greater the tolerance gain rate and the faster you are going to get dependent on external opioids.

I have been an endorphin addict long before I got into opioids and still prefer them more, but have got myself dependent on opioids couple times already. Seem to have gained little or no tolerance for the ~2 year period i've been on to opioids. The people who generate massive tolerance in short time in my opinion tend to rely on the drug and "chase" the high. Maybe most of them are not even aware how similar and powerful experiences their own body can create when properly stimulated.

Well put...

 

[Bambooshoot]

^^Very well put..

 

[Lady Codone]

Interesting post!!! Here are a few things I've noticed in my 7+ years of on/off use:

*Oxycodone is by far the most addictive opiate for me. Withdrawals set in after only a WEEK of using 5-10 mg per day of Percocet. This took me completely by surprise since I can literally take other opiates for weeks without withdrawals.

*Opiates do not "numb" my emotions. I don't use them to escape reality. They fight depression and anxiety in a way nothing else can, making me appreciate the small things and want to be active and social. They're the ultimate motivator, providing endless inspiration and optimism. This effect does not diminish even with daily use. (People always talk about opiates in terms of "numbing" and "escaping" feelings).

*After 4 years of daily poppy pod use, my tolerance didn't increase by any appreciable amount. I did not increase my dose/frequency of use and quit cold turkey when I was ready with no relapses.

*Physical withdrawals suck, but they're not as bad as I've seen them described. No puking or diarrhea for me--just moderate cold-like symptoms and fatigue.

*Psychological withdrawals suck, but I have no cravings to use even in the throes of withdrawal. No obsessive thoughts about opiates whatsoever, just a strong desire for the feelings to go away.

*Quitting SSRI's is harder than quitting opiates.

*Quitting stimulants is harder than quitting opiates.

^ All personal opinion, mind you. Always interesting to see how drugs affect people differently. I've had several folks bitch me out or doubt some of the above claims, which is just ignorant.

 

[macd610]

Interesting post!!! Here are a few things I've noticed in my 7+ years of on/off use:

*Oxycodone is by far the most addictive opiate for me. Withdrawals set in after only a WEEK of using 5-10 mg per day of Percocet. This took me completely by surprise since I can literally take other opiates for weeks without withdrawals.

*Opiates do not "numb" my emotions. I don't use them to escape reality. They fight depression and anxiety in a way nothing else can, making me appreciate the small things and want to be active and social. They're the ultimate motivator, providing endless inspiration and optimism. This effect does not diminish even with daily use. (People always talk about opiates in terms of "numbing" and "escaping" feelings).

*After 4 years of daily poppy pod use, my tolerance didn't increase by any appreciable amount. I did not increase my dose/frequency of use and quit cold turkey when I was ready with no relapses.

*Physical withdrawals suck, but they're not as bad as I've seen them described. No puking or diarrhea for me--just moderate cold-like symptoms and fatigue.

*Psychological withdrawals suck, but I have no cravings to use even in the throes of withdrawal. No obsessive thoughts about opiates whatsoever, just a strong desire for the feelings to go away.

*Quitting SSRI's is harder than quitting opiates.

*Quitting stimulants is harder than quitting opiates.

^ All personal opinion, mind you. Always interesting to see how drugs affect people differently. I've had several folks bitch me out or doubt some of the above claims, which is just ignorant.

Absolutely, it's ignorant. These are your experiences, and I'm guessing the people who get angry about the fact that you don't get insane withdrawals are the ones who DO go through hell getting off opioids / opiates...like myself!
I could make a giant post about this, but I won't. I will just share one thing I have found interesting ...
The first thing I became dependent upon was hydrocodone 5 milligrams. That was 9 years ago. Now I'm on 100mcg Fentanyl patch and oxycodone ir 60-75 mg every 4 hours as needed for breakthrough pain.
NOT counting the fentanyl here...but I notice that my withdrawals from hydrocodone (BTW, never took any more than 4-5 pills per day) were just as bad as my withdrawal from oxycodone...I take about 280-300mg of that.
I would think that I'd look back and say to myself, "Wow, I thought I had it bad years ago with my hydrocodone, but withdrawal from oxycodone is SOO much worse!". NO WAY. Are my wd's bad? Absolutely. I actually find though, that the emotional and mental turmoil was noticeably worse w the hydrocodone!
Maybe this is not strange at all, and there's an easy explanation that I am ignorant to? If this DOES make sense to any fellow Bluelighters, I'd love to hear what you have to say.
Thanks for reading, and I apologize ....I don't know if my post is really on topic.....
Cat

 

[Phat5o]

Interesting post!!! Here are a few things I've noticed in my 7+ years of on/off use:

*Oxycodone is by far the most addictive opiate for me. Withdrawals set in after only a WEEK of using 5-10 mg per day of Percocet. This took me completely by surprise since I can literally take other opiates for weeks without withdrawals.

*Opiates do not "numb" my emotions. I don't use them to escape reality. They fight depression and anxiety in a way nothing else can, making me appreciate the small things and want to be active and social. They're the ultimate motivator, providing endless inspiration and optimism. This effect does not diminish even with daily use. (People always talk about opiates in terms of "numbing" and "escaping" feelings).

*After 4 years of daily poppy pod use, my tolerance didn't increase by any appreciable amount. I did not increase my dose/frequency of use and quit cold turkey when I was ready with no relapses.

*Physical withdrawals suck, but they're not as bad as I've seen them described. No puking or diarrhea for me--just moderate cold-like symptoms and fatigue.

*Psychological withdrawals suck, but I have no cravings to use even in the throes of withdrawal. No obsessive thoughts about opiates whatsoever, just a strong desire for the feelings to go away.

*Quitting SSRI's is harder than quitting opiates.

*Quitting stimulants is harder than quitting opiates.

^ All personal opinion, mind you. Always interesting to see how drugs affect people differently. I've had several folks bitch me out or doubt some of the above claims, which is just ignorant.

very interesting about quitting ssri's being harder than opioids. scary if you think about it, since so many people take them....

i got a question for you though, do you start getting intense cravings during PAWS? that's when i may start obsessing about opiates, some days worse than others...

Absolutely, it's ignorant. These are your experiences, and I'm guessing the people who get angry about the fact that you don't get insane withdrawals are the ones who DO go through hell getting off opioids / opiates...like myself!
I could make a giant post about this, but I won't. I will just share one thing I have found interesting ...
The first thing I became dependent upon was hydrocodone 5 milligrams. That was 9 years ago. Now I'm on 100mcg Fentanyl patch and oxycodone ir 60-75 mg every 4 hours as needed for breakthrough pain.
NOT counting the fentanyl here...but I notice that my withdrawals from hydrocodone (BTW, never took any more than 4-5 pills per day) were just as bad as my withdrawal from oxycodone...I take about 280-300mg of that.
I would think that I'd look back and say to myself, "Wow, I thought I had it bad years ago with my hydrocodone, but withdrawal from oxycodone is SOO much worse!". NO WAY. Are my wd's bad? Absolutely. I actually find though, that the emotional and mental turmoil was noticeably worse w the hydrocodone!
Maybe this is not strange at all, and there's an easy explanation that I am ignorant to? If this DOES make sense to any fellow Bluelighters, I'd love to hear what you have to say.
Thanks for reading, and I apologize ....I don't know if my post is really on topic.....
Cat

weird indeed! now that you mention this i noticed if i take any amount of opiates, even if it's only like 40mg oxy a day, for longer than about 6 months i will have horrible withdrawals no matter what and won't be able to tell the difference between high and low dose.
just wondering, you are actually prescribed 60 - 75 mg ir oxycodone every 4 hours? lol, how did you do that?

 

[macd610]

very interesting about quitting ssri's being harder than opioids. scary if you think about it, since so many people take them....

i got a question for you though, do you start getting intense cravings during PAWS? that's when i may start obsessing about opiates, some days worse than others...



weird indeed! now that you mention this i noticed if i take any amount of opiates, even if it's only like 40mg oxy a day, for longer than about 6 months i will have horrible withdrawals no matter what and won't be able to tell the difference between high and low dose.
just wondering, you are actually prescribed 60 - 75 mg ir oxycodone every 4 hours? lol, how did you do that?

Yes, I am. It's all due to the damned fentanyl. I don't actually take that much every day, but there are many days I do. My doctor gives me 150 pills per month, so obviously it's understood that he doesn't expect me to take advantage of it...and I don't. It really is due to tolerance issues, and my condition is one that gives me pain constantly. It actually sucks... I mean, it's not like I have much room to move up you know?

 

[Phat5o]

i hear ya. kind of a tough situation to be in.