Opioids Bad interaction with varenicline (chantix) & lorazepam, hydrocodone (norco) 10/325

[issokay]

Bad interaction with varenicline (chantix) & lorazepam, hydrocodone (norco) 10/325

Regarding Chantix:
I have a rx for both lorazepam 2mg and norco 10/325 (hydrocodone 10mg/acetaminophen 325mg)
I recently started taking Chantix & have noticed that the aforementioned medicines no longer work.
I would like to know is Chantix is an opiate antagonist, & if so, how long does the opiate antagonist effect continue after you stop taking Chantix? I'm having the same problem with the lorazepam. It only began when I started taking Chantix. I haven't taken any today, but I'm still having anxiety issues that my 2mg lorazepam isn't even touching. I even doubled up on the lorazepam. Nothing. I still feel like I do if I don't take it (at my high dose, there's a real risk of seizure.)
Any information you may have would be appreciated...

In tremors of pain,
—Issokay

 

[bingey]

Stupid question perhaps but did you also quit smoking?

Nicotine potentiates certain aspects of the opiate high (in my experience no scientific basis)

also it is a very good way of relieving anxiety

And ps chantix is to my knowledge not an opiate antagonist although it might affect the metabolization of lorazepam and or hydrocodone via CYP34A / CYP2D6

 

[issokay]

No, I only took Chantix for like two or three days. I still smoke. Also even when I wouldn't smoke at all for a day (I do sometimes smoke that infrequently) both of the other meds have always worked. Yeah I called a pharmacist and she seemed to say no, there's no interactions. But I can assure you, I've been like this for two or three days now. I really want to know how long it takes to get out of my system... Or can I take something that'll clean it all out of me (I know that's not really a possibility)

Oh and also, I constantly have the urge to smoke because the Chantix blocks all the nicotine receptors. (Along with a few other IMHO)

 

[tricomb]

According to the monograph,

Varenicline does not inhibit CYP isoenzymes 1A2, 2A6, 2B6, 2C8, 2C9, 2C19, 2D6, 2E1, 3A4/5 in vitro; does not induce CYP isoenzymes 1A2 or 3A4 in vitro.

Some other important things....

Importance of informing patients that some medications may require dosage adjustment due to effects of smoking cessation.

...

Importance of informing clinicians of existing or contemplated concomitant therapy, including prescription and OTC drugs, as well as any concomitant illnesses (e.g., depression or other psychiatric illness, renal disease). Some concomitantly administered drugs may require dosage adjustment due to effects of smoking cessation.

 

[issokay]

According to the monograph, "Varenicline does not inhibit CYP isoenzymes 1A2, 2A6, 2B6, 2C8, 2C9, 2C19, 2D6, 2E1, 3A4/5 in vitro; does not induce CYP isoenzymes 1A2 or 3A4 in vitro."

Well, I don't know what any of that means, but I can tell you that Chantix is absolutely the only thing that's changed. Do you happen to know how long it takes for Chantix to get out of your system?

 

[tricomb]

Sure thing buddy, I just included the part about the CYP enzymes to expand on the last part of BingeBoy's post.

Varenicline has a very high oral bioavailability ~90%, reaching peak levels 3-4 hours after dosing, and it's half-life is ~24 hours so it really depends on how you've been using the Varenicline up to this point, but I'd guess a few days before your body's eliminated it all.

If it's not helping you to quit smoking, then maybe you should re-assess whether it's the right treatment option for you. I'm guessing it appealed to you because it was a form of smoking cessation that was advertised as being one you could still smoke with, at least at first? It seems like Pfizer intended for patients to stop smoking cigarettes after about a week on varenicline.

How have you been taking the varenicline? 0.5mg, twice a day?

I know everyone's body is different, and I'm sure that varenicline has helped others to quit smoking, but the only way I ever managed to beat nicotine was quitting cold turkey, complete and total abstinence from the cancer. It's been over a month since my last cigarette, and I know how this will sound, but honestly, I think that was my last one. I'm DONE with cancer sticks, bringing absolutely nothing to the table, burning a hole in my wallet and in my lungs.

I wish you the very best of luck with your recovery, I know you can do it. Once you go a month without smoking, you'll feel so much better, I can almost guarantee it. I feel much better physically and psychologically. As a smoker, I was really limiting myself, and my capabilities. Now, I feel like a lot of weight has been lifted off my chest, quite literally a huge, burning burden.

 

[issokay]

Sure thing buddy, I just included the part about the CYP enzymes to expand on the last part of BingeBoy's post.

Varenicline has a very high oral bioavailability ~90%, reaching peak levels 3-4 hours after dosing, and it's half-life is ~24 hours so it really depends on how you've been using the Varenicline up to this point, but I'd guess a few days before your body's eliminated it all.

If it's not helping you to quit smoking, then maybe you should re-assess whether it's the right treatment option for you. I'm guessing it appealed to you because it was a form of smoking cessation that was advertised as being one you could still smoke with, at least at first? It seems like Pfizer intended for patients to stop smoking cigarettes after about a week on varenicline.

How have you been taking the varenicline? 0.5mg, twice a day?

I know everyone's body is different, and I'm sure that varenicline has helped others to quit smoking, but the only way I ever managed to beat nicotine was quitting cold turkey, complete and total abstinence from the cancer. It's been over a month since my last cigarette, and I know how this will sound, but honestly, I think that was my last one. I'm DONE with cancer sticks, bringing absolutely nothing to the table, burning a hole in my wallet and in my lungs.

I wish you the very best of luck with your recovery, I know you can do it. Once you go a month without smoking, you'll feel so much better, I can almost guarantee it. I feel much better physically and psychologically. As a smoker, I was really limiting myself, and my capabilities. Now, I feel like a lot of weight has been lifted off my chest, quite literally a huge, burning burden.

I've only been taking Chantix for like three days at .5mg once a day. It's definitely not helping. I quit cold turkey and had quit for like a year, but for whatever reason, smoked again. I guess I was hoping for something that would just fix itself, heh. I wish I'd never taken it. I know I can do it cold turkey, it just sucks a lot.

 

[pasha]

Verinicline acts on the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, the same receptors cigarretes work on. It's generally well tolerated and AFAIK is not an opioid antagonist. If you feel you can't tolerate it and causing you anxiety issues try another smoking cessation medication such as bupropion. Verinicline has proven efficacy in clinic trials but you can bet Pfizer had a hand in manipulating them.

The time a drug remains in your system is several half-lives so based on the poster above mes' information it should take:

24+12+6+3+1.5+.750=47.250 hours approximately, however I doubt it will be remotely active at 45 hours.

 

[issokay]

Verinicline acts on the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, the same receptors cigarretes work on. It's generally well tolerated and AFAIK is not an opioid antagonist. If you feel you can't tolerate it and causing you anxiety issues try another smoking cessation medication such as bupropion. Verinicline has proven efficacy in clinic trials but you can bet Pfizer had a hand in manipulating them.

The time a drug remains in your system is several half-lives so based on the poster above mes' information it should take:

24+12+6+3+1.5+.750=47.250 hours approximately, however I doubt it will be remotely active at 45 hours.

Thanks. I have quit taking it now for about 2 days. The crazy dreams and waking up on the floor next to my bed (which can only mean I was really moving around and fell out of bed), as well as overwhelming cravings for ice water have mostly subsided, along wi several other things. I take 9 or 10 other rx medications, but wasn't warned or cautioned about any possible interactions by either my doctor, nurse, or pharmacist. I called the FDA to report and inquire about my problems, but they're closed on weekends. At the moment I'm doing better but I do have numbness on the right side of my scalp after falling out of bed in an awkward position, apparently I didn't wake up for some time, so I ended up with a pressure sore there.

 

[pasha]

I would strongly suggest you cease all your medications apart from the lorazepam until you can speak to a doctor. Verinicline symptoms will most probably disappear in another day or so.

Don't be afraid to express your symptoms and concerns. If you feel agitated or shy to talk, print this page out and have them read it. Good luck and report back.

 

[issokay]

I would strongly suggest you cease all your medications apart from the lorazepam until you can speak to a doctor. Verinicline symptoms will most probably disappear in another day or so.

Don't be afraid to express your symptoms and concerns. If you feel agitated or shy to talk, print this page out and have them read it. Good luck and report back.

Thanks very much for your support. I have quit the Chantix for over two days now. I'll not be taking it again!

 

[djsim]

Stupid question perhaps but did you also quit smoking?

Nicotine potentiates certain aspects of the opiate high (in my experience no scientific basis)

also it is a very good way of relieving anxiety

And ps chantix is to my knowledge not an opiate antagonist although it might affect the metabolization of lorazepam and or hydrocodone via CYP34A / CYP2D6

Varenecline blocks the nicotinic ACh receptor isoenzyme which activates the dopaminergic system. You're blocking the downstream activation so your body currently has less dopamine until your body adjusts with time.
Interestingly the 3A4 enzyme is effected; basically your opiates/benzos are possibly being metabolized faster so the effect s decreased.
It's probably a combination of the two.

 

[tricomb]

I called the FDA to report and inquire about my problems, but they're closed on weekends.

Be sure to call them now that it's the business week, ok? you should be reporting stuff like that. Chantix already been linked to some pretty serious cardiovascular problems..... but so is smoking cancersticks.