Can nicotine use shorten the duration of opiate withdrawal?

[mrBANK912]

Hello all,

I have been reading that smoking cigarettes (and using other nicotine products) while on opiates causes the opiates to be metabolized faster due to the nicotine increasing the rate of the enzyme(s) which breaks down opiates (I forget the exact enzyme atm). After reading about this (on this site), I have wondered whether or not nicotine use could lead to shortened opiate withdrawal period due to the exact same mechanisms; metabolizing opiates out of the system faster. Any thoughts and inputs are welcomed and appreciated. Thanks!


mrBANK

 

[negrogesic]

I wouldn't "bank" on a measurable effect.....although yes, you often see people at inpatient rehabs smoking up a storm. Not sure, not having been a smoker. I would take caution with nicotine gum, chewing tobacco; if not tolerant, these can make a person rather ill, and would not be something enjoyable during opioid withdrawal.

The bottom line is, even if nicotine did have such a property (I honestly do not know), its inherent toxicity outweighs any marginal decrease in withdrawal duration. If you are a smoker however, I would imagine that you would continue to smoke, but if you are a non-smoker and are considering tabacco or other nicotine products for this sole purpose, I would have to strongly advise against it.

To clarify, are you referring to "acute withdrawal" (the 5-7 days of hell after stopping heroin cold-turkey; vomiting, diarrhea, delirium, visual and auditory hallucinations) or post-acute withdrawal (with heroin perhaps up to 2 months after discontinuation).

I would not try to speed up this process. In fact, the traditional approach is to do exactly the opposite: decrease the severity of the withdrawal by gradual dose reduction.

 

[...]

I have wondered whether or not nicotine use could lead to shortened opiate withdrawal period due to the exact same mechanisms; metabolizing opiates out of the system faster.

What makes you think that opiate withdrawal is caused by unmetabolized opiates?

I've heard this misconception before. I wonder where it comes from. "I am dopesick because my body is trying to clear itself of opiates." What spawns that idea?

Opiate withdrawal is not latent opiates in the bloodstream, nor is it (another common misconception) diminished production of endorphin. It is, rather, downregulation of opiate receptors.

 

[mrBANK912]

negrogesic - I laughed at the "bank" reference haha

And I was referring to the acute phase of withdrawal. I am not new to this subject and have been through this hell one too many times ha. And yes I am a smoker.

An example to what I was thinking would be with methadone. Since its half life is very long, nicotine might speed up the process of removing it from one's system, leading to a decreased (if not by much) acute withdrawal period.

But then again I could be wrong..

 

[negrogesic]

If you are a smoker I will give you some very unorthodox advice from a medical professional: continue smoking.

Quit eventually, just not during methadone withdrawal.....(I am obliged to say that)........

 

[mrBANK912]

...

Opiate withdrawal is not latent opiates in the bloodstream, nor is it (another common misconception) diminished production of endorphin. It is, rather, downregulation of opiate receptors.

That helps me understand this subject better...but with long half-life opiates, such as methadone, I wonder if nicotine may speed up (at all, even a little) their acute withdrawal period..

 

[mrBANK912]

Well with me it was heroin withdrawal....and I am 15 days clean. But this subject just seemed interesting to me so I wanted to know others thoughts on this subject.

THanks negro

 

[atara]

Nicotine promotes endorphin release; this effect may alleviate though not shorten withdrawal. It is believed this effect is related to the addictive properties of nicotine itself, IIRC.

 

[fryingsquirrel]

If you are a smoker I will give you some very unorthodox advice from a medical professional: continue smoking.

Quit eventually, just not during methadone withdrawal.....(I am obliged to say that)........

I'm not a doctor, but this seems obvious. wd's suck bad enogh without jonesing for a cigarrette.

 

[negrogesic]

Yes it was tongue-in-cheek.......again, I believe many in-patient rehabs allow cigarette smoking (wouldn't know, never been)......