Opiates - Explanation for withdrawal symptoms

[whippa craka]

I figured I would post this where there are many knowledgeable folks. I will keep my question simple and let you guys do the chatting. What is the reason for the symptoms associated with opiate withdrawals? I understand all the receptor jibber jabber but I am interested in how a lack of occupation at the receptor sites leads to the symptoms we all know associated with opiate withdrawals. Same with benzo's. When addicted enough, why do benzo withdrawals put you at great risk for a seizure? I am sure it has to do something with the body 'counter-acting', but I'm hoping you can explain this. Google isn't of much help . I'm hoping to hear some fancy analogy/chemistry answers

Thanks

 

[ferinox]

Taking any drugs that act as an agonist of a receptor results in your body counteracting that extra activity. In the end it's harder for your body's own endogernous chemicals to make up that counteraction when the exogenous drug is stopped. Benzo lower the activity of your neurons which raises the seizure threshold. When they're stopped, the brains activity increases greatly and lowers the seizure threshold.

Opiates modulate various physical and mental functions in your body. They regulate digestive function(constipation),norepinephrine(lower anxiety,heart rat,blood pressure),dopamine release(euphoria), metabolism, and pain sensitivity among other things. When you stop taking the opiate receptors are downregulated and only a hefty exogenous supply will find enough rececptors to fill up for you to feel alright. The brain start releasing extra norepinephrine which causes nausea, anxiety, fast heart rate, and chills. Lower dopamine levels cause depression. You pain tolerance goes way down causing you to hurt.

 

[sekio]

Likewise, benzodiazepines increase the effect that GABA has on inhibiting your nerves. After long-term usage, your brain is much less sensitive to GABA and once you start withdrawing from the drugs the increased signalling leads to seizures and general unpleasant effects.

 

[ebola?]

One thing that always confused me a bit is that opioids will induce nausea and vomiting both in cases of overdose and withdrawal. Are two distinct pathways involved?

ebola

 

[Nagelfar]

One thing that always confused me a bit is that opioids will induce nausea and vomiting both in cases of overdose and withdrawal. Are two distinct pathways involved?

ebola

My own personal explanation would be as follows:

If you accidentally put your hand into dry ice or another damagingly cold substance, or put your hand on to a turned on burner coil, without first looking at it, your body only registers it as "pain", not extremely hot or cold, a second later, after realization, you distinguish it as 'hot' or 'cold' tissue damage. Unless your hand lingered near it long enough to get the surrounding air temperature first (that however, would make it unlikely you would accidentally touch it) Hot & cold opposites are just a spectrum of one range of experience.

If the endorphine system is thrown into disarray, by being agonized or experiencing a lack of agonist activity, at an usual level than normal, the "head change" or mental effect of it will make you react in the same way as for either; it is the second later that determines if it's to be distinguished as sedating comfort or intense anxiety that drives the change which makes one vomit. In my opinion of what is happening.

 

[Deleted member 170540]

A lot of the symptoms of opioid withdrawal are caused by norepinephrine overactivity in locus coeruleus. This is the reason why centrally acting adrenolytics like clonidine help with opioid withdrawal.

The withdrawal from benzos, barbs and alcohol messes with the GABA and glutamate systems of cerebral cortex, potentially causing seizures, delirium tremens and death...

 

[Deleted member 170540]

One thing that always confused me a bit is that opioids will induce nausea and vomiting both in cases of overdose and withdrawal. Are two distinct pathways involved?

ebola

Surprisingly, the serotonin antagonist ondansetron (usually used as an anti-emetic) has shown some effectiveness in opioid withdrawal. So maybe the withdrawal nausea is a serotonergic symptom.