Bacopa and the effect on opiates and opiate withdrawal

[pema]

Bacopa monniera and the effect on taking opiates like heroin and the effect on opiate withdrawal.
Useful as opioid potentiator? Useful for withdrawal relief?

I'd like to know what happens when bacopa (or bacopa extract) is taken before someone uses heroin (or another similar opiate).
And I'd like to know what happens if bacopa is taken during opiate withdrawal.
It seems that the plant can maybe be used to lower tolerance or as opioid potentiator.

The plant is used to enhance clear thinking and memory function. Studies have shown that Bacopa supports learning and memory in humans, provides antioxidant protection for critical memory centers and helps to reduce the effects of stress on the brain (but only after chronic use. I think, in one study they spoke of 12 weeks of ingestion). It shall reduce stress, help to calm down and it shall reduce anxiety. It shall act anti-inflammatory, anti-epileptic and shall do some other good things.

Sumathi, T.; Devaraj, S. Niranjali. Effect of Bacopa monniera on liver and kidney toxicity in chronic use of opioids. Phytomedicine: International Journal of Phytotherapy & Phytopharmacology. Oct 1, 2009

the results of this study showed that BME exerted a protective effect against morphine-induced liver and kidney toxicity

Sounds interessting... Maybe there is potential to use...

Abbas M., Subhan F., Mohani N., Rauf K., Ali G. and Khan M. The involvement of opioidergic mechanisms in the activity of Bacopa monnieri extract and its toxicological studies. African Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology Vol. 5(8), pp. 1120-1124, August 2011

Bacopa extract exhibited significant antinociceptive activity in these tests. And these effects could be antagonized by naloxone. So the authors believe that results indicate that bacopa possesses a antinociceptive activity that may be mediated through interaction with opioid receptors.

And this sound interessting, too. Maybe Bacopa extract could be useful for opiate withdrawal.

And maybe also to reduce opioid tolerance (and to increase morphine analgesia):
Khalid Rauf. EFFECT OF Bacopa monnieri ON MORPHINE DEPENDENCE AND TOLERANCE TO ANALGESIA IN ANIMAL MODELS

BM [Bacopa monnieri] both extracts [methanolic and n-butanol extract] were found to have antinociceptive effects, with n-Bt-ext BM [butanol extract of Bacopa monnieri] having capacity to enhance morphine analgesia. Both extracts Mt-ext BM [methanolic extract] and n-Bt-ext BM were found to be effective in amelioration of acquisition of morphine tolerance in mice.

And this looks as it could really help with opiate withdrawal:

These findings highlights a newer potential role
of BM in the clinical management of morphine tolerance, opiates prescriptions abuse and
treatment of chronic malignant and non malignant pains by BM alone or in combination with
other opiates. The significant finding in suppression of behavioral signs of naloxone precipitated
morphine withdrawal with concomitant enhanced dopamine and serotonin turnover picture
shows BM potential role in clinical management of opioid detoxification, dependence,
withdrawal and relapse.

Similar results in this study:
Thangarajan Sumathi, Mohamed Nayeem, Kedike Balakrishna, Gopalsamy Veluchamy, Sivasithamparam Niranjali Devaraj. Alcoholic extract of ‘Bacopa monniera’ reduces the in vitro effects of morphine withdrawal in guinea-pig ileum. Journal of Ethnopharmacology Volume 82, Issues 2–3, October 2002, Pages 75–81

The results suggest that B. monniera extract may be useful in reducing the withdrawal symptoms induced by morphine.

And this study:
Rauf, Khalid; Subhan, Fazal; Abbas, Muzaffa; Badshah, Amir; Ullah, Ihsan; Ullah, Sami. Effect of Bacopasides on acquisition and expression of morphine tolerance. Phytomedicine: International Journal of Phytotherapy & Phytopharmacology. Jul 15, 2011

Acute and Chronic administration of 5, 10 and 15 mg/kg rt Bt-ext BM significantly reduced both expression and development of tolerance to morphine analgesia in mice. Additionally, Bacopa monnieri was found to enhance antinociceptive effect of morphine in intolerant animals. However, no tolerance to Bacopa monnieri antinociceptive effect was observed in seven days treatment schedule. These findings indicate effectiveness of Bacopa monnieri for management of morphine tolerance.

And again:
T. Sumathi, K. Balakrishna, G. Veluchamy, S. Niranjali Devaraj: Inhibitory Effect of Bacopa monniera on morphine Induced Pharmacological Effects in Mice. Natural Product Sciences 2007, 13 권 , 1 호 , 46-53.

Oral administration of the extract (40 mg/kg) significantly inhibited morphine-induced analgesic tolerance, withdrawal symptoms, hyperactivity, reverse tolerance, Dopamine receptor supersensitivity and apo-morphine-induced climbing behaviour in mice. The results of this study showed that, alcoholic extract of Bacopa monniera (BMA) exerted inhibitory effect against morphine-induced pharmacological effects, suggesting that the extract could be useful in the treatment of morphine toxicity.

I searched the web on bacopa dosage. But there are big differences to find. It depends on which website you look.
And maybe the dose difference depends on how the plant shall be used. Maybe more (or less) is needed for cognitive enhancement than for anti-inflammatory effects.
I could not find dosage advices in order to lower opioid tolerance.
And the is another point that confuses me:

Dosage:
Freshly pressed juice: 10-20ml
Powder of dried Brahmi plant: 3-5g
Powder of dried Brahmi root: 500mg-2g

While quite a lot of dried plant powder shall be used, far less root powder should be taken.
I never heard about the properties of root powder, I think. In all studies they talk of plant extract. I think that's an extract from the leaves. Or is it the whole plant with roots?
For cognitive enhancement it is sometimes adviced to eat every day some of the bitter tasting raw leaves from the plant.
Do the leaves and the roots contain the same alkaloids (or whatever is the working principle)?
What would be better to use for opiate potentiation or tolerance reduction?


Has anybody made experiences with this plant and opiods? I'd like to get as much information as possible.

 

[sekio]

Bacopa monnieri (Brahmi) has been reported to reversibly suppress spermatogenesis and fertility in male mice at a dose of 250 mg/kg body weight/day for 28 and 56 days. Parameters of motility, viability, morphology, and number of spermatozoa in cauda epididymidis returned to baseline 56 days after treatment cessation. PMID: 19041444

Doesn't sound fun to me... although maybe we've stumbled upon a natural male contraceptive

Bacopa extract exhibited significant antinociceptive activity in these tests. And these effects could be antagonized by naloxone.

I read this as: bacopa extract is an opiate. So at best it will substitute for your DOC and at worst it will prolong your w/d.

Perhaps this is some sort of freaky partial agonist or activity enhancer, or it has FX at e.g. DOR... who knows