To nitpick a little we should be more carefull about tolerance vs. potentiation. For instance barbituates potentiate alcohol but they do not lower alcohol tolerance (in fact they display cross tolerance). What blah is pointing out, and what the original poster was undoubtedly interested in, is that benzos potentiate opiates.
The dissosiative anastetics (NMDA blockers) actually
reduce opiate tolerance. The paper quoted showed that mice administered these compounds concurrently with opiates developed less tolerance to the opiate than those administered only opiates. This decrease in tolerance included a decrease in withdrawal effects. This is of particular interest as these compounds actually potentiate the desiered effects of opiates so we are seeing true tolerance reduction, not just blocking of action.
Interestingly enough there are claims melatonin reduces morphine tolerance. The
study is interesting but doesn't seem convincing to me. On the other hand melatonin is easily availible cheap and safe so if you are a regular abuser why not try it (note I don't think potentiation was claimed).
Actually I just found another
study suggesting that valium actually does reduce tolerance if taken chronically with opiates (at least to withdrawal and pain effects). Once again the evidence here isn't overwhelming but it looks like benzos do indeed reduce opiate tolerance.
Does anyone know how the RAVE theory explains all these tolerance reducing mechanisms which don't block receptor stimulation? I guess NMDA receptors have some role in how a cell self-regulates but I am not that clear about this.
Now to bitch!! If you have an = followed by a d in your url it gives you a damn smiley face and breaks it. I had to go replace it by a %64 to get it to work.
[ 26 April 2002: Message edited by: quale ]
[ 26 April 2002: Message edited by: quale ]
