Cetirizine as an opioid potentiator

[jeffsleep]

Have been looking around for as much information as i can on cetirizine and how it works with opiates but have been able to find very little in the way of helpful advice. it seems drowsiness is listed as an effect of cetirizine which would lead me to believe it would enhance the good effects while repressing the bad, much like benadryl. anyone have any experience with this?

 

[NeighborhoodThreat]

While cetirizine (Zyrtec) is an effective antihistamine and works pretty well for knocking down the opiate itches, I've never experienced any other "potentiation" mixing it with opiates. It does cause drowsiness in some people, but it is much less often than with the older (first generation) antihistamines such as Benadryl (diphenhydramine). YMMV.

 

[backroll]

methadone and cet...cotch! same goes for cet and gear, can't elaborate for others opes.

 

[phatass]

i find certerizine a great anti-histamine to prevent itching, which can be a problem especially on codeine.. but its less sedating that promethazine or diphenhydramine ime

 

[effie]

^ Agreed. Cetirizine and other 2nd generation antihistamines don't cross the BBB in significant amounts, therefore do not cause the same sedation you get from 1st gen antihistamines such as promethazine, diphenhydramine etc..

Many 1st generation antihistamines also act as CYP-450 inhibitors and therefore potentiate many opioids but AFAIK 2nd generation ones do not.

 

[backroll]

promethazine will always be the daddy though

 

[pally pete]

promethazine will always be the daddy though

I only just wrote a post/started a thread the other day asking if Certirizine would be ok to take alongside Promethazine or Diphenydramine as them 2 both work great for Sedation etc but i was hoping there would be a better antihistamine for the itches..

 

[nAON]

Cetirizine works for itches very well, and since it doesn't have the anticholinergic effects, you can redose it a lot more safely than stuff like prometh and DPH.

It won't potentiate as such though, as it doesn't have a downer effect.

As this is an old thread though and has been pretty much answered, gonna close it, start a new thread if you need more info.