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Opioids Could pain be the reason I don't feel euphoria from opiates anymore?

Brian242

Brian242

Bluelighter
Joined
Jul 27, 2011
Messages
529
Hi Bluelight!

About 4 months ago, I had Scoliosis correction surgery with two - 1 and a half foot titanium bars and twelve 6'' bolts inserted into my back. I've taken just about every painkiller that I was prescribed before surgery and would buzz pretty good off them. Now, I do not have a tolerance because I quit for about a week to see if that's what it was, but it wasn't. I don't understand! I'm prescribed 180 Norco 10/325's 2 as needed, and have taken up to 4 at once and the only thing that happened was nausea, lightheaded, and feeling like shit for 5 hours. Same with Codeine and MS Contin.

Why is this? Is it because the opiates are just targeting my pain (It doesn't hardly kill the pain at all) and not giving me euphoria? I miss that warm, feel good feeling but it's just not there anymore! I just feel tired and sick instead. Actually feels more like withdraws whenever I take them.

Anybody know why this is? Thanks!

-Brian
 
Yes, pain does soak up A LOT of the drug. I've been dealing with constant pain for almost 2 years now. Back in Oct. of last year up until Jan. I was taking about 5-6 10mg Vics a day to help with pain, and usually by the 5th or 6th one I would have a pretty decent buzz. I then got drug by a car (for lack of better words) and had to go to the ER. They sent me home with 7.5mg Vics. and I was having to take up to 10 just for pain-no euphoria, no buzz. It's just how the meds work. There are people that take more than 200mg of oxycodone a day and don't feel a damn thing other than analgesia from there meds. There' a reason these meds are still prescribed in this day and age with the "War On Drugs" going on. Euphoria caused by drugs is condemned by society as being base and evil-which is kind of stupid if you ask me-so I don't think that if these pills caused everyone to have euphoria that they would still be so prevalently prescribed.
 
When I had surgery I felt no euphoria from opis. Inpatient I was on IV Fentanyl automated drip with hydromorphone every 2 hours on request. I did however feel a marked difference in mental state -- I was less bored and more relaxed, more social with the nurses.
 
Hi Brian,
I agree with the responses here so far. One thing I would mention...you say you have proven your tolerance is not the issue because you took a week off. I have bad news for you. The opiate receptors in your body have a 'memory' for lack of a better word, and once your tolerance increases it is very hard to lower it. One week will have virtually no effect. You can try 2 weeks and hope to notice a measurable difference, but about a month is more likely. And even then, because of the receptor memory, your tolerance will rapidly increase again to prior levels after a couple or 3 sessions. This is the extreme bitch of opiate use and there is probably no way you will ever return to the way it was in the beginning. I wish you well in your recovery.
 
I suffer chronic pain and I self medicate with heroin. I definitely still get euphoria from heroin, sometimes a lot of euphoria but overall it is nowhere near as enjoyable as it was before I had pain. Back then, a good opiate high was like being in heaven. Now when I am high, it's maybe only 1/20th as enjoyable as that.
 
TJvaper said:
Hi Brian,
I agree with the responses here so far. One thing I would mention...you say you have proven your tolerance is not the issue because you took a week off. I have bad news for you. The opiate receptors in your body have a 'memory' for lack of a better word, and once your tolerance increases it is very hard to lower it. One week will have virtually no effect. You can try 2 weeks and hope to notice a measurable difference, but about a month is more likely. And even then, because of the receptor memory, your tolerance will rapidly increase again to prior levels after a couple or 3 sessions. This is the extreme bitch of opiate use and there is probably no way you will ever return to the way it was in the beginning. I wish you well in your recovery.
Click to expand...

I recently took a week off heroin and I noticed a big decrease in tolerance. I'm sure people with bigger/longer habits than mine might not though.
 
burn out said:
I suffer chronic pain and I self medicate with heroin. I definitely still get euphoria from heroin, sometimes a lot of euphoria but overall it is nowhere near as enjoyable as it was before I had pain. Back then, a good opiate high was like being in heaven. Now when I am high, it's maybe only 1/20th as enjoyable as that.
Click to expand...

Yes, but you are also using a street substance of unknown quality/purity and you aren't getting a good estimate on your dose. He's taking vicodin and is only allowed so many per month, whereas you can just go get a refill as you please assuming the "pharmacy" is stocked up on your meds.

burn out said:
I recently took a week off heroin and I noticed a big decrease in tolerance. I'm sure people with bigger/longer habits than mine might not though.
Click to expand...

It might make a big difference at first as far as recreational effects, but you're going to get right back up to that tolerance really quickly. It's kind of like if I wake up and for some reason don't smoke a cigarette for a few hours, when I smoke, I'll actually get a nicotine buzz. But the next cigarette I smoke an hour from then, won't have any effect like that. It almost reminds me of muscle memory.

edit: and once more, you're using a much stronger substance of completely unknown quality/purity, so it's gonna be different every time unless you're getting your shit from the people making the junk.
 
The reason i'm wanting euphoria from these meds is because i'm one of the people who DON'T get relief from opiates and at times they can make my pain worse. The only thing that really eases my pain is medical cannabis and i'm not sure why. I kind of have them ass-backwards; I take the Hydrocodone for euphoria, but I treat the Marijuana more like a medicine and smoke/eat it as needed for bad pain and not to get high.

Man, I just re-read my post and I sound like a no-life doper!
 
MAJ.Pain said:
^^ at least you see it, also.
Click to expand...

Thanks. You're so nice.

Reading your posts about how angry you are with "junkie fuck heads" using drugs with recreational intent, and flaming about them doing so, you should join a 'Pain Management site' This is mostly a 'Recreational drug use and harm reduction site' I hurt too, dude, but I don't go around in a bad attitude with a cloud over my head. Every post you have except one is closed because either you didn't UTFSE, broke the rules, or made pointless threads about pain management. Reading one of your posts, you asked how to get narcotics from your doctor. BIG NO NO!!!

About 4 people called you a "Drug seeker" I also thought you said in that same post last year saying "on second thought, i'm done with this entire board, it's really pointless here, harm reduction does not apply to people with half a brain or more, and with the type of people on here, there is really not reason for any other type of threads, honestly i believe, this is an unfit environment for such matters, and i'm not going to put my personal business out for this nonsense"

You're on the wrong site. Here's a pain management site for you.

http://www.healthboards.com/boards/forumdisplay.php?f=100&gclid=CJPG5eCsvqsCFRdlgwodhW4GwA

And one more thing: There is no need to be a dick. You read my pain story, so what happened to YOU? I have a 20" Slice down my back that hurts like a motherfucker and forgot to mention the 4 herniated disks I had before surgery. I walk with a cane and can't stand up straight for 5 minutes. Heh. You saying i'm not far in TIME of my pain? I've been hurting for 7 years from just the scoliosis BEFORE I had the surgery. You don't know me, you don't feel what I feel!

Here's my back before surgery: http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/284334_2046074523314_1587943815_1982302_2150929_n.jpg

Here's my back after surgery:http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/265164_2046074723319_1587943815_1982303_438331_n.jpg

SO. MAJOR PAIN, don't be mad that some people like to explore their mind with mind-altering substances and you probably don't. Heh, you're on the wrong forum.
 
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^ Daaaaaaamn! You got him good! He can now add "bruised ego" to his list of ailments.

I'm sorry about your pain Brian, I won't pretend I can relate. What I do understand is why you would want euphoria from your pain meds. I am not a CP patient, but whenever I take pain medicine for an injury (broken wrist, pinched nerve, whatever) I get very little actual "pain relief" from pain killers. However, the euphoria and sense of well being I get from pain killers are great at taking my mind off the pain. I notice that I feel my first dose of the day much stronger than an equal dose later in the day (taking 40mg in the morning has me feeling good, when I take 40mg later in the day I hardly feel it.)

Honestly, it sounds like you have been taking hydrocodone for long enough that 20mg won't do much for you. Even if you take a long break it is unlikely that you will ever get back to the point where 20mg hydrocodone will give you the feeling it used it. Aside from taking a long break, the only other advice I can think of would be either to take more than prescribed or to speak with your doctor. I definitely don't want to recommend taking more than prescribed so I suggest you speak with your doctor. Developing tolerance to pain medicine is very common and a good pain management doctor should be able to help you.
 
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Thanks! It just pisses me off whenever people think that they're the only ones on this earth that deal with pain. The only reason that I do take my painkillers IS for the pleasure and, like you said, taking the mind off the pain. It's still there, but I basically don't care at that moment in time ;) Whenever I go to the pharmacy to get a refill, I think that i'll just deal with the hurt and drop the tolerance for 2-3 weeks and see if that helps.

I'll try what you said; The first dose of the day feels stronger than the rest of the day. I normally take a half of a tablet when I wake up and take a higher dose 20-25 mg near 7 P.M.

But thank you Project Will for understanding where I was getting at. I didn't know how to word what I was trying to say lol
 
If the pain is significant enough that it interferes with your everyday life then you really should talk to your doctor. If that isn't the case and you are able to stop using for 2-3 weeks it would at least lower your tolerance a little and also slow the inevitable increase in tolerance that results from everyday use. Taking a break will also help mentally - the longer you go using everyday, the harder it will be to stop later on.

Good luck! And if you ever want to talk you are welcome to send me a message :)
 
i know the tolerance comes back quickly (although it hasn't yet) but even though I don't know the purity, I tend to buy in bulk so it's the same every time since I'm uising from the same batch. I mean, the heroin I was taking before I took my break was the same heroin I started up with again afterward and I noticed a big decrease in tolerance. It's not just needing to take less heroin, its the effects of the heroin lasting MUCH longer than before my break.
 
Hey dude, I too have Scoliosis & a bulging disk (L5S1) & I take Norcos for my pain but I dont get euphoria much anymore & I dont raise my pill consumption to get high, im just glad im getting relief. I have done Morphine as well & that stuff is awesome, gets me where I wanna be as far as getting high & taking away my pain.

Maybe you should talk to you doctor & he might move you over to Percocet.
 
Oxycodone is the only prescription opiate I have not tried. Hydrocodone barely touches it for some reason. But how does Percocet work in terms of pain?
 
There's a lot of prescription opioids. A lot of them are really obscure/new. As far as how percocets work. Oxycodone about 2.5-3x the potency of hydrocodone.
 
I'm looking into switching from Hydro to Oxy. I had the opportunity to get a script for them, but went with the Hydro instead.
 
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