Opioids Does anybody else experience an intense increase in perception of smell while w/d ?

[Bomb319]

I never see this discussed as part of withdrawal, but for me one of the most blatant and intense symptoms of withdrawal is that my perception of smell is drastically increased/sensitized. Things around me such as stale tobacco smoke that I would not notice at all while high, become nearly overwhelming once full withdrawal kicks in. It becomes more and more intense as withdrawal progresses. Everything is stronger. Pungent smells, perfume, even air humidity... I'm very curious as to whether anyone else knows what I mean, has experienced this, and why this occurs. I'm guessing it has to do with general reawakening of the nervous system, but why olfaction so much more so than the other senses (which also do increase, such as vision and touch)?

 

[shreddedlettuce]

What are you withdrawing from?

 

[Bomb319]

Any opiate.

 

[Ashley]

Absolutely. My sense of smell is dramatically increased when withdrawing from opiates, this is a common symptom of opiate withdrawal. Very often subtle smells will make me feel really queasy, like the smell of perfume or cigarettes as you mentioned. Most people experience this, though some more than others. All your senses become heightened, but for me, my sense of smell is greatly increased.

Ash.

 

[shreddedlettuce]

I'm guessing it has to do with general reawakening of the nervous system

I would guess the same.

 

[Bomb319]

I'm pretty sure I have a very acute sense of smell anyway, so it's probably more pronounced as it comes back. But yeah, if I'm past 24h into w/d, I can NOT smoke a cigarette. One puff and I get extremely queasy and often puke.

 

[DoctorShop]

I agree with this entirely. I remember having a bunch of near empty beer cans in the room I was staying in. When I was high I wouldn't be able to smell much of anything. When I was in withdrawal though, all I could smell was the odor of stale beer. It was overwhelming.

Never really thought about it until today though.

 

[Mass08]

It's probably the fight or flight response initiated by opiate WD.

 

[DrugOmen]

Yeah man i hate this symptom. I used to work as a dishwasher and i would quite often be in full methadone withdrawal and the smell of food made me constantly gag and it was extremely hard to work and not puke. I think all my senses are enhanced in a negative way but smell is the most intense.