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  • BDD Moderators: Keif’ Richards

Is Opiates Bad For You ?

Altered Perception

Altered Perception

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Dec 13, 2010
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If used strictly as prescribed for pain managment and if you only use a 10 - 15mg dose once a day for several years can opiates still have any bad effects on your health or brain ? I mean can it damage your liver or effect your cognition, dull your nerves and cause any brain damage over time ?
 
No.

The only medical problems that opiate use cause include the obvious GI issues and the pain of withdrawal.

Liver issues if APAP is a factor, of course.
 
I think we should distinguish between reversible and irreversible effects here. Although opiates haven't been shown to cause physical harm or persistent psychological effects (at least as far as I know), I believe there is little doubt that they cause reversible cognitive impairment. Link

I wonder if opiate-related sleep deprivation or disruption of normal sleep patterns might actually be an important factor in this context. Then again, being in pain isn't great for sleep and cognitive functioning either.
 
Really it is impossible two say with absolute fact.Because every individual is unique i suppose anything that is not naturally supposed two be in the body could have minnor effects on ones health but that would be pure speculation because were do you draw the line with so many synthetic un natural things in the world.As far as opiates are concerned the damage that they may cause could be acute overdose with sometimes fatal concequences physicly speaking on the bodys organs liver kidneys ect.Or a more slow onset of problems with years of opiate use and abuse with effects on the body and on the mind.For example a physically dependancey on a opiate to function or phychological addiction two opiates resulting in emotional difficulties which are detremental two the mind.For example anxiety and depression so yes there can be problems if opiates are used innapropriately.But for people who use opiates as prescribed and for a limited time i suppose the difficulties are limited but it is impossible to be sure because everybody is different and uses opiates differentley.
 
Taken as prescribed opiates have little serious long term physical effects. I do know though that with continued use they can start to wear on the heart by causing murmurs/irregular heartbeat. I was told this by our family doctor.
 
I used to believe the pain relief outweighed the risk of dependency.
Now after becoming dependent and experiencing withdrawal - I'm not so sure. Dependency is unavoidable and really changes the brain..from my experience.
 
Long term opiate use causes physical side-effects that are mostly benign and short-term, ie. respiratory depression from opiates in combination with smoking tobacco or weed can make the lungs weaker and slow their natural cleansing processes.

But also, in hijacking the body's endorphin system, long-term opiate use can cause drastic changes in the ways that we become motivated or experience pleasure.

Depression and mania can be ameliorated by daily opiate use but so can creativity and motivation. These effects are different for everyone, but for those who rely on their creativity and motivation for financial stability or long-term mental health, opiates can and often do become a heavy burden.

It's wise to check your personality and mental health and assess the changes (if any) you've experienced since becoming physically dependent on opiates. It's almost always a challenge, ESPECIALLY if you're in pain every day, to decide whether opiates are working for or against you. At some point, the balance often seems to tip from the positive to the negative.
 
I used to think opiates weren't that hard on the body and brain, but were just extremely addictive.

But I've changed my mind. Serious opiate-induced damage to the brain and other organs happens in many chronic long-term users.

What drug are you talking about?
 
K'd-OUT-in-AZ said:
Completely safe. Opiates are very safe physically and mentally. The only issue is with dependence and the potential harm caused by abusing them.
Click to expand...

Used at reasonable low prescribed dosages, opiates are pretty safe. Compared to stimulants for ADD and benzodiazepines for anxiety and sleep, opiates are undoubtedly less harmful. But they can cause a lot of long-term damage if abused.
 
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sorry but some of you are wrong, pure diamorph or morph shot up with a clean fit after swabbing your arm and not overdosing, will cause no damage to your brain or organs at all. prove me wrong.
 
Can someone please change this thread's title to "Are opiates bad for you?" My OCD goes absolutely ape shit every time I see this thread...
 
The heart damage is only caused by unhealthy injecting techniques...

If you use opiate orally, then some synthetics are really the only ones known to cause heart arrhythmias...
 
Psychedelic Jay said:
The heart damage is only caused by unhealthy injecting techniques...

If you use opiate orally, then some synthetics are really the only ones known to cause heart arrhythmias...
Click to expand...

Like Darvocet.

Only the synthetics have the possibility of causing heath problems. Demerol is another possible.

Natural opiates (Morphine, Codeine, Opium) and semi-synthetics (Oxycodone, Hydrocodone, Heroin) should cause no health problems.
 
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