Is there any truth to this claim about opiates?

[Seven-One-Eight]

My friend recently had a checkup and told his doctor straight out that he often drinks and takes a lot of oxy (He doesn't have an everyday habit, but every weekend he will induldge). He was complaining of having a lot of anxiety, and t he doctor said that the reason for this was because "The more pills you take, the more you keep resetting your heart. You aren't letting your heart catch up with and maintain a single level of beating.".

When I heard this I thought it sounded like BS. Keep in mind that what the doctor is saying that one would still experience these effects a week after, even being sober the whole week. Anyone know anything about this or is it just more BS? I'm really trying to clarify this in terms of occasional (1-2 times of weekly moderate use on average) users, not everyday users.

 

[Swerlz]

I think he's referring to the depressant effect of both the booze and oxy that his heartrate is slowing down and both drugs are having an effect on the rate of the beat.. but I'm no expert so what i just said could be wrong. Sorry lol

 

[rickolasnice]

Umm.. yeah i don't think thats correct..

It's more likely due to GABA receptor downregulation and opioid receptor downregulation (i don't know much about opiates effects in brain so i dno which ones would be resposible for heightened anxiety.. kappa? mu?)

 

[Swerlz]

kappa probably

 

[rickolasnice]

^ remembering we're talkin about the rebound effect (not the right terminology i know..).. ie downregulation of receptors.. if kappa agonists cause dysphoria (and or anxiety) i'd guess that it wouldn't be downregulation of them to cause anxiety.. I'd assume it would be the mu opioid receptor downregulation that would increase anxiety.. (based on very little info i just read up on quickly)..

The downregulation of these receptors would also probably affect heart rate, etc through whatever mechanism the corresponding neurotransmitter would play in regulating it.