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Opioids Opiates / Opioids increasees productivity?

D

diver

Bluelighter
Joined
Oct 26, 2010
Messages
80
Location
CA, Up North
I tried to do a search to find a thread that I read a while back that I think was entitled "Heroin Increases Productivity?"

I have found that the case with myself has been that the most productive days/years of my life have been the times when I have been on opiates/opioids.

I have recently cleaned up significantly due to the cost / benefit factor that inevitably comes along with addiction to those substances.
But looking back on it, I can with complete honesty say that my brain functions more effectively when I'm under the influence of a moderate dose of the mentioned substances.
I do not use opioids as a recreational drug, I use it as a therapeutic drug.

About 1-1/2 yrs ago I was at my peak consumption @ about 160mg of oxycodone / day. On occasion some Fent patches would come my way, and I could work fairly well on those as well.

When I say work better, I define that as being more decisive, more confident, better focused, able to plan more effectively and execute my plans, to be less distracted by minor incidents, to be able to recover my concentration when something happens to break it.
These are all elements that are generally considered to be a part of good mental health.
So Yeah... I'm in better mental health when under the influence of opioids.
I have read some threads posted by others reflecting a similar viewpoint , and I'm interested in hearing from anyone else who uses opioids therapeutically rather than recreationally.

How have things gone for you with this?

I have recently been seeing a therapist and when I begin talking about this and my own personal brain chemistry issues, she begins arguing with me about it and truthfully she seems like she has no interest in being any part in a discussion of opiates as a therapeutic substance for brain chemistry.

If you're like me with this plese share.

Thanks
 
Yes, opioids disinhibit dopamine, and this profound raise in dopamine levels can enhance motivation and drive in a similar fashion to ADHD stimulants - up to a point.

Very high doses can have the opposite effect.

But doses at\slightly above the pain killing level, but under the "super euphoria" range will be best for productivity.

This effect is really not sustainable long-term IME :/
 
I have always felt the same way. Even when I was heavily into opiates and did not neccissarly feel "high" both physical and mental tasks came easier. I was more productive and creative. I think overall though most people need ever more to continue these effects and when the supply runs out everything goes to hell.
 
Yeah, you feel better when you're high, big suprise.

The dramatic decrease in productivity afterwards is a huge trade-off.

With that said, I agree that opioids are an EXTREMELY effective anti-depressant, at RESPONSIBLE doses, and if used, again, responsibly. But for the vast majority, that is simply unsustainable. And 160mg oxy per day? Come on, man, "yeah, I feel great taking 160mg oxy a day". Yeah, shocking revelation!
 
I theorize though that maybe back then you felt like you were more productive was because you were under the influence of opiates? I mean.. they're really not good for you. In any way.. they've been proven to worsen mental health and are highly addictive. I'm all for you doing what you want to do. It's your life! Live it up! But I don't think they're good for mental health. Good pain killer though and a fun high when taken infrequently.

I think what happens with opiate addiction is it is a lot like nicotine addiction in the sense that while you're using you feel more able to concentrate, have relieved stress.. feel more relaxed.. I think the psychological addiction and possibly physical addiction are what fuels these "illusions". If you weren't a smoker or an opiate user or previous user you may not feel so unrelaxed, stressed and unable to concentrate..once you get your fix those feelings go away so people give credit to the opiate for removing that stress, allowing them to relax and concentrate.. when really it is because of the opiates that when they're not using they feel unhappy. I hope that makes sense haha it sounded good in my head.
 
^^^ In some cases, opioids relieve severe depression, and really do increase productivity, and quality of life. But with said, addiction clearly destroys lives, and it is well outside of the ability of a typical user to use opioids in such a matter.

Hell, even a responsible user can be fucked by sources out of they're control(financial hardships, sources drying up).
Getting a legal supply should be of upmost importance to the discerning addict.

And FYI, opioids themselves have no negative effects on the body whatsoever, when used long term, and responsibly.
 
I have read some threads posted by others reflecting a similar viewpoint , and I'm interested in hearing from anyone else who uses opioids therapeutically rather than recreationally.
Click to expand...

I don't think there's a difference. Someone who's happy, calm and fulfilled isn't going to get into the habit of taking opiates all the time. Addiction is just self medication.
 
^^^ Well I didn't NOT taking them didn't have negative effects!

As I often say, it's not taking opioids that's a problem, it's running out. ;)
 
They can also have major effects on hormone production. But generally yes, they're one of the less harmful drugs out there if you avoid ODing (which is easy if you're careful and not using street heroin).
 
Cool - Thanks for the replies. Obviously, I'm not alone here with the theraputic use of opioids.
To those who say it's about feeling good cause I'm high.., I don't feel high when Im using it in therapeutic doses.
160 mg /day is a LOT, but after using for a year or more, 160mg over a 24hr period feels like nothing. But it feels like hell when you run out.

Recently the Doc has put me on Mitrazipine at night and Wellbutrin by day.
To me it's all about my brain working right and having good cognitive abilities. All I have to report is that prescription psych meds provide nothing in that arena.

To those who have been clean for a while. Does cognitive ability ever return or match that of times when under the influence?

Possibly I'm experiencing PAWS I'm still not completely clean. But I'm clean 4 days / wk for about the past 2 mo.
 
^ Mirtazepine has some anticholinergic effects that will slow you down a bit mentally for the first month or two.

I'm afraid if you're still using thrice a week, it's not PAWS, mate...just regular withdrawal. :/
 
N0 W4RN1NG said:
^ Mirtazepine has some anticholinergic effects that will slow you down a bit mentally for the first month or two.

I'm afraid if you're still using thrice a week, it's not PAWS, mate...just regular withdrawal. :/
Click to expand...

Most likely

I have just recently , within the past 3 wks completely quit kratom, due to inavailability.
I just needed something so I'm back on pills again.
Mitrazipine has been a good find cause with that I can sleep well, and generally I'll wake up in the morn after a good night's sleep and OK dreams.
But still I'm missing the cognitive ability that I have when on opioids.

I'm looking forward to the future if I can somehow return to having proper brain function with no use of addictive substances.
 
You will never convince a psychiatrist about using opiates for helping in therapy........they rather prescribe pills that can give you suicidal thoughts & screw your head up.
 
N0 W4RN1NG said:
I hear you. But my back pain wasn't nearly as bad before I got into opioids, and I've been clean for years now...
Click to expand...

I hear ya man mine too which leads to needing more andmore painkillers a vicious cycle for sure along with phantom pains where your body has pain that isn't there craving more opiates. Ive heard accounts from doctors where patients who have been on opiates for decades are so extremely sensitive to pain that even things like covering them up with their bed sheets can be painful to them. I always thought the same thing about opiates that they caused you no harm till you run out but they do cause issues like this along with stomach problems , bone problems and depression/erractic up and down type behaviour (yes even when the user had their supply stocked up) but when compared to other drugs the long term effects that come from using opiates seem like nothing compared to say meth or crack.
 
^^^ It's called hyperalgesia, and it can be extreme. But again, that only happens when you stop taking them.

(Well, hyperalgesia is pretty much a given at high doses, but the extreme kind you're talking about won't manifest until you run out).

You all have brought up some valid things though, hyperalgesia is often not mentioned when discussing long-term effects of opioids, but it's a bitch. Still, it isn't toxic, and if you continue taking it, there aren't any negative effects but constipation.
 
Yes but that's the cycle you need more and more to keep those pains away as time goes on unless your on say suboxone which is one of the reasons I like it so much you can keep on the same dose for decades without having to raise it. Or so I've heard ive only been on sub just over a year and my tolerance Has only gone down or stayed the same which is a lot Better than Heroin where i went from a half gram a day to an 8ball in a few years.
 
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