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  • BDD Moderators: Keif’ Richards | negrogesic

Opioids and Anxiety

Potentially yes, though rarely opioid can exacerbate anxiety. Opioids like kratom and tramadol are more likely to cause these problems than standard full agonist pharmaceutical opioids, but I have seen people complain about anxiety from stuff like oxy or hydro. In most cases however opioids are anxiolytic, though I'm not sure how well they would do for a panic attack.
 
When I first tried a 5mg perc back in 2000, I got severe anxiety & a severe headache......tried vicodin with the same results, so I never touched any opiates again until my back pain got really bad in 2010, then I was prescribed vicodin & it worked like a charm.

Very strange how the chemistry in my body didn't accept it back in 2000......I guess my chemistry changed after 10 years acception the opiates/opiods.

As for can opiates be used for anxiety? They certainly can, but I think they are better fit for depression......especially tramadol.

Panic attacks I'm assuming are brought on by anxiety......but I believe benzos better fit the panic attacks than opiates.

Opiates were prescribed for depression back in the 1950's.......especially vicodin.

Even morphine, etc......was sold as a depression miracle cure way back in the day........until the govt decided to get involved.

Now they rather you ingest poison antidepressants that do absolutely jack sh*t to help you......& IMO, make you worse.

Not saying opiates won't turn you into a slave from addiction, because it can if you're not careful......but you should always have a choice on how you want to tackle your anxiety/depression.

Bottom line, do what's best for you, & what is & will help you along to a normal life that will make you live comfortable & happy.
 
Benzos are optimal for anxiety. But I'm sure you know that. Opioids should generally reduce anxiety and cause calmness in naive users due to the potency, but when you get to more experienced users with tolerances, they may start to shift more towards having the ability to cause minor anxiety rather than alleviate it.
 
opiates/oids can work wonders for panic attacks, until you get addicted, at which point the withdrawal from (and quite often even the fear of the withdrawal) will bring on panic attacks and anxiety far greater than the original ones you used them to dispel.

>diminishing returns
 
I've found Codeine to be of some use for anxiety and even depression. A high dose of codeine seems to leave me with an afterglow for a few days.. a feeling of contentment and optimism.. Like when you get back from a holiday and feel kind of satisfied and refreshed.

No other opiate works the same for anxiety, for me.
Both Opium and Oxy actually caused jittery anxiety for a good hour before they got going.
 
BrassEye said:
I've found Codeine to be of some use for anxiety and even depression. A high dose of codeine seems to leave me with an afterglow for a few days.. a feeling of contentment and optimism.. Like when you get back from a holiday and feel kind of satisfied and refreshed.

No other opiate works the same for anxiety, for me.
Both Opium and Oxy actually caused jittery anxiety for a good hour before they got going.
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I won't touch oxy again.....I am definitely in the minority in saying it doesnt do much for my back pain, & it makes me an angry person.

I remember the 1st time I took 100mgs of codeine, wow how everything looked.....the sun was shining, the birds were singing, it felt like I was at the beach. I still get like that if I take a higher dose.......& hydrocodone will do the same.

OP, if you really want to try an opiate for depression/anxiety attacks.......try codeine if you can get it. Its pretty much the weakest & should help you.......but like others have stated, you will be opening a new can of worms down the road.

Then again, you are looking to live a fruitful life just like other people who enjoy life w/o substances......so if the good outweighs the bad in using opiates, go for it, that's how I see it.

Also check out a low dose of Valium, since it has a long half life......
 
I generally would love to go on Benzo's for anxiety and ONLY use them for anxiety rather than abuse them. When I'm anxious, all I want is to feel relax and sedated so I can sleep and wake up and feel better, but I've been on propanolol instead which just slows my heart rate rather than does anything for the anxiety itself.
 
PieceByPiece said:
I generally would love to go on Benzo's for anxiety and ONLY use them for anxiety rather than abuse them. When I'm anxious, all I want is to feel relax and sedated so I can sleep and wake up and feel better, but I've been on propanolol instead which just slows my heart rate rather than does anything for the anxiety itself.
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In today's day & age, sadly we have to be our own doctor on some things.

You might have to figure it out on your own what works for you, & ingest it moderately.

I hate saying this, but when it cones to depression & anxiety, doctors do more harm then good.
 
I have bought a small amount of heroin before to get out of a panic attack I was having. It works quite well for me.

I normally take my prescribed Valium for anxiety though.
 
When I'm taking opiates I tend to get a lot of anxiety. Not during the initial high, right after a shot of h I'm clearly pretty relaxed, but as soon as thr euphoria even begins to fade I get very high strung, and more prone to mood swings and high anxiety. I see similar behaviors in a lot of my friends, whether they admit it or not. While opiates might delay a panic attack for a little while, and that's a might, they're not really made for that and whatever is bothering you will catch up quickly
 
slamingrudie said:
When I'm taking opiates I tend to get a lot of anxiety. Not during the initial high, right after a shot of h I'm clearly pretty relaxed, but as soon as thr euphoria even begins to fade I get very high strung, and more prone to mood swings and high anxiety. I see similar behaviors in a lot of my friends, whether they admit it or not. While opiates might delay a panic attack for a little while, and that's a might, they're not really made for that and whatever is bothering you will catch up quickly
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I'm assuming if the persons problems are really bad, then the anxiety gets worse as they keep abusing the opiate?

Benzos are definitely better for panic attacks, but both drugs are a doubled edge sword.
 
I think Benzoiazepines are much preferable for the acute symptomatic treatment of anxiety for a wide range of reasons, the main being that they all produce near enough the same result - sedation whilst depressing the CNS.

However, as aforementioned, many different Opiates produce many different results. The only opiate I take for acute anxiety is Morphine, because I find it quite sedating and makes me feel content, taking the edge off of my anxiety.

On the other hand, Oxycodone/Tramadol/Tapentadol all provide me with some degree of stimulation so are not very conducive to use as an anxiolytic.

I certainly wouldn't consider opiates for panic attacks. You're much better off resorting to fast-acting short-lasting Benzodiazepines such as Alprazolam/Xanax or Clonazepam/Klonopin.
 
I have to agree with all the postings above ; while opiates can reduce anxiety, benzodiazepines are the professional choice. Reasons? They are harder to OD on acutely (though the withdrawal can kill, literally), they are less intoxicating/impairing, less addictive, and just better for anxiety - its 'what they do.'

Opiates can be heaven, but they can also involve some interesting and intense dysphoria - ive experienced it myself. My guess is that this has something to do with the opioid system in the brain, which is known to mediate some interesting effects that are not all fin and games. For instance, the kappa- opioid system is known to produce hallucinations, delusions, and dyphoria upon activation via agonism.
 
Consider trying anti-depressants to treat your panic attacks and anxiety permanently. However, they take weeks to work, and can make things worse until they start to effectively re-balance your neurochemistry, so I would suggest a two-prong approach. Take benzos for the first few weeks along with the anti-depressants, then, once they work, wean off the benzos and keep on the anti-depressent for months, even years, until you are confident to go off them in which your neurochemistry is re-aligned and you can live without either drug.
 
I used to have a lot of anxiety, started opioids (oxy then morphine, then dilaudid, then heroin, over the course of 3 years) and the anxiety disappeared with the opioid use, now I'm two years clean and since the day I quit the anxiety is back, so yes I believe opioids can decrease and potentially eliminate anxiety, however, much more expensive solution than a benzo
 
I agree that opiates can help with anxiety. It always had helped me anyway. However I also agree withdrawal from opies can cause severe panic attacks. ?
 
PerkMeUp38 said:
I agree that opiates can help with anxiety. It always had helped me anyway. However I also agree withdrawal from opies can cause severe panic attacks. 
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That's why they don't use opiates to treat anxiety disorders, as most people will invariably have or will develop panic disorder or go from one to the other as their neuro-chemistry changes. It might be an anti-anxiety substance, but like cannabis, it certainly does nothing to stop panic attacks, but instead magnifies them to horrible levels.

Of course a simple solution is have a benzo/kava kava/valerian root/whatever with your weed or heroin, but that is beyond most people's thought process.
 
hatrix said:
I have bought a small amount of heroin before to get out of a panic attack I was having. It works quite well for me.

I normally take my prescribed Valium for anxiety though.
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I'd go back to Valium for anxiety. Or anxiety will be your smallest problem.
 
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