Opioids Tolerance without *active* addiction

[Levvytation]

Seems several kinds of drugs have this property....notably benzo's & opiates.

Certain classes of drug cause the brain to grow new receptors which lie dormant whilst the 'addict' isn't actively using the drug or experiencing withdrawals etc, sometimes for years/for the rest of that persons life. But one or two administrations can wake those receptors, resulting very quickly into full-blown addiction again.

The classic (and proven) example of this is nicotine, the most addictive substance known to man. Question is, would you say benzodiazepines do the same? I'd say yes...permanent changes to the GABA receptors etc...just takes longer.

But what about opiates? Do they fit the bill?

 

[phr]

resulting very quickly into full-blown addiction again.

I think you might be mistaking addiction with dependence.


I'm not sure what the mechanism of action is, but yeah increased tolerance is common for previous heavy opiate users.

Anecdotal evidence suggests that having a higher baseline and incurring quicker onset of tolerance and dependence is somewhat common.

 

[Mr Blonde]

Does nicotine relapse really work off this mechanism of action? You don't really build up too much of a tolerance to nicotine, I would say it's more a matter of it being highly addictive regardless and it's easy availability.

But for opioids, yes, I've experienced this, much quicker to form a dependence the second time round and the tolerance shoots up much quicker.

 

[Moredopamine]

Actually, I've read that nicotine is mostly addictive due to its combination with a moderate MAOI found in tobacco among other chemicals found in tobacco. Nicotine itself isn't heavily addicting.

edit:

Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors Allow Locomotor and Rewarding Responses to Nicotine

 

[Mr Blonde]

^ That's really interesting, thanks for the link!

I suspect in humans it might be somewhat different, based on some people having a lot of success with nicotine replacement therapy, but I imagine that the MAOI and nicotine combination definitely contributes to the addiction potential. It would be interesting to see if those results are the same in humans.

Also the ammonia they add to tobacco to increase absorption probably adds to the addiction as well.

 

[Levvytation]

They don't just add ammonia. Thousands of chemicals are added to cigarettes to create the 'perfect nicotine delivery device'.

http://whyquit.com/joel/Joel_01_01_junkie.html

^From a strictly cold turkey stop smoking site. It can seem a bit puritanical at times, but the info on there is correct (I've checked). It helped me stop 6 years ago after 20 years as a smoker & is probably the hardest thing I've ever done.

1 year ago, I smoked a couple of cigars at christmas whilst drunk but KNOWING what I was doing is stupid. Within 2 weeks I was back on 20 a day (handrolled, because at least rolling baccy isn't sprayed with chemicals).

Still, me = STUPID BASTARD!

 

[Jabberwocky]

^ handrolled tobacco tastes infinitely better too and a lot lighter on the wallet

thanks for the study, moredopamine

it's not viable for me to get high on opiates all the time anymore, being a PM patient, as tolerance shoots up extremely quick (as pointed out by phrozen and mr b) and it leaves me a little sick and a lot sore over a couple of days stabilising back to my PM doses. dependency is part package for me as i've been on opiates for a few years now.

 

[CTdopeLove]

On a semi-related note, I once tried to switch from regular smoked tobacco to a personal vaporizer (e-cig), and while the nicotine did prevent the irritability that comes with quitting smoking, it didn't do anything to prevent the depression and boredom that followed about a week later. Moredopamine is right on the money as far as MAOI's having a much greater addictive effect than the actual nicotine as far as I'm concerned, at least from my experience and those of others I consulted on a popular e-cig forum.

~CTdopeLove