Posted by SalArmy4me on May 12, 2001, at 18:25:20
In reply to Re: Opiates for depression, posted by shelliR on May 12, 2001, at 14:46:33
Here's what Dr. Richelson, one of Dr. Bob's colleagues wrote about opiates in depression:
"Long before the established antidepressants were available, opiates and opioids were used to treat depression. However, for various reasons today, I would not use this class of compounds to treat depression. The mechanisms of tolerance to a drug is very complex and not well understood for most drugs. Some mechanisms involve increased metabolism of the drug and adaptive changes at the cellular level. The theory about tolerance to opioids is that there are adaptive changes at the level of receptors for these compounds. Why tolerance would not develop in some patients, but not others is a mystery." --http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010411/msgs/59892.html
Here's what you wrote pertaining to a doctor who wouldn't prescribe opiates for depression:
"Elizabeth. I talked to Dr. Bodkin briefly today...He will do a consultation, but will not proscribe codeine because of a prior _law suit_{!}."Here's what the facts say:
•As many as 900,000 Americans are dependent on
heroin or other illicit opioids.
*3-8% of opiate users die of trauma or overdose.
poster:SalArmy4me
thread:61760
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010507/msgs/62653.html