Posted by jerrympls on November 13, 2005, at 18:42:15
In reply to Re: Opiates for depression?, posted by linkadge on November 13, 2005, at 18:21:45
> >Also - Do you have the research that lists the >rate of tolerance for various opiates?
>
> Not specifically, but there is a lot of research done on the effects of opiate tollerance. Methadone, for instance is used as a subsitute for heroin because of the difference in tollerance rates. Most users know, however, that methadone is no less addicting.
>
> The following article is about vicodin, and how tollerance seems to develop more slowly (at least in animal models) to the euphoria, and analgesia.
>
> http://opioids.com/hydrocodone/vicodin.html
>
> >I find it hard to believe that scientists know >the exact time it takes for anyone taking >opiates to develop tolerance.
>
> They don't know specifically, (ie. for any one individual), but opiate tollerance has been one of the biggest pharmacudial issues, in search for effective nonadicting painkillers. Comparisons are made between opiates, in terms of their euphoriant properties, their painkilling properties, and their latencies for tollerance. Some of those proceedures are listed in the above article.
>
> >But I could be wrong. And what do you mean by >saying sometimes tolerance to drugs does not >appear in the form one might expect?
>
> Tollerance can be measured by the degree severity of withdrawl. Ie, missing your 2nd dose would be much easier than missing your 365th dose.
> If a particular opiate has a slow tollerance latency, then it is harder to be attuned to the signs.
>
>
> >Sorry if I come across a bit defensive but I get >the feeling - and correct me if I am wrong - ?>that you are trying to negate my experience. All >I can say is that opiate therapy works for me >and works well - and that I am not the only one >by a longshot. I haven't developed tolerance >after a year - but that's not to say I will >never develop tolerance. Also, I am not an >addict (not that you said that) and never have >had a problem with addiction to anything.
>
> It will come down to what your definition of addicting is. In my definition, something is addicting if missing it would cause significant imparment to your daily functioning.
>
> I'm not trying to negate what you are saying, but I would be concerned for the long term mental health of anybody who used opiates for the treatment of a mood disorder.
>
>
> LinkadgeThanks for the link and the info.
As far as your statement on addiction, if I miss a dose or two - or even decide to take a day off from the opiate - I do not feel any negative effects. In fact I took 2 weeks off of taking my opiate (because of a script problem). I was worried about withdrawl, however, I didn't experience any.
Many negative things can be said about the use of opiates, but the same can be said of benzos, sleeping meds, and stimulants - yet they are used all the time in psychiatric medicine.
I strongly believe opiates have a place in psychiatric medicine.
Jerry
poster:jerrympls
thread:575925
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20051112/msgs/578306.html