no pleasure

[wykydtron]

You don't really have to read this next part to answer my question:

SWIM has never been addicted to any opiate. That is, SWIM has never experienced withdrawal, but for about 2 years SWIM was an avid opiate enthusiast. SWIM used opiates 1-4 days per week for those 2 year - occasionally taking a week off. SWIM may have not been that experienced since he doesn't believe he ever experienced a nod, but he has IVed heroin. Regardless, SWIM found opiates to be extremely pleasurable. SWIM can't remember a time when he used opiates and didn't have a great experience. However, SWIM eventually became scared he would get addicted or that he was getting addicted - his happiness seemed to depend on them. SWIM also thought his lifestyle was unhealthy and not conducive to a happy fullfilling, so SWIM decided to quit. He changed his diet, began to exercise, quit smoking, and hasn't done any opiates for 2 years. After careful evaluation of the years he spent using opiates SWIM has come to the conclusion that he was happier during those times, and that while exercise and healthy dieting are good things, being a tight-ass is even less conducive to a happy vital life. SWIM thinks such rigid abstinence is more unhealthy than moderate use.

So, SWIM procured a number of percocet, and took about 12.5mg orally, on an empty stomach. SWIM reacts very strongly to opiates - his first time he took 5mg hydrocodone and found it extremely pleasurable and it almost knocked him out. Since, SWIM hasn't taken any for two years he figured he didn't have a tolerance anymore. SWIM felt that the effects were as intense as he expected them to be. SWIM almost couldn't keep his eyes open, and his body felt very heavy, but SWIM found the entire experience to be completely unpleasant. The opiates actually made him feel depressed. SWIM suffers from depression, but he always has, and opiates always seemed to just blow right through it. This, time they just made it worse. Anyone know any reason for this? Could he have lost his ability to derive pleasure from opiate use somehow? Opiates usually make SWIM feel very loving towards his girlfriend, which is one of the reasons he likes them so much, but this time they just made every word she spoke feel like a dagger stabbing him in his brain.

[fnord]

maybe your buddy dosent like percoset,try vicodin again.

[wykydtron]

Originally Posted by fnord

maybe your buddy dosent like percoset,try vicodin again.

He's taken oxycodone many times and found it to be very pleasurable everytime, except for this time - the first time he's taken an opiate after his 2-year break. But, I will tell him to try out your suggestion, when possible. Thanks.

[Ethyl]

Originally Posted by wykydtron

He's taken oxycodone many times and found it to be very pleasurable everytime, except for this time - the first time he's taken an opiate after his 2-year break. But, I will tell him to try out your suggestion, when possible. Thanks.

That has happened to me after a long break too. It's psychologic..

[jerbles]

I have no idea. Swij has also always found opiates to relieve depression and anxiety and he generally has no bad feelings at all when on them.

I'm sorry for your loss...

[Ellis D.]

If SWIY tries it again and it consistently sucks then maybe SWIYs receptors got tweaked during SWIYs 2 year span of using. Usually this only happens to addicts but if a SWIY uses too much opiates like in addiction, it can screw up the receptors in the brain so that opiates don't effect you anymore...or possibly have negative effects..

[jerbles]

yeah. swiy might have burnt out his endorphins or some shit.

doesn't seem possible really, especially with such a small amount of use, but ya never know.

[jorg]

SWIM has had the occasional experience like this, and he thinks that in your friend's case, especially after a break that long, maybe the anticipation of the effects got in the way of their enjoyment. SWIM remembers the first time he took 20 mg hydrocodone, his highest before that being 10, and being really disappointed and feeling almost no effects. The next time SWIM took 10, he expected to not feel that much at all and didn't really look out for the effects and instead went on his way, doing his homework and going to class - SWIM got knocked on his ass with euphoria.

If SWIY wants another example, SWIM will relate his first experience with opiates - about 10 mg IV moprhine and 10 mg oxycodone orally, in the hospital; SWIM was so concentrated on the pain he was given them for and the fact that he could still feel that the discomfort was there that it was about an hour or two before he realized, not only didn't he care about his pain anymore (even though he could still feel it), but he had never felt better in his entire life.

[wykydtron]

Since my first post, SWIM has done three more experiments - two more with oxycodone, and one with heroin. In none of the experiments did SWIM experience anything like what he has experienced in the past. He was very irritated every time. I don't really think he was expecting much. He wasn't really thinking about anything. He just took the stuff, and watched TV, until it kicked in. He felt the effects very strongly - the doses were large - but he didn't not experience pleasure. Oddly, he found himself not wanting the experience to end.

Now, here is the really weird part. Instead of being depressed after the experience, as he usually is, SWIM has been in an abnormally (for him) good mood - not euphoric, by any definition, but not depressed. He feels more creative, more social, his libido has increased, and he is sleeping better. This mood lift was not immediately following the experiments, but started about two days later.

Right before these recent opiate experiments, SWIM had done some experiments with GHB - having heard about its immedtiate antidepressant effects. These experiments proceeded in exactly the same way as those done with opiates. SWIM experience while under the influence of GHB was very unpleasant. SWIM took various doses in various settings. He didn't even know what to expect, but none of the experiences were the slightest bit pleasurable. But, immediately after the experiences, SWIM felt pretty crappy, but after that SWIM felt good, normal, instead of his usual crappiness.