Opiate tolerance... how long does it last?

[kbsuperstar]

Anyone know how long tolerance to opiates typically lasts?

For SWIM, 20-25mg does almost no pain relief and gives little high (body only, too).

He thinks this is likely due to methadone use in the past couple months (needs at least 40-50mg for a moderate high).

Yesterday he took four 5/500mg Vicodin (typical M357s), and today SWIM tried 5 to see if he could get anything. Unfortunately, he's experienced almost nothing; slight body high, but that's it.

Even though this is occurring, it could be possible that SWIM's not feeling it because he's had some migraines almost all throughout the day for the last week. The Vicodin doesn't do anything for that, either.

So, yeah... Please and thank you

[Sportsguy86]

Tolerance to opiates drops extremely quickly after use is ceased. We're talking a small number of days (3-5) before the body loses tolerance to the drug. After a week, you will notice a significant decrease in tolerance.

That said, even after long periods opiate free, you still have raised you natural opiate tolerance due to your past use. Take a year off, and you will still have a higher tolerance than when you were 10 years old. This tolerance is generally very minimal however, and just slightly more than if you had never used.

[kbsuperstar]

Thanks for the info.

The only thing is that when SWIM was 10, he was putting full syringes of fentanyl and morphine into his eye sockets!

Ha, just kidding, of course

[BikerKitty]

SWIM's doc told her that opiates block the signal to the brain from the nerves. So the nerves try to get around the blockade. This means the nerves make new routes to try to tell the brain that the body has pain. This is why when you have to go off (just did a 3 month lay off), SWIy will have more pain for a while.

SWIM thought she would die! The doc just put her on Kadian 30mg. Eeh, it's ok, but I sure would like my norco's back!

Be very, very careful with the tylenol in the 5/500's. SWIy could really hurt their liver that way. Also make sure SWIy doesn't take anything else over the counter with tylenol. SWIM has never tried the CWE, but would recommend trying it. Five 5/500 means SWIy took 2500 mgs of tylenol! At once. Be careful, friend WIy!

[kbsuperstar]

SWIM knows not to take too much tylenol.

4g in 24 hrs means severe liver damage.
10g - 15g is overdose and extremely dangerous.
15g+ is lethal.

SWIM's tried cold-water extraction, but with poor results. He think it's 'cause the coffee filters were too thin and/or it wasn't left to become cold long enough. SWIM didn't have a thermometer then, but does now so it'll be easier to monitor the temperature next time.

[BikerKitty]

Cool beans, ksuperstar! SWIM had a friend who died that way. Sorry if she sounded like she was on her soapbox. Guess she kinda was. Must have been the Mom coming out in her. Thanks for the info, too.

[kbsuperstar]

Ha, I wasn't trying to sound like a jackass or anything. Sorry if I mad you mad SWIM knows to be careful when taking drugs, and he generally limits 2g in a day (though this week he took 4.5g in 48 hrs, which is kinda a no-no).

He's gonna try harder to stop doing dangerous things

[Sportsguy86]

Originally Posted by kbsuperstar

SWIM knows not to take too much tylenol.

4g in 24 hrs means severe liver damage.
10g - 15g is overdose and extremely dangerous.
15g+ is lethal.

SWIM's tried cold-water extraction, but with poor results. He think it's 'cause the coffee filters were too thin and/or it wasn't left to become cold long enough. SWIM didn't have a thermometer then, but does now so it'll be easier to monitor the temperature next time.

You're out of your mind if you think 4g in 24hrs one time causes severe liver damage. You could have this dose everyday of your life and be totally fine. Even Tylenol says you can--and they give themselves ALOT of leeway to be safe.

[kbsuperstar]

Sorry, I believe it's actually 6g that within 24 hrs (maybe even 48) that causes severe liver damage. Tylenol recommends no more than 4g in 24 hrs.

[Psych0naut]

Originally Posted by Sportsguy86

You're out of your mind if you think 4g in 24hrs one time causes severe liver damage. You could have this dose everyday of your life and be totally fine. Even Tylenol says you can--and they give themselves ALOT of leeway to be safe.

First of all, when taken on a regular basis, the maximum daily amount of paracetamol(which is 4 grams a day) gets lower and lower, due to paracetamol build up in the bloodstream. Not only that, but paracetamol toxicity doesn't start at a certain level, it's toxic on itself, no matter how little you take. It's just that the toxicity can be neglected under a certain amount, but just like alcohol, it's toxic in any dose, but the dose is the poisen, so to speak.

Unfortunenately, the human body does not grow tolerant to paracetamols liver toxicity, but it does buildup in your system when taking it on a regular basis. When drinking alcohol on top of that, which is toxic to the liver as well, even more damage is done to the liver. It's not that such a single even would be visible under a microscope a day later, but it does build up over time, that's why paracetamol as a painkiller should be avoided as much as possible.

Don't trust a large pharmaceutical corperation when they are claiming their product is safe, all they care is their profit margins, not the consumers health .. The 4 grams per day limit is a safety margin set by the medical community, as a guideline for people who infrequently use paracetamol. When frequent dosing of paracetamol is needed to stop the pain, one should see a doctor who will switch one to a stronger and safer alternative, which can be take on a frequent base. Aspirin works fine for most people as well, and taking it once a day seriously lowers your chance of heart attacks and chronic heart problems. There are a few groups of people who should not take aspirin daily, and some people who shouldn't take it on an infrequent base either, but those people are mentioned in the patient information leaflet which comes with each pack of aspirin. One of those groups of people are pregnant women, as well as people who have lost a lot of blood and those who have a low blood pressure. This is all because aspirin makes the blood thinner and can cause blood pressure to drop. Ibuprofen can be used as an alternative for paracetamol as well, though also only on an infrequent base, as it can raise changes of a heart attack in most people, and can cause kidney damage. Though Ibuprofens safety margins are a bit to a reasonably bit higher than those of paracetamol.

[OhCasey]

ibuprofen wreaks havoc on your stomach. Most people i kow cant handle it for prolonged time.