Pharmacology - Genetic Codeine Tolerance

[mattdoesexist]

Hello all, I have a question regarding the tolerance buildup of codeine. Well, SWIM was prescribed a cough syrup by his doctor containing codeine. After learning more about the drug and the specific syrup online, he went to Erowid to read some of the experience reports regarding codeine. He figured a dose of about 120 mg would be enough to give him a satisfying high for his first time. However, after the initial 120 mg dose of liquid codeine, he noticed no real effects other than some mild tiredness, although he had been up for almost 24 hours, so he attributed his fatigue to that. He knows his father has been struggling with opiate addiction (heroine and cocaine... I believe cocaine is an opiate, no?) for the past 20 some-odd years, and he believes that his father was an opiate addict at the time of his conception. SWIM has noticed that whenever he pops pills containing opiates, he never feels an effect. Never a body high, never a mental fogginess or giddiness or euphoria... not the slightest bit. He even sometimes makes sure to go above and beyong the recommended recreational dosage and nada. My question is, is it possible that SWIM's father's built-up opiate tolerance has been passed down to his son? What are the properties of opiates regarding childbearing? Note: SWIM's mother has never abused opiates, to his knowledge. If you need anymore details in order to help answer my question, feel free to ask me and I will ask SWIM for clarification. Thank you for reading

[yaba]

Cocaine is not an opiate its a stimulant ! I don't think that the father build up tolerance can be past on to his son, but not a 100% sure.

Some people are more sensitive to opiates then others and for some codeine doesn't do anything, one of swims friends is one of them.

And some very unlucky people are allergic to opiates.

[honourableone]

I'm pretty sure that built up tolerance can't be passed on. Genetics don't work like that - ie you can't "pass on a scar" as it doesn't affect DNA (although if a baby was born to an opiate using mother that may have tolerance for a short while - due to the drug being passed on and not the tolerance, and SWIY should remember that built up tolerance diminishes with a lack of use anyway). People can have natural tolerance though (irrelative of built up tolerance their parents), which SWIY may or may not have significantly - 120mg is a very low recreational dose.

[drguildo]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CYP2D6#...pe_variability

[phatassone]

^^there is a chance that swiy have a deficient enzym making it imposssible for swiy body to convert codeine to morphine... but if this happens with all opiates to swiy, this makes this theory full of holes, like swiss cheese...
as for genetic passing on of a tolerance... swim finds this highly unlikely...

exactly what other opiates has swiy tried? at what doses?

[RoboCodeine7610]

I don't think your problem is being CYP2D6 deficient since you say that other opioids don't affect you either.I think you just have a high natural tolerance that could have been passed on from your father but has nothing to do with his drug use.

I know someone who had absolutely no opioid tolerance (he doesn't even drink) and stayed awake at the operating table when given a very large dose of a strong opioid I can't really remember right now.So it could just be that you're naturally tolerant to opioids...

[drguildo]

Originally Posted by RoboCodeine7610

I know someone who had absolutely no opioid tolerance (he doesn't even drink) and stayed awake at the operating table when given a very large dose of a strong opioid I can't really remember right now.

I'm no expert but I'm pretty sure opiates aren't used as a general anaesthetic, if that's what you're implying.

[RoboCodeine7610]

I'm no expert but I'm pretty sure opiates aren't used as a general anaesthetic, if that's what you're implying.

Fentanyl is extensively used for anesthesia and analgesia, most often in the operating room and intensive care unit.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fentanyl#Therapeutic_use

[drguildo]

Originally Posted by RoboCodeine7610

Fentanyl is extensively used for anesthesia and analgesia, most often in the operating room and intensive care unit.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fentanyl#Therapeutic_use

As a general anaesthetic? i.e. to render patients unconscious?

[Politicalchalk]

Yes. Swim was administered Fentanyl for having his wisdom teeth removed. He also had a hernia repair under general anesthesia, however, it was was administered with propofol as well, which is used in anaesthesia and has paralytic properties.

[drguildo]

Interesting. Thanks for enlightening me.