Injecting - Unusual symptoms when injecting heroin

[Esmerelda]

I'm starting this thread because two people have asked me a very similar question in the past few days. Both have used heroin for years, but then developed strange symptoms later on in their use when injecting (one had 5 years clean before this happened). The symptoms of the two people overlap but aren't identical.

I think both have posted threads about it before so this is not so much a thread for advice, as to build a list of unusual symptoms ANYONE has noticed when injecting. I thought it might be useful to see if there is any kind of pattern.

Here are the symptoms from the two people who spoke to me about it. Please add any more experiences.

#1
chest pain like heartburn
anxiety
sensitive skin
finger tingling in ulnar nerve distribution on left side
sweating
nausea
heavy sedation
elevated heart rate
lightheadedness

#2
bitter taste
heavy sweating
visual disturbance
red rashes under arms and between legs
anxiety

[Nemba]

I've heard of heroin being cut with scopolamine to potentiate it, as is done medicinally with opiates occasionally for combinatory pain relief, and in low enough doses anti-nausea. These symptoms sound the same to me.

Originally Posted by Wikipedia article on scopolamine

Adverse effects

The common side effects are related to the anticholinergic effect on parasympathetic postsynaptic receptors: dry mouth, throat and nasal passages in overdose cases progressing to impaired speech, thirst, blurred vision and sensitivity to light, constipation, difficulty urinating and tachycardia. Other effects of overdose include flushing and fever, as well as excitement, restlessness, hallucinations, or delirium. These side effects are commonly observed with oral or parenteral uses of the drug and generally not with topical ophthalmic use.

Drug interactions: side effects and use against pain

When combined with morphine scopolamine is useful for pre-medication for surgery or diagnostic procedures and was widely used in obstetrics in the past; the mixture also produces amnesia and a tranquillised state known as Twilight Sleep, also the name of a proprietary drug available in the past in ampoules of injectable fluid containing morphine sulphate and scopolamine hydrobromide (and in some cases the phenothiazine anti-nauseants prochlorperazine or promethazine as a third ingredient). Although originally used in obstetrics, it is now considered dangerous for that purpose for both mother and baby.

[Junkhead23]

Sounds to me it was cut with something nasty like a benzo or zimmers or something like that.

[Dicemanstyle]

Swim being someone who reports these symptoms has to add, each time a different source of junk has been used. On no occasion said symptoms were reported had the same batch been used.
Also swim reports that these symptoms appear to be lessening as opposed to increasing.
And obviously the less junk used the lesser the symptoms.
Swim shot night before last and had little to no symptoms just the unpleasant bitter, tangy, sour taste after the initial lovely taste.
Also a symptom swim forgot to mention was an intensly itchy anus. Swim injected 4 times a day for 5 years never experienced any of above symptoms.

Thanks,

[electrolingus]

Originally Posted by Esmerelda

I think both have posted threads about it before so this is not so much a thread for advice, as to build a list of unusual symptoms ANYONE has noticed when injecting. I thought it might be useful to see if there is any kind of pattern.

During the hamsters fifteen plus years of on/off IV heroin use, he has occasionally developed unusual symptoms directly after injection. These are...

-Extreme tingling in hands along with shallow breathing, anxiety, and pupil dilation.
-Atypical ringing in the ears along with face and neck rash.
-Instant withdrawal syndrome.
-Atypical sedation with teeth chattering and nausea.
-Temporary hearing loss. (from heroin and cocaine combined)
-Painful burning sensation throughout the entire body along with chest pain.
-Atypical ringing in the ears along with pupil dilation and a metallic taste on the tongue.

These are just a few of the groups of 'symptoms' that stand out the most in the hamsters memory, and for the most part can be explained. The reason the hamster can recall them is because these are the ones that actually made the hamster think about putting the hype down for awhile (or at least for the rest of the day.)

The hamster just wants to add to what the other members who didn't post here previously stated. Some reactions from adulterants may not occur until a certain blood level has been reached. So theoretically one could use heroin from a particular batch several times before having a problem. Also, adulterants that contain trace amounts of metals can over time cause organ damage which may not become symptomatic until irreversible damage has been done.