Why do Opiates give you energy??

[StillLost21]

If opiates are a "downer" drug, compared to cocaine and meth which are clearly upper drugs, why does it give you so much energy? When I do opiates I get a huge burst of energy to accomplish everything in my day and more. I can run around doing a million things, and I am so motivated. Sometimes I feel like I just took some adderall or something. So, does anyone know why opiates produce these effects in a person, and give them a lot of energy?

Oh, also, if I remember correctly, when I first started taking opiates it did not give me these same effects, instead of energy, I got tired, and would lay on the couch, however, after a few months, it totally changed, its like I am taking a different drug now. Did anyone else have these same experiences? Or know why it gives you energy??

Thanks

[handywoman]

what do you do when you have chronic pain. Pain that is so intense you feel like you want to shoot yourself to stop the pain. I have a lot of health issues and only take oxycodone when in pain. Usually at night because the pain keeps me awake. I have had to use them for three years now and I know I am physically addicted, but if you were to tell me that a vitamin would do the same thing I would have no problem stopping the medicine. I don't feel high tired sleepy dizzy or anything else. Some times I feel good physically and get a burst of energy which is nice because I get things done.
My issue is that I have been clean and sober 30 years before I had to start taking the pills, and I am happy and thank God I have never felt high taking them. I think that because I take them only when I am in pain the medicine works on the pain and not on getting high.

[karas404]

Good read. I am a "casual "user, when I can get them from the doctor, and I really want to stop.  This  has helped me.  Thanks, Karas404

[littlelouis]

i have an injured wrist n the ONLY time i use Vicodin is if im almost in tears, because i dont want to take that chance of getting hooked. only when ibsu dont work will i use them.

[mistery76]

That was very helpful, thank you!

[student1986]

sorry for the double post.  weird.  

laurel453, be careful where you get your information from.  A lot of information on the interent is not from a credible source. The only information you can take as being absolute comes from peer reviewed journal articles, such as the New England Journal of Medicine, or Nature, etc (there are many).  As I said, and as several physicians have taught me, opioids have not been shown to act on dopaminergic receptors.  While there is speculation that opioid abuse does indirectly affect dopamine levels, these are only speculations.  But ill explain what they think is going on.  Within our cells, there are signalling pathways that carry out various functions. One protein signals another protein, which then signals another protein, etc., etc. eventually causing the cell to "do something." Opioids bind receptors on the cell surface which initiate these signalling pathways.  The pathways initiated by specific opioids are different from those initiated by dopamine.  BUT, some believe there is some cross-reactivity and that opioids indirectly activate dopaminergic pathways too.  Now the article laurel453 posted eludes to our bodies "making more gates." Not exactly...IF opioids are in fact activating dopaminergic pathways, this could lead to dopamine receptor downregulation.  Now if you go off opioids, our body is still producing dopamine BUT it has nothing to bind to because the receptors have been downregulated (aka no longer on the cell surface) and therefore the signalling pathways it activates do not get activated and that is what leads to addicts feeling depressed, etc. during recovery.

Laurel453, could you send me a link to the article? I'd be interested to know where its from and what sources they provide for these claims.  I'm not saying they are wrong, in fact, what I read sounds more like the effects of cocaine on the body, not opioids.  

I've posted a link to a peer reviewed article summary from the British Journal of Psychiatry and in the conclusions you will see that the researchers DID NOT find that opioids affect dopaminergic responses.  

http://bjp.rcpsych.org/cgi/content/abstract/193/1/65

This is just a summary, you need an institution code to read the entire article.  I have one, so if anyones interested in the science behind the study, I'd be happy to post the complete article.  

quitinoxys, as far as I know, there isn't much that can jump start endorphin production.  Its a well known fact in the medical world the Capsaicin (the active chemical in red chili peppers) stimulates endorphin release, as does acupuncture (causing pain), sex and exercise.  BUT, if your not producing it, there isn't anything to release/very little of it.  Your body will start to produce endorphins once your clean.  I'd just like to point out that its not like you have no endorphin production, just a reduced capacity to produce them.  Although sometimes, even small increases or decreases in something can have dramatic effects within our bodies.  D-Phenylalanine is an amino acid thats reputed mechanism of action involves blocking the degradation of what endorphins we do have.  I will not give out medical advice regarding natural health products because they are not regulated and you never know whats actually in them, but if you choose, you may give that a try.

Take care,

CH

[student1986]

Our endorphins are actually natural opioids and substances like oxycodone (a semi-synthetic opioid) mimic our endorphins.  Exogenous opioids DO NOT induce the release of endorphins, quite the contrary, they suppress the release of our endorpins.  This is why recovering addicts suffer from rebound pain, because our body's are no longer releasing these natural pain killing chemicals as it normally would be.  But they are produced and released after we've gotten clean.  There is no evidence in any medical literature that proves opioids act at the chemical synapse (for example on dopaminergic neurons), but this has been suggested by several experts.  As several people have said, feeling "high" gives you a sense of well-being, which for you may translate into energy, but dont be fooled, eventually, they will slow you down.  And you may not even realize it, but they probably are slowing you down even now.

Hope this helps answer your question

CH

[Witt65]

They had the same effect on me ,great energy, the want to accomplish all my work , feeling great all the time,  the best i have ever felt in my life, me and the wife got along great and great with eery body, ao whats the catch ? Whats in norcos or any pain pill that gives me that feeling great feeling ?

[Witt65]

I am aslo add adhd etc. Does this make a difference on the effect this drug norco has on me ?