Posted by Elizabeth on October 19, 2001, at 12:50:37
In reply to Re: opiates and major depression » androog, posted by paxvox on October 18, 2001, at 16:26:21
> Ultram is not an opiate, actually.
"Opioid" is the correct term, technically -- it's neither a natural constituent of opium nor a semisynthetic derivative of one.
> Ultram is not an FDA controlled substance.
Yet.
> I would think, however, that chronic opiate use would quickly lead to tolerance, and addiction that ultimately would kill you (or make you wish you were dead).
There have been a number of case reports of people taking opioids for depression, social anxiety, etc., *without becoming tolerant*. This is after long-term use. (I haven't had problems with tolerance, myself.)
Also: people develop tolerance to the respiratory depression from opioids *before* they become tolerant to the mood elevating effects, so it is possible to continue increasing the dose of an opioid agonist without dying from respiratory depression. Some opioids, such as Demerol and Ultram, can cause seizures which would probably become a problem (a potentially lethal one) at higher doses.
-elizabeth
poster:Elizabeth
thread:81414
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20011015/msgs/81681.html