How do autistics /aspies react to opiates?

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TheSperg
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09 May 2014, 1:14 pm

There were one or two other topics here where it was casually mentioned that autistics/aspies react differently to opiates than usual, but with no illustration of the difference.

Anyone?



cberg
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09 May 2014, 1:46 pm

Painkillers didn't do that much for me, mostly my body felt light and my interactions seemed a bit faster, not really what anyone with a social problem wants exactly. They got boring pretty fast.


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09 May 2014, 2:31 pm

I am completely immune to them, which means that when I have an endoscopy I get to enjoy the whole experience in glorious sensory 3D, only to have the 'sedation' hit me about four hours later. 8O



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09 May 2014, 2:34 pm

they put me in a great mood and I find myself more in tune with what is going on around me.


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conundrum
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09 May 2014, 2:38 pm

I was given Vicodin after having my wisdom teeth removed. Immediately after the procedure, they allowed me to sleep (probably partially due to being exhausted from the procedure/anesthesia anyway), but over the next few days, they seemed to lose their effectiveness. Made the pain bearable, but I think I took them for less than a week--they just didn't do much for me. I remember remarking "How does anyone get addicted to these things? They don't DO anything!"

I've taken a codeine-based cough medicine too (I HATE dextromethorphan)--same deal. It helps the cough, but doesn't do much else. IMO, it should be OTC while anything with DMX in it should be Rx only. I tried Delsym once and immediately threw out the rest--I did NOT like how it made me feel.


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GlennBecksTears
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09 May 2014, 3:03 pm

I had a septoplasty and the Vicodin supplied did a great job of taking away the pain (literally). But after about a week their strength went down and then I weaned off them. Wouldn't want to do that surgery again without the pills, it made it so much more bearable. My irritability was through the roof though.


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09 May 2014, 3:08 pm

I took Ultram once for back pain, and I mean I only took ONE dose and I thought I was going to die from it. It was an absolutely horrible experience.

I don't remember exactly what happened. It was several years ago. Trying to remember if I had any physical side effects. I think I was shaking but other than that it was mostly all in my head. Afterward I wondered if I had a seizure. It just felt like it totally scrambled my brain. I literally thought I was going to die and I was saying it too. I was talking out of my head and saying stuff that sounded crazy.

I dislike all kinds of pharmaceutical drugs, to me they all feel like mind-altering drugs no matter what they are. They all have some sort of strange effect on my mind. I only tried the Ultram because my back had gone out and I was hobbled over in a lot of pain unable to walk. Usually I won't take anything, not even the OTC stuff because I don't like the way it makes me feel.



Uncanny_Valerie
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09 May 2014, 3:24 pm

I have found that I needed to chop 5 mg Lortabs into fourths because they were so strong. Temple Grandin says that Aspies may need less than the average person.



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09 May 2014, 3:40 pm

They don't seem to have any significantly different effects on me compared to what I understand most people experience. On very rare occasions opiates can be nice.


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09 May 2014, 3:43 pm

dianthus wrote:
I dislike all kinds of pharmaceutical drugs, to me they all feel like mind-altering drugs no matter what they are. They all have some sort of strange effect on my mind. I only tried the Ultram because my back had gone out and I was hobbled over in a lot of pain unable to walk. Usually I won't take anything, not even the OTC stuff because I don't like the way it makes me feel.


Opium is an opiate and its not a pharmaceutical, a lot of drugs pharmacutical or not are mind altering....and some people do dislike that.


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09 May 2014, 3:52 pm

I once had a codine containing headache pill, and it made me feel very light headed. I did not enjoy the experience at all.


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09 May 2014, 4:03 pm

am a very long term daily user of codeine due to suffering from severe pain from life long self injuring, and have often had IV morphine and oramorph for other issues.

have always found when on opiates am actualy interacting with people and dont feel sedated by it,am more active on it.
they tried using morphine to sedate once,when was fifteen and had fell out of a top floor window trying to get a butterfly from it-the window allowed someone to get out easy enough but blocked getting back in.
can remember overhearing them saying to mum that dont worry it will sedate her,they gave over 10mg of IV morphine;had suddenly developed hyperactivity out of nowhere and ended up having to be properly sedated.


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09 May 2014, 4:41 pm

I have used opiates off and on for a very long time. From extreme migraine headaches, neck and back pain, and extremity pain. I have never once felt light headed or high on the stuff. I too even now will get a burst of energy if I take them and become more productive and more communicative with others. I am not sure why, perhaps I become more active due to pain being lessened? But curiously I interact with others much better as well, am more outgoing. But every med that is supposed to cause drowsiness NEVER does for me. If I can't sleep I found drinking something like coffee or soda with caffeine will help me sleep. Yea, guess I am an odd duck.... :lol: