Opiates: Methadone & Heroin Facts

Question: Why do opiates not work on some people?

(Posted by: Ave on 2010-03-06 12:35:51)

I just had my wisdom teeth out yesterday and was prescribed Oxycodone for pain (generic of percocet). This morning I took them for the first time. I did what my dentist said and took one, waited a bit - didnt feel anything - so I took another. I was completely unaffected. The only other experience I have had with opiates was a few years ago when i had hydrocodone prescribed for bronchitis. This did not effect me either - even when taking more than the recommended dose. I have been told by many people, and now my dentist, that some people are not effected my opiates. How common is this, and why is this? Also, what are some pain medications that are not opiates? i would like to be as informed as possible so if I ever have any pain or procedures done in the future I will know what to request. Thank you for your help! Also, i am only looking for informed answers either from personal experience or experience in the medical field - NOT copies of information found off the internet. I can use google myself :) Thanks! Edit: please do not say there is no such thing as it not working. As I stated in my question i am looking only for informed answers, which that clearly is not. there are tons of studies out there about how opiates do not effect everyone. I also experimented with heroin once in my younger years, and again, no effect. Please do not post unless you have a real, informed answer.

Posted by: Mooned Y!A on 2010-03-06, 12:51:08

Take five of them and see if you get a buzz. Be careful how much acetaminophen you take per dose and also per 24 hours. You can't take 10 or 20 at a time without hurting your liver. You could get away with taking 10 but not 20 or 50. People commit suicide that way. Seriously; find out if you are really immune to the effects of it. I speak from experience when I say 5. I wish I knew of pain killers without opiates. All of them that I know of have opiates. Hopefully, there is something out there. I have taken Aleve before and had it fix a sore arm muscle where Tylenol or aspirin didn't work. So try Aleve. Still, I also like 3 good extra strength aspirin like Bayer. But, I understand that sometimes people need something stronger like Vicodin and Percocet which are like the two that you mentioned. I know I wasn't much help. Good luck.

Posted by: Blake on 2010-03-07, 11:02:44

I don't know the answer to the question you asked, but I think you should definitely check the pills to confirm they are percocet by checking their markings and then going online to the pharmaceutical company's website (the prescription label should have the manufacturer's name). It's good to make sure everything is confirmed before assuming that you are the one in a million. It's also possible you had truly severe pain; that you are having more pain then you should. 10mg isn't a lot when taken by itself, much less separated. Further, I suggest an experiment. If you wait an hour after eating, then take 2 pills, and don't eat for quite a few hours, you should be able to see if you experience any effects of oxycodone. For instance, an hour and a half - two hours after swallowing the pills; run around, scream, walk fast in circles, do difficult tasks, concentrate on something hard, do 3 things at once; and see if you feel nauseous. You definitely should feel nauseous, a normal person might even throw up. Then, in another hour, do push-ups, or something that will eventually strain your muscles. If the Oxycodone effects you, you'd be able to do many, many more push-ups than normal because your body would not know that your muscles are past their limit. Other than that, because I'm not an expert with why it doesn't work (and actually, as far as I know, the vast majority of MDs don't even know - you'd have to find a research scientist), there's nothing I can tell you. I can only insist that you do anything in your power to confirm that it doesn't work on you. You might even try taking 3 pills for the pain because 15mg is a fair amount. And if 15mg does nothing, and you feel none of the side-effects, at least you'll know beyond any doubt that Oxycodone is not effective on you. I do know that it's not normal for absolutely no opiates to work on you; in rare cases, a certain painkiller might not work, but another should.