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MedHelp Member's Question

When do the Dopamine levels return?

by susanlea, Oct 19, 2000 12:00AM
Tags: Addiction
My boyfriends been clean from Oxy's and Perc's for about 6 weeks now I think. While he was abusing them for 2 years up to 300mg's of Oxy's and 6-10 Perc's aday, he had no interest in anything, love, sex, movies ect. When will he start wanting to be close again?  Does narcotic abuse have a long term affect on someone's libido? Thanks for any info.
Member Comments (25)

by tom to Lea, Oct 19, 2000 12:00AM
I know in my own case my narcotic use definately reduces my interest in sex. I compensate by my wife and I smoking some pot right before bed. Pot causes an immediate surge in testosterone blood levels for both men and women. Testosterone is a sexual stimulant for both men and women, so we still manage to have a fairly satisfying sex life, although I know she's like it more often (she doesn't use narcotics). She has learned to accept it because she knows opiates are, after 27 years, integral to who I am, for good or ill. Generally, the more potent the opiate, the more profound it's effect on sex drive. I can't speak to your dopamine question, but I know, over time, your guy's drive will return, provided he doesn't remain obsessed with using oxy's and percs. Hope that helped.

by Frankinscense, Oct 20, 2000 12:00AM
People People:

This information about marijuana stimulating tetesterone is a myth. Medically speaking(based on factual information) marijuana lowers tetesterone levels in the body. That is why men who use heavy pot for many years develop breasts and beard thinnings. If you questions  my comments; do a search on the web on marijuana.

The only way pot could help sexual activity is by acting as a mild tranquiliser by it inhibition lowering properities.

Sincerely,Doc Dan

                                                                  PS: I am not a medical doctor. That is a nickname given to me by my co-workers because of my knowledge of psychoactive drugs and there effects on the brain and nervous system. Thanks .....

I am not posting here to offend anyone only to stop misinformation. IMO

by Tim P.A.C PhD, Oct 20, 2000 12:00AM
I would recommend seeing a doctor to start anti-depressent therapy.  I think that your boyfriend would benefit from a SSRI such as Prozac.  This might help him get back on his feet from his drug addiction by restoring his neurotransmitter levels back to normal.

by tom to Doc Dan, Oct 20, 2000 12:00AM
the last info I saw (about a year ago) was a graph showing an initial "bump" in testosterone levels followed by a steady decrease which, as you say, dips well below the "norm." I'm not a doctor, either, but the guy presenting these results was. Motto, smoke it IN bed. If you wait, the only thing you'll be having sex with is your fridge.

by J.B. to Brian and Vicky, Oct 20, 2000 12:00AM
SSRI's have a detrimental effect on libido. Paxil is one that I have personnal experience with.  Many people complain about sexual problems with SSRI's. You better do some reading on it!

by susanlea, Oct 20, 2000 12:00AM
Thanks for the replies.  My boyfriend was on Prozac and still uses it once in awhile, but the Prozac seemed to make it worse.  It's been over a year now, that he's wanted to do nothing,nothing at all. He won't see a Dr. and I'm worried, he's only 38 years old.  I'm not sure but I've even thought he's using again, he's relapsed almost continually since detox 6 months ago. He was very good at hiding it, he just moved to another room and blamed me. But he's been around both emotionally and physically for about 6 weeks now, I'm hoping things will improve. He's been getting sick alot lately almost weekly, which leads me to believe he's binging and withdrawing on and off.  But how can I tell? He doesn't go anywhere, and is home right after work everynight.  Hopefully he just really has the flu, I'm trying not to be paranoid, and I won't ask him, because when I do, he swears he's clean, I'm trying to believe him even after the lies.  Good thing I have my NA and Al-anon meetings, plus a great sponser, I wouldn't have made it without her, or all you great folks on the forum, thanks again....

by J.B. to Brian and Vicky, Oct 20, 2000 12:00AM
My youngest daughter goes by Lea, too. Anyway, as a cross addicted person, I can tell you that what your boyfriend is going through is complete B.S.! Didn't they tell you that in ALONON and NA? Sorry to be so blunt about this but He probably does not have the influenza virus. It is more like depression and he also wants to blame you for everything. Right? It sounds sooo familiar because I've been there and done that. Do you really feel like he is there for you at all? Do you have any children that he interacts with on their level and makes them and you feel loved? His constant aches and pains and chronic complaints about his health lead me to believe that he "is" really ill and it is probably due to drug abuse. Get the hell out of there and get him some help before you fall with him. Does the term co-dependent ring a bell?

by Chad B, Oct 21, 2000 12:00AM
I disagree with J.B. to a point.  You can't just get away from him.  He needs you more than you can imagine.  I agree about the co-dependant part but, you can't just run from your problem.  Problems in a relationship are supposed to be shared.  If you really care for someone you will not leave them, that is the easy way out.  You honestly think he would be better if you left?? Yeah right !!! He would probably OD within a week, or it would just make him much more miserable, and he would slip deeper into the narcotics world.  Yes..True..Drugs will cause you to loose everything, but why can't you be the one who defies that law.  Be there for him as much as you can, although it seems you are running out of things to give.  What it seems to me is, you have to find the source of his problem, be it, the doctor prescribing, or problems growing up.  If something knocks you down, come back running.

by Tim P.A.C PhD, Oct 21, 2000 12:00AM
Sometimes the neurotransmitter serotonin may underlie alcohol desires or cravings.  If Prozac did not help him, there are many other methods to help alcoholism.  It sounds just like he is binge drinking to me.  Some drugs such as Disulfiram may pinpoint if he is binging or not.  Disulfiram (Antabuse) discourages alcohol consumption because the combination of the two produces a strong adversive reaction consisting of nausea and sweating, etc.  Although disulfiram has been used widely in alcoholism treatment, its effectiveness is limited because many patients who want to continue drinking, simply stop the thearapy.  Other treatment include certain behavior approaches such as aversive conditioning, social skills training, relapse-prevention training, and just straight out support from his loved ones.  People with drinking problems who relapse are more likely than those who do not to have encountered stress, such as loss of a loved one or economic problems.  They are also more likely than those who maintain sobriety to rely on avoidance methods of coping, such as denial.  Successful abstainers from alcohol tend to have more social and family resources and support to draw upon in handling stress.  Bottom line-give him as much love and support as you can.  Alcoholism is a disease, not a bad characteristic of someone.  I know what you are going though. It is rough.  I have encountered alcoholism alot during my doctoral work at U.V.A.  I wish you the best of luck!!

by tom to Lea, Oct 21, 2000 12:00AM
if your instincts tell you he's using, then he is. His current behavior just doesn't "ring true" for someone truly in recovery. I think you've pegged it with your binging theory. When I was a raving Vicodin addict, getting them only from legit doctors, my tolerance was such that every week I'd go from 2 days on to 2 days withdrawing, 2 days on …etc. The symptoms of withdrawal are very much like flu, only with a powerful psychological need added. Does he go to NA? Does he have a sponsor? Just so Doc Dan's head doesn't explode, I'll tell you up front that I am a 27-year opiate (narcotic) addict who has been through the re-hab wringer countless times, each time learning a little bit more about why I use, etc. I am also a chronic pain patient with 3 disks pressing on my spinal cord, so, irony of ironies, I now need opiates for more than just feeding the drug addict in me. This situation has forced me to engineer a kind of "Mexican standoff" with my habit, taking enough for pain in order to work and be a husband and father, with just a little more thrown in to "feed the monkey." AA or NA, of course, is all about total abstinence, something I simply cannot do. But for now, life is good in all aspects. How long I can maintain this is anybody's guess. Doc Dan the chemical dependency counselor will no doubt tell you (or me) that I am just bargaining, romancing the drug, remaining in denial, etc. - all perfectly sound theories.



Your husband, however, will probably need the kind of shock therapy my wife gave me about seven years ago that went like this: we were living in a motel for a month while our apartment was being worked on. The second night there, I woke up (came to) to find wife and son gone, bags and all. So there I was, no home, no family, no job, no friends and looking at 6 months in jail for rx forgery. That's what it took for me to realize that my life, my future, my freedom and most importantly, my family did matter to me and I had to do whatever it took to get them all back. I picked up the yellow pages next to my bed and started calling. I found a group that got me hooked up with re-hab, AA, a lawyer, etc.



Today, life is good. But it took the blatant threat of losing it all to "get my attention" and force me to get honest with people who knew what to do. I can't tell you what to do, but that's my story. I needed (and was sentenced to) a 90-day residential recovery program, with the old 90 meetings in 90 days thing. Your husband sounds likes he's beyond half-measures here. He may need a similar shock and similar treatment to change the course of his life. I'm glad you're in al-anon for your own sake. Don't forfeit you own future even if your husband doesn't care about his.

by J.B. to Brian and Vicky, Oct 21, 2000 12:00AM
I'm sorry but I was having a really bad time yesterday with pain issues. I didn't mean that you should dump your boyfriend and run away. For your boyfriend's sake, don't abandon him! He needs your help.

by tom to Lea, Oct 21, 2000 12:00AM
I agree my with my friend J.B.'s remarks. In my previous post, I did not mean to imply that you should institute divorce proceedings tomorrow morning. My wife and I are closer than ever today, our kids are grown and out of the house and we have embarked on a new life together. But if she hadn't left me passed out in that motel 7 years ago, none of this would be happening for us now. Sometimes it takes a real slap in the face to get someone's attention.