opiates cause amotivational syndrome?

[renton]

I wanted to ask Candy's opinion on this since she has allot of experience dealing with people who take opiates from what I understand. I've noticed that in myself when I take opiates long term for pain I lose all motivation for the things I use to enjoy and dont really feel like doing much of anything. Now I'm not depressed at all, quite the opposite so why does this happen? When I used to smoke pot the same thing happened which is why I quit cause I wanna make the most of my time and do things I like. Do most people get like this when they use, and do all the opiates do this? I read somewhere that it's caused by the fact that the brains reward center is out of wack since it's constantly being flooded with endorphines from the drug while it's normally activated when we do things we enjoy like being with friends, building something, studying ect...

[illchemist]

I actually have the opposite reaction to drugs. I have been smoking MJ for many years now and I found that the motivation thing is only a state of mind. Amotivational syndrome is a term coined by the prohibitionists to scare people from weed. I have been smoking in the morning and a lot more when they day is done every day for a long time now. My motivation for getting things done has never been higher. Now, if I took opiates every day, I would have to say that I would probably lose motivation for activities related to physical strength and endurance as well as my meditation practice. However, opiates increase my motivation for task oriented activities.

This is just my experience and I am sure others have had different.

[superman]

when i use opies long term is when i have the absolute most motivation to do things. not having pankillers, or not having enough of the right kind, now THAT KILLS my motivation.

I smoke hash/oil everyday; if i smoke too much too early i burn out, but just the right amount keeps me feeling good and motivated @ work.

BUT, opies and THC both kill any chance i have of meditating. I got into it a few years ago while using modafinil and NMDA inhibitors (both of which were very helpfull with meditating, more so the NMDA inhibitors). past year i haven't done it at all, when i try i just don't have the focus. but i'd rather be opied up anyways

[Sitar]

Amotivational Syndrome is not a myth, it really happens with opiate use.

I know that for myself, chronic opiate use causes profound lapses in motivation, and I've seem the same thing in others as well. It's a well-documented side effect of heavy long-term use.

In the beginning of my opiate use, they seemed to motivate me positively. But it didn't take long for that to go away, only to be replaced with the opposite effect, and I became very lazy and unmotivated.

It's one of the prime reasons that I decided I had to clean up my life and stop taking opiates, aside from the financial matters.

[candy]

Sitar is right. Amotivational syndrome is not a myth. From what I have read and know from personal experience is that you do lose motivation in the things you used to do. This does relate to the brains chemistry.From what I know and have read the problem begins with the changes in the brains chemistry. Dopamine and endorphin systems change with the repeated use of opiates. This leads to physical changes in the brain and the brain compensates for these changes Heroin for example is replaced by dopamine and endorphins and after long term use of heroin, the amount of these neurotransmitters are decreased. To put it in laymen terms. Dopamine and endorphins both are part of that motivation and reward system and what gives us pleasure. No longer does the body use the dopamine and endorphins for reward and pleasure, it has been replaced by opiates. This is maybe one reason why when we stop using opiates, we go through long periods of depression and decreased motivation. It could be directly related to the reason why many of us feel normal when we start using again. I myself went through the same thing and during my use of opiates lost all motivation for the things I did before opiates; playing guitar and listening to music were something I just lost all interest in. I found that even listening to music in the car didn't seem pleasurable during my opiate use. It was many many months after I stopped before I picked up the guitar again or played any CD's. Even now being on Methadone, I don't have the same interest in the things I once did. Sex is still pleasurable, but even during my opiate use, I didn't have much interest in that either. I would of much rathered been alone with my drugs than be bothered with sex. It happens to most that I know who have gone through opiate abuse and some state that they have just never experienced the same out of life as they did before their use of opiates. Maybe the chemistry is changed for good and a sort of rewiring takes place after repeated use.I hope this makes some sense. I have not been feeling well at all lately and not sure if I am getting my point across. If not, I apologize completely.

[CUBErt]

^ Definitely interesting to see some scientific info.

I, however, can relate more to superman/illchemist. Opiates put me in such a good mood that I can work through mundane tasks and bring even more enjoyment to my activities of choice. Schoolwork and homework are much less tedious. Playing guitar, an activity which I already enjoy, I feel a heightened sense of happiness and accomplishment. My playing feels smoother.
I can see how the amotivational thing could play itself out in marijuana, but for me opiates provide such a clean, smooth high that lends itself to the heightened enjoyment of everyday activities.

I hope that made sense

[candyshop]

gee, i've been trying to get around to posting but ...i dunno....ahhh...maybe later

[shaunclo]

gee, i've been trying to get around to posting but ...i dunno....ahhh...maybe later

romflao!!!!!

[(inaudible screams)]

I equate the lack of motivation from these drugs to apathy and nothing else. I refuse to believe in another SYNDROME that has been invented -- are these the same people that came out with Restless Leg Syndrome?

Maybe if you had both of those syndromes they would cancel each other out and everything would be ok.

[vaxn8]

when i use opies long term is when i have the absolute most motivation to do things. not having pankillers, or not having enough of the right kind, now THAT KILLS my motivation.

I'm with superman on this one! I have read the theories and realize some people do experience, but for me, if I have reduced pain, I am so much happier and feel like I have to cram everything into that instant, so that when the pain returns I don't need to accomplish anything.


As to syndromes, all that means is a group of symptoms that are appearing together. When a cause or pathogen can be identified, the term usually get changed to disease or something similar.

[HistoryofMadness]

My experience is that drugs change our perspective of life, and conversely our perspective changes our experience of the effects of drugs. I also think that in my experience I have self-medicated a mood disorder until recently... sometimes the opiates would mask the mood, but more and more they began to just slow me down enough to realize I was experiencing those moods. Maybe you're experiencing an enhancement of your normal mood?

As for amotivational syndrome, that's a debate that's apparently going to continue... but there are plenty of conditions that people, when they don't have them, scoff at and say 'oh that's just normal' - but of course whatever condition they have to deal with, well that's certainly real and important. . .

[shaunclo]

but there are plenty of conditions that people, when they don't have them, scoff at and say 'oh that's just normal' - but of course whatever condition they have to deal with, well that's certainly real and important. . .

Holy Mary Mother of Jesus Fuckin Christ Himself!!!!!

I dont care what everyone was saying about you HoM, that was so well said buddy! I cant even add to it, you covered every base perfectly. Very very well done.

[roland2661]

I agree with shaunclo. You almost reached Miyagi status on that post H.I.

You may call me junkyson. For I am not worthy of your wisdom......