I keep running into testosterone does this and that in various metabolic pathways, today i read something about its role in cholesterol - of all things. Another time i read about the role of Ca++ not integrating too well with m'done in some ways, all a little to much indepth to my smidgen of biochem knowledge as you may detect.

What bothers me out of all this is an adage my mother allways harped on about - "no drug exist that doesnt cause an adverse reaction aswell as its intended one". She hasnt even the smidgen of knowledge of biochem that i have and i used to dismiss her out of hand when she made comments like this. but......

Methadone doesnt have any long term side effects i am told, i have read, i thought, except the niggly things like constipation, lowered sex drive blah, blah. But what i would like to know is what about the knock on effect of its action (and many other drugs i am sure - not just picking on my old friend and enemy dolophine) for example, its effect on testosterone is well know, so perhaps with the attentuation of this vital hormone and perhaps others or neurotransmitters could not DISEASE(S) manifest as a result of long term use and yet go undetected as no direct causality can be seen?????

Obviously, there are many other problems with methadone and its subjective effects on individuals, eg the person who may have had good oral hygeine before methadone/heroin etc, then neglects this factor causing a whole series of cavities.

But are these factors ever aired - rarely methinks. Well of course we all know its better to be on 'done than street stuff, isnt it?

_____

Anyone here know or have an opinion on this?

Drew,
If you have some spare cash buy Karch's pathology of drug abuse
ISBN 0-8493-0343-5 it's a thoroughly good read, rather expensive about £70 I guess a library would order it if you don't want to pay for it.
It goes through the pathology on each drugs effects on every organ of the body. Lots of history and I even read it around the pool on holiday.

I'd keep quiet about that if I were you Simon!

the libido is suffocated under opiates but sure comes flying back when you stop

quote:

Originally posted by banksy:
the libido is suffocated under opiates but sure comes flying back when you stop

Yes i certainly remember that. But i am more interested in whether opiates can mask symptoms of bipolar (or similar) or if they are a product of "rebound"

Jim - no worries about the book, i dont have a spare 70 pounds for books. However, our university library might have it.