Upon researching why I have been infected with strep throat and a respiratory virus 1 week after stopping my hydrocodone addiction, I came across a very interesting post from
www.vicodinwithdrawal.org that describes very well the link between opiates and the immune system.
Taken from
http://www.vicodinwithdrawal.org/opi...immune-system/
Quote:
I learned about something called “immunosuppression”…long *** word huh? Anyway, for those of you that don’t know, our immune system works as a defense mechanism for our body. In the case of the cold and flu it acts to protect us from foreign viruses and bacteria that cause those God awful symptoms we all hate. When our immune system is suppressed, it fails to protect us from those foreign parasites, so we end up getting sick.
In recent years, immunologists have found a link between our own natural endogenous opioids (endorphins), and our immune system function. In a nutshell, our internal opiates help our immune system function better. But, what happens when we replace our own endorphins with artificial ones like vicodin? Our body lowers its own production, and uses the drug as a replacement.
For me, it seemed that as long as I was on the pills, I would never get sick. It was weird and great all at the same time. But, what I didn’t realize was that the vicodins were actually suppressing my own natural ability to fight off colds, and replacing it with an artificial imposter. All was well until I decided to quit. That’s when my internal opioids, which had been reduced to next to nothing, were all of a sudden expected to save me from all the bacteria and viruses floating around. Well, you know the rest of the story.
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This makes total sense to me. After I got off the hydrocodone (lortab, specifically), I felt the withdrawals of fatigue, body aches, headache... But once my throat begin to hurt and my tonsils became covered with exudates (the white gunk), I knew it had to be something more. After a trip to the Urgent care clinic, I was told I had strep and also something viral going on in my respiratory system that is now causing lung pain when I breathe. So, yes I am more sick than just withdrawals, however it is still my fault for letting all this cause my immune system to be suppressed. I'm on antibiotics, so wish me luck that this passes without complication.