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A 'Sticky' Kind of High
Tapentadol
Citation:   J. Goodfellow. "A 'Sticky' Kind of High: An Experience with Tapentadol (exp99034)". Erowid.org. Apr 14, 2021. erowid.org/exp/99034

 
DOSE:
T+ 0:00
300 mg oral Tapentadol
  T+ 0:30 100 mg oral Tapentadol
BODY WEIGHT: 220 lb
On Nucynta Abuse

I've looked around the internet for a while now regarding the topic of abusing the new drug Nucynta. I was (and suppose I still am) a 'drug enthusiast', placing my usage of drugs not as mere experimentation, but as a fully-fledged, dedicated hobby; I read and researched for more hours than I actually spent trying the drugs. As such, when my internet searches turned up little-to-no information regarding this drug, I must admit I felt somewhat obligated to share my experience with other prospective drug seekers, despite the fact I am not proud of the circumstances surrounding my (ab)use of tapentadol.

I was living at home with my parents in 2010. My mother, who has chronic pain from multiple medical issues, was prescribed Nucynta for long-term pain management. Because of my then-current low mood (I hesitate to self-diagnose myself with depression) and fascination with drugs, I decided I would test a few of these orange pills. I took four pills, swallowed three, and after I noticed initial effects kicking in at about the half-hour mark, I took a fourth pill.

The experience continued to grow in warmth and euphoria, not unlike a traditional opiate, but with a certain distinct difference to it that is hard to describe - a more 'sticky' kind of high, with a 'buzzing' of my mind, especially felt during the 'nod' of the drug. I found it actually rather difficult to sleep on this medication, and would wake up periodically any night I did sleep. Hypnagogic hallucinations were, for me, greatly exacerbated by this drug - I would often start back into consciousness from either sleep or a deep nod at the sound of a phantom person I knew conversing with me. These hallucinations were always very fleeting and were never scary or strange. There was a very definite euphoria, but it seemed somewhat counterbalanced by the strange 'sticky' effects of the rest of the high. Nausea was occasionally present, and came on fast and left after I evacuated my stomach of its contents.

All in all, my first experience with Nucynta proved to be pretty mild - almost mediocre. I have no idea what made me try it again.
I have no idea what made me try it again.
Other opioids, such as heroin, oxycontin, fentanyl, and oxymorphone, provide me with a much cleaner, warmer, and more favorable high. Yet despite this fact I found myself filching my mom's Nucynta again and again - gradually, at first, but eventually a few times a week at my worst. At first I seemed to only to take them because I had nothing better to 'do' (as far as drugs were concerned) and was bored. However, I soon continued to take the pills despite my desire to do so. It was almost compulsive, walking into her room to steal just a few small tablets, and oftentimes after returning to my room with something to wash them down I'd be wracked with guilt, something I'd have to quickly remedy with those pills, of course.

An interesting fact that soon became apparent was that Nucynta's tolerance seemed to build very slowly - I never needed to increase my dosage except to get 'more fucked up', and usually stuck to around 400mg per dose (I would like to mention that I am a rather big guy and most of the drugs I have done have all required the dosages to be a little on the steep side). Even though I would use multiple times a week, I would never redose and tried my hardest to resist (often successfully) the desire to get high again the next immediate day. Indeed, with these 'restrictions' (yeah) I never noticed any sort of tolerance over my year and a half of abuse.

Eventually, I landed a job, and with my steady income I started buying copious amounts of weed to replace what I now believed was a growing addiction.
I started buying copious amounts of weed to replace what I now believed was a growing addiction.
I have since managed to stop taking these pills on my own, and have not had them for some time now. I suffered no physical withdrawal symptoms, though I am sure persistent use would result in some sort of withdrawal.

In short, Nucynta can certainly be abused, and certainly is addicting. I am glad I was able to catch myself before my problem spiraled out of control, and urge anyone and everyone who uses drugs to constantly assess their personal use - addiction can creep, and it can creep slow, so constant vigilance is needed to avoid falling into such a dangerous (and sometimes tempting) trap.

Exp Year: 2010-2012ExpID: 99034
Gender: Male 
Age at time of experience: 18
Published: Apr 14, 2021Views: 4,225
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Tapentadol (495) : Addiction & Habituation (10), Retrospective / Summary (11), Alone (16)

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Experience Reports are the writings and opinions of the authors who submit them. Some of the activities described are dangerous and/or illegal and none are recommended by Erowid Center.


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