A man bought seeds online to brew tea for his chronic pain. It led to an opioid addiction.

• A 65-year-old man started brewing poppy seed tea to manage his chronic pain.
• The man had been prescribed opioids in the past, but it was the tea that led to a dependency.

A man who was originally prescribed opioids for pain relief turned to poppy seed tea as a natural alternative, only to find the brew was harder to quit, doctors wrote in the American Journal of Case Reports.

The 65-year-old had a history of chronic pain in his shoulders and lower back due to a degenerative joint disease, which led his doctor to prescribe opioid painkillers. However, the doctor discontinued the drugs after learning that the patient used cannabis.

Seeking an alternative form of pain relief, the man ordered poppy seeds online with the intention of brewing tea.

Although consuming poppy seeds on a bagel can trigger a positive result for opiates on a drug test, the seeds that you find on pastries won't get you high.

It's only unwashed and unprocessed poppy seeds that may have an intoxicating effect. Purchase and possession of unwashed poppy seeds is illegal in the US due to the natural opiates on their seed coats.

The patient struggled to quit the poppy seed tea on his own

The man reported drinking poppy seed tea twice daily, but the cost of the seeds was unsustainable. He also feared he would not be considered for future surgery if using the tea, and his wife had expressed concern, so he sought professional help to end his dependence, according to the report.

But despite his many reasons to stop, the patient said he felt he was unable to quit the tea on his own. He was diagnosed with a moderate opioid use disorder, according to the case report.

The patient had been previously diagnosed with alcohol use disorder, but he was 17 years into remission when he sought help for his poppy seed problem.

Opioid use disorder is characterized by cravings for opioids, failed attempts at quitting or cutting down on the drug, and continued use despite social conflicts or personal harm, among other symptoms described in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.

Doctors should be aware that patients can become dependent on poppy seed tea

The authors of the case report noted that the man did not show signs of a substance use disorder when he was taking prescribed opioids, but his use of poppy seed tea was what became problematic.

The patient was prescribed buprenorphine-naloxone, a combination meant to block his opioid receptors and help him end his dependence on the tea.

He experienced some withdrawal symptoms, including an upset stomach, and cravings for the tea during his first few weeks of buprenorphine treatment. After two months however, the patient reported that he had better pain control and overall function and was able to stay off the tea.

The authors wrote that the case serves as a reminder to physicians that unwashed poppy seeds are still available to online buyers and have a potential for misuse and addiction.