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Horrific Depression from withdrawals???????????

by Angelina, Oct 07, 2001 12:00AM
I have been on oxycontin for 1 month; 20mg every twelve hours, although I took the two 20mg. tabs in the morning, every morning.  I have fibromyalgia.  I used to take vicodin, and most other short-acting narcotic meds prior to the oxycontin.  I ran out 5 days prior to my next appointment which did not happen to fall on an even 30 days; my prescription was for 30 days...so now I am on my 4th day and feel like I want to die.  The first two days were the worst depression I have ever gone through.  I almost took my life.  Here is my main question:  I have read close to 100 posts if not more, and many of the withdrawal symptoms do NOT say anything about depression.  Depression was my absolute worst symptom!!  Is this not a normal withdrawal symptom?  Most symptoms are the flu-like and diarrhea which I definitely did have!!!!  The headaches are absolutely killing me.  I need to look for something other than this narcotic junk to help me with the pain of fibromyalgia, although I didn't find it yet.  I surfed the website many times on fibromyalgia, and tried it all just about.  But if this is what narcotics is going to do to me, I'd rather bear the pain of fibro, although that will be very difficult.  Does one get SEVERE depression and constant crying spells from withdrawing from narcotics?  Also, I can hardly eat a thing now for 4 days.. I could just vomit thinking about it.  Thank you for your kind reply!
Member Comments (69)

by GingerLee, Oct 07, 2001 12:00AM
Angelina, I have been like you and have been reading these postes for quite a while but I really had nothing to offer since I felt like I had nothing to add, until now.  I have been a junkie for many years. I have been clean on more than one occasion and I always seem to end up in this particular state of amind and affairs. I also combat the depression. If this little bit can give you some inspiration, it will be worth me tyyping it. I took so many oxyconin and ambien together that I passed out on the floor and I boke my hip. I am 38 years old.When I was in the hospital they could not give me enough pain killers to match the tolerance I had built up. I knew that I had done this all to myself and I did not want to live. I could not live with or without medication. I have a seven year old boy and I actually feel that he would be better off without me. But I am still here, still very sad, but I strangly feel comfort being in misery for I have felt it so long. Hang in there and always remember that whatever it is it is only temporary.

by shane, Oct 07, 2001 12:00AM
To: angelina
Hello Angelina, I have been through what you are discribing at least 20 time's, and believe me the depression IS very much a part of withdrawal from narcotics. I to find this by for the worst part. maney posts on this forum relate to depresion as worse than the physical part. I was always pron to depresion so it affected me even more so, I believe.Please know that it will subside, though it will take time. Everyone is differant in how long. Just hang on. You will have much support on this Forum. As to weather it's better to live with pain or on narcotic's is a personal choise with no easy answear.I truly wish you all the best and will say a prayer for you. Alaways, Shane

by Deja, Oct 07, 2001 12:00AM
To: Angelina
My heart is with you.  I've detoxed on my own (situations just like yours- and others) many times.  The first thing that hits me is a flood of overwhelming *feeling*.  I call it feeling, rather than depression because I think that is just what it is.  After being numb from the oxy's for so long we just are no longer equipt to *feel* anything.  For me, it comes out in tears, tears and more tears than I ever thought I could cry.  Depression is a very real part of withdrawal.  Please stay with us here and talk about it.  One thing that has helped me in the past is writing.  Use your computer, or a notebook and pen - use anything you can - just start to write.  You will be amazed at what comes out.  Often things we have been numb to for so long start to surface and we can begin to cope.  If you don't know where to start just use the phrase, "I feel..." and let it roll.

Please stay strong and safe - everyone here is on your side.



Love,

deja

by Witchywoman, Oct 07, 2001 12:00AM
To: Angelina
Yes, depression is very much a symptom of the withdrawals. It is a double whammy. In part it is due to the physical freak out of the brain, which has been deprived of its normal neurotrasmiters while the narcotics were in us. Narcotics severely deplete serotonin and dopamine, both of which are responsible for mood. when the junk is gone, we are leave neurologically stranded.



The other part is that we face, without numbing, the feelings we have about the consequences of the addiction, the choices it caused us to make, and how our lives have gone off track.  And that causes us to feel depressed most of the time as well..I know it sure did me.



What helped me most with the depression was adding the amino acid 5 HTP. It helped almost right away.  Go to a health food store and get some..take 50 mgs. If you tolerate that take 100mgs the next day.  You can safely take up to 300mgs a day.



What also helps is talking and getting support. Can you find a therapist and or support group? If nothing else, you always have us, and our unconditional love. We know what you are going through.



hope this helps..

love,

WW

by jenifer, Oct 07, 2001 12:00AM
To: Cindi!!!!!!
Sorry to break this thread ,but of course can't post a new ? Cindi when you see this would you mind e mailing me at ***@****?I  can't find your e mail addy anywhere!hope you doing well hope to hear from you soon! thanks jenifer

by jule1, Oct 07, 2001 12:00AM
To: Ginger § Angelina
Ginger, first of all reading your post just made me want to cry!!!! I am also a mother and was addicted to pain killers I found this site several months ago and it has helped me so much.  I also would just read without writing feeling that I had nothing to contribute.  Just the fact that you have come here to read means that you want help.  We, and I know all my friends are behind me here, will do anything and everything to help you!!!  Your life is worth living and noone can love your child like you can so just get rid of those thoughts.  Children love their mothers like noone else.  If you ever need help right away you can e-mail me at ***@****.  Your friend, Jules



Angelina - There are several things that can help you with your depression read the past posts Thomas will tell you exactly what.  I believe it is Ltyrosine but check with him.  He wrote something to me last week about it as I was going through the same thing.  Good luck Jules

by cindi, Oct 07, 2001 12:00AM
SORRY TO HIJACK THE THREAD BUT MY AMPHETAMINE POST HAS CONVENEINTLY DISAPPEARED,, II HAD SOME LEGIT QUESTIONS AND THEY ARE GONE,,HOPEFULLY THE ONE ABOUT THE GIRL HAVING INTERCOUSE WONDERING IF SHE SHOULD WASH HER BOYFRIEND "ORGAN" HAS BEEN DELETED AS WELL...I DON'T GET PISSED TOO EASY OR TOO OFTEN BUT CHRIST WHEN I HAVE APROBLEM AND NEED HELP THEY OBVIOUSLY DON'T FEEL IT IS IMPORTANT,,,I GUESS IF GO AND SHOOT MY SELF FULL OF SPEED, LOSE MY HAIR AND TEETH AND THEN ASK FOR HELP THEN IT MAY BE WORTH SOMETHING    IT'S NOT JUST ME,,LOTS OF IMPORTANT THINGS HAV BEEN DELETED ...WHY?   NOW THIS IS GOING TO MAKE ME WONDER IF IT IS EVEN WORTH IN A GREAT NIGHT  LOVR                  BHNA

by cindi, Oct 08, 2001 12:00AM
To: JB and Skipper
To answer your question which was DELETED about the ephedra,,yes  i have used it,,,my sister doe on a regular basis,,,,I usually fall asleep on it  LOL  I do take some stull called designer slim  it does have tyrosine, ephedra and other stuff,,it does give me some energy,,,and does supress my appetite  but it raises my BP to extreme leves  thank for asking  love cin



Now Skipper,,,,what;s this about kicking my ass?  LOL..Ummmmmmmmmmmm  i think I get the hint....i have already out the notion out fo my head,,,I'll just start shooting herion  BEFORE ANYBODY BLASTS ME FOR THAT ONE  I AM REALLY REALLY TRULY AND HONESTLY JUST KIDDING,,,,, I have enough probles already,,doug is in florida for a week I blew a fuse,,,,had to call my friends hubby to come over and do it,,I actually have take out the trash  LOL    so,,,,where have ya been anyway,,,yous spouse has been writing to me  God bless her  she is about a real and adorable as they come...haven't heard from you there,,,where is my it's Tuesday mail?  talk to ya soon    love to all  cin

by GJ, Oct 08, 2001 12:00AM
Thanks everyone who responded so kindly to my post! Just one quick thing: after re-reading it, I seem to have indicated that my mom only had 11 percocets left and was trying to go cold turkey. This is NOT the case, she's trying to wean off of them and is down to 11 per day...



I know the vomiting is not a good thing at all. At the same time, she has so many toxins built up in her system that I had almost expected this to happen...Is a wean-down still out of the question? The vomiting seems to have subsided when I visited her today, and gradually she seems to be doing better. Still, though, this would have to be dragged out for so long that I don't know if I want to deal with her detoxing for months on end, and I KNOW she doesn't want to either. I will, however, start mentioning to her the advice about professional help in detoxing, and start going over all the options. Thanks WW for the link, I'm going to check it out right now...sounds rather pricey but I guess there's no price on "life", heh. The way she is, if I even MENTION something like rehab, she just says "I don't wanna talk about it", and if I try to push it, she says it's making her nauseous to think about it...EVERYTHING makes her nauseous!!!



Anyway, all of this advice is well-taken. I will definitely "work on this" ;-). Thanks everyone :)



G

by Francoise, Oct 08, 2001 12:00AM
To: Angelina
Angelina, you've already gotten some very good advice and I'd like to second some of it and give you some more.



I've been on 200 mg oxycontin for almost three years. Legally. I'm a chronic pain patient after falling 25 feet from a tree. I doubt I'll ever be pain-free enough to get off this drug, though I'd like to. I reduced my dose a year ago from 120 mg twice a day to the 100 X2 I'm on now. Did it by myself. My pain management doc didn't know I was doing this until it was over.



I was depressed for 8 months.



I didn't know anything about how to combat the depression. There's a guy who posts here named Thomas, a prince of a guy. He uses the following supplements that many here have tried and swear by it:



4 grams of L-tyrosine in the morning on an empty stomach.

200 mg of B6 at the same time.

A zinc/magnesium supplement.



Don't eat anything for at least an hour after you take this stuff. This stuff is the raw material your body needs to replace the serotonin and dopamine that the oxy has replaced and because of that your brain has ceased making it. The lack of it is what is causing your depression. This is a chemical imbalance you're experiencing. Nothing more. Oh, yeah, the 5-HTP? People here swear by it as well. It's a direct precursor to serotonin as well.



If you can afford it, or you have insurance, get yourself to a psychiatrist - not a psychologist - preferably one who specializes in drug problems. I think you should be on at least two milligrams of klonopin a day and around 225 mg of Effexor a day.



There ARE ways to combat this depression, but you've gotta move your ass and DO IT. Also, are you tapering? Oxy is available in 10 mg tabs. Get yourself a script for those, enough to equal your original oxy dose. Get back on it and get on the "help" drugs and supplements and sloooooooowwwwwwlllllllyyyyyy taper off the oxy while taking the other stuff. You can do this and you don't have to experience the dance of the walking dead to do it, either. You've picked the hardest way possible. Knock that off and start taking care of yourself. We're here to help you and we will.



Francois



by J.B. to Brian and Vicky, Oct 08, 2001 12:00AM
To: Cindi
Did you ever notice that when Dr. Steve shows up around here, whole threads disappear?  It's happened many times and I'm not sure why.  Sometimes they will reappear way down below for a while.



Anyway, I was just checking on you about the speed issue.  Like you said, you have enough problems without getting into more.  



In the past, I've jokingly said things here and was taken very seriously.  The point is that the thought was already in my mind.  Some people believe that to have the thought is tantamount to doing it.  Then again, I can fantasize with the best of them when I'm hurting.  I hope you are okay, Cindi.  Something just doesn't seem right about your posts lately.  Are you okay?



Take care of yourself



J.B.