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MedHelp Member's Question

withdrawls

by cag, May 21, 2003 12:00AM
Tags: Addiction
my husband is under a drs care for quitting vicodin/norco. he was prescribed them for migrane headaches about 18 months ago.  he is over thewithdrawls, but is suffering from depression. he was taking about 20 norcos a day. he feels like he just will newer beahappy again, today is the 8th day of quitting, we have 3 daughters and they were everything to him, now it is hard to be around them. He says its not that he doesn't love them, he just can't be happy right now. the psychistric dr has him on tripital, barspiore, and put him on ativan the other day for anziety.  I want to help him, he says that he doesn't want to take another drug but he wants to be happy.  when wll he be happy again.  he's also on prozac for ocd. How long will this last?                              thank you
Member Comments (38)

by Hopefulone, May 21, 2003 12:00AM
It will last about 2 to 3 weeks.  Taking supplements can help, but there is no way to avoid the post withdrawal lethargy and depression.



The good news is than in a few weeks, he will feel normal again.



Is he getting support from other recovering addicts? That alone can help TONS, so I highly suggest he reach out.



good luck!

by afriend, May 21, 2003 12:00AM
To: cag
Dear cag, I have been on the ups and downs with opiates for a long time. The times before this time I didn't suffer much depression at all. But this time the depression was awful, so awful that I don't want to deal with it, at this time, so I went to (another opiate). I am in (NO WAY) endorsing (another opiate)! My point is, I am told, his depression will fade in time and he will feel better soon, but don't do as I have (doing it over and over and over), then the depression (for me) gets worse and worse! He needs your love and support and it sounds like your giving that! I have a son I love very, very much and felt the same way he does! There are alot of great people here and will have better posts than mine so , keep watchin and learning. I believe, the people here know WAY MORE than most Dr.s. cause you don't find this stuff in text books, you have to live it! Tell your husband to hang in there cause it WILL get better! Have him/you go for walks, listen to music, try to be active and start doing the things he used to enjoy. He doesn't want to end up like me! Love, hugs, friends,,,,afriend...........He can e-mail me at ***@**** if he'd like to talk!

by suzieneedshelp, May 21, 2003 12:00AM
To: Cag
First excuse me.. but once an addict always one and the above was correct...He needs help and support from others addicts as in AA or Na.  However..."to feel normal"(wut is normal anyway??)in a few weeks is not accurate from wut i have learned.Our disease is cunning baffling & powerful & i can onlyspeakabout me.Ihadtogethelptoquitat inpatient Rehab.  I was addicted to prescription drugs.  Once out of Rehab, i needed help from those who best understand my disease, other addicts in NA or AA.  It has worked for millions and that was good enough for me.

Now i have almost 90 days and i am doing very well mentally but still dont feel well physicaly.  Been doing well mentally now for alittel over one week.  This is to save his life...as it was to save mine.



Our prayers are with your family...

E-mail me if you like...

***@****



Suzie

by passenby, May 21, 2003 12:00AM
To: Cag/Everyone
My story is some what like your husbands, 18mo on vikes prescribed for headachs decided to stop and only to find I was addicted and couldn't. My husband and I took off where we could be alone for a week so I could go cold turkey. If it weren't for his love and understanding I could not and still could not do this. I am on day 11 and he has a out of town job that takes him away from mon-fri. This week as been so hard I haven't even been posting. I saw your cry for help and just wanted to add my two cents on how important your patients are right now. This is much harder than I ever believed it could be. Without him  and this forum with all there help and encouragiment I still wonder if I am going to make it. There are a lot of caring people here that have a lot of knowledge.Good luck have faith and I will put on my list for prayer.

by feelsobad, May 21, 2003 12:00AM
To: cag/suzie/everyone
I haven't posted much since the banning back in January but I have been reading all the posts. This particular thread really hits home for me. In short I was a junkie to hydro and then oxicontin. I went thru rehab inpatient for 6 days. It helped "short term". They masked my wd's with the usual meds, phenabarbatol, flexeril,clonidene, etc. I felt halfway normal when I left the hospital. I do believe since then I am definatly a different person than I was before abuse. That was back in August 2002. I am still struggling w/depression and anxiety not to mention feeling so damn tired day after day.

It gives me hope hearing some of your sucess stories. Maybe there will be a day I can feel emotions again? I feel like I have turned to stone and my heart likewise. I suppose 320 mgs./day of oxy for 2 years and 8 years of 20-25/7.5 hydros will absolutely screw your brain forever(HOPE NOT). My point,I guess, is every one of us goes thru sobriety different. I don't have cravings for pills so much as I crave to be ME again. My wife tries to help but she thinks it's "mind over matter" literally. My poor 13 year old daughter doesn't have a normal father anymore. And it shows in her attitude towards me. Some days it feels like "just **** it" and eat a bullit. No I already know thats not an option. But like others have said here it crosses your mind. I am sorry for rambling on... it's been shitty, rainey, weather here for the whole month so I'm feeling dark. I'am not trying to bring anyone down. I am sorry for such a depressing thought process. I guess I need some answers from some of the looonnngg time abusers that may have expirienced such a prolonged cronic post wd. I just need to know, feel, hope that this crazyness will end. And no I wasn't crazy before my sojourne into opiate blackness.



I hope I don't offend anyone with such a downer post. I just needed to EXPRESS.



my time is up and I thank you for yours

feelsobad

by Hopefulone, May 21, 2003 12:00AM
To: Cag, Suzie, Everyone
Suzie you are right, when I said he should feel "normal" in two to three weeks I was talking from my own experience with my one time detoxing cold turkey. I felt back to normal within 3 weeks, was sleeping fine and was not depressed. But I excercised every day despite the fatigue, took tons of supplements, including L-Tyrosine and 5 HTP (an amino acid that is a natural antidepressant), SAM-E, and I went to massage therapists, acupuncture etc. I was lucky to have the resources to make all that happen, and I think it might have had something to do with how soon I felt better. Maybe it was also because it was only my first time detoxing, I have no idea. But I was on a huge amount of hydro, like 300mgs a day. The cold turkey was sheer hell.



The one thing I didn't do at that time was go to NA or reach out to any other addicts, even on line.  I kept to myself and believed I could beat it. Then my back pain kicked in and I figured I could handle one or two once in a while to get relief.

Well, you know where that went. Within a few months I was back to my old habit, yet even worse, 'cause this time I got oxy and hydro.



So now here I am, on day 3 off suboxone, feeling mentally mostly ok due to prozac, insanely sleep deprived, and unbelievably fatigued. I know I need to take the vitamins again, and excercise no matter how tired I am but haven't forced myself to do that yet. But I am going to NA at least 5 times a week, and I have a sponsor, who finally is letting me write my first step now that I am off all drugs. She said "no step work till you are clean" which I thought was cruel, but I just trusted she had a good reason, and when I find out what it was I'll let ya know, lol.



sorry to ramble, just wanted to share my experience. Any support sent my way would be massively appreciated, as I need all I can get. I'm really beat, I hate this disease!



Karen

by Erika_Ann, May 21, 2003 12:00AM
To: FEELSOBAD
Dont feel sorry for expressing yourself and needing to vent. that is what this forum is for. And their are alot of caring people here. You made me cry. I am here for you. Your going through a rough time right now. I have been where you are many times. Its not easy by any means. I have chronic pain daily now for 20 years, Im 32 and have had it really for most of my life. I have taken so much pain med im suprised im not dead. You have us to lean on. And yes it will get better. I know right now It doesnt seem like there is a light at the end of the tunnel but there is. Please email me if you need to talk. I will be here for you. Please post to let us know how you are!

Love Erika

***@****

by feelsobad, May 21, 2003 12:00AM
To: Erika Ann
You are a very kind person. I have always enjoyed your post. I hate that your in cronic pain. I was just a selfish jerk and ate pills like m&m's. I have to change my mindset. I know posting here is like a relief valve. I wish I had posted more but I got kinda down when Finished, Rex, jeri, teeitup ,etc. left. Thank God for the ones who have hung around like you, hippie, mrmichel, thomas03 and so many others. I have become addicted to reading this forum but not responding when I probably should have. Maybe I would have gotten this far down a black hole.

I will do my best to keep my chin up and post for no other reason than to keep from imploding. It's almost time to call it another day at the office. I have to go to court tomorrow to testify against one of our clients that refuses to pay his bill for engineering services. That should be a hoot the way I feel now.

But tomorrow's another day!



feelsobad

by Erika_Ann, May 21, 2003 12:00AM
To: feelsobad
thank you for the kind post. Im here for you OKAY?

Please remember that! I will keep you in my thoughts and Im so glad you responded. I was worried about you! Good luck tommorow. Sounds like some stress!!!! That you dont need right now!

Take care my friend!

Love Erika

by suzieneedshelp, May 21, 2003 12:00AM
To: hopefulone and feelsobad and everyone...
The effects of withdrawal can be long and hard or not as bad as expected for others.  The reason that I needed to be clean to work the steps (this is wut i was told)is cuz using I am numb essentially...I start feeling the full range of feelings some time after I get clean.  I need to be clear to expereince true feelings and be able to focus My mind on recovery.  If I am using my disease is in full force...there is a loop in my brain (the pleasure center) that is activated with the first drink  or drug..it loops up to 1200 x's per second saying " i want more".  So my thinking will be focused on getting and using drugs like it has been in full addiction.  That pleasure center also gets activated when addicts do many other things dependant on the individual..i.e., cigs, work, shopping, internet, sex, food, sports, etc.  That is why I must learn new way of life once I get clean to be able to be a functional human being and not turn to ANY addiction to cope with life, to numb my feelings, deal with life's problems, to escape, etc.

I am glad that NA is working for you.  It is not an easy road to recovery but...wut worthwhile in life is easy?  I always want an instant fix to everything or I must fix it... (immediate gratification is the addicts fav) ...well not anymore...so being this patient is a real challenge for me.

The depression and malaise and physical symptoms may last for 1 - 2 years i have been told.  It all depends on how much u took how long and your physical health and age i guess.  the Doc has said some damage we did to ourselves can be permanent...

  U r in my prayers!

Peace...

Suzie



by AmberHunter, May 21, 2003 12:00AM
i didn't have the time to read everybody elses post to you. i am not usually awake at the bewitching hour of 9:30! lol! seriously, i have found that i go to bed when it is still light out b/c i think that is the easiest for me drug free, otherwise, my twisted mind thinks of things i might like to do, anyway...



prozac for OCD? why not luvox? you might want to research that one for yourself. i guess an SSRI is an SSRI but luvox is supposed to be good for OCD. (ok,i am a clinical researcher of psychotropic drugs and also an addict, shhhh)



and he is feeling pretty much like he is to because that is just where he is at... eight days? believe me, it does get better but he just isn't there yet... while i am not a proponent of NA maybe it would help if he checked out a meeting or two, or three, or ninety... i myself did get 8 years clean through the grace of narcotics anonymous meetings... lets just say i am walking a different path at this time. but i didn't get those eight years on my own...



i will post this again, ok, i have started a forum for addicts by addicts and if you email me i will gladly hook you up with these good folks... no standing in line to get a word in, lol!

email me at: ***@****



peace,



ambe

by Sturgil, May 21, 2003 12:00AM
To: CAG
I had the same drug of choice as your husbands. I did one step ahead and mix Soma (muscle relaxer) with the hydro's.



I must say that the depression lasted much longer than 2 or 3 weeks. For me it was 90 days. However, the worst of it was the first 45 to 55 days. After this point I was on a roller coaster ride of emotions. Pink cloud one day and bottom of the barrel the next. It will even out over time. He can not do this alone. he needs a 12 step group. AA or NA or RxA. When he surrounds himself with other addicts in recovery he will see he is not alone or different. He will find comfort in the experience strength and hope of other clean addicts.



I currently will have 6 months on the 4th of next month. I go to meetings 4 to 5 days per week. I am working on the steps and I do call my sponsor. If I try this alone I will fail. The positive thing here is he is willing to get help. The admission of this to his doctor his wonderful.



Suzie hit the nail on the head in her post. The people here are great and will give tons of suggestions.



God's Speed Cag.



Sturgil Flockin