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MedHelp Member's Question

Depression as a withdrawal symptom

by rain, Jan 20, 2001 12:00AM
I had surgery for colon cancer when I was 20 and immediately after was diagnosed with severe acid reflux with stomach spasms.  My family doctor has been prescribing me with percocet and Losec for pain for the last 2 years.  I was taking 2 pills when required (approx. 2-3x/week).  There have been days before when I didnt use anypills, and I was fine.  The last 2 months before I quit my job was very stressful and I was experiencing pain all day, and I started to take percocet all day-everyday (not to exceed 5 pills/day) and Ativan 1mg (when required).  I now find since leaving my job I am no longer experiencing any pain and would like to discontinue use.  I stopped taking them 3 days ago and now am having cold sweats, shaking, moodswings, insomnia and SEVERE DEPRESSION/PANIC/ANXIETY.  To relieve some of these symptoms I started to take 1/2 pill 3-4x/day.  I am no longer experiencing the shaking but still have the depression/panic.  I have just started a new job and feel that I don't want to or can't do it.  It comes and goes numerous times throughout the day and is so overwhelming I have to force myself not to just walk away from the job.  Is this a symptom of withdrawal or am I even having withdrawals at all?  If it is a symptom of withdrawal, can I expect that sooner or later it will deacrease then be eliminated completely?  I am desperate to find an answer as the 3 doctor's I've seen just gave me Darvon or some other prescription that I dont think I want.
Member Comments (44)

by From Aunt Lindy to Mariah, Jan 20, 2001 12:00AM
Tara,

Without a doubt depression is very mucy a symptom of withdrawal. Everytime I try and stop my medicine or I run out early I feel like I am going to climb a wall.  The hours go by like days.  I know how you feel.  You are not alone whatsoever.  You need to taper off them and not go cold turkey.  Tara, you now have a job that you love and that is not making you sick.  It would be a shame to have to quit because of this.  Take the two a day that keeps you from all the symptoms.  Then with the help of you doctor just taper off.  With your stomach condition so much better you dont want to quit the job just yet.  Then your stomach would be a mess again.  Tara I have part time job that I love more than anything else in the world. Yet when I go through what you are going through I cannot make the drive to work. It is truly pure hell.  When I am in that state of mind I cant even get  out of bed and get into the shower in the morning much less get to work.  It is embarassing. I hope this helps some.  Please email back and let me know how things are going.  Please dont quit a job that finally makes you happy.

Shelly.

by rain, Jan 20, 2001 12:00AM
Hi Shelley,



Thank you so much for responding.  I dont have any friends or family that I can talk to about this as none of them even know what percoset is.  When I talk to my husband, I can tell he just doesnt understand.  I finally was able to sleep last night (from taking 3mg of Ativan)but woke up this morning with a really bad headache, dizziness and lower back pains.  Do you know if this is normal?  Also do you know if this depression will decrease with time?



Again thanks so much for responding.  Now that I know this is a normal symptom, I can tell myself that when I go through these episodes.  I have the same feeling in the morning.  I get a pit in my stomach and I just want to forget everything.  How do you get through a work day with all of this? I get very embarrased too because I am being trained at my job right now and when I get these moods I just can't grasp anything I am being told.  It usually goes for about 40 minutes.  Do you have this?  Please reply.  Thanks Shelly!



Tamara

by andrea_s, Jan 21, 2001 12:00AM
Tara, I can relate to your post. I have been taking lortab for several years now. When I'm out....I turn into someone I don't even know! I've been at my job for over 20 years....and since I've developed this addiction I've gone downhill. On my "off days" I could not even function. My doctor doesn't realize I'm addicted...I space the pills he prescribes out, but buy tons of them on the side from friends and friends of friends. So he has no idea. He took me off work and prescribed zoloft. I have just a couple weeks left before I'm supposed to go back to work and I'm not any better off than I was 4 weeks ago. I'm still depressed and when I don't have a supply of pills, I get that empty hollow feeling. Sorry I don't have any answers for you or any good advice, I'm still looking for that too! But at least it will help if you know you are not alone. I'm in the same boat you are...but this forum has a lot of good advice on it. Scroll back and read some of the old posts. You'll see how many others are in this mess too. I felt all alone till I came to this forum. I was surprised at how many of us are addicted to pain medication. It is much more common than I ever realized. And everyone seems to have the same withdrawal symptons...with depression being a big part of it. It is surely the worst part for me. The physical ones, I can handle. I've survived that part. It's just the mental part I haven't learned to deal with.

Hang in there. And keep checking this forum. One thing about being here.....you are not alone.

by From Aunt Lindy to Mariah, Jan 21, 2001 12:00AM
Good to hear back from you.

This will sound crazy but sometimes when I cant get to sleep I will take a Xanax. The trouble is that sometimes after finally falling asleep I sleep so hard that I dont move at all from the position I fall asleep in.  Which, by the way is normally on my back.  I have back trouble anyway compounded by waking up in the morning still on my back with one helleva backache.  So maybe when you are finally falling asleep after taking Ativan you sleep so hard that you are not moving and wake up stiff as hell.  Sometimes when I take Xanax I do wake up with a bad headache and a hungover type feeling.  This especially happens when I wait and take it early in the morning after 1 am or so.  



I am on antidepressants too. But I dont think that they make one yet to treat the depression of feeling like **** running out of meds early.  Antidepressants help the chemical inbalance part but there is nothing out there to help with the helpless feeling that you have when you have taken too much too soon.  



Shelly

by CHAD FROM PHILLY!!!, Jan 21, 2001 12:00AM
I hear what you guys are saying and I feel for you. I didn't even want to come back to this board because of the way some of you feel about me. That's OK, you are allowed your opionions. I do however want to ask for help one more time. Tara, I am sorry if I get off topic for a little bit but I think that what I have to say might be on the same level as you. I posted here for a long time and was helped very much by people like tom and all you other guys who my clouded mind can't remember right now. I never stopped using OXYCOTIN, maybe a day here and there but for the most part I have been on them for at least the last six months non-stop. Most of you know my history but for anyone interested you can scroll down as I have had many posts. Staring with "oxycotin detox". I just want to start off by saying that this is not just another lame attempt for me to kill time in between scripts. My girlfriend and I are so sick of this addiction that we can no longer take it! There are many reasons why I want to quit again. One of the main reasons is the fact that I need 40mg's just to get out of bed. Then I do another 40 when I am ready to go out. Usually, another 20 and them I am fine for the day. Remember times this by two and you can get the idea of how much I go through a week. My percription use to last us like three weeks. Now we are lucky to get six days out of it. I don't want to rambel on so I will get to the point. I like many others here can now not imagine life without theese pills. I feel that there is nothing to look forward too. I am in such a deep dark depression that the only way I can see comming out of is to take more pills. Of coarse we don't want to and have been on an intence taper program but this is the first day without anything. I really have no idea what more to say other than I feel like such a piece of ****. I mean, I even spent every single dime I had on this ****. I have no more money and am ashamed of myself. I know that maybe someone out there might be able to help us....Again,              CHAD

by andrea_s, Jan 21, 2001 12:00AM
Chad, don't beat yourself up. I have been coming to this board for about a year....I have been using the whole time too. I come here when I run out for support....then when I get my refill I stay away. Right now I'm close to running out, so I am hanging out here again. These damn pills have taken over my life. All my plans revolve around LORTAB! Shopping trips, vacations, even tupperware and home interior parties. If I have a supply of pain pills, I'll go...if not then I stay home. My job is in jeopardy, my marriage has already broken up, and my credit cards are maxed out. So. See! I'm all screwed up too! You're not alone. And right now as I type this....I'm thinking of a way to get hold of another prescription. The depression that goes with this is horrible. The physical pain is much easier to handle. There is nothing worse than waking up at 4:00 am and knowing I have no pills to take to get my day going. And there is no better feeling than waking up at 4:00 am with a supply of pills and knowing I can pop about 4 and get going and have a normal day. Ha! I guess I don't even know what normal is anymore.

Anyway,hang in there. Keep posting. I know you feel like no one wants to hear about it..but I do.

by CHAD FROM PHILLY!!!, Jan 21, 2001 12:00AM
Thank you so much, I too have that sinking feeling in my chest when I know that I don't have any pills left. I want to talk some more but my head is pounding....Talk soon, Chad

by CHAD FROM PHILLY!!!, Jan 21, 2001 12:00AM
You know what? I am sitting here trying to detox while watching the golden globe awards and so far they have made at least 5 drug refferances. The last one came from David Spade who said he was in a good mood due to the fact that he found 10 vicoden in his gift basket! Oh well, thought you guys might get a kick out of that! CHAD

by rain, Jan 21, 2001 12:00AM
Hey guys,



I am very happy that there are a few people that can discuss this now.  Thank you for all your insight as I was totally naive to all of this until now.  Katie, you said that you are taking zoloft.  I have some of this now, and I started to take it today.  Do you know how long it takes before it starts to have an effect?  Also, will it make me groggy if I am taking it with my 2 percoset's each day?  



You guys are really making me feel better, I wish I had some advice to offer all of you.  Thanks,



Tara

by to CHAD from a friend in Philly, Jan 22, 2001 12:00AM
Don't give up CHAD.  You are not alone.  Just because you have tried and failed doesn't mean you have no place on this forum.  We are all in the same situation more or less.  How are your education pursuits going?

by To Tom and rest of forum from Maryanne, Jan 22, 2001 12:00AM
any antidepressant will work better if you are not taking anything else or drinking alcohol.  I understand what you are going through as I just went through detox myself.  Get off those percocet as soon as possible.  I am on my 7th day clean and feel like a slave who has been set free.  I have access to all the percocet and lorcet I want as I am a chronic pain person but to hell with the pills - I've gotten my life back and I'm keeping it.  Better to spend my money on mineral ice, weekly massages and other pain relievers.  Good luck, Maryanne

by CHAD FROM PHILLY!!!, Jan 22, 2001 12:00AM
Well, I am kind of in a rut. As far as school goes I am unable to attend due to the fact that I am broke and have no one to help me. My credit is so bad that I can't even get a loan. That is very depressing. You know, the main problem is that I am stuck at home on workman's comp so I get extremly bord. I want to get help from a meeting or something but I am having trouble hooking up with one as I don't think that a AA meeting might be good for me as I don't really drink. Any advice?

by joe in Philly to CHAD