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449842 tn?1214362266

Anti-Depressants for Acute Withdrawal Syndrome? Hello everyone!

Hello everyone! Just wanted to ask a question to my community.

I am pleased to say that I am not physically dependent, or addicted to vicodin anymore. But I do have to admit, when I get my Rx, I take it, and considering my situation right now (less than desirable, I've had a bad year thus, vicodin) I find myself taking a little too much. Ok, I abuse it. It's different now, please don't judge me for this. The difference between then and before, I don't do illegal things to get the vikes, and I go long periods of time not taking any. And believe me, it feels great to be able to live without needing something like vicodin as a crutch.

So after all that, here my question: I've been thinking about going to the doctor to get on antidepressants. I think the only reason why I aduse my Rx when I get it, is because I'm looking for emotional and physical relief. Completely sober, I am exhausted, fatiged, and very depressed. Will an antidepressant be what I need to fight the last part of my addiction?

Has anyone else used an antidepressant to help with acute withdrawal syndrome? What kinds and what is a good idea for me? Cymbalta a good one?
9 Responses
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Avatar universal
First: I don't know anything.

Second: I have a friend who just started Cymbalta for depression and loves it.

Third: The end.
Helpful - 0
401095 tn?1351391770
I agree and think my habit was due to wanting to feel "happier"   there are so many ADs out there and if u do not get the right one it will not do squat for u.....cymbalta is a strong one like effexor and many do not tolerate it well...affects lots of NTs tho....my friend said it wiped her out...lexapro and the SSRIs mainly affect seratonin....people who like trams are usually deficient in seratonin..tricylcic and trazodone/similar/ can help with sleep and cover all of the NTs and i did respond to those after my divorce....took them for 2 years...the sleepiness hangs on for a few months then u get used to it...i have researched and figured out i am not low on seratonin and chose a AD that works on NorEpi and dopamine for energy...if u go to a doctor who knows alot about these drugs ..like a psych doctor may be best...me, being in the helath field, was able to figure it out on my own,..most doctors do not know much about these drugs i hate to say
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Antidepressants helped me a lot. I felt I was going crazy before I visited a doctor who prescribed two antidepressants. But I was also suffering from chronic insomnia at that time.
Helpful - 0
306455 tn?1288862071
P.S. Cymbalta also helps with pain ..suposidly. So maybe you won't need to take any Vics.
Helpful - 0
306455 tn?1288862071
I was put on Cymbalta about 2 months ago for depression. Life-saver for me. It doesn't make me tired or sluggish. Big difference in my atitude.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I just read your journal post, it seems that yo have had a pretty rough life, loosing your mom at 16, and some issues with your dad.  I think if any one might need AD it would be you.  : ) - thanks for adding me as a friend that was cool.

Seeyou online
JonDavid
Helpful - 0
449842 tn?1214362266
I know the use of vicodin is not helping my depression long term. It's pretty hard to not take them when I need them though.... Just sitting here for the past 2 hours on-line I've had to get up sevral times, I took 2 600 mgs of motrin, noproxin, (which I shouldn't take for stomach reasons) desperate to take the pain away. The other night I my roomate came to my room worried  when I woke up and turned over the pain was so bad I screamed out. It's really hard to not use something.

I just find myself abusing the vicodin in attempt to aleviate the depression I feel, and have been feeling for 2 months now. The euforic feeling I get doesn't come from taking the Rxed amount. So I was thinking that maybe an AD would help with the depression so I would want to numb it with abusing vikes.

Thank you for your concern. I wanted to know if anyone used Cymbalta specifically, and if it helped with there depression (cause by addiction) and the fatige?

Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have a lo t of experience with being on and off of pain medication (9yrs) to be exact. I have withdrawn from everything from oxycotin to hydrocodone in all forms to Methadone all adding up to about 16 times. my point of telling you this is to tell you about PAWS

I honestly think and I may be wrong, but you the symptoms you are experiencing is a post acute withdrawl syndrome. All the symptoms you describe are how you feel months and somtimes years of total abstinence from all opaites.

I think before you go get on an Anti-Depressant that you maybe consider going without everything, even alchohol, not even an Asprin for four months and then re-evaluate.

Did you know that when you take your opiate presription that it reduces your magnesium levels and could be causing real depression . But I dont think you want to take Anti-Depressants so that you dont have to take opiates or so that you  can take them as you like.

I may be completely off base, Im sorry if I am out of line by evening bringing this up. But I thought it had some validity.  

I just care about people, and want to see us all on as little meds as possible.

Take Care, I wish you well : )
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have known several people that get on AD after getting off opiates. I am not sure if it the answer to actually stopping them for you, but maybe someone else can help in that area.
Helpful - 0
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