sleep and depression this is to hard

[terter]

I have been off and on vic for almost 3 years mostly on and have been through w/d c/t before never lasting long. The depression and sleep problems seem never ending but I've never lasted long enough to achieve normal, I know everyones differant but is there an aprox. time frame? I was taking about 20 7.5 daily depending on supply and on my 3rd day of w/d with a slip yesterday of cough syrup, did I set my w/d back by doing the cough syrup? This is so hard but I really want to do it. Help from anyone would be helpful.

[lisabet]

Hi Goldie...My ob doc gave me a prescription for Ambien several months ago, when I complained I had trouble sleeping.  Then---after reading horror stories about it here on the forum I've been afraid to try it.  You've gave me to courage to try it, cause honest to God, I could really use a good nights sleep, and I know when I'm rested and had enough sleep, seems like I don't crave the vicodins so bad.  Will let ya know how it works for me.  Hope ya have a good holiday weekend.  Love ya, Lisabet

[theGolden1]

I feel the same way. Ambien is called a hypnotic. It is NOT habit forming. I took it for 3 years and stopped without any symptoms. I have fallen asleep many times without it. This is great, the two drugs I need to know about .... ultram and ambien, and there is no information to be had. Oh well, a day in the life .... Goldie

[JohnSqui]

It is a little bit frustrating that the administrator puts a drug in the wrong category all together.  AMBIEN IS IN A CHEMICALLY DIFFERENT CLASS THAN THE BENZODIAZEPINES!  Its chemical make-up is different than the benzo class which is why there is much lower concern for addiction and tolerance.  Please be careful when you lump it in with benzos b/c it is actually even called a NON-Benzo in its PI.  Thanks and have a good week.

[terter]

Just reliezed I rambled on with out answering your ques. I was on Ultram for about 8 months towards the end I was taking about fifteen a day. C/T W/D lasted about 4 or 5 days but I still couldn't sleep so I went to the doc and she gave me Ambien to take for a short while the doc here said sometimes you need to break the non sleeping cycle but remember stop taking as soon as possible because the w/d from that is no sleep. I didn't last very long, a couple weeks maybe by that time I had several surgerys on my wrists and cervical disc, Then I started the vicodin hell, I went through several more withdrwls but none lasting but a few days, This withdrwl seems easier then past w/ds tapper if possible, you will still have w/d but not as severe also if this is your first time it might not be as bad even though it seems like it, after day 4 you start feeling better, How long have you been taking and how much that depends too!! Good luck and don't hesitate to post O.K  TER

[terter]

I can't believe it I slept last night again and I would suggest tappering to anyone who hasn't, I was lucky not to have much diareha, sleep problems, aches I do however still lack energie but compared to what how I use to be before pills, I can't remember, i just did what neede to be done, As far as my girlfriend goes, shes doing me the greatest favor by telling me she has quit also, even though I dought it, but I have no desire to ask her and she would tell me no anyway, We have leaned on each other through this horrible ordeal and when we have cravings we talk each other out of them. I think she feels I left her by stopping the pills the only thing I can do is encourage her to stop as soon as she tells me the truth, but I haven't let that discourage me it just makes me stronger. I could make an appt. with a doc who I know would give me 180 of what I want but the thought of it makes me sick and even though It passes by in my head I still have no desire to call, I know I'm not out of the woods yet but it's looking good.. I know I can come to this site and get any help I need and probly will. Thanks for the support and I will ck this site from time to time to see how everyone is doing or for my self,  TER

[theGolden1]

That's what happened to my husband 25 years ago when he went to AA to try and quit alcohol. All his desire for drinking just disappeared. He claims that the good Lord just took it away. I think it's a blessing .... good for you, Goldie ps: how long did WD symptoms from ultram last? also how much were you taking when you quit?

[theGolden1]

There are alot of ultram stories out there. I am so grateful that I found this forum because I didn't realize how easy it is to get hooked ... also, they gave me the same bull about ultram not being addictive. I am trying to get off without using antidepressants or anything. That is my dream to be completely drug free. Unfortunately life is reality and not a dream ... Gee it's great that you are coming out of it. I remember that. You feel like you have just been born. All my best to you ... and not for nothin, but I would ditch that girlfriend. People, places and things ... Goldie

[terter]

Day 5 and I am just tired, I sleeped for the first time last nite. On one of my last W/D it took a lot longer to sleep. I'm not sure why this w/d is easier but I've been given a gift and have no desire as of now to go back, Other posts state not to count the days but it makes me feel good when I add more days to being clean. My Ultram w/d were worse but each person is differant, When you start taking more and more they just make you tired and give you no energy so your taking them just to keep from being sick.anyway hope you have low problems when and if you decide to stop if you have already then good for you.      Ter

[AmberHunter]

the cravings subside with time. right now it seems like that is all you are thinking about but as time goes on and you fight the cravings they lessen. honest! lol!!

and after awhile you will find that you go for really long periods of time without even a passing thought!

therapy is a great idea, if you have the time i would pursue some talk therapy, couldn't hurt!! until then, email me at ***@**** and i will send you the link for this other board, it is kind of like therapy online! lol!! just a small group of people who are all in the same boat and a lot of support!

peace,

amber

[theGolden1]

It happened about 3 weeks ago. My husband hurt his arm at work and couldn't move it. He went to the orthopedic specialist and had xrays ... he has a pulled muscle and enflamed nerve. They gave him vicodin and vioxx. I see the change in him already. He is having the "brain change" ... for me, it bothered me and I wanted to use some of the pills to get off ultram ... but I have changed my mind. That stuff is bad news. I'll stick with ultram thank you ... somehow I will get back on track and taper off, but NO MORE VIKES ... his personality has changed and he's totally miserable AND it dosen't even help the pain!! Now he is only taking it at night for a painless sleep. He almost beat up his boss the other day. I hope things get better soon. He only has a few more left and then it's back on plain tylenol. Taught me a lesson. Don't dream about vicodin hell. I don't want that stuff anywhere near me.... Goldie

[lakelady]

Hi, I've always used Benadryl at night to help me sleep. I take 2 and I'm out like a light. Maybe I'm just lucky. Also a powder form of coral calcium helps pain and is supose to relax you and help you sleep. Good Luck, Debbie

[terter]

I started my hell with Ultram, I was on it for more then a year, Of course the doc presented it to me as a non narcotic but that isn't true Iwas told it has a low dose of narcotic and you get hooked all the same. I took it because it gave me energy, I was taking 5 at a time it made me grouchie, Of course I started vics because they made me feel good, but after a while they can make you grouchie also. Good luck if you plan on stopping Ultram it's not easy. I f your husband is only taking 2 a nite withdrawls shouldn't be to bad but of course that depends on how long hes been taking it,  TER

[AmberHunter]

it took me about four months to feel completely "normal" again after a two year orgy on narcotics. i had the worst withdrawl and was in the hospital for five weeks (in rehab). i was on ambien, 20mg. for about six weeks and then my shrink took me off the ambien and i can remember how scared i was, sure i would never sleep again and would lose my mind...

i did eventually sleep again but i only stayed clean for six months that time. i could beat myself up black and blue for that relapse b/c i was so sick and had come so far in that six months. i know how bad you feel when you relapse and it plain sucks to relapse but that is part of the nature of the disease of addiction... i have today clean, i have the tools to stay clean another day and that is as far ahead i let myself think... a few weeks ago i slipped up and drank... i felt really bad about it and came here and got honest with everybody. and the forum doc really helped me see how i could use a relapse as a means to go on using.

i had eight years clean in NA and it has been pounded in my head that relapse is a SIN! this time clean i am using more of a "rational recovery" means to stay clean. and i honestly give up the guilt of relapsing... ok, i felt guilty for 30 minutes... that is 15 minutes longer than i need to feel guilty... learn from it, feel guilty for 15 minutes and move on...

that is my plan for staying clean this time... progress, not perfection... and today that is good enough for me!

peace,

amber

[terter]

I read several of your posts, I even went to that other site but never joined in. Its day 4 and I don't feel worse from my slip, I sleep broken up but I guess thats better then none at all the lack of energy is awful I dont even want to get dressed but it;s better then previous w/d so I should thank my lucky stars, I think it might be because I tappered a bit first. I'm sick of laying around all day long while my husband goes to work then comes home makes me dinner then cleans the mess, I feel guilty about that, He has been great through this all and I can't let it happen again, Do the cravings subside with time or is it a life long struggle? I knew if I didn't stop soon I would be looking for something better or stonger since the pills didn't work anymore, My girlfriend is in the same boat as me of course we had our pill problem together she and I both quit togethr before and we kept going back I don't think shes being honest with me but she will be quiting again soon because her supply will be out I hope. anyway sorry about the rambleing so you know who your talking to I'm a 41 yr old female from central calif. What about therapy or something like thatto keep me sane?
thanks for the post ter

[terter]

I've heard benydril sp? might help, I'm on day 4 and made myself get in the shower and got dressed Yeah!! I even put laundry in the wash so I'm not doing to bad, I was a lot worse in previous w/d but I didn't tapper then. I don't have diareha sp? and my legs don't ache as much so this is looking more hopeful then yesterday. Amber & tryintostop helped with my low moments and I know theres more to come. Thanks for post. TER

[terter]

I was wondering if anyone has any info on darvocette,Im in my 3rd day of w/d but took darvoceete for about 8 days prior to stopping c/t has this helped with tappering, I'm not sure b/c I slipped yesterday with cough syrup and I'm not sure if Im starting all over. I had a 20 a day habit for almost 3 years of vics 7.5's today the depression is worse. I am praying for the strength to do this. Thanks  Ter

[Trying2Stop]

It usually takes anywhere from 2-3 weeks before the anti-depressant takes full affect.  I had only been using for about 9 months, 6-8 percs/vikes a day...which compared to you is nothing, so your w/d will be a little harder.  You should definately try tapering...if you don't trust yourself, give the pills to someone you trust and they will give you the amount for the day.  I tapered and I feel great on day 3....to tell you the truth, I actually forgot about the pills b/c I kept myself so busy.  

You will be fine...hang in there and keep posting.

[terter]

I too was excited but I'm afraid of failing my family They all know and have been supportive but still don't understand, My husbands rule is don't think about it or I make it worse worrying about it. He thinks this will go away in a few days and hates the fact that I'm sleeping on the coach due to comfort, I've told him I will feel better after about 5 days but it takes a while longer but I had no idea it would take as long as the md and what others have said, He will be curious that I'm still useing because it will take longer then I thought but I really don't know if he will. I want to accomplish this so bad, It sounds like you have a good frame of mind I did until slipping yesterday. There is and was so much drug abuse in my family and I was so proud to be in my 30's and never a drug or alcohol problem well here I am at 41 and thinking I can't believe this is happening but after 3 years of drug abuse I guess it will take a while to go away. It started with carpol tunnel then ruptured discs ect... I have been taking elival an antidepressant for about 4 days but I don't know how long it takes to start working? I heard its best to look back on weeks instead of days like I felt worse a week ago instead of I don't feel much diferant then yesterday. Thanks for the reply.  terter

[Trying2Stop]

You are fine....a slip is a slip, but you only had a little from what you told me yesterday.  It may have set you back, and from what I've read it can take up to 30 days to feel yourself again.

I am now 3 days clean...and I feel great...no depression b/c I am so happy that I am finally FREE!!!!  No waking up to clamy skin, needing a pill just to get out of bed...NO MORE!!!!!

Hang in there....it will get better...