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Avatar universal

Using opiates for anxiety and depression?

So I have had pretty serious anxiety and depression issues for as long as I can remember. I am 22 years old, and I have spent everyday of those 22 years obsessing over things that are completely out of my control. I have been diagnosed/misdiagnosed as having multiple disorders; GAD, agoraphobia, borderline personality disorder, and finally as manic depressive, which I think is the most accurate.
During college, I saw multiple university mental health doctors, most of whom just offered me a bottle of xanax, clonopin, or ativan and sent me on my way. Among these meds, I have also tried: lexapro, paxil, zoloft, seroquel, lamictal, xyprexa, buspar, and welbutrin. Currently I am taking depakote er, which actually seems to be working fairly well. It makes the anxiety bareable, but doesn't do much for my depression.
However, there has always been one thing that has relieved all my symptoms; pain medications. First I would like to say something that Im sure everyone knows; these medicines are very addictive and should not be abused. Unfortunately, they are the only things that work for me. The make me completely calm and relaxed, and not wozy and out of it like benzos do. I have never tried to obtain them illegal or without reason, but have come to this conclusion on occassions when I have been given them for legitamate pain. I am curious to know if someone can offer any scientific or medical explaination as to why opiates are so effective. I am also curious whether there are any anxiety medications that incorporate opiate therapy.
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Avatar universal
Please repost. I am very fit and health. But I have struggled with feelings of lethargy and motivation no matter how hard I try. I have begged Docs to help and have tried all their suggestions. Life is to be lived at its fullest. I am very ambitious and successful but again no matter how hard I push, no matter therapy sought my back pain and causes me to become overwhelmed panicked and eventually depressed. I truly believe my brain is lacking what opiates provide. Opiates never make me sluggish, lazy, or non productive. I have been on and off for over five years clean for 1 year at a time and never get back to having a sweet productive happiness by that I have when taking. I never abuse them but I have a far more caring loving productive life while taking them. Doc are all to eager to prescribe some many drugs for all sorts of thing and these are often more deadly than most. I want to live a life full of joy, giving, peace, and productivity and do when taking opiates. Conventional medicine is very hypocritical when it comes to this subject. Quality of life is what we should be striving for. Anyone else out there like me? Would love to hear from you!
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Avatar universal
Nursegirl6572-

Allow me to take a moment to point out the numerous oversimplifications and cliched inaccuracies in your statements regarding this topic.  :)
1.) Self medicating- this happens sometimes before people go to Doc's and get treatment. However it also happens because the response and remission rates for most mental illnesses are sub par (even in ideal circumstances). Of course this cuts right to the core of the issue, which is people not getting sufficient relief from currently approved treatments.

2.)Dependence and tolerance- Are you against SSRI's? SSNRIs? Trycyclics, wellbutrin? Tolerance, dependence and withdrawal are a fact of life for these, not to mention BENZOS. Also, let's make a distinction between popping Vicodins or Heroin, and the controlled use of a PARTIAL AGONIST such as buprenorphine. Bupe is meant to be used long term (though for maintenance in 'addicts') and has minimal tolerance/withdrawal. Also very importantly, Bupe is also a Kappa opiate receptor antagonist. The Kappa receptor is the 'bad' nasty opiate receptor which makes people feel like crap. Regular opiates cause a vicious cycle by downregulating u-opiate receptors (tolerance/withdrawal) and an upregulation of the kappa system, causing more dysphoria and making the problem worse. In fact, kappa system is elevated in most all types of drug addiction. With Bupe, the u-system is consistently and partially bound, assisting with anhedonia, malaise, pain (physical and psychosocial) and anxiety. The blocking of kappa system also helps keep stress/anxiety in check, as well as reducing risk of substance abuse.There are currently clinical trials looking at both Bupe, and another Kappa antagonist (JDTic) for cocaine addiction. Overly simplified statement here, but in essence, please go educate yourself before making such sweeping statements. If you'd like, I can give you a bibliography of journal articles on this topic for you to read. I've got 100+ peer reviewed journal articles on the opiate system in psychiatric disorders. Harvard also did a small pilot study in the 90's with Bupe for treatment-refractory depression/anxiety and many people were helped. These were people who tried every med, every therapy, ECT, etc etc and no relief.

Also you should probably realize that there are opiate based psych meds in Phase II clinical trials right now. One is an Enkephalinase inhibitor (inhibits enzyme that breaks down Enkephalin, an ''endorphin'' for laypeople speak).

Pardon my apparent sarcasm or rudeness. I've been angry for years that people who are treatment resistant can't get access to something that might help. I'd love to hear your response, but preferably after you've gone to pubmed and done at least a few days worth of reading. Let me know if you'd like those articles, I could email them to you as PDF's..

Also on personal note, I've been through the psychiatric maze of life, tried every treatment, Bupe works for me at low doses used controlled, legally and consistently while in conjunction with Lexapro, high dose Fish Oil, exercise, meditation etc etc. I've been on this regimen for 5 years, had no increase in tolerance, do not feel 'high', have felt the best ever. Also, my cognitive functioning under opiates is leaps and bounds beyond taking benzos. Did you read the many people's posts with similar complaints. Benzos help quell anxiety sure, but then you can't think clearly etc. Also, you can die from benzo WD's, that doesn't happen with opiate WDs. Also, I'm qualified to say these things both from my personal experience as a patient, but also because I've done biomedical science research in many top labs investigating opiates, mood disorders and pharmacology/molecular biology. Not to mention I spend more time on Pubmed than any other human being alive.
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Yes. I want the links
Avatar universal
I know this is a oldddd post so don't know if you'll get to read this but yes I know exactly what you mean which is why I'm on Suboxone now. I was an addict almost 7 years, on pain pills. I've always had anxiety and the only time I didn't experience it was when I was actively high. It's the worst thing you can do though, you're just numbing everything for the moment so when you get sober or run out, you have to learn how to process emotions all over again. It's not worth it and that's just 1 aspect of addiction. I haven't touched anything in 2 years but my Suboxone and I take it how I'm prescribed and I'm currently in taper process. But anyway,  yes I know exactly what you're talking about. How are you doing now like 13 years later?
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Avatar universal
To try and answer your question, patagon84. Let me tell you the opiates  also work for me . I've been on several med combo's and opiates work well for me. I also suffer with bipolar , anxiety and add. I take lamictal 100mg for bipolar and 3 perocets 7.5 with 2 tramadol 50mg for back pain and other pain. The combo of those meds work great for me. I recently started vaping not realizing the high level of nicotine was actually helping me with my add. For some strange reason the combination of what I'm on works great. I take klonopin 1 my at night to help me sleep. I really don't want to have to take the klonopin but it's the only thing that helps ,ensure a good night sleep. So, to try and make  this short. Everyone's body chemistry is different  so you have to do what works best for you . However, it would probably be a good idea to talk to your doctor and explain your situation.

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Avatar universal
They are so effective because they bind to opiate receptors in your brain and cause the release of the feel good neurochemicals, and they also cause your central nervous system to become depresses (this means your blood pressure, heart rate, breathing rate are going to decrease). That is why you feel more relaxed on these drugs. Doctors will give Morphine to patient's with acute, critically ill patients (think pulmonary embolism) because it reduces pain but it also causes their anxiety levels to decrease. This sounds like a good thing, right!? Wrong. While opiates may be good for short term pain control, they are NOT ideal for long term therapy because you will develop a tolerance. Do not continue these drugs more than month unless under supervision, and do not take more than the prescribed dose (or lowest therapeutic dose) because you run the risk of an overdose.
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Avatar universal
First of all, people with anxiety issues are very prone to addictive behavior and "self medicating" with substances as a means to make themselves feel better which obviously, when you throw in something as addictive as opiates there is only heartache ahead.
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1 Comments
What about the current heartache ?  Suicide or opioids?  Which is worse?  Idk.
Avatar universal
Your post rings true.

Hardly ever with mental health is there a single answer.  For most people the problem is transient and will resolve without intervention.  When more serious the options are psychology, pharmacology, lifestyle - probably all three.

I've had life-long problems - mainly dysthymia, with spikes of panic, self-esteem, depression.  The things that have 'cured' it have been extraordinary good times (a year off between school and Uni travelling around Asia; getting married; moving abroad; drugs), psychotherapy (after 6 months, and co-inciding with marriage and believing that I sorted my life romantically and professionally - haha!); and opiate use. Anti-depressants, running stopped me from sinking but didn't do much to help me swim.  When I tried opiates in my 40's I had a distinct sense of 'wow I feel normal for the first time - is this how most people feel?  I felt more able to do my job, able to be authentic with people, and soon I was replanning my life given this new sense of well-being.  Then I started to doubt - friends who knew of my intake were concerned (I think by the sole fact that I was taking opiates, rather than any changes in my manner).  More personal worries were a 'take it or leave it' attitude to socialising, disinterest in sex, and a general preference for dreaming over reality.  Then again this was offset by being/feeling more able at work, being easier with people, a general sense of enjoying life rather than getting-by.  Then I found out that when I stopped, I felt very lethargic, got stomach cramps and diarrhea, depressed - uh-oh.

I went clean for a couple of weeks - all the old issues kicked in and I got bored and partook again...ahhhhh, problems over.

It reminded me of when I trekked in North Thailand - my guide explained that when the men get old, too old for work, they take opium, feel better.  This memory was not reassuring for a 40 year old.

Some background - I have a good job, have no major MH problems, and, if there is even such a thing, I do not have an addictive personality (I've tried all the sins). I had some trauma as a kid (born with a hernia, 4 ops in first 6 months, and mild sexual abuse at 7-8 years).

The distillation of my wisdom on the opiate issue is that I think a mild daily dose might well be life changing... (watch this space).  Psychological therapy and lifestyle changes are also essential - and there is also the question of discipline: do I have the willpower to take a low dose in the long-term?  Even if I did, is such a cure delusional, or might it really be a key in a keyhole?


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Avatar universal
not true. Opiate dependent for 15 years. Opiates are a great anti depressant. They are not harmful to your body other than if you take too much or ingesting the wrong way. Then the damage is caused by breathing suppression and cns depression. Reversible though as long as you seek help.

The binders/fillers may have reactions to people but usually very very minimal if non existent.

The only damage usually caused by opiate products are from the additional drugs or additives. For instance vicodin has tylenol in it. If you have a high tollerance from long term use or take too much then you can damage your liver and other organs. Heroin is bad because of the cuts and ways of ingestion causing complications. Pure opiates are actually quite safe.

On the other hand they can be very harmful to your life. If you lack the control or are looking to have a high all the time then you become dependant and your dosage will go up. This causes distress from finances, rebound pain from abuse and then tapering down, and the usual addictive self destructive nature and events that happen to any addict.(whether its opiates or sex. Everything in moderation. No gain without some pain.

I use suboxone at .25 to .5 mg per day. Only drug that helps my depression and anxiety. life saver. But it took years to find myself and to practice self control. Though I am an addict I am an educated addict. This has led to better practices for easing my pain and minimalizing my addictive nature..

Good friends and family are the only other cure for some people. Everyone needs to feel important and its a necessity( for humans to have close bonds with others to have a fulfilling life.)  Thats why AA works.  Having caring people who u respect and like or love makes all the difference in this harsh world. seek companionship
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Avatar universal
I wish I could agree with you. Actually I don't. Because if I did agree with you I would be curled in a ball depressed in the dark corner of my van down by the river.

I have had severe social phobia and major depressive disorder for more than 12 years. They have put every poison test medication in me that they legally could and it still feels like a 300 pound man is laying on my back. Try getting up in the morning with a hippo on your hip. IMPOSSIBLE!!!

I am a nurse and was prescribed a simple 20 mg oxycontin pill for a spine injury and immediately noticed after my first dose that it worked better fthan any pill I had taken in the last 12 years. It worked for everything! The pain was almost gone but the depression and anxiety were completely non existent.

I realized that half of my dose which is 10mg works wonders for the depression and the anxiety, I did not even have to take my wholw dose because at higher doses it seems to cooperate with the anxiety rather than eliminate it.
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I have found the exact same thing. I am depressed every day and am on antidepressants and mood stabilizers. But there are worse days where I actually consider it. I do not want to die I just want the feeling to go away. On those days I take 1/2 oxi left over from a couple of surgeries. This is rare. Like 2 time a month tops. But it takes care of depression suicidal thoughts anxiety lack of motivation self hatred.  I understood that it is addictive by so is Xanax. So are all benzos. You even have to wean off of most anti depressants. I would rather die than live every day wanting to die. So if this works why are we not using it. I use Xanax as needed. I would love to use oxi as needed on the really bad days.
Avatar universal
I generally agree  in that I'm not inclined to recommend kratom because of it's incomplete chemical characterization- i.e we don't know all the different receptors to which it binds, and therefore what drugs it might interact with and any possible toxicity etc. I just put the information out there so people are aware of all possibilities.

I would like to make a comment/observation combined with a question: Do you work in addiction treatment, or research or counselling? I ask because I've noticed your primary concern regarding any mentioned substance is it's abuse potential/liability etc. I have found in the past when discussing this topic (or similar ones) that people who specialize in addiction in any regards or who have dealt with it themselves or with someone close to them, tend to place the emphasis on addiction.

Well as the old saying goes, if the only tool you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail. I am probably just rehashing previous comments I've made on this thread but a few of the points I made I don't think you addressed and I'd be curious to hear your reply to them.

1.) Addiction/dependence: You have stated people should avoid opiates on this thread because of the risk of dependence. While I agree that drug dependence can be a tough ordeal that does occur, the reality is that the actual percentage of people who use prescription opioids who then become dependent is actually very low. Exact figures would be hard to quote, but I'd say between 10-35% would be a rough guess. Would you be inclined to agree with me thus far?

-Tolerance: You have also suggested that people taking opiates will inevitably have to escalate their dose, requiring higher and higher amounts. This is another misconception in some regards. Yes the above scenario does happen, but usually it is in two different situations. One is a person with chronic pain who needs increasing doses for adequate analgesia. In this instance the actual mechanisms leading to need for a higher dose is actually the progression of pain, or perhaps so called opiate-induced hyperalgesia. The second would be a recreational user trying to get high and constantly upping the dose, a scenario everyone is likely familiar with. However if someone is consistently taking the same optimal dose of an opiate and adheres to this regularly they will not need to increase the amount (unless still in the stage of titrating to the proper dose).

2.)The reason why many seek opiates (or other alternatives)- current response and remission rates for mood disorders are low. Even in the most optimal situations, in clinical trials with experts, excellent patient compliance, and combination of multiple approved treatments (see for example the STAR*D trials) the response and remission rates are not much above 50-65%. So many people are left with few other choices other than the 'experimental'.

3.)I mentioned the off-label prescribing of stimulants, what is your feelings on that subject?

4.)Aside from addiction, your main objections seemed concerned not with efficacy, but with the problematic nature of obtaining a prescription in the current legal and cultural milieu.

~Hopefully my tone is perceived as respectful ;) I mean no ill will and I enjoy having civil but enlightened discussions on contentious topics.
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480448 tn?1426948538
Yeah, I wouldn't recommend Kratom, as it's addictive.  I post on our addiction community, and Kratom comes up a lot.  

http://drug.addictionblog.org/kratom-addiction-signs-and-symptoms-of-kratom-abuse/
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Avatar universal
I hope I wasn't implying that the methods listed would be sufficient for helping people's problems. I could list tons of other complimentary or cutting edge things to further augment mood/anxiety disorder treatment, but was just listing a few things which can help boost the opiate system.

Speaking of which, more tidbits I left out from the list I mentioned in the previous post...

4.) D-Phenylalanine: not L-phenylalanine or D/L-Phenylalanine. The D-isomer is thought to be an inhibitor of the enzyme enkephalinase, which is responsible for breaking down the brains natural opiates , i.e "endorphins" and enkephalin. I believe dose range 500-1000mg 1-3x/day.

5.)Mitragyna speciosa- aka Kratom. Perhaps Nursegirl and others may object to listing this. However in most places in the US, it is legal to purchase etc. The alkaloids (of which there are many) have differing effects, with some acting on opiate receptors, and possibly others involved in the serotonin, NMDA and nor-epinephrine systems. Do plenty of research on your own to determine if this may be an option for you. Also check to ensure that it will not interact with any medications or supplements that you are taking etc.
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480448 tn?1426948538
"An artificial sense of well being and happiness? Would you say the feeling of happiness or well being you have from relationships, meaningful pursuits in life and all the sensory pleasures (eating, sex etc) are real/authentic?"

I totally get what you're saying, but I'm comparing the realistic medicinal treatment of anxiety, and the fact that opiate medications create a false sense of "happiness" and make it difficult for a person to readjust once those medications are gone.  I wouldn't (again) disagree that similar arguments could be made when discussing meds like antidepressants, but they are much more viable choices for long term use, plus they don't share the really big issue of tolerance that opiates do.  It's apples and oranges IMO.

I agree completely with your second post and would always encourage people to incorporate as many of those kinds of measures into their treatment plan as they can, unfortunately for a lot of people, those measures simply aren't enough.

When it comes to the topic of THIS  thread however, I maintain my position about treating anxiety/depression with opioid medications.
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Avatar universal
Just to quickly emphasize to people. There are legal things you can do which directly or indirectly boost the activity of your brain's own opiate system and also happen to be beneficial for your health in numerous ways. Some of them are almost a cliche but they do work.

1.) Exercise- even just a few minutes a day can do something. Ideally strive for 20-60 mins of mild-moderate aerobic activity each day. Stationary bike, working in the garden, going for a walk, taking the stairs etc. This has been shown in numerous studies to help with depression and anxiety (along with health benefits for everything from diabetes, heart disease, pain, etc etc).

2.)Social support/activity- boosts opiates and oxytocin. Good for stress, depression, anxiety etc It may be difficult to engage in this or exercise if dealing with mental illness, but if you can, do it. Also all around amazing for health.

3.)Fish Oil- boosts opiate and endocannabinoid levels, good for overall health. Take a minimum of 1-2000mg of EPA+ DHA per day. In larger doses can help with pain. Helpful for inflammation (which is higher generally in mood disorders), mood disorders, and just like #1 &2 above, helps with countless health conditions.

-I also agree with other posters suggesting 'health journaling'. Keeping a calendar with a record of as many variables related to your condition as possible truly helps you see what contributes to helping and hindering. I print out a blank copy for each month. I write down my sleep, exercise, social support, meds + supplements (and any changes if any), my general subjective mood and specific symptoms. You would be amazed the things you can learn about yourself through this technique that you couldn't figure out just by thinking about it or drawing from
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Avatar universal
An artificial sense of well being and happiness? Would you say the feeling of happiness or well being you have from relationships, meaningful pursuits in life and all the sensory pleasures (eating, sex etc) are real/authentic? I'm going to sound a bit reductionist here, but all those 'natural' feelings are communicated in the brain with the same systems (opiates, oxytocin, cannabinoids). Of course they all impact neurobiology a bit differently.

Just saying :)
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480448 tn?1426948538
I totally understand what you're saying, but unfortunately, the very pills that are helping you to feel better will eventually turn on you.  Taking then every day will build your tolerance and it won't be long before you'll need more and more for the same effect, and if you don't frequently increase your dose (which of course leads to more tolerance issues) to deal with the tolerance issue, the oxycodone (which is a pretty strong opiate) will cause an INCREASE in anxiety for you and depression even.  It really is a double edged sword.

Narcotics create artifical happiness and sense of well being.  If it didn't come with tolerance, dependency and addiction, it would be a viable option.  Also, it makes the underlying problem worse, because after you come off of it, your brain struggles to restore the natural "feel good" chemicals.

People could make similar arguments about antidepressants, but the truth is, you CAN be on them long term, and while occasional dosage increases are needed, they don't share the tolerance issue with opiates.

I welcome you to start your own thread here in the forum outlining your history and describing what all you've tried to date, including any meds, therapy, alternative treatments.  We can then make some recommendations for you for your anxiety.

I can promise you that narcotic pain medication is simply NOT the answer for treating anxiety, and you're going to end up in a worse way in the long run, having to detox off, dealing with both physical AND mental w/ds (which can be a living nightmare, just read a few threads on the addiction or pain management forum).

We'll help however we can.  Take care!!
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5876680 tn?1376186181
I've also been on every ssri, xanax etc. And the only thing that helped me was oxycodone. Not hydrocodone, methadone etc. And if your nodding off etc, your taking waaaay to much. I take 1 15mg pill  twice a day & have energy, motivation, am not sleepy. If I don't take it, I may have a panic attack or more likely, just sleep all day. I don't know what the answer is & I doubt anyone else does either. I'm just trying to live.
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Avatar universal
Hi Getweller,

I'm sorry to hear about your PTSD. You may also want to research the endocannabinoid system (i.e your body's own marijuana-like chemicals). Research in animals and humans has demonstrated that one of the functions of cannabinoids is help us FORGET bad memories. Tada, that is a huge part of PTSD. They also down regulate the stress response/HPA axis over-activation, and augment the body's opiate system. Also can reduce opiate tolerance. There are many lifestyle and nutritional factors which can boost them, among them exercise and high-dose fish oil (which in earlier posts on this thread I've recommended to all people, especially with mood disorders).

You also have the option of THC and CBD. Depending on which state you live in, you may be able to get medical cannabis legally. Also the VA (vets admin) has had a change in policy recently and now informally "allow" patients to use cannabis. It is more like tolerate..you can read about this google-it. You can get legal THC prescription pill (Marinol) but it is very expensive and is less effective with more side effects than herbal cannabis. Ideally, look for a variety that has been lab tested and contains equal amounts of THC and CBD (or ~ 1:1 ratio). I could go on, I'll leave it at this but if you have any questions let me know.

Apologies for quasi-tangent away from opiates and to the cannabinoids but just wanted to offer that tidbit.
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480448 tn?1426948538
HI there!  I'm so sorry to hear what you've gone through, surely it must be so rough.  It sounds like you've been trying everything to keep the PTSD to a manageable level.

The problem with taking opiates regularly doesn't just involve abuse of the medication.  Tolerance (where you need a higher and higher dose to maintain the same level) and dependency are inevitable, even in people who don't abuse the meds and only take them as prescribed.  Then, the very med that helped you will actually make you feel worse, because along with the physical w/ds come the emotional ones.  Opiates create the "happy" chemicals in the brain that the brain is supposed to make for themselves.  After long enough use, the brain will stop producing those chemicals if they are being produced artificially.  When it would be time to stop, or cut down due to tolerance...the depression and anxiety would be severe.

One could argue that meds like antidepressants do the same thing and they wouldn't be wrong, but for one, they ARE suitable for longer term use, with only occasional needs for dosage increases, versus the very frequent increases with opiates that become necessary once tolerance kicks in.  Also, like I mentioned early on...the other issue is that currently, (and I would imagine indefinitely), there is no LEGAL way to Rx an opiate for mood disorders.  The indication is for pain.  There is no off label acceptable uses like there are with other meds.

I totally understand where you're coming from, and if there WAS a way to combat the tolerance and dependency, then maybe it COULD be something that could be considered, but they just aren't appropriate for long term use, and they would end up making the emotional state worse in the long run.  Taking them on an "as needed" basis would only provide temporary, in the moment relief that would be short-lived, and to be honest...a person who was seeking a mental reprieve would have a hard time being able to "choose" when they most deserved to feel "happy".

I just wouldn't want anyone to put their focus on this being a reasonable alternative.  Maybe some day they will find a way...but until then, it's just not a suitable option.  Evebn chronic pain sufferers that need opiates have a lot of difficulties due to the tolerance and dependency issues.  These meds just aren't designed for long term use.

I hope you DO find something that helps you deal with what you've been through.  Best of luck to you.
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Avatar universal
I have PTSD pretty sever, I too am on or have been prescribed Lithium, Xanax, Zoloft, Quitipan, Trazadone, and a slew of other worthless pills. I took a Percocet for an injury, super long story short, I believe soley in my heart that there are absolute positive benefits for opiate users for PTSD. For me, and I can only speak for myself and I am not a doctor, the use of percocet didn't "mask" a thing.

I'm able to address the actual drama issue that did take place in my life. I am desperately seeking a physician to take a long or short term test or study on me. Can Percocet be abused? Absolutely! But if administered correctly, I do believe you can benefit from the calmness and realism it provides.Can it be abused?? Yes, so can Zoloft and Xanax. I would honestly rather drop all of my current meds for a 3-4 dose per day of Oxycodone.

It HAS helped me beat out depression, anxiety, withdrawn issues and suicide thoughts/attempts. Speaking on my behalf! I am NOT A DR. My family on the other hand, would rather me be in turmoil than take a an opiate. Some are surely mistaken and uneducated. My words are strictly from experience. I would the first in line for such study.
However, stop taking opiates is misery! Hell on earth for some. Always seek several DR.s opinion, not just the ones you'r family FORCES you to see to get their answers repeated.
My PTSD came from an accidental shooting leading to the death of another. Flashbacks and sleep deprivation in my case, along with other meds, has helped with the use of Percocet.
I am a firm believer that there are positive affects for Oxycodone use, in a NON abusive way.
A.sk more then 1 Dr. do your homework and research. IMO, I believe this research will eventually come to light that in some cases, there are big benefits to come. Email me back if you have anything to share regarding this comment
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1616953 tn?1443835511
(1) I'm not an expert but I think I would do a couple things.
Don't use Opiates unless its for actual pain.  Wondering where your going to get more pills can't help but increase your MI issues.

(2) Work out.  Walk or run do whatever.  I know a ton of you are all rolling your eyes (I would have been not long ago)   I've been doing mood tracker and days I walk for 20 or 30 minutes are always a bump up on the "depressometer."

(3) Work on your meds.  And by that I mean start journaling (Mood Tracker really is a good resource) and noting your anxiety and depression.  Give some clear feedback to whoever prescribes your meds.  Measure and adjust.  It makes it more science then "art"  Don't stop doing this until it works.  There are dose changes, frequency you take the meds (Like Buspar 3x a day vrs 2x a day)  And then there are drugs that just don't work for you.  So medications can be changed.    *Your meds may stop working.   The 2mg of XXX might need to go to 5 or 10mg.  

And even after you find the right drug in the right dose its probably going to change at some point.  They might start working too good.  Or maybe your vegging out and can't function.   The doctors who prescribe this deal with a ton of people that take the prescription and aren't heard from for a year (Or whatever)  

*And when you find a drug (or drugs) combo that works for God's sake KEEP TAKING THEM!  Whats the most common problem?   Is it  - "I feel good now so I don't need to take my meds anymore"
BTW Don't be afraid to talk to your doc about things like Vitamin D (Or other OTC)

(4) Make sure your DX (Diagnosis) is correct.  If you have a TDoc make sure she/he is communicating with whoever prescribes your meds.   Be on them about this.  Almost everyone I've talked to had an initial diagnosis then a revised one later.

One last thing.  If you have more then one person writing scripts be SURE that they both know exactly what you take (In total)   Some drugs just don't work with others and the combos can be confusing even when they do know what your taking.
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Avatar universal
I had to repost your comment it literally left me in tears because I completely understand.

" It pisses me off to see people post that "all opiates are bad for all people" and that " the high is just that, a high".  If you suffer from Major Depression Disorder, or Bipolar Disorder or Mood Disorders of any kind, you can testify that there is NOTHING on this earth that compares to the HELL that you live with everyday.  You are stuck in a body that has a dysfunctioning organ(the brain) that just so happens to control your mood and how you process information coming in and going out.  It is the worst thing  that has ever happened to me and I can honestly say that I would WELCOME cancer (as I have many family and friends fighting cancer) in place of depression.  Why? Because you know your enemy and you can fight with your heart and soul still intact.  As for depression, you are ROBBED of your very soul.  It is truely HELL ON EARTH. And I will go down fighting if someone keeps me away from ANYTHING that will stave off dpression and its nasty choke hold.  I can not function in life with this desease.  I can not "talk myself into" feeling better.  I can not meditate my way to feeling happy or relaxed.  Its like asking some one to meditate thier severed leg back on. Its just not possible....for me.  Vicodin, in plain english, gives me my life back.  It LETS me feel something other than despair.Would you tell a loved one that you would rather watch them suffer slowly and agonizingly under the curse of depression rather than give them a chance to feel good??? I would take 5 years of happiness over 30 years under the heavy blanket of Depression Disorders.  If taking a med is considered dangerous to my health, but lets me have the quality of life I so desprately crave (and that so many just naturally have) then I say, sign me up.  They always say it is quality not quantity in life and I firmly believe that,  Give me the tool to really LIVE and I will take the consiquence that comes with it.  But God in heaven, dont deny me the oppertunity to see life as it was meant to be, not the torturous hell that this desease inflects on its desprate victims.  And all of you out there looking at this opiate option for depression as it is disgusting and drug seeking filth, you most obviously DO NOT have this debilitating desease.  You are just bummed out and need to go exercise.  Us fighters of this desease will carry on and continue to be the bravest people in the world. Next to our solders of course.  God bless all of you fighters of Depression.  No one really knows what you go through and no one ever will unless they are cursed like we are.  And if get a chance to live life, even for a limited time, live it and dont regret!! Good luck to us all, we are going to need it in this ignorant society that judges so abruptlyand  that simply doesnt understand."  
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480448 tn?1426948538
You would be better off starting your own thread, as you can see this one is quite old.  You can do so by scrolling up and clicking on the orange "post a question" button.

Just a quick comment, I fervently stand by my earlier comments in this thread.  While I do not deny that opiates work wonders for mood disorders, it is just not a practical solution, both from a legal and logical and logistical standpoint.  As it stands now, a doctor REALLY wouldn't be allowed to Rx an opiate with a dianosis of anxiety and depression, because opiates do not have an approval for an off-label use to treat such conditions, and recently, with the crackdown, and tightening up of narcotic dispensing, it's becoming harder and harder for docs to be able to Rx them for PAIN, which is their intended, approved indication.  A doctor must back up any diagnosis of pain to be able to justify a chronic opioid prescription.  Unless a doctor lied and said you were being Rx'ed an opiate for pain, he would be putting his license and DEA# at risk, and not too many docs want to do that.

So what I'm telling you is, seeking an opiate medication for a mood disorder is not a wise idea, and not realistic.  You will have a hard time finding a doctor who would even consider this at all.  There ARE many treatments for anxiety and depression out there that ARE reasonable however, have you tried any other medications?  Therapy?

If you can include a bit of your history in your new thread, that would be great, we'll be better able to advise you.  Lastly, while doing your homework is good, it's important not to have tunnel vision about treatment...it's never good to go into a doctor's office with one med in mind that you're going to request, and expect.  Doctors are doctors for good reason, and we're not.  You should be 100% involved in the discussions and decisions, and you don't have to accept anything a doctor has to say, but it IS in your best interest to go in with an open mind and be willing to TRY different things.  You are limiting yourself by only seeking out info about one kind of treatment option, and that's true even if you HAVE tried many other things.

Look forward to seeing your thread, I'll keep my eye out for it.
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Avatar universal
I need to discuss my condition with a doctor that believe opiate help pain and despression/anxiety.  Any help would be appreciated.
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