vicodin question....or maybe you can recommend something?!

[Raerae336]

For the past six years i have had panic attacks and GAD. I was on klonopin which helped the attacks a ton but made me really sleepy. I have three kids so i couldnt deal with being tired all the time so i stopped taking them. I believe I also have depression but the anxiety is much more uncomfortable so thats always the first thing i ask my dr about. anyways, i literally cannot stay focused on one task for more than 10 minutes without changing what im doing or giving up. my house is always a work in progress and i have NO energy to clean it and when i do i stop to do something else. I can hardly get through a movie without doing something else it is so annoying. I know my kids deserve better (more of my attention, a cleaner more organized home) but i literally try as hard as i can and i cant get things done the way id like anyways. Recently i had a kidney stone and while waiting for it to pass my dr gave me vicodin. it was like a god send, not only did it help my pain but i stayed focused, cleaned my entire house caught up on homework and felt generally GOOD. This I did all in one day as compared to dragging it out over weeks. I dont know what to do? i also have benign heart palpitations so when people have suggested adderall im too afraid to even suggest taking those to my dr because i HATE when i have a palpitation. But I also HATE the way Ive become, its gotten worse over the years, not better. The anxiety has stayed about the same, kinda comes in waves but the lack of focus the inability to sleep or accomplish anything has all gotten worse. SO please, can someone suggest something?!

[savyy]

if the vicodin caused you to have good focus and getting the hose clean which seems to be my problem. what is it that vicodin does that makes that part a good thing for us people that have a focusing, cleaning problem? I will go to clean house and start in one room and then take a bathroom break then cannot continue in that room I start another project.

[AO111]

Yeah Vicodin would help me with anxiety and concentration as well. I have read that in some places (not in the U.S.) it can be used to treat anxiety but like others are saying it's not a good drug to get into. I've been on it a year and I've only ever taken three a day max but my body and mind have become addicted. If I run out I go through withdrawals which for me include very low energy, muscle and joint pain, restless legs, anxiety, irritability, nausea, hot flushes. It's not fun.

[worriedmom977]

I was recently reevaluated but a Forensic Phycsitris, for PTSD and what I found out during this was that there is a differecen in panic attacks, anxiety attacks and what they call PANIC DISORDER with is what I have along with clinical depression and PTSD, I have been under going treatment for almost 2 years but guess what the ppl I have seeing were not trained to deal with my needs, to teach me ways to deal with them with my meds (which are also not right) and ways to work towards dealing with and coming off some of the meds that I take, I take 100mg prstiqu every morning, and klonopin 1mg 3 times a day sometimes 4 and also a sleeping pill, i have went from 100 mg of trazodone to Remeron to now ambian, tring to find something to stop my dreams, ok fine what about the flash backs, and that i cant even go to walmart or i have to make someone go with me, bc i freak out. I understand every bit of where u are coming from, on one level its like I dont care where to good feeling, the MOM feeling that I want to have I too am a single mom of 2 boys 8 and 2, and it hurts me more to know that i am NOT the mom they deserve than anything else, but u know in ur mind that taking meds doesnt always fix it even though the want to is right there, stay strong, and continue to fight, my days being and end in fight, and long cries in the shower, and locking myself away while they are at school, bc i currently am so bad i can not work,. GOOD LUCK and god bless

[Leslee_Lane]

Both of the previous responses are right on. I had extreme endometriosis which later caused me to have a Hysterctomy at the age of 26. I was on Vicodin for two years for pain but I started getting sick if I missed a dose by 1 hour. By the time i had surgery they could  ot give me enough pain medication to comtrol the pain post surgery. My tolerance level was so high that what they gave me did nothing. My stay at the hospital was supposed to be two days max but because of the pain issue I was in the ICU for five days and recover for three more days! All because of taking meds when I could have lived without them. Just think if you ever need the pain meds if you are in a car accident or have to have surgery. I have been off medication for two years now and I still regret ever taking one pill of narcotics. It is very easy to get addicted and you truly feel like you can accomplish anything. It only lasts for awhile and pretty soon you feel you need more and more. Then your addicted to a medication that you were prescribed. I still deal am taking a medication to stop withdrawal and everyday I wake up sick until I take it. Do not take this for anxiety! It is a short term fix that will cause years of problems. I highly recommend seeing a doctor about this and if your having pain, narcotics are for short term. If it lasts more than two weeks, change to something else. I cannot express how much damage Vicodin and other narcotic prescription drugs can cause. Taking narcotics for anxiety is not the answer. Good luck!

[hmf099]

Vicodin did this for me also, that's why now that I've stopped taking it I'm back at square one with my anxiety. This med made me feel GREAT... for a while. Then naturally my tolerance grew and not only did it not help with my anxiety/lack of motivation/Erv, it didn't help with my pain either. It's a med meant for pain relief, the euphoria wears off before you know it then you have to face your issues again, and maybe even the new issue of addiction! Talk to your Dr like the above poster said. Good luck :)

[nursegirl6572]

Yep, that's Vicodin for you,...turns you into superwoman!  If you're even thinking of taking Vicodin to help your anxiety, and other issues....don't give it another thought.  You will go down a very ugly road.  Essentially what you would be doing is self medicating with a habit forming drug.  Before long, you'll find you need more and more to acheive that same level you initially were at.  That's called tolerance.

If you're REALLY unlucky, you'll become not only physically dependent on them, but emotionally as well.  Then, when you stop taking them, you'll suffer a TERRIBLE physical withdrawal...and an emotional w/d that will make your current issues look like childs' play.

You obviously need to address this, as your quality of life is suffering.  Vicodin is not the answer.  It's a shame it is addicting, because it sure does make you feel amazing.  

My suggestion to you is to get to a psychiatrist, and try medications that are typically Rx'd for these disorders.  The most commonly prescribed meds for anxiety and depression are the SSRI antidepressants (ie Zoloft, Prozac, Paxil, Lexapro, etc).  Have you ever tried any of those?  What have you tried besides the Klonopin?  Did you ever try asking your doctor about ways to combat the sleepiness?  Usually, once you're on the Klonopin for a while, that should subside.  You may have needed a lower dose.  Also, have you ever tried therapy?  That would be very helpful.

Ask your doc for some ideas.  You definitely don't have to feel this badly.  Unfortunately, an narcotic pain pill just isn't the answer.  Keep in touch!