Hydrocodone for Bipolar

[stephaniejo]

I have been told that Hydrocodone is sometimes perscribed to people with Bipolar disorder. Is this true?

[heathertml]

The question was:

"I have been told that Hydrocodone is sometimes perscribed to people with Bipolar disorder. Is this true?"

The answer, according to Dr. David Sosin (who does not do it), is "Yes,
Vicodin is prescribed for biplor patients."

Whether it treats the condition well or at all is not what was asked.

[lindahand]

I bet it could. It affects dopamine to work  on the pain if I remember correctly and anything that affects dopamine affects mood. You probably already do but taking 1500mg of glucosamine a day can really help with arthritis pain. In studies it was as effective as ibuprofen, but it takes a month before it starts to help. Another option I used was injections directly into the joint. They can only do them once every 6 months as they will disintegrate the point. It burns like a SOB for a day, and then took down my pain considerably. They put it into my jaw joints.

Good luck. I know how hard it is to be in pain. Thankfully surgery took my pain from a '9' out of ten most days down to a more manageable '3'.

[rebeccaz]

I agree with you...I felt some hostility and judgement in some of those answers. Anyway, I just thought I'd share my experience with you. It's why I'm on the internet now, looking for information, not opinions. For a few months I was taking hydrocone for osteoarthritis. It worked well and I kept the dose down, never more than 20mg/day, worrying about addiction. I'm an unmedicated bipolar and a recovering alcoholic. I have to admit, the happy side effect was nice, lots of energy and less pain, I was getting stuff done. Very suddenly, 2 weeks ago, the bipolar exploded. I was in the black hole type of depression and on the verge of panic at the same time, all the time for a few days and nights. I figured that the hydrocodone had to have something to do with it so I quit. Actually went through withdrawals. Now, I'm back to normal mentally and the arthritis hurts like hell. Now, I want to know if the hydrocodone caused the bipolar flareup.

[lindahand]

I found I got some fibromyalgia symptom improvement when I started taking lamotrigine for my bipolar. It could be coincidence though.

I am sorry you are in so much pain. I've been in similar pain and it was the hardest 4 years of my life (Thankfully surgery helped my pain. I still have pain but it is 30% versus 100%). The difference between you and this person is this person was not taking the medications for physical pain and was not obtaining them legally. They were using them to numb out mental pain and self medicate. If you take these medications for physical pain that is what they were designed for. Taking them for any other reason is usually addiction.

[shade89]

I have bipolar and I am dealing with chronic pain symtoms...three bulging discs and horrible headaches. These chronic pain symtoms are burning muscle spasms all throughout my body, some fibromyalgia symptoms as well. I have my right shoulder that has been painful for about two months now. I have missed work and my the quality of life...I have none. For those who speak of addiction I pose this question to you...If you are in terrible pain what is the answer for treatment??? I am already on Elavil, Prozac, and Klonipin for the Bipolar, the anxiety, and the horrible pain symptoms.

I have seen doctors and they have seen me...crying, hurting, fatigued from not sleeping due to this persistant pain. Before you attack other's, and, yes you were attacking this poor person you should live this nightmare that you cannot awake from, while all along noone is listening or helping.

Two MRI's later I am still dealing with this and it continues to wreak havoc on my body.

[lindahand]

I took a lot of pain medication for many years prescribed by a doctor for a severely painful condition. Not vicodin but I was taking percocet 3 every four hours for pain, and low dose Ketamine in the later stages. Never did anything to help my bipolar. I still got depressed. I think it may have made the hypomania worse. I can't remember. I can't remember a lot from this time in my life - likely due to the medication. Using these drugs is very hard on your body. And you will develop a tolerance where you need more to get the same effect. This happens to everyone who uses it, even if it is for medical reasons and you are not addicted.

It is not a solution for bipolar disorder, it is an addiction. And many many bipolar people self medicate. I think something like 60% of people with Bipolar Disorder have self medicated in their lifetimes. It is a really high proportion. Thing is it doesn't work. Just causes more issues. I hope you go to detox, and get yourself on some proper medications. Your life really is at stake here.