On Zoloft and just finished Hydrocodone for my arthritis

[Myrna62]

Hi,  I'm just going crazy.  I have been on zoloft 100mg for the last six or seven years, they have helped great for me. I take them for anxiety and slight depression.  I have arthritis in both my hips and it's been getting severe, since July I have been taking 2 - 6 hydrocodone for the pain.  It just depends on what I am doing.  Last Monday I quit taking the hydrocodone because I was worried after talking to a friend that I should get off them because they are addicting.  I quit taking them, after two days off them I started getting terrible anxiety and depression.  The third day I told my doctor and he said I should of weened myself off the hydrocodone, not just stop taking it.  He said it's withdrawl, he gave me some lorazapam for the anxiety, doesn't help much, but I just can't get out of this terrible depression.  I would of thought the zoloft would of taken care of that.   Has anyone been in this situation?

[lostsoul22]

No, I don't take any anti-depressants now.  I always trouble with the side effects.  As far as hydrocodone for pain, it never really took the pain away, just changed my mood.  Then with time the withdrawal and severe depression set in.  Take the time and go to the addiction forum on this site and you will read about the real hell pain meds can cause.  They have their place, but should be monitored much more closely.

[Myrna62]

Do you take any anti-depressants now?   I wasn't depressed when I started the medicine, which I take for pain, but I'd rather be in pain then feel the way I do.  I through the Hydrocodone away and told my doctor to never give it to me again.  I am not craving it, I just wish my zoloft would work like it had, but now I don't know if I have just messed up my system for a while.  Depression or pain - I'll take the pain.

[lostsoul22]

Yes,

I was addicted to hydrocodone for 2 years, then have gone through periodic relapses.  I also have depression which I have tried various medications for but none have really worked well for me so I just try my best to deal with it.  Exercise is the best medicine I have found.  As far as the withdrawal from hydrocodone, I went through severe depression and anxiety.  It lasted for a long time.  I still have times when I wonder if I'll be the same again.  It's a dangerous addiction that anyone who has been through will tell you not to take lightly.  Since you suffer from pre-existing depression it can be especially difficult to stop taking hydrocodone.  For me the drug became my anti-depressant.  Be careful and good luck.  DO NOT go back to the hydrocodone to alleviate the withdrawal.  Trust me.