Depression as a withdrawal symptom

[rain]

I had surgery for colon cancer when I was 20 and immediately after was diagnosed with severe acid reflux with stomach spasms.  My family doctor has been prescribing me with percocet and Losec for pain for the last 2 years.  I was taking 2 pills when required (approx. 2-3x/week).  There have been days before when I didnt use anypills, and I was fine.  The last 2 months before I quit my job was very stressful and I was experiencing pain all day, and I started to take percocet all day-everyday (not to exceed 5 pills/day) and Ativan 1mg (when required).  I now find since leaving my job I am no longer experiencing any pain and would like to discontinue use.  I stopped taking them 3 days ago and now am having cold sweats, shaking, moodswings, insomnia and SEVERE DEPRESSION/PANIC/ANXIETY.  To relieve some of these symptoms I started to take 1/2 pill 3-4x/day.  I am no longer experiencing the shaking but still have the depression/panic.  I have just started a new job and feel that I don't want to or can't do it.  It comes and goes numerous times throughout the day and is so overwhelming I have to force myself not to just walk away from the job.  Is this a symptom of withdrawal or am I even having withdrawals at all?  If it is a symptom of withdrawal, can I expect that sooner or later it will deacrease then be eliminated completely?  I am desperate to find an answer as the 3 doctor's I've seen just gave me Darvon or some other prescription that I dont think I want.

[oxyhater]

I have a nephew taking oxycotin he is to sorry to work so he supports his habit by robbing my mom and dad he is a piece of **** and all you sick bastards are just like him  ps Im sorry for the comments but go to rehab

[spook]

Ativan wears off fast and causes withdrawals similar to the symptoms you are taking the drug for.The underlying symptoms re-emerge and combine with the drug withdrawals,this is called "rebound",it is the pits!!.If you are on Ativan for Panic Disorder then that is a Physician error as the Type of Benzodiazepine and dose are wrong.I did not know you had Panick disorder,if you do then normally Xanax in doses of around 6mg daily are usually required,this is equivalent to around 12mg of Ativan,so if you are recieving for TRUE panick Disorder,we have a big problem.
Symptoms of a panick attach:
shortness of breath and smothering sensations
choking
chest discomfort or pain
palpitations and accerated heart rate
sweating
dizziness,faintness
nausea or abdominal distress
Depersonalization or derealization
numbness or tingling sensations
flushes or chills
trembling or shaking
Fear of dying or impending doom
fear of going crazy or doing something uncontrolled.
Initialy these feeling occur spontaneously but later become associated with events like travel on public tranport,being in a supermarket,etc.You must have at least 4 of these symptoms and they must occur or have fear of occurance at least 4 times per month to fit the Psychiatrists Definition,however GP`s,Doctors can prescribe and they are not as discerning.
About 32 out of every 1000 woman suffer from Panick disorder,it is a severely debilitating disorder that leads to increased substance abuse and mortality.
Limited symptom panick attacks occur much more often and are hard to differenciate from anxiety,EXCEPT they start ABRUPTLY,reach a peak in around 10 mins and subside in an hour or so.This is also the hallmark of Panick Disorder,sudden and then dissapears,whereas anxiety can remain constant for years.
Xanax,Valium and Ativan are all addictive Benzodiazepines and seem to work for up to 8 months(when taken daily in large quantity),so the long term prognosis is a mystery to me,If on Xanax you must taper using Xanax or Klonopin as other Benzodiazepines are not completely cross tolerant.If you want to taper and stop using Ativan switch to valium 15mg daily(equal to 1.5mg Ativan)and reduce half a tablet every 3 to 4 days.If you trully have Panick Disorder,see a Psychiatrist OR find a physician who knows about Xanax and will taper you from it 0.5mg/4days max when it becomes a problem eventually.First try a non Benzodiazepine drug as the benzo`s are a mind bender,to say the least,30% of people who take xanax in 6mg doses for Panick Disorder fail to EVER taper to zero.At this point I cannot recommend a suitable non-Benzodiazepine Anti-Panick Drug.

[Tara]

Hello,

I know what you mean.  I find it very frustrating when I need somebody to talk to and nobody I know can understand.  My husband is aware of my problem but I am sure he doesn't understand.  He makes light of it or just nods his head as though he is listening.  In fact, I am afraid to even tell him because when we get in a fight he will say I am not thinking straight because I am on so many drugs.  

This is the only place I can turn to when I need support.  It has gotten easier now that time has passed but I still get excessive cravings.  

I can see how it would be difficult for you to deal with this since your major source of support, (your mother), is gone. Fortunately, we have all found this site to help put us at ease.  I know for me, without this site, I wouldn't have even known the symptoms I was having were withdrawals.

I hope you are feeling better.  I've never had pnemonia before but I've heard it's pretty bad.

Take Care,

Tara

[Tara]

Hi Spook,

My doctor gave me ativan to control the panic attacks but I did not know that it could cause panic.  I will try valium because the panic has been worse lately.  Is valium addictive?  I am not very familiar with all of these meds.  All I know is what I've taken so this is all pretty new to me.  I have also found that I become extremely irritable when the ativan wears off.  Is this a normal side effect?  I have searched ativan and only found that it can cause confusion and other symptoms that do not apply to me.  Please reply with your thoughts.

Thanks,

Tara

[cindi]

Thank you Tara, you took the words right out of my mouth.  I know we have a tendency to suffer in silence.  What makes us do this?  shame and guilt.  I have been battling addiction for many years and it is like carrying around a monster on my shoulders.  it had taken over my life, consumed me and became my obsession.  I have been feeling so down in the dumps like everyone else.  And like the people in this forum, I feel so comfortable here.  Finaaly, I feel like I belong somewhere.  I hate that my friends and family think that I am so strong to overcome so many obtacles.  They have no idea how I struggle.  My mom was my mainstream of support, she is gone, my husband is in recovery and has been clean for 10 years.  It is very easy for him or so it seems.  well, anyway, I'm on my way back to bed, this pneumonia has done me in this week  take care cindi

[spook]

Tara,this is all perfectly normal,you should never abruptly stop Opioid(narcotic)Analgesics or Benzodiazepines.
you are on day 3 and your symptoms are peaking from both drugs,just taper off slowly as you feel comfortable,but switch to valium as your benzodiazepine.Ativan withdrawal is causing all the panics,you said as required,so I assume at least once a day,Ativan wears of very quick and causes these panicks if you go to valium and taper of it you will feel fine.