Got a problem and need advice please :(

[Mandapanda17]

hi guys. okay, most of you already know that I was addicted to norco(10mgvicodin) for about 4 years.Now I've gone to see my PCP and he has now give me 2mg of xanax a day and 10mg of lexapro. He also wants to send me to see a mental health specialist, BIG problem with that is, I don't have mental health coverage. My biggest question is, to those of you that have been clean..for even say a couple months..do you believe this is necessary?! should I stay with my PCP and try to take as little xanax as possible and stay away from the Phyciatrist?? I KNOW they're only going to want to keep me on meds for a while and this was NOT my goal. I desperately want to be clean from all medications. Anyone been through this after being addicted to opiates?? Will I get better with my anxiety and panic on my own or should I go to mental health?? thanks so much to all. you've all been there for me when I've needed it most :) xoxoxo

[Mandapanda17]

thanks to both of you. I need to cut back on the xanax, I don't want this to be long term for me. I'm done with meds altogether. its just getting ridiculous, with all the panic and anxiety! I don't really have the means to see the phyc. or mental health because I have no coverage for that with my insurance...maybe a good thing? oh and kellster, I know valium is a longer acting benzo than xanax, might help you sleep longer, but PLEASE be careful. I know these benzos are h3ll to say the least. I'll be praying for all of us :)

[kellster]

thanks for the advice i will try to get some just a few maybe i will take one every few days for a week just to catch up on some sleep hang in there. remember god don't give us no more then we can bare . xoxoxo oh and talk to a friend or familly or us on here it helps with the panic atacks

[Mandapanda17]

thanks, you keep hanging in there too :) we can do this...keep praying and I will too :)

[broknbck]

I'm not sure what is in Cymbalta or how it works. but it did wonders for my depression and panic that i was experiencing. i was on it for about 5 months and had no problem stopping. tappering down and then no nothing. ha

As far as the pysciatrist goes. It is up to you.I had reached a suicidal point in my life and the vicodins cured that temporarily until i had made the changes in my life that made me not want to be suicidal anymore. without drugs or with. no physciatrist. but if you are unable to do this yourself, well better go see them. money is nothing if you are unable to have a happy life.??

[Mandapanda17]

thats what I want ultimately...no nothing :) Soooooo, i think I've decided that I'm going to do the slow taper off the minimal amount of xanax that I've been taking and stay on the low dose of lexapro and see how that works out for me. I don't have coverage to see the phsyc. anyway. Maybe I will ask my doctor about Cymbalta and see if he thinks that might work better for me. going to keep as low on the xanax as possible. scary drug too! And all I wanted in the first place was to be clean. NEVER going back to the opiates! thanks again :)

[justme__]

MANDA. You are right. You did kind of write the same thing as me. We are in like the same situation, minus the psychiatrist. The psychiatrist has helped me a lot... not with the xanax obviously cause that was a mistake.. but with the zoloft, it has helped a ton with the anxiety.. but it has made my insomnia a little worse. We are doing good off the opiates!! We need to keep up the good work!! :p Thanks for everything manda and I am always here for you too.