how do we deal with the depression that comes with getting off the pills.

[hippy]

for me i struggled with this for 2 years, every time i tried to get off the
pills i would get a week clean but the severe depression would kick in and rock me to the point of not being able to move.
i would just sit and stair out the window. then i would
get more pills because i had work that had to get done.
not untill i found this fourm and started taking the L-tyrosine
and b-6 did i get through the depression.
i also took 5htp to help with it. these supplements help ed
more than i can ever say.
peace!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[cheermom]

thanks you for your responses regarding the vitamins!

taeme:  the adderall started a few months after my son was diagnosed with add.  i was already about a yr/ yr and a half into my addiction to the percs, etc.  when he was first prescribed them it didnt even occur to me to try them.  i believe one sunday i had run out(so what else was new?) and as i was walking past the bulletin board i noticed the paper from the pharmacy re: the adderal. i started reading it again and decided to try it.  i took 4 5mg that day and did not sleep for 2 days.  i was so wired.  of course that didnt stop me from trying again and going to the doc complaining of no sleep, anxiety,due to my mom being sick (breast cancer).  so he prescribed xanax and off to sleep i went just to wake up and start over again.  it was by far the hardest pill to give up.  i've done coke before and i liked the adderal better.  i also lost about 30 pounds in 2 months, went from a size 10 to a 4.  of course i was thrilled but really looked like death.  basically this all resulted in my divorce, shortly after my mom died at 53 from the cancer.  my son lives with his father until i've done 8 random tests in a yr.  i have my girls and miss my son terribly.  he is no longer on the adderall.  my ex hates my guts, does not understand how  i could have "done this to him".  funny, since when i met him he was a coke addict and i stood by him through rehab and all.  anyway i'm rambling....

so the b-vitamins you say are great.  so 2 b-6 in the morning?  is that what you take.  let me know.  and thanks for all the input.

hope everyone has a great day.  today is my sons football banquet and i get to spend the afternoon with my ex glaring at me!

[Sundown]

As you may know from earlier posts, I have treatment resistant depression. It was my poor response to treatment that had me self medicating with hydro to numb myself. When I realized my pdoc was just feeding me hydro (for my clusters, which certainly were worse from my depression), rather than helping me find a treatment for my depression which I desperately needed, I sought new help. The next pdoc wanted me to go for ECT (shock therapy)and inpatient detox, but I didn't feel that I was ready to do that. Finally, the third pdoc said "Look, either we get aggresive and try experimental combos or you're going to die form your illness". Well, by god, I reponded! That response gave me the strength to stop the hydro. The pdoc was so supportive. She wanted me to feel better before facing my addiction. That's how I had the strength to stop.

I can't remember ever feeling NOT depressed, and I feel reborn. I laugh, see my friends again, get out of my home, and look forward to each day. I consider every day I wake up to be a gift. I feel like I am finally "alive" again.

The meds that work for me probably may not work for others. I believe while the mechanism of depression is biochemical, it is clear that the biochemistry is unique to each suffferer, or we would all respond to the same meds. I just feel blessed that I finally found what was needed to restore my sanity.

No matter what course you choose to deal with your depression, keep trying, because while it took me over 5 years to find my treatment, help can be found. Never give up!

Sundown

[users mom]

I have a son that does any drug available, pills and herion.
He started with crushing oxycontin and snorting it, then progressed to Heroin. He's been in three rehabs so far, but keeps relapsing. The longest stay was three weeks, I feel he needs a longer stay.

He's unreachable, and is tearing our family apart.

can any one shed light on this

[cheermom]

i've been reading the comments about depression and have a question.  i have been clean 6 months (percs, hydro, codeine, adderall).  i stopped cold turkey and actually lived to tell about it suprisingly enough.  my question is i still feel like a lack energy.  i dont feel depressed and i dont feel like i never have energy but it just seems to feel like i'm missing just a little piece of me.  its hard to explain.  i do what i have to do and i am definitely enjoying life now but i just seem to lag behind a little.  i've been reading your comments about 5htp, L-tyrosine, and b6 but since i'm not sure what they are or what they do i dont know if they would help.  i definitely dont want ANTHING prescription just maybe a vitamin supplement to get me back to "normal".  any feedback would be greatly appreciated.  i also wanted to thank everyone.  i've been a lurker here for some time and this board got me through some rough nights.  everyone here should be so proud that they are able to reach out to others the way that you all do.

[hippy]

L-tyrosine 500 mg. and b-6 100mg would help in the morning.
the L-tyrosine is an amino acid that get your natral
endorphins kicked  in and it is a vitamine and the b-6 is a b vitamine 2 of each a day would help, i have been clean 7 months
and still take them.
5htp is a vitamine supplement that acts like natraul seratonin
1 aday.

peace!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ps. along with a daily multi.

[taeme]

I know what you mean and thats the feeling that drives me back.  You know of everything I would recommend B vitamins, they not only help with mood, depression, they help with sleep, brain functioning, memory.  I think those B-vitamins are excellent.  I would definitely look into starting those. It may take a little while, you wont notice it.  Which is what addicts like, they like to feel like its working.  But these really should make you feel better, increase energy.  I can't say enough about them, I've done some pretty extensive research on B-vitamins.  Specifically when I was on adderral.  Do you mind my asking you how you ended up with adderral, they are very strict with that stuff.  My husband and all his brothers are prescribed the medicine so I took it for over about a year, I got to the point I could stay up between 3-5 days rarely 5 but I was taking about 100-200mg per day.  Talk about tolerance, I remember when 10-20mg would set me off like a rocket, running around.  I haven't done that for a long time now and that was hard but I did it.  Mind you it wasn't as hard as coke.  But try those B vits.  HEART TAEME