wife is going through narcotic withdrawl

[concernedhusband15]

My wife has been on some sort of narcotic (nucynta, Percocet) for a little over two years. She was prescribed the meds while we were trying to figure out where her chronic pain was coming from. Earlier this year she was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and our doctor told her that while the pain meds may feel like they help, they will actually make things worse in the long term. She decided to stop taking her Percocet and over the course of 3 weeks went from 6 pills a day (not sure the dose) to nothing. she seemed to be dealing with the symptoms of coming down off the pill fairly well (baths for the aches and trying to exercise to get through other symptoms). However, two days after her last pill, she became very distant and moody. She has also become confrontational and started to behave like a different person. During a visit to the doctor he told us that her withdrawls would possibly continue for another week or two. Could the withdrawls have anything to do with her change in mood? Is there anything we can do?

[Jerry198]

Yo Bro her situation is normal and hopefully things will be better around 15 days or so the moody thing is just her mind hating on her from depriving it of the opiate that was its motivator and now she needs other stimulus like food fun and friends just give it time and stick with her we all need as much help as we can get in the tough times..

[atthebeach]

I refused the cymbalta as an option for fibromyalgia treatment, but I did start
Lyrica. I took it for 6 months. I experienced extreme depression.
I cried constantly and found it very difficult to get out of bed. I also gained
20 lbs.

[atthebeach]

No she doesn't need to be on suboxone.

[qpatty]

I would not recommend that to anyone as I have watched people on here struggle to get off of it way worse than what they were originally on. It is a powerful opiate so she would just be substituting for something stronger and harder to get off-with just as many if not more bad side effects.

IMO if a person struggles to get off Vicodin or percocet, they will have an even harder time getting off suboxone when the time comes. And the time will come.

[kkrustie]

She needs to get on suboxone.  I was on pain meds for 5 years tried the tapering off method.  You go through living hell.  I can say I haven't took or thought about a pain pill in 11/2 years.  

[concernedhusband15]

Thanks. to everyone for the kind words. I'll talk to her about getting on her multivitamin again (she stopped taking it about a month before all of this, unrelated).

atthebeach- could her being on antidepressants be making it worse? I also looked into the ADs she's on (Cymbalta and Trazodone) and there is a high risk for serotonin syndrome. She's been on these pills for at least a year and was fine while she was on the Percocet, so I don't know what to do. We've called our doctor and are waiting to hear back about it. Thank you all again and I hope I can get here posting here too.

[Kait1223]

I don't have much to add but to commend you for being a supportive husband. Mine isn't as supportive and I feel alone a great deal of the time. Don't give up on her! Things will get worked out and life will be better!!

[atthebeach]

Depression and anxiety are very typical with opiate detox. Her brain needs
To learn to produce the feel good endrophins, serotonin and dopamine again
In its own. This will take time. Her lying in bed isn't helping. She needs to get up, move around, go for walks, exercise, get out in the sun. Eating protein,
Veggies, fruits, taking vitamins will all help with the process.
I have fibromyalgia and I know that not doing these things makes me feel worse.
Please encourage her to be active.
You are being a great support for you. I commend you.

[charlie_coldturkey_tn2015]

Good luck. Depression is a very severe issue to deal with, but it sounds like you two are on the same page. Adjustments of other meds after w/d from opiates is not unusual and may take several tries at different doses. Hang in there and deal with one thing at a time. Small steps, but they add up. God Bless and keep posting.

[concernedhusband15]

Thank you, I talked to her today, she called our doctor and told his staff about the depression, we hope to hear back soon. She has had a history of depression on and of most of her life. Before the Fibromyalgia started (2-3 years ago) she had been off any kind of antidepressant for a year, and doing well.

Once it began our doctor put her on Cymbalta to help with the depression that came from not knowing what was causing her pain and to see if it would help relieve some of the pain if it was nerve related. since then she's been on it and now takes 90mg of cymbalta a day.

Over the past few days she's become very melancholy, and wants to sleep all day. We don't know if upping her cymbalta would help her since what I've read says anything above 60mg doesn't usually help. We just hope to hear back from our doctor with his reccomendation. Thanks again for all your help and advice.

[charlie_coldturkey_tn2015]

Definitely talk to the Dr. By your post, she should still be clean and at or over 10 days. Most physical parts should be done by this time, but as I am learning, the real trick is to figure out living in the real world without pills to back me up. Mood swings are normal, but severe mood swings or depression should be taken seriously. Is she open to going to doctor? I would absolutely take that step next along with getting maybe some professional counseling. One hour at a time, One day at a time.
   You are doing the right things. Just know every addiction is different for that person. Keep helping, but add some more help. Do not just hope it will get better and overlook what is going on. You are on the right track. But also be careful not to make a small adjustment a huge issue. I can see your dilemma, but without knowing her history would be afraid to give more than general advice. Take her to the Dr. If not clear after that, get second opinion. God bless. Hope this helps.

[concernedhusband15]

Thank you for your kind words, it has been difficult. June 11th was her last pill and her mood swings have been very intense. However lately she's become depressed and with that she's started to lash out and really scare me. I honestly hope that once the withdrawals pass she will be able to come out of it. Do you think talking to her doctor about raising her cymbalta would help?

[TikkiTT]

Not much I can add to the excellent post above, except to say, yes, it does make you moody.    Be understanding and give her space, if that is what she wants.   Like charlie said above, your moods may be all over the place.   I was very irritable, coming off of hydrocodone, and then very depressed and sad.   It takes  a little time, but each day is different and after four or five days, she should be feeling a whole lot better.   Keep posting.

[charlie_coldturkey_tn2015]

Bless you and your wife. Bless you for your support. She needs you more than ever. Mood swings go hand in hand with withdrawal and need to be recognized as that. Her body is cleaning poison out and there are all kinds of chemical things going on that affect her physically and mentally.
   Is she under Dr. care? If so, keep posted, as he can help with some of the severe mood swings. Every withdrawal is different, but we all have similar symptoms. And as each day goes by, it changes. But within a week, you both should see the light at the end of the tunnel. ( right now that light might feel light a train).
  Hydrate, exercise, staying busy, and LOVE.

  What really helped me ( a little over a week clean ) was personally posting
my concerns and what I was feeling. Try to get her to post. This is all anonymous and this is why it works so well. I couldn't have gone this far without this help.

  Keep posting your questions. So proud you are standing with her and reaching out for help. Yes it gets a lot better. Hang in there.