Aa
zanax
Hi everyone, I've been reading all of your messages and my heart goes out to all of you. I can't seem to get any answers to my questions so maybe I'm in the wrong forum. Is there a forum for people helping people going through detox? I could really use some support myself. It's hard watching someone you love go through all this pain. My boyfriend was addicted to oxycontin. He did a methadone detox to get off the oxy.It has been 2 weeks since he has done any meth but he used some Vistrial and zanax to get through it. He also just had a stent put into one of his heart arteries on top of going through interferon/riboviran treatment for Hep C. It has been a long summer to say the least. My question now is I followed Thomas's vitimin theraphy and bought him all the vitimins . I have made sur he has taken them on top of Zanax which I got for him. He now is still doing approx. 30 mgs of zanax a day which is making him tired. It has also been extreamly hot here and his Dr said he shouldn't be out in this heat but he won't go anywhere or do anything. He is very depressed and just lays in bed all day. I am trying to help but am getting worried about his lack of energy and depression. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. a good day to all.
well, my friends cindi and Francoise have pretty much given you the advice I would give. Narcotic use depletes two brain neurotransmitters, dopamine and norepinephrine. The L-Tyrosine is especially helpful in restoring dopamine levels. Dopamine is a necessary component to experiencing pleasure. Norepinephrine is crucial to mental alertness, mood and ambition.
If 4000 mg of L-Tyrosine and 200 mg of B6 in the morning has no effect, then his malaise must be from something else. I imagine that having Hep C must be plenty depressing without the rest. If your husband was active in AA and NA for seven years and "went out," he could be depressed at his "fall from grace" and feel like a failure. I know what that feels like in spades. I agree with cindi about the Xanax. Leave him on it but don't let him escalate the dose. 5 of the .5's would be a little high for someone without his drug history, but for him, it doesn't sound unreasonable. Just remember to do a slow taper off that stuff when the time comes. For now, it might be his sole source of comfort.
I agree he should get out of bed as soon as possible. Even a healthy person, after a few days in bed, starts to weaken physically and mentally. Perhaps you could start by encouraging him to walk with you in the cool of the morning or evening.
Perhaps you could ask some of his AA or NA friends to drop by. I know AA has a platoon of people ready to drop by at a moment's notice. You know, you should talk to my friend, JB. He stil drops in the forum from time to time. I know that he has an extensive narcotics history like your husband, but what's more important, I believe he has Hep C himself or at least liver-related problems. He might understand how your husband feels about having a potentially deadly and debilitating disease like Hep C.
I hope I've given you a few ideas. I know it's hard on you, as well. Here your husband seemingly has all this support and attention, while you stand by neglected. I wish you both all the best. You've definately come to the right place regarding this forum. You'll get lots of understanding and compassion from the fine people who frequent this web site. (Francoise, sorry not to reply to your last post. I was so tired the night I read it I couldn't move. To answer your question, I'm fine, although the job is the toughest I've ever had, complete with the longest hours I've ever worked. So, it's still one day at a time. Hope you're well. Great to hear from you. A big hi and a hug to cindi as well.)
Thomas
If 4000 mg of L-Tyrosine and 200 mg of B6 in the morning has no effect, then his malaise must be from something else. I imagine that having Hep C must be plenty depressing without the rest. If your husband was active in AA and NA for seven years and "went out," he could be depressed at his "fall from grace" and feel like a failure. I know what that feels like in spades. I agree with cindi about the Xanax. Leave him on it but don't let him escalate the dose. 5 of the .5's would be a little high for someone without his drug history, but for him, it doesn't sound unreasonable. Just remember to do a slow taper off that stuff when the time comes. For now, it might be his sole source of comfort.
I agree he should get out of bed as soon as possible. Even a healthy person, after a few days in bed, starts to weaken physically and mentally. Perhaps you could start by encouraging him to walk with you in the cool of the morning or evening.
Perhaps you could ask some of his AA or NA friends to drop by. I know AA has a platoon of people ready to drop by at a moment's notice. You know, you should talk to my friend, JB. He stil drops in the forum from time to time. I know that he has an extensive narcotics history like your husband, but what's more important, I believe he has Hep C himself or at least liver-related problems. He might understand how your husband feels about having a potentially deadly and debilitating disease like Hep C.
I hope I've given you a few ideas. I know it's hard on you, as well. Here your husband seemingly has all this support and attention, while you stand by neglected. I wish you both all the best. You've definately come to the right place regarding this forum. You'll get lots of understanding and compassion from the fine people who frequent this web site. (Francoise, sorry not to reply to your last post. I was so tired the night I read it I couldn't move. To answer your question, I'm fine, although the job is the toughest I've ever had, complete with the longest hours I've ever worked. So, it's still one day at a time. Hope you're well. Great to hear from you. A big hi and a hug to cindi as well.)
Thomas
Jenny called and left me a message today around 3:00pm. Her computer crashed and she's not able to get on. SHE IS NOT doing well. Her husband stumbled upon an 80mg of Oxy. I am going to call her at 10:30. If anyone would like to send her anything e-mail me at ***@****. and I will forward it to her. Also if you would like her to call you, please e-mail me the number...it will remain confidential only to her. Thanks she needs all our support right now..Susan
Cindi,
I don't think I can add much to the above except to say that I would also consider therapy and an anti depressant. I respect but am not a fan of the AA folks, although Tom is absolutely right they stand ready to assist. Your husband's depression sounds profound and with good reason. Therapy and an antidepressant may get him out of bed. If your insurance does not cover it check with your local mental health branch.
Don't stop the Xanax and don't stop your daily care - you are all he has now. There is light at the end of the tunnel, hope you both make it through. Come back here often for support.
Keeping you and your husband in my thoughts,
Frank
(BTW everyone, my detox is stalled out, will see the Doc next week. Am reading a book entitled I'll Quit tommorrow and hate half of it, and reluctantly accept the other half. Take care all.)
I don't think I can add much to the above except to say that I would also consider therapy and an anti depressant. I respect but am not a fan of the AA folks, although Tom is absolutely right they stand ready to assist. Your husband's depression sounds profound and with good reason. Therapy and an antidepressant may get him out of bed. If your insurance does not cover it check with your local mental health branch.
Don't stop the Xanax and don't stop your daily care - you are all he has now. There is light at the end of the tunnel, hope you both make it through. Come back here often for support.
Keeping you and your husband in my thoughts,
Frank
(BTW everyone, my detox is stalled out, will see the Doc next week. Am reading a book entitled I'll Quit tommorrow and hate half of it, and reluctantly accept the other half. Take care all.)
hi I think yo may be a little confused Night nurse is the one whose boyfriend is depressed.....minr just sleeps alot LOL love to all cin
Thanks for remembering me, Tom. Yes I have Hep C and went through nine months of Interferon A shots and Rebetrol capsules. If you read the warnings included with each box(kit) of these drugs, it says that this combo may cause "depression of the suicidal type". Your blood has to be monitored constantly for things like anemia(bone marrow suppression),etc.
I suffered from anemia and low platelet count...fatigue, nausea and muscle spasms.
I'd get so tired somedays that it would take over an hour just to get dressed and then have to take a nap before work. I was in constant fear of losing my job due to fatigue and anxiety period. Xanax was out of the question for me to say the least. Interfron causes a low grade fever and joint pain resembling the flu which over a period of time increases the depression. All I was given were antidepressants and NSAIDS for pain. Certainly my doctor wasn't going to give me something that I could commit suicide with med-wise!
If your friend is taking as much Xanax as you say, don't abruptly stop it! Taper down slowly. I hope I helped you in some way! J.B.
I suffered from anemia and low platelet count...fatigue, nausea and muscle spasms.
I'd get so tired somedays that it would take over an hour just to get dressed and then have to take a nap before work. I was in constant fear of losing my job due to fatigue and anxiety period. Xanax was out of the question for me to say the least. Interfron causes a low grade fever and joint pain resembling the flu which over a period of time increases the depression. All I was given were antidepressants and NSAIDS for pain. Certainly my doctor wasn't going to give me something that I could commit suicide with med-wise!
If your friend is taking as much Xanax as you say, don't abruptly stop it! Taper down slowly. I hope I helped you in some way! J.B.
Hello, and welcome to the forum. You've gotten lots of excellent advice already from some very knowledgeable folks. The advice about slowly tapering/weaning from Xanax is vital, because abruptly stopping it could cause life-threatening seizures. At some point it might be helpful if a doctor could switch him from Xanax to a longer-acting benzodiazepine like Valium, Librium, Klonopin, etc., which would be easier to gradually reduce and might not make him so tired. (Benzos all do essentially the same thing, but they vary in some respects, such as degree of drowsiness produced.) I have struggled with anxiety & depression for a long time, and it definitely sounds like he is experiencing major depression, which as mentioned above is not uncommon after detox. Antidepressants are certainly worth a try, in his case perhaps one of the "energizing" meds like Prozac or Wellbutrin instead of a "calming" med like Paxil. Celexa is also good as it seems to have very few side effects compared to others. I can understand all too well the desire to stay in bed & not leave the house. It's hell to feel that way, but the thought of doing anything else can be completely overwhelming. I agree with Francoise (?) that coaxing him to get up & out probably won't help. Is there *anything* he still reacts to with any interest or slight enthusiasm? At my worst, there was always something, even if it was as simple as a TV show I enjoyed. Make the most of anything he still enjoys even a little bit. Try not to worry too much about the sleeping: as an effect of benzo use, it will wear off before the anti-anxiety effects wear off. Also, many depressed people have great trouble getting enough sleep, and that truly is hell. What has helped me is having people who I know love & care for me despite whatever state of depression, anxiety, etc. I'm in. Continue to show him love and support, even if it's difficult for him to rspond right now, & you both will get through this. Please return here any time. I wish you both well -- Milo
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