The next big problem

[Eddie1111]

Hey Jeffrey,  I know you answered a question for me the other day but I wanted to update you and see if you could please help us understand what is happening and what we can do about it.  It is really hard for us as a family.  Here is the latest. I am desperately seeking some answers and advice.   I need some advice.  My mother has had some problems with abuse of lortab for 13 years.  The last 3 years. we put her in a metro Methadone clinic on liquid methadone.  She has been very loving and sound and the best mom and grandmother you could ask for.  She started messing with her methadone,  (dumping out, wanting to quit, Taking extra etc..)  She ran out and went through sever withdrawls out home.  We found a hospital in Utah that would put her on a 2 week suboxone taper.  They put her in a dual diagnoses residential reahab house where she did 12 step meetings and cognitive therapy etc.  She started to display some odd personality traits that none of us had ever seen before,  even when she wasn't on pain meds yet.  Suddenly yesterday she had some sort of manic pyshcosis break.  They are calling it manic polar disorder.  She doesn't even know who we are anymore and is so out of it it is scaring us all and making us all in the family physically sick.  They started forcing her to take anti pshychotic drugs tonight.  Nothing has changed.  She is really nervous and out of it.  She was doing so good inside the rehab house and now is in a mental hospital.  What did we do wrong?  It seems like we should have kept her on the opiates and had our strong loving mother who was the center of our family but now it looks like by trying to detox her we really messed up.  Will she come back to us or what do you think?  Is there something we should do? She doesn't want to take drugs anymore but now she has to go on anti psych drugs because she quit opiates.  We are all really worried and at a loss right now.  

[NautyOne]

That's what I was thinking Eagie..........

[122 Tactical Fighter Group]

Withdrawing the opiates properly should not cause the problems you mention. There are many other meds to ease withdrawal symptoms that may be used. Withdrawing those narc's improperly may cause those symptoms. And then again there could be underlying dementia - hard to tell over computer. But if Mom was pretty good, although into the pain pills too much, and then when pain meds are withdrawn and the psychosis symptoms show up - - I cant help but feel that they are related in some manner. Ocassionaly opiates mask and sorta treat a depression. Sometimes withdrawal from a lengthy healthy dose wil cause problems for months ...particularly methadone. Ask about anxiety disorders and depression and then ask the Docs opinions and treatment plan - including prognosis.........and stay involved with her care.