Anxiety and Detox?

[RaygenPerrie]

I have always had kind of a hard time with anxiety which I have been on Paxil for since I was 19. I am now 27. It has been wonderful. I am on day 7 with ZERO percocet and let me tell you....the past 7 days have been HELL. My anxiety is now through the roof. How long will this last? I have read anxiety does come hand in hand with detoxing and it is because your body is trying to stabalize...

[nursegirl6572]

Increases in anxiety are common while detoxing off opiates, as is rebound depression for a good deal of people.  Since you're on Paxil already, I would speak to your doc about a possible need for a dose increase during this rough time.  People using opiates for an extended period of time have essentially allowed the drug to create the "happy/content" feeling that is usually the job of the chemicals in our brains...therefore those chemicals cease to do their job like they would on someone not on opiates.  It takes your system a while to start producing those needed chemicals again, which is where the anxiety/depression comes into play.

HUGE congrats to you on 7 days clean....it's a rough road...keep up the good work.  Also, like Arsia above said, we have a wonderful Addiction ("Addiction: Substance Abuse") forum full of great people who are full of wisdom and support.  If you haven't already, please check it out...I think it would be another very helpful resource for you on your journey to sobriety.

Hang in there and let us know how you're doing!

[Arsia]

Oh, wait, you did, haha. Well, as far as the anxiety thing, I've heard that for a few months, it'll come and go. It won't stay this bad, but one day you'll be just fine and it'll hit you again. That's what I've heard anyways. I haven't been 'sober' long enough to find out.

[Arsia]

If you post something like this in the 'addiction' community, I'm sure a lot more people will reply.
I'm sorry, I wasn't addicted to pills nearly as long as this, and never paxil, so I'm not sure. D:
Just giving you that suggestion. [: