Posted by shellie on February 19, 2001, at 22:42:09
In reply to Re: opiates depression , posted by Cece on February 16, 2001, at 21:31:36
>
> I have continued to use Vicodin PRN to supplement my regular meds when I need an extra mood uplift/stabilization. I haven't found anything to beat it for calming me down in a positive way. I have not developed a very significant tolerance to it, although I've been using it this way for over 5 years. I do have to take a bit more however- I used to get the help I needed from 1/2tab- now I take a whole tab. My pdoc condones my using it this way, although my prescription is still officially written for headaches. Now I need to find a new pdoc, for a complex of reasons, and I am worried that I will lose this valuable tool since it is a SO off-the-label use.
> Any feedback, other experiences, suggestions?I have almost the same experience with vicodin, a very small dose (1/2 of 7.5mg) makes me feel a lot less depressed and normal. I am also taking nardil and lamictal. My pdoc is totally totally totally against me taking vicodin, even though I have taken the same dose for two and a half years now. (I wish I could lie to her, but I don't seem to be capable since she's been my pdoc for ten years and I feel very connected to her.) I don't think it will increase into an addiction; but even if it eventually does, nothing else seems to work. I get really tired of my pdoc saying that vicodin is not an antidepressant, but then she's tried me over the years on dozens of meds, most totally not effective. Sometimes I feel like I've lost a few years of my life trying drugs that make me sick or tired. I get tired of being lectured about it, and really anticipate getting an ultimatum from her about it. But I don't want to waste the next twenty years depressed, like I did much of the first twenty. The last few years have been good except for premenstually, until about a year ago when that depressant and sort of sickness lasted throughout the month. I think it may be hormonal.
Someone gave me the name of pillbox--you talk to a doc there and he may prescribe hydrocodeine. Also, I can't remember, but I think it is either in New Zealand or Australia you can order pills that have 5mg of codeine in them along with asperin. And no prescription needed. I did searches of codeine and different countries on goggle.
I'm happy to read that after 5 years, you are only up to one pill a day. That reinforces my belief that I can stay at a relatively small dose and get a lot of benefit. Shellie
poster:shellie
thread:2062
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010212/msgs/54434.html