Posted by shelliR on September 6, 2001, at 22:09:15
In reply to Re: I'm losing weig. . .Help! Stampede! » Zo, posted by MB on September 6, 2001, at 16:53:12
> What you describe as your experience with buprenorphin is the same as my experience with opoids. It makes me sad, in a way, to hear you describe how good you feel...I've felt that way too: lack of fatigue, lack of anxiety, lack of depression, motivated and enthusiastic about life, interested in artistic projects, etc. To sit here fatigued, depressed, heart pounding, head aching, sad and hopless (when I know that that feeling--the feeling that life is worth living--is out there for me) is so upsetting.Speaking for myself, I would say that oxycontin is not going to be the solution to my depression because I am getting habituated and have had to raise my dose twice. I will be interested to see whether Zo develops a tolerance to buprenorphine.
I think if I had an anti-depressant that was working for me, and using oxycontin as an adjunct, I would not need to raise my dose. When nardil was basically working for me, I self-medicated with vicodin and never raised my dose. Right now I am so desperately depressed that the oxy is helping me stay alive and working, until hopefully something else kicks in. I believe, if I recall correctly, that buprenorphine is a supplement for Zo; not her main antidepressant.
> One psychiatrist told me that if he gave me codeine, he could go to jail.
That is absolutely not true. I think the worst that could happen is a loss of license, and that is the medical community policing itself. As far as I know, the only way a doctor could be legally prosecuted is by selling prescriptions for narcotics. My psychiatrist is using a narcotic as a last resort; my impression is that he has only a few patients on it.
>He was later arrested when a pharmacist reported him for writing "too many" (whatever the hell that means) benzo prescriptions. What's the deal?
I don't know what the story is with this doctor, but if he is your pdoc, I would call the American Psychiatric Association and check him out.
>How did you guys luck out with a doctor willing to prescribe something that most physicians are afraid to prescribe even for pain??? I'm a recovering opiate addict, and I think that most doctors would think I was crazy if I asked to be put on something like buprenorphine.
I did luck out. You might try meeting with another pdocs to discuss the possibility of trying buprenorphine. You could go armed with the few small studies regarding depression and buprenorphine; they can be found
on the internet. There is also information and studies using buprenorphine instead of methodone for heroin addiction. If you live in California or Boston you have a good chance of finding someone; if not you may need to call and/or meet with many doctors until you find one willing to take the risk. And I'm not sure what the risk is with you because I don't know a lot about your drug history (and don't really need to know). I would say that before you retry opiates, I would make sure there isn’t something you have missed in the way of ADs or mood stabilizers.Good luck,
Shelli
poster:shelliR
thread:77120
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010902/msgs/78103.html