Posted by maryhelen on December 16, 2003, at 19:24:29
In reply to Re: Question for Caleb ...... bupe, posted by Caleb462 on December 16, 2003, at 4:03:44
Hi Caleb:
I cannot thank you enough for taking the time and having the patience to answer my very long post. You have helped me greatly, as I am feeling very hopeless about ever not being depression or conquering the opiate addiction and when I saw your initial post, I felt the first glimmer of hope for the first time in a long time. I really appreciate it, but I still have some questions following some of your comments and I hope you don't mind hanging in with me and anwering a few more questions:
1) > In the doctor's office I took my first dose in 4mg increments...... Question: Does this mean that you stayed in the office for a certain length of time after starting with a much smaller dose? What length of time between each increment? I gather the dose can be raised fairly quickly.
2) > You will go back to feeling normal, the way you felt before you ever got hooked (and that is a wonderful feeling). Question: I do not believe that I have ever felt normal. Indeed, I eventually realized that the opiates I took for my migraines, were also having a positive effect on the depression. I, therefore, believe I had the depression before I progressed into the opiate addiction. Do you think this will make a difference? I musn't forget that I still have hope that the Nardil will begin to work.
3) > But anyway, bupe has antagonist properties meaning its effects stabilize and eventually bupe has the ability to block its own effects. Question: Caleb, I do not understand what this means.
4) > You should know though, that I was not completely PHYSICALLY addicted, and was primarily psychologically addicted. Meaning I was not going through intense physical withdrawals ... Caleb: I also do not go through physical withdrawal when I am out of the pills. My is also psychological, and my withdrawal involves, yes some rebound headache, but worsening of depressive symptoms.
5) > As for your doctor prescribing it, I'm a little wary on this. Caleb ..... I live in Canada. My psychiatrist works for the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto, previously four different centres .... The Clarke Institute, a world renowned Centre for treatment of mental illness and research, The Donwood Institute, a well known substance abuse facility, the Addiction Research Foundation (ARF), and the very old Queen Street Mental Health Facility. The four are coming together in one facility and should offer one of the best in the treatment of mental illness and addiction, in Canada and possibly may become world renowned. The reason I mention this, is because I met my current psychiatrist while in the Donwood, the substance abuse facility, but he also works at the Clarke Institute. It was he who mentioned the possiblity of using bupe, so he would be able to prescribe it. He is going to set me up with an appointment with the best Mood Disorder Speicalist in Ontario. However, he also knows I come here to Dr. Bob's and is very receptive to the information I have come to him with in the past when talking about medications. He also believes, and is open to the fact, that it is those of us who experience first hand the medications and would have better knowledge of the drug's reactions and side effects, more so than he would looking at his textbooks. I have gone way off topic, but thought that it may be helpful to others to know the Centre exists, who are within reasonable travelling of it. Yet, I really do not want to go the Specialist, as I feel at this time I would rather tell my pdoc I would like too try the bupe with the Nardil first, as I meet all of the criteria for it. I think I may call him tomorrow and talk to him about it.
Caleb, even if the bupe does not work tremendously for the pain, I would much rather get help with the depression and certainly need to stop taking the opiates. I really don't know how much longer I can stand this depression, and missing out on and being robbed of life. What really is the point of living, mostly in bed, using opiates just to be at social situations, such as Christmas. After 51 years of living I don't see the point, except being forced to live because others would be upset if I died. I don't know Caleb. I guess I am just rambling. I have a daughter and 4 grandchildren, but, as pathetic as this may sound, I get resentful toward them, because it is for my daughter that I really do have to live.
Again, thank you for your time and I am so happy for you that you have found something that is helping you with both opiate addiction and depression.
maryhelen
poster:maryhelen
thread:289561
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20031213/msgs/290735.html