Posted by jerrympls on April 13, 2005, at 0:15:55
In reply to Jerry, posted by paulbwell on April 12, 2005, at 20:53:59
> > > I heard fentanyl was the most abused drug by anesthesiologists and those with access to it. It must be good for all those professionals to risk losing their license over. Fondly, Phillipa
> >
> > This was one of the opiates my pdoc put me on at first. He wanted to use an opiate that was in a form that didn't require me to take it so often and so he tried the fentanyl patch - 0.25. Didn't do anything for me. I read that there are barely any effects at .25mg and that .5 was usual for most chronic pain patients. However, he would have kept me on it it if it helped as much as the hydrocodone I'm on now helps. Unfortunately there is no long-acting version of hydrocodone so I have to take it 4x daily.
> >
> > Again- and I'll say this to the day I die: the opioid receptors are vastly overlooked in psychiatry. They have SO much to do with serotonin, NE, and dopamine and our emotion centers within our brains. Psychic pain has a lot in common with physical pain - at least in the brain.
> >
> > Jerry
> >
> Hi Jer,
>
> I'l say that too
>
> Thou in past decades, Amphetamines were used to get people off Opi's, and MethylAmphetamine proved rather effective in helping withdrawal.
>
> Trading one substance for another, I guess, but theres evidence that the body in pain DOES produce it's own powerfull painkillers, Endorphins, think hard out exercise, and the high that produces.
>
> Did you start on 3 15mg Dex Spans right off?
> Hydro 20mgs day stil going well?
>
> Cheers dude,
>
>Hey Paul-
Interesting that amphetamines were/are? useful for opiate withdrawl. I agree about the body producing its own endorphins. I excercise (walking right now - trying to ease back into it) and it helps my energy and mood. Trust me when I say I wish I didn't have to substitute my endogenous opiates for synthetic ones - same with the stimulant. However, I may have sleep apnea which may count for the chronic daytime fatigue. I'm having a sleep study done at the end of this month. If I DO have apnea, I'm hoping either CPAP or surgery will help and allow me to stop the stimulants - maybe even reduce the opiate..? We'll see.
As for my dosage of Dexedrine - believe it or not but my pdoc had me on 20mg CR 4xdaily = 80mg!!! And I was still depressed and tired!! Asz I've said in posts before - I've been on and off Dexedrine for the past 10 years or so. Right now I wouldn't be able to hold my job if I didn't have it - even with the opiate. When I restarted Dexedrine this time - which was many months ago - I was switching from Concerta and yes, I did start at 15mg (spansules) 3x daily. I haven't had to increase at all and many weekends I take a stimulant holiday. Without the stim I'm so apathetic it's painful. The opiate is actually stimulating in its own right - but in a different way. It helps tremendously with apathy and motivation - but I still need the stimulant.
So right now I'm takeing 20mg Lexapro, 20mg hydrocodone (5mg 4x daily) and Dexedrine 15mg span 3x daily. Also, I can take up to 4 mg of Klonopin throughout the day - although I find I mostly need it at night (weird ehh??). I get most anxious at night before bed - which doesn't help with the chronic insomnia!! So, I take 15mg Remeron for sleep but am going to try Lunesta for a while.
LOL-almost every med I'm on is a controlled substance - but I don't see it that way of course. They're jsutmy meds - ya know?
One of my BIG problems is getting anxious at night. It's more of an anticipation of the next day I think. But I have the WORSt problem getting my mind to shut up and get to sleep. I used to be on Seroquel - which totally shut me down - but gave me the worst hangover (I was missing work, sleeping in and getting to work late, etc). Also the Seroquel caused me to gain 80pounds over a year! Since being off it - I''ve lost 25 poounds thank God!
Anyway- about sleeping - I can't even sleep in my bed - I usually sleep on my couch. My therapis and I are trying to figure it out. When I get in my bed I start to focus too much on TRYING to get to sleep whereas on my couch I just fall asleep watching TV (takes my mind off of ME). Hopefully I can get this straightened out.
Anyway, I hope this answered your questions - maybe too much info? Thanks for being there!
Your friend- Jerry
poster:jerrympls
thread:482353
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050408/msgs/483580.html