Posted by jerrympls on November 13, 2005, at 18:27:55
In reply to Re: Opiates for depression?, posted by Squiggles on November 13, 2005, at 17:58:07
IN my opinion, opiate therapy is by far much safer than ECT. It is known that ECT causes brain damage. And I think that if someone were treatment-resistant and had the choice between the two, they should go with opiate therapy first.
My doctor didn't just come in one day and say "Hey let's put you on an opiate!" I had to dig up some research first. He then took a week to confer with a group of his colleagues and some pain med specialists.
After going over the possibilities of tolerance, addiction,withdrawl, etc. and promising to stop the opiate therapy if any of the above happened - only then did I get to try adding an opiate to my other meds.
I also brought up the point to my doc that tolerance, addiction, abuse, withdrawl are factors of both benzos and stimulants and that those are usually freely prescribed for paitents with depression.
Onoe could also argue that benzos cause brain atrophy and stimulant use could causde receptor burnout - only making depression worse. So I don't see why opiates should be called out as such a risky treatment.
My doctors - since starting the opiate - have watched my case very closely for ANY signs of abuse and tolerance. And thank God -being on an opiate for a year now I have NOT had any problems with abuse or tolerance.
I don't think that opiates are as bad as they're made out to be and that pdocs should look at them more as a treatment adjunct in special cases.
Jerry
poster:jerrympls
thread:575925
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20051112/msgs/578302.html