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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by smokeymadison on November 21, 2004, at 16:17:56
I was taking Tylenal 3's and extra strength Vicodin for my bad hip and a couple of cracked ribs about 2 weeks ago. i had gotten off all my meds 6 months earlier and was doing well. then i got very depressed and suicidal after being on the pain meds for two weeks. all my prior symptoms have come back full force (OCD, depression, borderline symptoms). My general doc said that codeine based pain meds can mess some people up. Any ideas as to how this works?
Posted by Wildman on November 22, 2004, at 8:49:07
In reply to how can codeine-based pain meds mess you up?, posted by smokeymadison on November 21, 2004, at 16:17:56
Usually there is a "euphoric" effect that is associated with the use of opioid-based painkillers. I am surprised that you had such a negative reaction to them while you were taking them. I supposed the injury you received could have gotten you a tad depressed (nobody wants to be injured and I'm sure cracked ribs hurt!), but what you describe is counter-intuitive to me.
What were taking six months prior?
Wildman
Posted by smokeymadison on November 22, 2004, at 17:59:38
In reply to Re: how can codeine-based pain meds mess you up?, posted by Wildman on November 22, 2004, at 8:49:07
well, i was feeling really good while they were in my system, the first 4 hours or so, but then i always crashed really hard as they started to wear off. the last six months all i was taking was ambien to sleep--i had gotten off all my meds about six months previously.
Posted by CareBear04 on November 23, 2004, at 22:06:27
In reply to Re: how can codeine-based pain meds mess you up? » Wildman, posted by smokeymadison on November 22, 2004, at 17:59:38
hi there,
i just read your post, but i had a similar experience in the last month. i've never been on opioid-based pain meds, but after throat lacerations caused by an endoscope, i was on darvocet, percocet, and vicodin. mood-wise, i had been holding steady on a mix of things, but a day or two after introducing the narcotics, i crashed really hard. i never had any euphoric feeling while taking them, but i became really suicidal within days. i think codeine-type meds, since they are strong depressants, can mess up any person, but especially those who are prone to mood problems or taking other depressants (i have both problems; my meds included xanax, klonopin, vistaril, lamictal, ambien, and others). anyway, i just got out of the hospital where the only good thing they did for me was discharging me. hope you're feeling better!
cb
Posted by gromit on November 25, 2004, at 1:12:04
In reply to Re: how can codeine-based pain meds mess you up? » Wildman, posted by smokeymadison on November 22, 2004, at 17:59:38
It amazes me how different we all are, opiates wake up my brain. I can't take them at night, I will never get to sleep. To get any real pain relief I have to take 2 or 3 vicodins. I don't think it's a tolerance issue because I'll go a year or 2 without them. I know better than to go seeking them out, I've been down that road with other substances. So when I get some I'll take as few as possible just when the pain is really bad. Then I take ibuprofen and just suck it up and squirrel the rest away. I take maybe 3 or 4 a month for days when I really need to think clearly.
Sounds bizarre no?
Rick
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