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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 Ronnon on May 9, 2008, at 14:45:28
Im quitting my 1½ year experiment with Oxycodone for depression (not pain) and have begun a tapering off plan. I was taking 1½ to 2 Five mg tablets an evening. One half a tablet(2.5mg) around 5pm and then a whole tab(5mg) around 8pm. I found a dose that worked to produce mild contentment and made my self stay to that dosage for the most part. Loss of effect - Over the year and a half it started to diminish in effect from 100% good down to 50% and eventually to about 20% of original benefit. I had steeled myself to accept the likelihood of diminishing lift and planed to terminate when it wasnt working anymore. The time has come. I started taking less per day a week ago and am getting by on ¾ a tablet for the last 5 days(half the normal dosage I was taking). Perhaps a bit precipitous, but so far so good. Im not feeling any more depressed than my usual low to medium grade depression, and since the drug wasnt lifting me that much any more Im not missing it bad. Im thinking that by continuing to taper the dosage I can be safely off of it in 2 to 3 more weeks?
I was getting the pills illegally and my therapist and doctor were concerned to say the least. Im proud of myself for managing the cut back and will feel reassured to be able to be getting along with out them. Im actively looking for a better private psychiatrist to work more intensely with legal AD meds, even if I have to start driving gas prices and global warming aside-35 miles to Indianapolis to find someone.
Thanks for any measured reactions. Ron.
Posted by Sigismund on May 15, 2008, at 14:46:20
In reply to Withdraw schedule-Oxy for depression at 10mg a day, posted by Ronnon on May 9, 2008, at 14:45:28
>. The time has come. I started taking less per day a week ago and am getting by on ¾ a tablet for the last 5 days(half the normal dosage I was taking). Perhaps a bit precipitous, but so far so good.
That sounds about the right rate of reduction.
>Im not feeling any more depressed than my usual low to medium grade depression, and since the drug wasnt lifting me that much any more Im not missing it bad. Im thinking that by continuing to taper the dosage I can be safely off of it in 2 to 3 more weeks?
That might be harder.
It's the last little bit, of course, that is difficult.
Posted by Ronnon on May 16, 2008, at 15:15:57
In reply to Re: Withdraw schedule-Oxy for depression at 10mg a day » Ronnon, posted by Sigismund on May 15, 2008, at 14:46:20
I think you might be right. I got down to half my regular dose, and even to 1/3 for several days then back up to half and kind of took a pause. Felt some relief at successfully cutting back and couldnt quite regain the spirit that had got me started.
I talked with an addictions counselor and she thought that if I take a tiny amount on occasion when really jammed up that might be acceptable. Especially since Ive been through a fairly controlled use experience enough to where I see that daily use leads to much diminished benefit.
And then there is my therapist. Who thinks that Im not really opening up to my inner junk in sessions. When she suggested that I struggled with it then finally concluded she is right Im afraid of life and not facing it. Dealing with that is where real relief from depression is.
Posted by Sigismund on May 17, 2008, at 19:38:57
In reply to Re: Withdraw schedule-Oxy for depression at 10mg a day, posted by Ronnon on May 16, 2008, at 15:15:57
>I think you might be right. I got down to half my regular dose, and even to 1/3 for several days then back up to half and kind of took a pause. Felt some relief at successfully cutting back and couldnt quite regain the spirit that had got me started.
You did the right thing, I think.
You need psycic energy to cut down; sometimes you get on a roll and can cut down more, and sometimes you just don't have the energy for it.>I talked with an addictions counselor and she thought that if I take a tiny amount on occasion when really jammed up that might be acceptable. Especially since Ive been through a fairly controlled use experience enough to where I see that daily use leads to much diminished benefit.
I think you have been very controlled with it.
>And then there is my therapist. Who thinks that Im not really opening up to my inner junk in sessions. When she suggested that I struggled with it then finally concluded she is right Im afraid of life and not facing it. Dealing with that is where real relief from depression is.
Well, OK.
You're afraid of life.
But how do you deal with that?
How do you face the fact that you are afraid of life?
I don't want to argue that we should be afraid of life, or maybe I do?
I can certainly see why people are afraid of it.
Posted by Ronnon on May 30, 2008, at 10:05:00
In reply to Re: Withdraw schedule-Oxy for depression at 10mg a day » Ronnon, posted by Sigismund on May 17, 2008, at 19:38:57
I went about 3 weeks at half dosage - 3 to 5 mg a day. then under pressure from the mental health center people I quit completely. 7 days narcotic free. But I wonder, if even at that low dosage, by having used it every day for over a year, that might be too quick? one counselor told me that the brain will still somewhat crave the drug for perhaps months. Is it bad for the brain to stop too rapidly when there was physical and psychological dependence? Psychologically, I guess I'm coping. I'm taking alittle more atavan to help, and if I just feel too depressed to do things I'm letting that be ok for now.
thanks, Ron
This is the end of the thread.
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