Since you posted that great "Your brian on Opiates" I was hoping you might have some ideas pertaining to this scenario...I have been struggling to taper and when I raise the dose of my AD(Old tricyclic) I don't have as bad withdrawals...I suppose my question would be...Does the serotonin compete with the opiate for the receptor site? Is it the same site? Very confusing.But I do not sweat when I am on a good dose of Elavil...which seems to be my saving grace right now...Thanks much Love, Sharonn
Hi Sharon.
Man,I have no ideal about that but if it seems to be helping I'll repeat what an old sponsor of mine would say....."Don't f*ck with success" LOL
I'm getting ready to leave Sharon but maybe some others could offer more scientific input.I think you are doing great BTW.Maybe it's not as 100% successful as you would like but your intent seems to be honest so far.I think the problem arises when we slip into dishonesty and so far you seem to be holding yourself accountable.
Have a great day.
Man,I have no ideal about that but if it seems to be helping I'll repeat what an old sponsor of mine would say....."Don't f*ck with success" LOL
I'm getting ready to leave Sharon but maybe some others could offer more scientific input.I think you are doing great BTW.Maybe it's not as 100% successful as you would like but your intent seems to be honest so far.I think the problem arises when we slip into dishonesty and so far you seem to be holding yourself accountable.
Have a great day.
Don't I know it...the addict brain(not brian as previously stated lol) starts talking s**t and before you know it.....my Dr. is on the same page so I will not be getting the same amounts as I had...if it isn't thre then I won't be able to cheat!!! I have had a rough Lupus flare probably due to the fact that the weather(sucks) and the stress of caring for my beloved...who is healing great btw. Thanks for responding and have a great day.Repeat after me...."Spring is 2 months away, Spring is.........Love, S
Sharon,
Although you didn't adress this to me, thought I would tell you what my Addiction Specialist/Physc told me in reguard to seratonin and opiates.
While you are taking opiates your brain chemistry changes and natural seratonin is not produced by the brain. The opiates make them artifically. So when you quit taking the opiates seratonin is no longer present. That's why you need an AD. He told me that it would take up to a year after quiting opiates for the brain chemistry to return to normal. Therefore he recommended AD's for @ least a full year. The dose of your AD needs adjusted according to how your depression improves or doesn't.
I have written on this subject in more detail before if you want to search the forum. Also others have contributed on the subject. This is a question that is asked quite often.
Elavil is an old trycicelate like you said. Frankly it scares the heck out of me because of it's side effects. Have you thought of trying a newer AD?
Hope your day is good. It's cold with new snow on the ground here and more expected.
Sharon
Although you didn't adress this to me, thought I would tell you what my Addiction Specialist/Physc told me in reguard to seratonin and opiates.
While you are taking opiates your brain chemistry changes and natural seratonin is not produced by the brain. The opiates make them artifically. So when you quit taking the opiates seratonin is no longer present. That's why you need an AD. He told me that it would take up to a year after quiting opiates for the brain chemistry to return to normal. Therefore he recommended AD's for @ least a full year. The dose of your AD needs adjusted according to how your depression improves or doesn't.
I have written on this subject in more detail before if you want to search the forum. Also others have contributed on the subject. This is a question that is asked quite often.
Elavil is an old trycicelate like you said. Frankly it scares the heck out of me because of it's side effects. Have you thought of trying a newer AD?
Hope your day is good. It's cold with new snow on the ground here and more expected.
Sharon
Thanks Sharon...it is not a good drug for depression due to the side effects but at low doses(10-20 mgs.) in is often used for chronic pain patients and fibro.It helps put you into stage 4(I believe) sleep and gives you a more restorative sleep, hence, improving daytime pain. It does help with mood, even at the low dose. I was so psyched about Cymbalta as it is approved for neuropathy. Alas, I was nauseous for 2 weeks...as for the others, I have tried a few SSRI's and could not deal with the side effects. Thanks for your input....I know even 10 mgs. makes a HUGE difference. Sharonn
Sharonn,
I was switched to Cymbatta about 3 months ago. OMG it was horrible for the first 2-3 weeks but I had been told it would be so I just stayed with it. I'm so glad that I did because it is working wonderfully for me now. Could you get prescribed some phenergan for the first couple of weeks for the nausea until you get adjusted to it?
I understand why you are prescribed the Elavil as it was prescribed for my daughter for short term use because of her endometriosis. She was on it for a couple of months and I made her follow the directions exactly. It did benefit her some. My fear of this drug is based on caring for patients overdosing on it as there is very little that can be done for them. I know that you are very careful with your dose too and take the exact dosage prescribed.
BTW my Sister had Lupus so I somewhat understand what you go thru daily. You are one tough lady and I respect you so much.
God bless,
Sharon
I was switched to Cymbatta about 3 months ago. OMG it was horrible for the first 2-3 weeks but I had been told it would be so I just stayed with it. I'm so glad that I did because it is working wonderfully for me now. Could you get prescribed some phenergan for the first couple of weeks for the nausea until you get adjusted to it?
I understand why you are prescribed the Elavil as it was prescribed for my daughter for short term use because of her endometriosis. She was on it for a couple of months and I made her follow the directions exactly. It did benefit her some. My fear of this drug is based on caring for patients overdosing on it as there is very little that can be done for them. I know that you are very careful with your dose too and take the exact dosage prescribed.
BTW my Sister had Lupus so I somewhat understand what you go thru daily. You are one tough lady and I respect you so much.
God bless,
Sharon
Sharonn- I found this on Dr. Bobs site.
Some drugs bind to the receptors that neurotransmitters latch onto in the brain like benzodiazepines and opiates and some drugs provide a massive release of neurotransmitters like Amphetamine and MDMA. After exposure to these drugs for a while the number of receptors and their sensitivity will lessen causing tolerance. Antidepressants are different. They just allow the brain to make better use of what neurotransmitter is already present. They are not supposed to produce a high and that is why they take 2-4 weeks usually to start working so that the brain can adjust to a more normal level of neurotransmitter. When they start working in a depressed person there is just an increase in neurotransmitter that locks into the receptor like in any healthy person. The re-uptake or MAO inhibition compensates for the faulty mechanism via which neurotransmitters are constantly recycled.
Some drugs bind to the receptors that neurotransmitters latch onto in the brain like benzodiazepines and opiates and some drugs provide a massive release of neurotransmitters like Amphetamine and MDMA. After exposure to these drugs for a while the number of receptors and their sensitivity will lessen causing tolerance. Antidepressants are different. They just allow the brain to make better use of what neurotransmitter is already present. They are not supposed to produce a high and that is why they take 2-4 weeks usually to start working so that the brain can adjust to a more normal level of neurotransmitter. When they start working in a depressed person there is just an increase in neurotransmitter that locks into the receptor like in any healthy person. The re-uptake or MAO inhibition compensates for the faulty mechanism via which neurotransmitters are constantly recycled.
Who is Dr. Bob? I'm not familiar. Is he an addiction specialist?
Thanks for posting that info. Education about addiction is the key to recovery I think. What I posted was in reguards to the seratonin question and was a very simple explanation.
Sharon
Thanks for posting that info. Education about addiction is the key to recovery I think. What I posted was in reguards to the seratonin question and was a very simple explanation.
Sharon
Sharon...I am going to give the Cymbalta another try when I can get off all the opiates..if the side effects go away...great. I probably didn't give it enough time. I hear it has very bad discontinuation syndrome(withdrawal)if you miss a dose. But hey, If it improves your life..I am all for it. Have you gained any weight on it? The elavil is notorious for constipation and weight gain...I can only take a small dose as it has some negative cardiac effects(arrythmia)...Right now I am desperate to be off the narcs so if it helps, I will be fatLOL...it'll be well worth it! Thanks again...have a good day.
Sharonn,
Actually most people loose weight on Cymbatta. My daughter and I both did. My daughter lost 35 lbs. I swear. I only lost around ten pounds. Constipation is not a problem either. Opiates are the worst for causing constipation, IMO.
I hope that you will give it another try. You know also I missed a couple of doses of Cymbatta but on those days I substitued the Lexapro that I was previously prescribed and didn't have any w/d problems. My son is a Pharm D and owns an independent pharmacy. He brings my meds home to me (no co-pay, lol) but sometimes on busy days he forgets so that is why I had to miss a couple of doses. Sorry for the long explanation.
Cymbatta has helped some with my pain issues also. I suffer from a failed back surgery from June, 2005 and the pain has been debilitating @ times. I'm sure you understand.
God bless,
Sharon
Actually most people loose weight on Cymbatta. My daughter and I both did. My daughter lost 35 lbs. I swear. I only lost around ten pounds. Constipation is not a problem either. Opiates are the worst for causing constipation, IMO.
I hope that you will give it another try. You know also I missed a couple of doses of Cymbatta but on those days I substitued the Lexapro that I was previously prescribed and didn't have any w/d problems. My son is a Pharm D and owns an independent pharmacy. He brings my meds home to me (no co-pay, lol) but sometimes on busy days he forgets so that is why I had to miss a couple of doses. Sorry for the long explanation.
Cymbatta has helped some with my pain issues also. I suffer from a failed back surgery from June, 2005 and the pain has been debilitating @ times. I'm sure you understand.
God bless,
Sharon
Awesome..thanks..if it helps with pain then I will give it another try. Did you have profuse sweating at first? S
Sharon,
It made me so darned nauseous, anxious, crazy (well crazier, lol) and so many other symptons. Ones that are not even mentioned in the pamplet I think, ha ha.. I don't remember if I had any profuse sweating though. I'm a diabetic so if I have that sympton I just usually check my blood glucose. So I may have had that sympton and just didn't connect the dots properly. Know what I mean? Anyway it sounds like I'm selling this drug for the company, lol. But truthfully it's just helped me more than any AD that I've taken. And trust me, there's been more than a few that I've tried that didn't help @ all.
BTW, I see our old Buddy Rus posted. I love him to death and Kat and I just talked about him the other nite and wondered if he was ok. I'm so glad that he is. He is an amazing person and I know that you agree.
Sharon
It made me so darned nauseous, anxious, crazy (well crazier, lol) and so many other symptons. Ones that are not even mentioned in the pamplet I think, ha ha.. I don't remember if I had any profuse sweating though. I'm a diabetic so if I have that sympton I just usually check my blood glucose. So I may have had that sympton and just didn't connect the dots properly. Know what I mean? Anyway it sounds like I'm selling this drug for the company, lol. But truthfully it's just helped me more than any AD that I've taken. And trust me, there's been more than a few that I've tried that didn't help @ all.
BTW, I see our old Buddy Rus posted. I love him to death and Kat and I just talked about him the other nite and wondered if he was ok. I'm so glad that he is. He is an amazing person and I know that you agree.
Sharon
