Re: we need help

[Guest guest]

Hi Steve,

First, I will tell you that I'm a certificated psychologist, and while I

don't practice therapy online, I do know a lot about meds, especially ones

called " psychotropic " meds, because I have to. These are meds which can affect

mood, and include anti-depressants and painkillers.

Your wife's Dr. probably stopped the Oxy for 1 of 2 reasons - the feds are

becoming very strict with this med because of a " scandal " involving it's abuse

that came to a particular senator's attention, and he's made it his focus to get

it banned, or difficult to get. Many Drs. won't Rx it now.

The other possibility is that Oxy can be very addictive and he may have seen

a pattern in your wife's use or symptoms that indicated this was happening.

Please note, I'm not saying your wife is an addict - I'm saying the med itself

can be very addictive. I can't take it because after a while, my body will

start to say " I want more " - even before my brain is aware of it.

For some people that can be one week; for others it can be 3 years.

Oxy is also a strong central nervous system depressant. The problem with

that is that once off it for a while, your wife's depression may or may not

stop. So it's very possible that your wife may have had latent depression

triggered by taking Oxy, and will need to take anti-depressants, which is

proably why the Lexapro.

There is a very new drug on the market called Cymbalta - it was just

approved by the FDA. The drug was designed to treat fibromyalgia and

depression. It's the 1st drug of its type. It's not without side effects, just

as most meds aren't. There is also a med called Provygyl which helps with energy

levels, and is in the anti-depressant class.

Most Drs. are very conservative with anti-depressants and start patients on

low doses. In addition, it can take up to two months before they reach their

full effect. And many times, an anti-depressant won't help a lot, but a

different one will. The averge patient goes through 3 different

anti-depressants before they find just the right one. Other good, newer

anti-d's include Effexor XR, Remeron and Celexa. I have to take both Effexor

XR and Remeron for my depression. My advice on anti-depressants is to be very

assertive. If the depression doesn't lessen in 3 weeks, get on the pnone and

insist on an increase or a different anti-depressant. With the right

anti-depressant, her pain may go away, or at least become tolerable.

I'm a chronic pain patient, and have 4 types of arthritis, fibro, and

something called ankylosing spondylitis, which, explained overly simple, is the

worst tyhpe of arthritis to get. It's in my spine and is fusing the bones

together, while disintegrating the disks at the same time. So I've learned to

live with a low level of pain every day, because there's no alternative for me

based on what meds I can and can't take.

For pain I take Norco, which is basically the same as Vicodin. I just take

more of it than I did of Oxy, and it works great for me. I know people who

don't feel the same about Norco/Vicodin 10/325. They take Percocet. But the

problem with Percocet is that you have to go in person to get it refilled each

month, whereas they can put refills on Norco or Vicodin for up to 6 months.

So some Drs. aren't much happier about Rxing Percocet. Percocet also have a

greater depressing effect than Norco/Vicodin.

Fibro is an illness for which there is no medicine. They treat the

symptoms. Other meds used include Trazadone, which helps if your wife wakes up

a lot during the night. I also take it. Muscle relaxants Skelaxin and Zanaflex

might be prescribed if she has a lot of cramps or muscle spasms. I take

Zanaflex for cramping and spasmming.

So, as you can see, trying to give an opinion on what your wife should be

taking is rather complicated. But these are some meds you can talk with the Dr.

about.

If you know of a good psychiatrist, they're the best ones to Rx

anti-depressants. But finding a good one can be difficult - so if your primary

care Dr. is familiar with them, or if you have a list of possible meds, it would

be helpful to your Dr.

There are also a number of places where you can get free meds. First, ask

your Dr. if he has samples of meds - they usually have samples of the newest

ones, and will give you enough for a month free to see if the med works well for

you.

Second, contact the drug company that makes the med you want. Tell them you

have no insurance and ask if they have a program for people who need assistance

with meds. I have a friend who received an anti-depressant free for one year

from a med company. They may ask you to participate in a study in exchange -

she'd have to send in a form each month.

Anti-depressants are a major money maker for drug companies, and more and

more people are " coming out of the closet " about being depressed, so the drug

companies have quite a competition for their meds going, which is what is

pushing the free med programs from them right now.

Many states have drug assistance programs where you can get meds at reduced

costs. Ask your Dr. if he is aware of any such programs, or call your County

Health Department. The social worker at your local hospital may also be aware

of free and reduced cost drug programs.

Painkillers are much more difficult to get through these programs. But

fibromyalgia is an illness where frequently, other meds will take care of the

symptoms, including pain.

So, my opinion is to have your wife talk with her Dr. about increasing or

changing the anti-depressant. There is a direct link between depression and

pain, and that needs to be explored. Be assertive about anti-depressants.

And talk with him about the various symptoms she has and what might help with

each one. Make sure to let him know you need free samples, but don't accept

something just because it's free - there are some companies that keep a steady

supply going to doctors of older anti-depressants that don't work very well for

most people.

Sorry for this being so long, but I wanted to explain this to you, not just

give you a list of meds to ask your Dr. about. Patient education is very

important, and knowing everything you can about what you're taking is always a

good idea.

Please write back and let us know how your wife is.

There are a lot of alternative therapies for pain which I can also tell you

about if you'd like, or if needed. The same is true for depression, though not

to as great an extent.

Hope this helps.

Dix

Steve wrote:

Hi my name is steve my wife has FMS, CFS she was doing so good on

oxicotin 40mg no pain happy all the time hey a new life but her dr.

stoped all his patients from taking oxy now my wife (judy) is on

methadone (90mg a day= 3 10mg 3 times a day) now the pain is back

with verry verry bad depression to the point of making us fight all

the time. so its opinion time.

[Guest guest]

Hi steve

I take morphine at this time 100mg three times a day and it works on me with no

depression.

[Guest guest]

,

You're really fortunate to be able to do that. I tried 20 mg. 3 times a day

and it did a number on my kidneys - I couldn't pee at all!!! After 3 days of

that, the meds went down the toilet.

I joked with Dan that we could have probably bought a new house with them if

I knew how to sell them, but Dan said knowing me, I'd just end up in " the big

house " instead! LOLOL

Morphine is preferred over Oxy, which really surprised me when I learned

that. But it is also supposed to be used only after all other meds (except Oxy)

have been tried because it's the " last resort " for the most part.

I'm 59, and my " plan " was to stay on Vicodin until 60, then go to Percocet

for several years, then to try Oxy, and hopefully make it into my late 70's

before I had to try morphine. The women in my family tend to live into their

mid 90's or longer, so I was hoping to save morphine until my 80's, by which

time I was hoping they'd find something much safer and more effective for me to

take.

So much for that plan! Turns out I can't take Percocet, Oxy, Demerol,

Fentanyl or Morphine. They'd better come up with that new drug FAST!

Dix

wrote:

I take morphine at this time 100mg three times a day and it works on me with

no depression.

[Guest guest]

Steve wrote: >> do anyone know if the methadone causes bad

depression and what can she do that will help or is there any pain

meds. that will keep the pain away and the depression away <<

Hi Steve,

My doctor says that some women may become depressed on morphine,

which I'm on. Morphine is closely related to methadone. It's

something to do with the number and type of opiod (narcotic)

receptors that women have.

If you had a drug plan, I would suggest that your wife go onto

Duragesic patches (but they cost the earth). Has she ever tried a

tricyclic antidepressant? They are excellant at treating certain

types of pain and a very very cheap. Examples are amitriptyline and

nortriptyline. They can be added on top of most other depressants.

Although the doses used for pain are much smaller than those used to

treat depression, she might even find that her mood is better.

Your wife's depression is probably also partly caused just by being

in pain. Pain is VERY demoralizing, espcially if it's severe and

chronic. Maybe if she was on a higher dose of methadone, her pain

would be lessened and she would start feeling better.

The other thing to consider would be counselling, to help both of you

cope with living with her pain. If that is too expensive, perhaps you

could try contacting an organization for FMS & CFS sufferers (I think

there are quite a few). They might have written materials that can

help you deal with this terrible situation that you two have to live

thru.

Take care of yourselves,

Di

in Vancouver, B.C., Canada