Guest guest Posted October 17, 2006 Report Share Posted October 17, 2006 Hi there, I wanted to ask anyone if they know about this drug. My 21 year old son went to the Doctors today to get nicotine patches for quitting smoking, hes had numerous attempts at quitting but he has alot of anxiety when doing so and the Doctor has prescribed Nortriptyline. I have done some research and I found out its an antidepressants, and works mainly on the norephidrine uptake. He told me it kicks in after 3 weeks and I said to him that Im sure he will have to withdraw slowly from it if thats the case. Hes on 25mg dosage and the Doctor wants him to work up to taking 75mg at night. Im really not happy about this. I read that he may only need a 3 month course. His diet is not that great and I know he wont work at helping himself diet wise. As for myself, I have been off antidepressants now for about 3 months, I lost a stone in weight in that time just from going off them. I didn't even do anything. Thats just from not craving food. It was like the minute I went off them my constant hunger stopped. Cheers Kate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 19, 2006 Report Share Posted October 19, 2006 > > Dr is trading one addiction for another. In my opinion, the cigarettes probably do less damange then the drugs. I quit smoking almost 4 years ago. He has to withdrawl slowly, sort of like withdrawling from meds. Count out how many cigarettes you smoke in a day, then cut out 2 (ones that don't mean that much)Do that for a week then next week cut out 2 more. Find something for him to do with his hands. I started eating sunflower seeds while I was trying to quit or chew on a toothpick. Tell him to make a rule of no smoking in the house. It helps if you have to get up and go outside everytime you want to smoke. Gosh, all this talk of cigarettes makes me want to have one hahaha. I still do get cravings sometimes. I never understood the nicotine patch....Maybe they could come up with a " coffee patch " so I could still get a good jolt of caffeine, but don't need to carry my cup around with me...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 19, 2006 Report Share Posted October 19, 2006 Hi there, Thanks for your reply, yes, I think he has traded one addiction for another. In 3 days hes lost his cough and his runny nose that he gets with smoking. He feels drugged out though. He has never smoked in my or his house. Kate > > > > Dr is trading one addiction for another. In my opinion, > the cigarettes probably do less damange then the drugs. > I quit smoking almost 4 years ago. He has to withdrawl > slowly, sort of like withdrawling from meds. Count out > how many cigarettes you smoke in a day, then cut out 2 > (ones that don't mean that much)Do that for a week then > next week cut out 2 more. Find something for him to do > with his hands. I started eating sunflower > seeds while I was trying to quit or chew on a toothpick. > Tell him to make a rule of no smoking in the house. It helps > if you have to get up and go outside everytime you want > to smoke. Gosh, all this talk of cigarettes makes me want > to have one hahaha. I still do get cravings sometimes. I never > understood the nicotine patch....Maybe they could come up with > a " coffee patch " so I could still get a good jolt of caffeine, > but don't need to carry my cup around with me...... > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 20, 2006 Report Share Posted October 20, 2006 Of course he feels drugged out--he's taking a powerful brain-altering drug that he has absolutely no need for! It's normal to experience anxiety when quitting smoking--that is a symptom of nicotine withdrawal, not of mental illness or some kind of brain disorder! It is time-limited. It will go away as his body adjusts to the changes in nicotine. The doctor should be sued for malpractice. It is unbelieveable to me that he would prescribe an antidepressant for someone trying to quit smoking. Absolutely nonsensical--and damaging as well. Now your son will have to undergo a lengthy withdrawal and recovery process from nortriptyline damage. I would never in a million years condone this use of such a drug. If he is smart, he will staret weaning off the drug NOW, before any more damage is done. Is he using the patches? They do help. They blunt some of the withdrawal symptoms and make it much easier to continue functioning while withdrawing. They also allow for a more controlled withdrawal from the nicotine. Regards, Kim moderator Hi there,Thanks for your reply, yes, I think he has traded one addiction for another. In 3 days hes lost his cough and his runny nose that he gets with smoking. He feels drugged out though. He has never smoked in my or his house.Kate> >> > Dr is trading one addiction for another. In my opinion,> the cigarettes probably do less damange then the drugs. > I quit smoking almost 4 years ago. He has to withdrawl > slowly, sort of like withdrawling from meds. Count out > how many cigarettes you smoke in a day, then cut out 2 > (ones that don't mean that much)Do that for a week then > next week cut out 2 more. Find something for him to do> with his hands. I started eating sunflower> seeds while I was trying to quit or chew on a toothpick.> Tell him to make a rule of no smoking in the house. It helps > if you have to get up and go outside everytime you want> to smoke. Gosh, all this talk of cigarettes makes me want> to have one hahaha. I still do get cravings sometimes. I never> understood the nicotine patch....Maybe they could come up with > a " coffee patch " so I could still get a good jolt of caffeine,> but don't need to carry my cup around with me......> -- KIM DENISE FINE ART www.Kim.comFine Art Giftswww.CafePress.com/Kim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 20, 2006 Report Share Posted October 20, 2006 Hi Kim, hes been on this drug for about 4 days now. The Dr started him on 25mg or whatever that dosage is, I know its 25, and wanted him to build up to 75. How will I tell him to start weaning off, do the 10% reduction, I still have my syringe when I weaned off that way. Kate At 08:07 a.m. 21/10/2006, you wrote: Of course he feels drugged out--he's taking a powerful brain-altering drug that he has absolutely no need for! It's normal to experience anxiety when quitting smoking--that is a symptom of nicotine withdrawal, not of mental illness or some kind of brain disorder! It is time-limited. It will go away as his body adjusts to the changes in nicotine. The doctor should be sued for malpractice. It is unbelieveable to me that he would prescribe an antidepressant for someone trying to quit smoking. Absolutely nonsensical--and damaging as well. Now your son will have to undergo a lengthy withdrawal and recovery process from nortriptyline damage. I would never in a million years condone this use of such a drug. If he is smart, he will staret weaning off the drug NOW, before any more damage is done. Is he using the patches? They do help. They blunt some of the withdrawal symptoms and make it much easier to continue functioning while withdrawing. They also allow for a more controlled withdrawal from the nicotine. Regards, Kim moderator On 10/19/06, Kate Strong wrote: Hi there, Thanks for your reply, yes, I think he has traded one addiction for another. In 3 days hes lost his cough and his runny nose that he gets with smoking. He feels drugged out though. He has never smoked in my or his house. Kate > > > > Dr is trading one addiction for another. In my opinion, > the cigarettes probably do less damange then the drugs. > I quit smoking almost 4 years ago. He has to withdrawl > slowly, sort of like withdrawling from meds. Count out > how many cigarettes you smoke in a day, then cut out 2 > (ones that don't mean that much)Do that for a week then > next week cut out 2 more. Find something for him to do > with his hands. I started eating sunflower > seeds while I was trying to quit or chew on a toothpick. > Tell him to make a rule of no smoking in the house. It helps > if you have to get up and go outside everytime you want > to smoke. Gosh, all this talk of cigarettes makes me want > to have one hahaha. I still do get cravings sometimes. I never > understood the nicotine patch....Maybe they could come up with > a " coffee patch " so I could still get a good jolt of caffeine, > but don't need to carry my cup around with me...... > -- KIM DENISE FINE ART www.Kim.com Fine Art Gifts www.CafePress.com/Kim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 20, 2006 Report Share Posted October 20, 2006 Hi Kate, One monograph for nortriptaline states: " If the drug is given to overactive or agitated patients, increased anxiety and agitation may occur. " So, this drug is worsening his symptoms! Please listen to the group and help him to come off this drug. Dolores > > Of course he feels drugged out--he's taking a powerful brain- altering drug > that he has absolutely no need for! > > It's normal to experience anxiety when quitting smoking--that is a symptom > of nicotine withdrawal, not of mental illness or some kind of brain > disorder! It is time-limited. It will go away as his body adjusts to the > changes in nicotine. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 21, 2006 Report Share Posted October 21, 2006 If he has only been on it four days, he can just stop it. He may feel uncomfortable for a few days, but it's worth it to get him off this poison NOW! Kim > > Hi Kim, hes been on this drug for about 4 days now. The Dr started him on 25mg or whatever that dosage is, I know its 25, and wanted him to build up to 75. How will I tell him to start weaning off, do the 10% reduction, I still have my syringe when I weaned off that way. > > Kate > > -- KIM DENISE FINE ART www.Kim.com Fine Art Gifts www.CafePress.com/Kim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 21, 2006 Report Share Posted October 21, 2006 Thanks Dolores for this info. He went to the Drs yesterday to get more patches, they only supply him a week at a time, and the nurse told him that the drugs work on the cravings, over time the cravings will lessen because of the drugs she says.. So of course he wants to hear that. They probably work because hes drugged out and wants to sleep all the time. Kate At 09:40 a.m. 21/10/2006, you wrote: >Hi Kate, > >One monograph for nortriptaline states: > > " If the drug is given to overactive or agitated patients, increased >anxiety and agitation may occur. " > >So, this drug is worsening his symptoms! Please listen to the group >and help him to come off this drug. > >Dolores Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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