Opiate Treatment for Anxiety

Hi all,

I have suffered from anxiety since I was 20 (now I'm 42 - yes I know - getting old). I was terrified to take any chemical at all and I did get much better over time without any meds although I still suffer on a daily basis. When I was 37 I had a large 'event' that cause my anxiety to spike in a big way and for whatever reason when I have one of these 'events' (and this is only my second - the first one when when I was 20) they persist for years. Since I was married with 3 great kids I struggled to keep going (I would likely not be here without my family). When I was 38 (one year after the event) and after taking paxil, seroquel, a couple of others I don't remember (each for six weeks with no success just terrible side effects) I got what I would call 'lucky' and cracked a rib. The pain was terrible and I was prescribed the first opiate in my life - Oxycodone. Yes I did make it to 38 without taking an opiate. After the first one I felt much closer to normal and after several days I felt more normal than I had for years! I tried to find out why and really haven't been able to find any 'convincing' science as we really don't understand how the brain works. Sure we're making progress but at the end of the day no one knows. So I wanted to search for case studies where opiates have had the same effect on other people. If this has been your experience I would love to hear from you. Also I would like to share a book with you that I just finished that has many case studies where a single doctor has documented this effect in MANY people at his practice. I share this only to spread the knowledge. Moderators - if this is not allowed please just block out the web site and book title and I would ask anyone that is interested to message me. The book is called 'The Opiate Cure' by a Doctor Cochran. You can learn more about it .  I'm not saying this is for everyone as we are all seemingly different chemical soups. But I know this works for me and I think, for whatever reason, the system that opiates work on do not function properly in many of our brains. Be it from PTSD, Genetics, whatever... I am sure there are many reasons that a brain sustains injury to critical systems. Similar to the way a diabetic need insulin I am beginning to believe some people may require opiates to stabilize a malfunctioning system.

Anyway, thanks for reading my ramble and I really do wish everyone the best! Hopefully scientific research will actually produce some results soon. Again, I would really be interested if anyone has noticed this effect (I'm sure it doesn't work for everyone) and if anyone has been on opiate therapy for a long term (2+ years) with good results. Thanks!!!

Post Edited By Moderator (Scaredy Cat) : 8/7/2012 10:06:34 PM (GMT-6)

I understand SC but think Anxiety can be related to bi-polar and it is a very good book detailing cases that have helped patients suffering from anxiety.

Opiates are the only thing that have ever offered me any relief.

Thanks SC!

Hi

Good to meet you and welcome to the forum. I have been taking a high dose of opiates for some time now but for a chronic back condition I have not felt that they have helped my anxiety or pain. I am waiting on a appointment for my local pain clinic to see if they can help on that issue.

Hibee

She meant that the pills were making her feel good and really happy which is really a high from them. U don't always realize what ur doing in the beginning. Just like I did years ago. I had never gap pain medication until I had teeth worked on. I took them to cover the pain but I was still taking them and the pain started lessening so of course the pill was making me feel good. I ended up getting addicted to them bc I was able to get up and move around and do things and be happy about it. I'm not judging u just want to warn u. If u start to looking forward to taking them for the way there making u feel u might want to quit taking them and find something else to help. I would think it would just cover up ur anxiety but not be getting rid of it. Just want u to be careful.,. I know anxiety isn't easy.

Hi Reshtel,

I'm 45 and have suffered from depression from all the way back to my single digit years. Also have had years of SAD (seasonal affective disorder). I developed severe anxiety in my late teens (along with the depression). I have been to numerous Psychiatrists and so many different therapists over the years, that I can estimate it's been at least 15 or more. Over the years I have been on practically every antidepressant on the market and also medication for anxiety. I have also tried treatment out of my home state and have had brain scans done by a well known Dr. Antidepressants have never really worked. However, one medication that I take as needed for Anxiety (every day) has helped some.

I have been on disability for about 14 years now because of my depression/anxiety (and extreme problems with SAD during the winters). In addition to individual therapy, I have been in group therapy and public support groups.

I have never used street drugs. I am gay and came totally out of the closet when I was 26. I thought my anxiety and depression was (and must have been) the real route of my depression, so when I was running out of "demons" to tackle at possible causes, I came out of the closet thinking that this was the only issue that I hadn't tackled yet. Overall it was a "better than expected" experience with a lot of support in general. However, the route of my depression/anxiety still exists to this day.

I used to be very shy and afraid of what people think of me. I'd be afraid of speaking my mind or feelings and always tried to fit in instead of being who I was. I used to just be one of society's "Sheep." Long story short, I am who I am and have no apologies. I'm of course not just talking about being gay....I'm talking about all aspects of who I am. So, I figured after doing SO MUCH difficult and deep emotional work on myself and self inventory, that this depression and anxiety would be cured. Well, it didn't go away....and I still have it.

Yes, I too have accidentally (through a surgery) found Opiate-based pain medication was the only thing that has helped. No, it doesn't give me euphoria but it does help relieve my depression and anxiety to a level where I can function better. Of course I am not prescribed them for depression.....just that I have noticed what you have experienced.

I just joined this site today after doing some research on this topic. I joined thinking that I would be able to get in touch with you directly, but when I clicked on your display name....it only displayed your posts and no way to e mail you.

Maybe the moderator could help me out with how to contact this poster "Reshtel".....????

<Edit>  I removed your comment re use of recreational drug.  Also Reshtel has not been seen for a couple of years.

Thank you for understanding my reason for editing your post.  Kindly, Kitt

Post Edited By Moderator (stkitt) : 7/13/2014 1:33:45 PM (GMT-6)

The verdict is still out on Opiate use as far as I go......I'm just researching since years of convential methods haven't worked. I know my Mother also got very depressed when she briefly took Opiates for a back problem....just that I had the opposite effect. I believe everyone's brain isn't made up the same. Just as a other drugs have side effects that some get and other's don't. One medication example is that I know an antihistamine makes me drowsy, but in others it makes them very wired. It's also strange with food allergies....some are deathly allergic, while other's aren't.

The brain scans that I had done showed over and under active parts of the brain. Showed scarring of some of those parts to from being over or underworked for many years the Dr. said. I never had a concussion or a head trauma injury, however the Dr. said some peoples brains are born with birth defects that make some more prone to life-long battles such as Depression and/or Anxiety (and other things such as seizures etc.). Also heredity can play a big part. Depression runs on both sides of my family....however, many of those family members have passed away....and even when they were alive, they would never talk about it.