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Pain Killers and Anxiety

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Posted 3/22/2011 2:26 AM (GMT 0)
Hey there everyone, I was just wondering if anyone has taking pain killers and had a anxiety attack when they kicked in. I took a lortab today, just one.. and about two hours later I was in a full blown attack.  BP 180/100 HR: 140.  Now im scared to take one because I dont know if that will happen again, but still in pain. darned if I do darned if Dont.
Posted 3/22/2011 6:41 AM (GMT 0)
Lortab has hydrocodone in it, a narcotic pain reliever. It has the opposite effect on me, I feel calmed, my heart rate goes down (in fact, it helps the heart skips Im prone to), and it lifts my mood. I know narcotics are not recommended for depression and anxiety (and I don't use them for that purpose), but they do work for both on me.

Some people are sensitive to narcotics, especially the nausea they can cause. Talk to your doctor about it. Narcotics also have the ability to drop your blood pressure, especially when rising from a laying or sitting position too quickly, and this can cause your heart rate to pick up a bit to get the blood to your head. Maybe that made you feel anxious. Most side effects from narcotic pain killers ( light headedness, nausea, etc.) go away if you lay down for a while when you feel that way.

Either way, talk to your doctor about it. He/she may have something else you can take.

God bless!!!!

                          Tom

Posted 3/22/2011 7:09 AM (GMT 0)
beanie1321,
Lortab is a combination of acetaminophen and hydrocodone. When combined with other prescription medications and some OTC products it can cause your heart to race and blood pressure to rise. I would not recommend taking another one until consulting with your pharmacist. The bad combination for me is vicodan, caffeine and hyoscyamine.
Any chance you were given this by a dentist?
Posted 3/22/2011 3:20 PM (GMT 0)
To the best of my knowledge, Lortab may causes mental/mood changes.

beanie, call your Dr. and ask if you should take another one or if this first dose perhaps caused you anxiety as you were uncomfortable taking it.

Also wondering if you are on any other medications either RX or OTC ?

Kindly,

Kitt

 

Posted 3/22/2011 11:56 PM (GMT 0)
Im sorry your having this trouble as well. Im on a new prescription pain killer, percocet which is oxycodone instead of hydrocodone. I know that it is really making me anxious. I've gotten my vitals taken four different times after taking this drug the past week because it made me feel very speedy and anxious. My bp and hr were a little high the first time because it was a feeling that i was not expecting. For my im not having any physical problems with this drug except for the pain killing effect which it is doing very well. But im letting is psychologically mess with me, and NOT in a good way. I don't welcome the warm and euphoric feeling. I don't like anything that makes me feel high. And it does so very much. So, now its a mind over matter thing with me. The reason i know this is because this drug is suppossed to last 4 to 6 hours. Five MINUTES after taking the pill i feel anxious and then the actual effects kick in and i get more anxious, and i stare at the clock and at exactly 3.5 to 4 hours later, im instantly at ease. Therefore it must be me letting my mind mess with me right? So, after talking to your pharmacist or prescribing doctor, maybe this is happening for you too. Also some ppl do get the anxious or speedy effects from these pain medicines. That is why they are abused so easily. I've read where people abuse them to get that speedy feeling so they can work harder, or clean faster, etc etc. But for those of us with anxiety, speedy feelings are not great, well for me anyway. So maybe its a psychological thing for you as well. The "high" feeling that people get..maybe it freaks you out, like it does me. Either way i hope you feel better, because i know the past week since i was put on my new pain meds, it has been hell!!!!
Posted 12/27/2011 5:15 AM (GMT 0)
Oh thank god I found this post! I have been dealing with anxiety problems for 2 years. I had been on tramadol for 2 years and then out of the blue bam anxiety. I automatically assumed it was the meds and freaked out even more. I switched to norco thinking that would help but boy oh boy was I wrong. I continue to have anxiety problems after taking anything now. I agree with hippychick79. You kinda set yourself up for the attack cause the minute you take it the thoughts start coming in waves "I'm going to get an attack I'm going to have an attack" then an hour later when your supposed be relaxing your in the grips of a full blown panic party. I hope things have gotten better for you. Hippychick79 did you find any good coping skills to help?

Edit:  Welcome to the site.  I am glad you have found us.  You may not have noticed that you have posted to a thread from last March so I invite you to please feel comfortable starting a new thread re this topic and also take the opportunity to introduce yourself and meet the members.

The original poster of this thread only posted the one time and has not been seen here since.

Kindly,

Kitt

 

Post Edited By Moderator (stkitt) : 12/27/2011 7:46:24 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 12/27/2011 10:59 AM (GMT 0)
Happened to me a few times i'm done with that crap, i stick with tylenol
Posted 12/27/2011 2:27 PM (GMT 0)
I can relate to this in a big way. along with panic attacks i have fibro and Md. I was to take tramadol for it. when i would, it would take the edge off the pain" give me that speed like effect and i swear the effects would last way longer than they were supposed to. Well, I havent taken a tramdol in a couple of months now. the only med i take is ativan .5 usually twice a day.


Today, I havent taken my ativan. I really want to try a tramadol because it is that time of the month for me and the cramps are pretty bad. But I worry about it causing a panic attack and then not being able to take an ativan to help( as it says everywhere i read not to take both)
decisions...decisions...
Posted 2/14/2013 5:28 AM (GMT 0)
skull I've been taking tramadol for over a year now. Never had panic attacks till recently, past 4 or 5 months. Unable to take allot of other pain relievers due IBS upsets my stomach bad. Been taking it with norflex both cause euphoria. For carpal tunnel syndrome both wrists, pronator syndrome in entire left forearm, tendentious in both elbows, & fibromyalgia. Have had depression and anxiety problems on and off throughout life. Now doctor has added ativan 1mg twice daily & celexa 10 mg once. For a cocktail now of tramadol 50 mg three times, norflex 100 mg twice, ativan 1mg twice, and one celexa 10mg. So far so good, no panic attacks, lost a girlfriend due to them. Maybe she'll take me back, maybe not. Finally have surgery scheduled for 2/25 for my left arm and wrist, and elbow. 3 incisions, 4 in on outside elbow, 10 in inside left forearm, & 2 in left wrist. Then 6 weeks later I get my right wrist & elbow done. Just discouraging overcame my depression long time ago thru therapy, only to wind up back where I started, my depression then caused my divorce, now loss of someone very special too. Oh well gotta be more fish in the sea? Right?
Posted 2/14/2013 4:08 PM (GMT 0)
I cannot take Hydrocodone or any of the codone family because it has this same effect on me like speed and it is an instant panic attack. :) So the feeling was normal. Happens to lots and i mean lots of people.
Posted 2/14/2013 5:37 PM (GMT 0)
Hi big gator and welcome!

I am sorry to hear of your health and depression problems, and the subsequent relationship issues that they have caused.

It can certainly be a chain reaction when dealing with health concerns!

I am glad that you are getting the help that you need for the physical things that are bothering you...but how about the depression?

Have you considered re-visiting therapy? Many people, myself included have done more than one course, or gone back after a time for a re-fresher.:)

Situations in our lives...as well as just ourselves changing often necessitates going back again.

I wish you the best, and invite you to post with us anytime. We also have a great depression forum here at HW...and you are welcome here and there anytime. We are here for your support.:)

S.C.
Posted 2/14/2013 9:16 PM (GMT 0)
I have revisited therapy been active for 45 days, already 3 app, It's going well, also bought a great bookk, "love is letting go of fear" very helpful. Just disappointing when people make themselves out to be understanding, compassionate, but when it comes down to something really immaterial, and they freak out more than me. Thanks for your insight
Posted 2/15/2013 4:59 AM (GMT 0)
Yeah. I hear you...but we can't control or change others...only ourselves, so keep up the good work that you are doing for yourself!

Chapters in our lives close to allow for new and better stories to unfold.:)

Wishing you the best!

S.C.
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