Posted by Hattree on October 30, 2001, at 13:21:16
In reply to Re: some suggestions » JeffH, posted by Elizabeth on October 29, 2001, at 18:58:27
Um, a question. Doesn't everybody get high on narcotics? I'd like to go through life on percocet, myself, and on the rare occasions I am given some, it does not lounge in my medicine cabinet for long. Is this saying something about my stripe of depression, or do I just like euphoria?
> > I played Secretary of State and tried to call Dr. Bodkin to see if he or one of his colleagues would do a consult with my doctor. He was out, but I talked to a doctor who works closely with him. Amazing. Friendly man, could have been talking to a plumber about what kind of pipe to put in my bathroom.
>
> Cool -- did you get his name, by any chance?
>
> > This doctor told me the news that within the next six months, the FDA will approve buprenex (which is buprenorphine, right?) so it is readily available.
>
> No, Buprenex has been FDA-approved for some years now -- but only for pain, and it's illegal to use it for treating opioid dependence except in a special clinic (just like methadone or LAAM). A new law needs to be passed in order for doctors to be able to prescribe buprenorphine to regular outpatients for maintenance treatment of addiction.
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> > The codeine I got as a result of some dental work -- I remember it taking away some of my apathy/adhedonia for a short time.
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> When I had my wisdom teeth out I got hydrocodone, and that's how I found out that opioids work for me. I'd had codeine before but that didn't do much (didn't help much with the pain, either!).
>
> > I also remember having my wisdom teeth removed as a teenager. Though I wasn't given an opiate, the gas I was administered as an anesthetic was so beautiful that the dentist threatened to stop the procedure if I didn't calm down. I remember my rapid breathing - I was in total ecstacy.
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> I'm guessing that the anaesthetic you got was nitrous oxide. I got a very fast-acting intravenous general anaesthetic when I had my wisdom teeth out -- all I remember is starting to count backwards from 10, and then waking up to find it was all over.
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> > Ultram, how is that different than Tramadon?
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> Ultram is the US brand name of *tramadol*.
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> > These other opioids are worthy options because I'm finding out quickly how unfamiliar doctors are with buprenorphine.
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> Give them a copy of the article by Bodkin et al.
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> > I find myself almost totally unable to be even remotely passive now in finding a treatment, yet I am discovering being too aggressive is as bad as being too passive when dealing with doctors.
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> Yes...you have to walk a fine line to work with them well.
>
> -elizabeth
poster:Hattree
thread:82364
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20011025/msgs/82668.html