Posted by the blue professor on July 7, 2003, at 2:03:14
In reply to Re: Opiates/alcohol burning questions, posted by Rainee on July 5, 2003, at 13:25:17
Just commenting on the thread. I am a chronic pain sufferer and take 40mg of hydrocodone per day (lortab 10/500 qid). I get no antidepressive effect from it. I feel better if I can go as long a possible without taking it. It is a good pain killer, however, and I am able to continue to hold a full time faculty position. I definitely would be unable to work without it.
I have been taking opiods regularly since 1984. Until about two years ago I used OxyContin, but there was such an uproar about it that I decided to switch off. I may switch back before long since it is safer for long-term use.
Opiods are very safe and effective when carefully used by responsible people. They can be deadly if used irresponsibly. I have had five students and former students that have died from overdose (or mixing with other drugs/alcohol) of prescription painkillers.
As to the reason why physicians are reluctant prescribe them, I do not think it has anything to do with their 'addictive' properties. Amphetamines, barbituates and narcotics used to be prescribed by the ton before they became regulated so tightly. I remember back in the late sixties/early seventies when every other person was taking a diet pill called Obedrin LA. Its main ingredient was methedrine.
I would say that the main reason that drugs like these and the opiods are so hard to obtain now is fear of the DEA. They really come down hard on doctors if there is even a suspicion that they are prescribing too many scheduled drugs. I guess about everyone here knows about that.
Also, this is the age of litigation. Many people are looking for every excuse they can find to file a lawsuit. Sometimes they are justified, but often people are just looking for easy money or a way to put responsibility on someone else for their own actions. Lately, many have sued physicians for getting them 'addicted' to drugs like OxyContin. They claim that they didn't know that it could be habit forming. Sure.
Anyway, as to whether an opiod can be used as an effective antidepressent - I just don't know. Maybe in the short term, but the mood elevating side effect will go away and require higher doses to sustain. This is what turns a dependency into an addiction.
poster:the blue professor
thread:238575
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030701/msgs/239806.html