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kmsj75 · 07-24-2008, 08:16 AM

I shared your opinion, and found a doctor that was willing to go the narcotic route (hence a large reason why I am in recovery today.)

My experience was that while I did find the relief that you described, it went away after a while on the drug (hydrocodone.) I also have fibro. The problem was that I began to see a difference in how the drug made me feel. It had sort of a "speed" effect and then I would crash and have to take more. I also had to keep going up in dosage and strength, until it didn't work at all.

I have had withdraw symptoms on both anti-depressants and narcotics. I'll take anti-depressants over narcotics anytime. There was no comparison.

As far as describing anti-depressants for pain, studies have shown that a contributing factor in fibromyalgia is low levels of seritonin. Anti-depressants boosts those levels.

As for people committing suicide on anti-depressants, it has to be taken into consideration why they were taking it to begin with. Of course there will be a higher rate of suicide- it is prescribed for depression and mental illness.

I was also placed on klonopin for fibro, as it helps induce stage 4 sleep (another contributing factor in the syndrome.) I used it as prescribed, never really abused it, and had no idea I was addicted to it. Talk about bad withdraw- seizures, tremors that lasted for months, etc. Not worth it. I now take trazadone, which in not addictive.

I'm not so sure that I would agree that anti-depressants are "addictive" just as narcotics are "addictive." In my mind, there is a huge difference. Narcotics are addictive because of the high they produce. While anti-depressants might be addictive in the sense that you might go through a physical withdraw when you cease to use them, they do not produce that instant "it's all better" feeling.

Just my experience and opinion talking here.

There are also other medications that have been proven to lessen the pain of fibromyalgia. Being a drug addict, I would much more inclined to try these instead of using drugs that I know will cause problems in my recovery. My body doesn't know the difference between using drugs for medicinal purposes and using the for recreation.

07-24-2008, 08:16 AM	#4 (permalink)
kmsj75 Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: houston, tx Posts: 42	I shared your opinion, and found a doctor that was willing to go the narcotic route (hence a large reason why I am in recovery today.) My experience was that while I did find the relief that you described, it went away after a while on the drug (hydrocodone.) I also have fibro. The problem was that I began to see a difference in how the drug made me feel. It had sort of a "speed" effect and then I would crash and have to take more. I also had to keep going up in dosage and strength, until it didn't work at all. I have had withdraw symptoms on both anti-depressants and narcotics. I'll take anti-depressants over narcotics anytime. There was no comparison. As far as describing anti-depressants for pain, studies have shown that a contributing factor in fibromyalgia is low levels of seritonin. Anti-depressants boosts those levels. As for people committing suicide on anti-depressants, it has to be taken into consideration why they were taking it to begin with. Of course there will be a higher rate of suicide- it is prescribed for depression and mental illness. I was also placed on klonopin for fibro, as it helps induce stage 4 sleep (another contributing factor in the syndrome.) I used it as prescribed, never really abused it, and had no idea I was addicted to it. Talk about bad withdraw- seizures, tremors that lasted for months, etc. Not worth it. I now take trazadone, which in not addictive. I'm not so sure that I would agree that anti-depressants are "addictive" just as narcotics are "addictive." In my mind, there is a huge difference. Narcotics are addictive because of the high they produce. While anti-depressants might be addictive in the sense that you might go through a physical withdraw when you cease to use them, they do not produce that instant "it's all better" feeling. Just my experience and opinion talking here. There are also other medications that have been proven to lessen the pain of fibromyalgia. Being a drug addict, I would much more inclined to try these instead of using drugs that I know will cause problems in my recovery. My body doesn't know the difference between using drugs for medicinal purposes and using the for recreation.