![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by CarolAnn on March 21, 2000, at 10:00:09
First, I haven't had time to join many threads, so kazoo and bob, I have to say how much I am enjoying your humorous posts! The tongue-in-cheek look is very attractive on you both!
Now a question to anyone: why can't they make an anti-depressant that makes a person feel as good as a narcotic? I'm on tylox(a painkiller)right now, for a recurrent condition, and as usual I am amazed at the feeling of well-being it gives me. I never feel "high" on the stuff, I just feel the kind of "wellness" that I imagine normal people get to feel most of the time. Anyone else have this experience? It makes me wonder if there would be so many drug addicts, if there could just be something legal that would give people a general feeling of well-being when they take it(I guess that sounds a little "Brave New World", though, doesn't it?). CarolAnn
Posted by Janice on March 21, 2000, at 11:24:36
In reply to under the influence...(and hi to kazoo bob), posted by CarolAnn on March 21, 2000, at 10:00:09
Hi CarolAnn,
I used to ask my psychiatrist the same question. He told me that the psychiatric field aimed to make patients a 'good average'--not quite stoned. And for most people, it can do that. We're just the left overs--so far unhelpable.
I had a friend who also loved her painkillers.
Hopefully someone more scientific will come along and give us a more satisfactory answer.take care, Janice
Posted by PattyG on March 21, 2000, at 13:29:25
In reply to under the influence...(and hi to kazoo bob), posted by CarolAnn on March 21, 2000, at 10:00:09
It makes me wonder if there would be so many
drug addicts, if there could just be something legal that would give people a general feeling of well-being when
they take it(I guess that sounds a little "Brave New World", though, doesn't it?). CarolAnn
I think it makes *perfect* sense. And I'm serious.
Posted by bob on March 21, 2000, at 18:30:30
In reply to Re: under the influence...(and hi to kazoo bob), posted by PattyG on March 21, 2000, at 13:29:25
> It makes me wonder if there would be so many
> drug addicts, if there could just be something legal that would give people a general feeling of well-being when
> they take it(I guess that sounds a little "Brave New World", though, doesn't it?). CarolAnnBeen there, doing that. It's called Lotto -- the new "Opiate of the Masses."
hi back atcha!
bob
Posted by KarenB on March 22, 2000, at 17:45:43
In reply to under the influence...(and hi to kazoo bob), posted by CarolAnn on March 21, 2000, at 10:00:09
CarolAnn,
I agree. I take Ultram for chronic pain and also use it to self medicate when the AD meds aren't completely doing their job (I'm just starting on new meds so I trust you know what I mean by that). It takes care of the pain and also smooths out the rough edges. It's not a narcotic and is non-addictive so my rationale is that it's better for me than, say, Xanax or Valium for anxiety. It makes me calmer, in a non-drugged, non-sleepy way yet is sedating. It also gives me a good kind of base energy (hard to describe) that allows me to force my sluggish butt do my exercise video, even when depression has me physically exhausted for no good reason.
I wonder if my pdoc would think I was nuts for asking if he could prescribe this for anxiety. Probably. He's a real by-the-book kind of guy and that's starting to get on my nerves...
K
Posted by Linda on March 22, 2000, at 20:48:58
In reply to Re: under the influence, posted by KarenB on March 22, 2000, at 17:45:43
Hi CarolAnn & Karen,
I know exactly what you mean - I have chronic shoulder pain that I have taken hydrocodone & ultram for (at different times) and they both have given me that "sense of wellbeing" - and added energy with Ultram. Karen, Ultram is showing itself to be a habit-forming drug & one of the company's drug reps just recently told me that there is a move to place it on a controlled list - really a shame because it works so well for chronic pain. It's important to be carefull with Ultram & psychotropic meds (esp SSRIs) because they can interact. The reason narcotics are not given for this nice side effect is because a quick tolerance developes & it takes increasing amounts of med to achieve the same result - which is usually true of any addictive substance. Its a real bummer to have chronic pain on top of depression - I wish there was a "magic bullet" too! You might also keep in mind that when you ask a doc for a controlled substance, they will almost always label you as having drug seeking behavior. That's really a shame, too, because many of us know just what works. I try to keep this in mind when my patients ask for controlled meds - it is sometimes really difficult to identify those with a real (or potential) drug problem & we have to be careful not to contribute to a new problem! Life is never easy, is it?? Linda
Posted by michael on March 25, 2000, at 0:33:23
In reply to Re: under the influence, posted by KarenB on March 22, 2000, at 17:45:43
> CarolAnn,
>
> I agree. I take Ultram for chronic pain and also use it to self medicate when the AD meds aren't completely doing their job (I'm just starting on new meds so I trust you know what I mean by that). It takes care of the pain and also smooths out the rough edges. It's not a narcotic and is non-addictive so my rationale is that it's better for me than, say, Xanax or Valium for anxiety. It makes me calmer, in a non-drugged, non-sleepy way yet is sedating. It also gives me a good kind of base energy (hard to describe) that allows me to force my sluggish butt do my exercise video, even when depression has me physically exhausted for no good reason.
>
> I wonder if my pdoc would think I was nuts for asking if he could prescribe this for anxiety. Probably. He's a real by-the-book kind of guy and that's starting to get on my nerves...
>
> K
Karen -Just wondering if you encountered any problems w/interactions between the ultram & sulpiride that you're aware of?
michael
Posted by KarenB on March 25, 2000, at 14:21:38
In reply to Re: under the influence, posted by michael on March 25, 2000, at 0:33:23
> Just wondering if you encountered any problems w/interactions between the ultram & sulpiride that you're aware of?
>
> michaelNone whatsoever, Michael.
Karen
Posted by FP on April 2, 2000, at 23:55:15
In reply to under the influence...(and hi to kazoo bob), posted by CarolAnn on March 21, 2000, at 10:00:09
1. Anything that impacts postively on on body's enodphin system is addictive. That's just the way we're made.
2. The ARE legal ways get Tylox like products, and I was addicted to them for many years, with - I thought - no seeming side effects.
3. Evenutally they stopped working; then I was up s**ts creek.
3a. They are the wrong direction for a depressive to be going anyway - constantly wondering, "do I feel happy ENOUGH?"
3b. Also, my interest in other people dropped off to zero. I can't tell you how thrilled my wife was about this.
3c. Prolonged use, w/o sleeping pills, will f-up your sleep somehthing serious. Read DeQuincy's "Confessions of an English Opium Eater" for the full monty.
Moral: be careful what you wish for...
FP
Posted by Cam W. on April 3, 2000, at 0:27:49
In reply to Re: under the influence...(and hi to kazoo bob), posted by FP on April 2, 2000, at 23:55:15
FP - Couldn't agree with you more about opiates. I think DeQuincy's book should be recommended reading in rehab. It is really interesting how his attitude changed over the years it took to write the book.To put words into DeQuincy's mouth, "I want to be what I was when I wanted to be what I am today." - Cam W.
Posted by PattyG on April 3, 2000, at 10:29:19
In reply to Re: under the influence...(and hi to kazoo bob), posted by Don on March 27, 2000, at 13:20:05
> I've recently started adding neurontin to Wellbutrin SR for mood disorder/anxiety and am experiencing similar feelings of well-being that I experienced while taking hydrocodone. Don't know whether that is a typical reaction, but for now, it seems to be working.
>
> Don
So is it that particular combination or would neurontin added to other AD's work too? One wonders.................PattyG
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.