Vicodin + Bipolar II = BAD IDEA (venting)

[no name no slogan]

Crap, I can't believe I did this. How could I be so clueless?

I got a bad toothache over the past weekend, and went to see my dentist. Turns out I have an abscess, and need a root canal. He gave me some antibiotics for the infection and Vicodin for the pain.

The Vicodin has done nothing for the pain (ibuprofen works better- but I take lithium so I can't take too much of that). In fact, I think the Vicodin has sent me into a depressive episode.

I am sleeping 12-16 hrs a day, I have no appetite, I feel miserable, I can't concentrate on work, and I want to cry most of the time. My girlfriend is also sick with something and I think it may be because of me. She's very remote and uncommunicative about things. I know it's probably not my fault, but it feels like it is and that I'm the one to blame for everything.

God, I hate this feeling. I should have known to stay away from that stuff. I haven't taken the Vicodin in over 24 hours but I can still feel it. I wish it would go away.

[EFerrari]

1. You know, that happened to Doug, too. And he decompensated

bigtime. And after that was over, we both felt so dumb because we shudda seen it coming.:(

Imho, it's that category thing. "Physical health" over here, "mental health" over there.

I'm so sorry you are going through this but believe me, you are sure not the only one that has been caught flatfooted over this issue. :hug:

This stuff usually leaves your system in 48-72 hours, iirc. Until then, be so very good to you.

[no name no slogan]

2. Thanks-- that's good to know

I will NEVER take it again. I'd rather be in pain than have the crappy feeling Vicodin gives me.

I'm going to take it easy tonight. Seeing my girlfriend and watching videos and just taking it easy. I'm meeting her family for the first time next week and I'm a little nervous about that, too, which doesn't help.

[EFerrari]

3. That sounds like a good idea! And that family thing --

let's just save that for another day. :evilgrin:

best to you, nnns

[hedgehog]

4. I think a lot of the codeine type drugs are overrated as pain killers.

Ibuprofen works better and doesn't knock me flat.

[no name no slogan]

5. An update-- I think it's the antibiotics, too

My mom did some research on the tubes, and said that the antibiotics I was prescribed for the abscessed tooth may be the culprit, too. Last night, I slept nearly 14 hours. I was up for a total of seven hours today before I was completely exhausted and ready to head back to bed.

My mom also knows a psych nurse, who seconded the antibiotics theory. I've never had this issue with them before-- but then again, I've never taken this combination of meds for the bipolar, either.

I wish I would have known this. The last several days have been hellish. I've been fatigued, unable to do almost anything, missing work, and fighting with my girlfriend over trivial things. It would sure explain how crappy the last week has been.

Moral of the story: ALWAYS find out about drug interactions. You never know what can/will happen.

[EFerrari]

6. It's never happened to me but sure, I've had lots of friends

report that anti biotics make them feel badly.

I hope you're feeling better today, nnns.

[hunter]

7. It's always astonishing to me that people would take Vicodin for fun...

Vicodin just sucks the life right out of me, and it is so very unpleasant I'd usually rather be hurting. I've also heard that antibiotics and Vicodin together intensify those feelings of misery in people who do not tolerate Vicodin well.

Ah, what to do, what to do... I used to be able to take ibuprofen and other similar painkillers, yeah, Celebrex too, and they worked, but now they irritate my stomach so badly I have to avoid them.

I hope you are feeling better.

[no name no slogan]

8. Thanks, I'm getting there

I just spent the last few days at my mother's house, which is my "safe" place I can go to when I can't take care of myself. Mentally, I'm feeling better, but physically I'm still wiped out. I'm still sleeping 12-15 hours a day, and feel physically sore all over. I did go for a 3/4 mile walk yesterday and it nearly killed me (this coming from a guy who regularly runs 3 miles/day and bikes another 3 miles/day.

Thankfully, I've got the rest of the week off work and am going back part-time next week until I can kick this. I was really doing well, too, and it pisses me off to get derailed by something as trivial as this.

[SPKrazy]

9. Sounds terrible

I've had some pain problems myself and have taken flexeril, and darvocet for that pain on a fairly regular basis unfortunately. The pain is only mildly modified, and the flexeril makes me sleepy, and i've had to avoid it for days at a time because it seems to add to my irritability.

Ibuprofen, tylenol, aleve, all do little or nothing to take away this pain in my neck from cervical spine problems, and nerve compression. I have been trying to get in touch with my doctor to no avail to see if there is something that I could take that would be more helpful, and less zapping on my mood.

Since it is nerve pain, I'm thinking that neurontin might help, and it might actually enhance the antidepressant and/or help stabilize my mood more.

[Susang]

10. Neurontin has been a big help with my pain

I'm going on two years of constant pain from a severely herniated disc at L5/S1. Constant lower back pain, severe leg symptoms, tingling in my foot, etc., that's kept me on pain meds for 18 months of those 2 years. I tried Lyrica, it worked great for pain but I gained over 20 lbs in less than a month. I'm on a high dose of Neurontin now, and whenever I happen to run out of my meds for a few days, I definitely can notice the difference! So I would try Lyrica first if you can, it worked really well on my pain, but try Neurontin if you can't afford Lyrica. Neurontin comes in a generic.