CNS stimulants, Ritalin, Adderall, Provigil, dextroamphetamines, even mixes of them just dont work. I broke my leg, was prescribed hydrocodone 10- 325s. I had never felt so awake in my life since Narcolepsy! I am 47 and was diagnosed when I was 23. It was an amazing feeling! I could stay awake for a movie, or car ride! I could just " stay awake"! No fast heartbeat, or crashing! No anxious feelings. They were truly a blessing.
Has anyone heard of opiates for treatment of Narcolepsy? CNS stimulants just dont work at all?
- Posted:
- 5 Sep 2011 by booanjel
- Topics:
- adderall, provigil, ritalin, narcolepsy, dextroamphetamine, hydrocodone, opiate, stimulant
Answers (6)
5 Sep 2011
Hey booanjel,
I have never heard of a doctor prescribing opiates for narcolepsy but I have heard of opiates affecting people the way they do you, keeping them awake rather than the more common making them drowsy. Only problem is going to be getting a doctor to prescribe an opiate longterm without an ongoing pain need. Have to discuss this one with your doc.
Best wishes,
Laurie
6 Sep 2011
I have the exact same reaction you described when using hydro 10-325's. Several CNS stimulants put me in a narcolepsy state. If I don't fall asleep, I'm too exhausted to accomplish anything. This condition appears to be true for most of my family members also.
Having said this, I agree with the response previous to mine. It is a very bad idea to take any opiate-type drug daily and/or long term. Due to a spinal infection I have been in the position of using pain killers daily and the body does begin to react differently to the drugs. I'm not speaking merely of tolerance, which of course is a concern, but there are many other factors. How your body reacts to those wonderful little 10-325's will unfortunately change.
It really sucks, but it is what it is. I have never found a remedy other then vigilant self-care.
Good luck,
Sudaw - 58 y/o, female.
9 Sep 2011
Hydrocodone is a more "speedy" form of opiate, like it's cousin Oxycodone. I wouldn't recommend taking opiates for ADHD, because of the addiction potential. I realize stimulants have the same addiction potential, but what you described "I had never felt so awake in my life " sounds like you were experiencing Euphoria, which doctors don't like.
It would be nigh on impossible to convince any doctor to treat a patient with an opiate for Narcolepsy, unless you found a very unique doctor.
Have you tried Desoxyn or Adderall? Desoxyn is pharmaceutical grade methamphetamine and many ADHD patients claim it is a god-send and helps them without the negative effects of other stimulants. I'd ask your doctor to try Desoxyn before asking for an opiate (you could get labeled an "opiate seeker" if you ask for an opiate for ADHD).
11 Sep 2011
i am on opana 40 mg.er. 4 times daily and oxycodone 30 mg. ir 8 times daily so i have been around the pain management community,i don't think you will get dr.to even think about that one.he will struggle at not laughing at you or becoming irrate at you.
you would have a better chance at scoring your vic's.at the liquor store down the street.
i got labeled numerous times because medications don't seem to work on me and the amount of opiates i am currently taking should have killed me because i am struggling to hit 140 lbs anymore and there is days i will take all 8 of the oxy's at one time when my spinal cord acts up...
17 Sep 2011
I am 29 and have been living with narcolepsy all of my adult life. I am currently prescribed 400mg of Provigil, 300mg of Welbutrin, and 10mg of Ambien. The Ambien is obviously to help me sleep through the night. Even with all of these meds, I get very little relief from EDS and cataplexy. A couple of years ago I began using hydrocodone to help stay awake. I only use it on days that are very important to stay awake for, like work meetings, family functions, or days that my usual sleep pattern just isn't an option. I usually take it once or twice a week. It is very effective for staying awake, and makes it much easier to sleep through the night. It doesn't seem to help the cataplexy. I am not prescribed hydrocodone. On the days I take it I use about 15-20mg to stay awake through the day. The wakefulness last long after any euphoria, or high would be causing.
7 Oct 2011
"Back when was a kid" in the early 80's & first diagnosed with narcolepsy, my neurologist sent me to Univ. Pa. Medical Center where a neurologist was prescribing codeine for narcolepsy. Sleep medicine was very new back then. I tried it--it did keep me awake (with horrible constipation side-effect), although I felt like a zombie or a robot with the "on" button stuck on. Had to go on in my search for a better treatment.
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