[neo-havic]

Hey Robert and Melinda, I posted back a couple of months ago about how I was scared of being on the Norco for my pain from RA, and how I was afraid that I was an addict and all that. Well I just wanted to follow up with you guys and maybe get some encouragement as well. I went about 45 days with no pain killers, then we started getting some cold snaps here and my pain just skyrocketed, so needless to say, I had to take something so I wasnt curled up in a ball in pain, so I started taking what little of the Norco I had left. I took em for about 12 days, 1-2 a day, 1 every 6 hours just like the bottle said to. When I felt my pain starting to get bad, I'd take them before it got worse, which made me feel really guilty, like why was I taking them? Was the pain really going to get worse? I wasnt looking for a high, I just wanted to not be uncomfortable... during that time I was able to get back my insurance, saw a Rheumatologist, and was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia as well. So now im on Nortryptaline and Meloxicam for pain, which does a fair job, and im tapering off of the 12 or so days of 1-2 Norco every 6 hours by 1/4 every three days. Ive also seen a psych who put me on Celexa for the anxiety and ativan for panic attacks as needed, which I take usually .5mg once a day, cuz Im scared of those too... Ever since Ive been trying to get off the Norco Ive been a panicky mess... too afraid to stick with pain medication,

[neo-havic]

to afraid to be in pain constantly... im depressed to have another condition thrown on top of the RA... I just dont know what to do... Ive had no withdrawals thank god, but im so scared that when i finish the last of the taper i will, and i wont sleep for another 11 days... Im going to make an appointment with a therapist... hopefully they can help, but i really need some kind words right now... thank you so much. Just wanted to throw in that ive had my mom hold all of my ativan and norco, and have been 100% accountable to her, something im proud of, even though she knew of how much i was taking before hand.

[Robert_325]

neo-havic ...... I remember you well. I think that I told you I have RA as well and when cold rainy weather hits especially my pain goes off the chart. I have learned to deal with lots of pain. I'm likely looking at my 6th knee surgery soon as well.

I'm really happy to hear that you're seeing a rheumatologist. That's exactly where you belong with the RA and of course Fibro is also an autoimmune disease just like the RA and that is the specialty of a rheumy. I'm curious what the rheumatologist said about actual meds to stop the joint damage caused by RA. Did you get any advice on that? My concern is that you get medication that will help your disease rather than just medication to help with the pain. So what's the scoop on RA meds? God bless.

[neo-havic]

Im on 20mgs of methotrexate and 200mg plaquinil twice a day... ive only been on the MTX for 3 months, and the plaq for 8 months, have maybe a 30% decrease in symptoms... dr say the MTX could take up to 6 months to fully work so im hopefull... in the meantime I feel ive reached rock bottom depression and anxiety wise... I hate what the Norco has done to me... it works so well for the pain, but kills me in every other way. When i saw the doc he asked if i took anything for the pain, and I laid it all out for him about the wd's and how I was taking them, and he said if you need 'em take 'em, and I could have asked for more but I didnt cuz I want far away from these pills... I live in California so ive been thinking about medical marijuana, but I stop and question myself if its for pain or to escape myself? I dont know anymore... I dont want to be an addict and have to depend on drugs to make me feel human... I dont even like being on the Celexa... but I dont like being in pain and depressed all of the time either... Im crying so hard as I type this, I really dont know what to do

[Robert_325]

Neo-havic .... you're taking 20mg of methotrexate daily? Does that make you have nausea? I hate methotrexate even though I take it too as needed, and it's normally taken only once each week in a higher dose. I've also taken it daily as the large weekly doses made me really sick. Methotrexate is also a chemotherapy drug, hence the accompanying nausea we sometimes feel. It could also be partially to blame for your emotions being on edge especially in combination with the Plaquenil.

Plaquenil is a commonly used med for RA when the rheumy chooses oral medications in lieu of the injection drugs like embrel, remicade, humira, etc. Plaquenil can have some adverse side effects as well. When we are treating serious illnesses like RA it's tough to find effective meds without some potentially adverse side effects. Drs have to watch your liver counts closely and other side effects with regular blood work and tests. These are serious medications, not to scare you, just to make you aware that these are medications where being prudent is to your advantage. Here are some of the side effects of this medication. See if any of them apply to you. And this list of side effects comes right from drugs.com drug information.



Side effects of treatment for lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis may include:
Abdominal cramps, abnormal eye pigmentation, acne, anemia, bleaching of hair, blind spots, blisters in mouth and eyes, blood disorders, blurred vision, convulsions, decreased vision, diarrhea, difficulty focusing the eyes, diminished reflexes, dizziness, emotional changes, excessive coloring of the skin, eye muscle paralysis, "foggy vision," halos around lights, headache, hearing loss, heart problems, hives, involuntary eyeball movement, irritability, itching, light flashes and streaks, light intolerance, liver problems or failure, loss of hair, loss or lack of appetite, muscle paralysis, muscle weakness and wasting, nausea, nervousness, nightmares, psoriasis (dry, scaly, red skin patches), reading difficulties, ringing in the ears, skin eruptions, skin inflammation and scaling, skin rash, vertigo, vomiting, weariness, weight loss


I think from what you've said that some of what you're going through appear to potentially be related to the meds you're taking. I'm not saying to stop them, but I think it merits talking with the rheumatologist about how you're feeling. I would never say to blow off what your rheumatologist says as I have lots of respect for their level of knowledge in the area of autoimmune diseases. My rheumy saved me when other drs seemed to be trying to kill me. But I would still certainly be my own advocate and if I was suffering from these side effects I would be sure that the rheumy was aware of the problems. There are alternatives available that might work better for you. I will leave that call to the rheumy. I've done LOTS of studying on autoimmune diseases and am confident of what I'm saying. I will hold my own with knowledge even with most professionals in my opinion. But I won't take on a rheumatologist unless they are doing something that is obviously wrong.

I suggest that you call the rheumatologist's nurse and explain the problems and what you've read. Even tell them what I've quoted as I know what I've told you is accurate. So they shouldn't have any problem with thinking you're being a problem patient or anything like that. Then let the nurse make the call if you need to go in and see the dr. The head nurses that run the rheumatologist's office have lots of knowledge as a rule. I would spill my guts and see what the nurse says. You can always insist on an appointment as there is nothing wrong with looking out for your own best interest. If you don't do it no one else will. If you believe you need to see the dr then insist on it. You're a paying customer. Don't allow any medical professional to push you aside.

I hope this helps you, and please let me know how things work out. I get very concerned and involved when people have autoimmune disease-related problems. It's kind of my personal study hobby since I have similar problems too. Let me know how it works out. God bless.

[neo-havic]

lol no no no 20 mgs of MTX once a week with 200 mgs of plaquinil twice a day.... i worded that badly. i never thought that it might be the RA meds causing this... i assumed it was the norco. I just really feel like im addicted to anything that makes me feel better and lead a normal life. The norco did that. I never had any social or personal problems while on it, despite me taking it wrong. I keep waffling back and forth between should I be on it, should i not, am i an addict, am i not, am i a weak person, or just someone who wants to feel normal... thanks for the words robert and the advice. Its nice to know someone at understands at lest some of what Im going through.

[Robert_325]

Well I'm glad to hear that. Freakin 20mg of methotrexate in a day is more than I've ever heard of in my life so that really freaked me out. I was kind of in awe when you said that, I'm glad you corrected the post and put my mind at ease a little bit.

I still think though that if you're having some of the symptoms you've described that you should mention it to the rheumy's nurse and see if they think you need to talk with the dr. Just being safe, and sometimes that's the best way to go. God bless.

[neo-havic]

Thanks Robert for your advice. I called the nurse and she wasnt sure about the meds causing severe depression, but she left a note for the doc and hes supposed to get back to me. In the mean time, i took an ativan, and am feeling MUCH better, able to think again... I have an appointment with a therapist tomorrow as well, so im hopefull that I can get these fears of addiction out of my head once and for all... I just gotta stop scaring myself into these panic attacks, and learn to deal with the pain again. Its hard being 23 and having two extremely painful conditions, and a host a psychological disorders to contend with as well, all while trying to balance trying to get into medical school! This has been a valuable lesson to me however when I do start practicing medicine... tell you what Robert, when im a doctor, come see me, ill see if cant help you out for all the ways you've helped me and so many others! Seriously, you deserve a medal or something...