I would think that since the opiate receptors are being filled with an opiate that an antidepressant couldn't work. My doctor gave me zoloft. Larsy1966
Can an antidepressant still work if your taking suboxone or any other opiate?
Question posted by Larsy1966 on 5 Feb 2011
Last updated on 8 February 2011 by jriojas33
6 Answers
Definatly take the Zoloft, It will work!! Sucoxone binds to and interacts with other receptors, so they won't affect each other. Besides that Zoloft is a mood stabilizer, and who doesn't need a little help with that when they are getting clean? Most of all your doctor thinks you need it so take it and enjoy having your liofe back!!
My doctor explained to me that suboxone is designed to work as an anti-depressant as well. And it does help me with depression. I used to take anti-depressants and they made me feel really strange. My sub doctor took me off of them and I feel much better. But hey maybe they're just not for me ya know? It may be just me and how my brain functions but he told me it wasn't really necessary to take both since subs have something in them that acts as an anti-depressant. But I'm no doctor. And everyone is different and some people need different things. I'm not trying to tell you to stop no no. This is just what both of my doctors have told me. And you should be fine with them. There is no problem taking both together.
Yes they will work, a low dose worked for me. Each person handles the anti d's differently. I just answered your other question, wish I had seen this first. I am sick with a really really bad cold, forgive me for being slow on the draw here. Personally, I can only take low doses of anti d's, but it works. I am so glad you are using a specialist during your treatment. You also need support and we will be glad to help. Sometimes quitting opiates can seem so bleak and desolate we thing we will never get better, but you will. Make sure you have some support and at least try the anti depressant you were prescribed. Exercise may help produce some endorphins that might help as well, those are the feel good chemicals the brain produces, but start slowly so you won't get sore and quit.
Welcome back Patti!! SL told me you were sick :-( Hope you are staring to feel a bit better? Happy to see you posting again.
Take care,
chris
I know there are lots of receptors in the brain but the ones that give you natural highs are the ones that opiates can wreck. They told me that it's going to take awhile (up to a year) to feel better emotionally because the opiate receptors have to start working again on their own. I'm afraid to try the zoloft. This is how I got into this whole mess to begin with. We tried almost every antidepressant and nothing worked but when I told my psychiatrist that when I take hydrocodone (every once in awhile back then for headaches) that I felt better emotionally so he said I'm so glad you told me that because I know what the problem is now. He said that my opiate receptors were not working properly and he gave me suboxone. Now my life is really ruined. I did have bad anxiety and depression before all this but I was at least able to function. Thank you so much for your feedback :) Larsy1966
I see your doc's thinking in this. Suboxone CAN help heal the receptor sites. The problem is it's so addicting and the doc's fall for what the pharma co. says about subs being easy to come off of. Wouldn't it be great having a doc who actually took the meds they prescribe? Well, maybe not but at least they would know the effects they have. What about a dual acting antiD? I know effexor is one but very, very HARD to come off of too. Maybe at a low dose of 37mg? I think that's the starting dose. I was up to 300mg and had to quit cold turkey! That was the worst month of my life (next to my accident) I really hope you can find something soon. Take care.
chris
Larsy,
Check drugs A to Z on this site, see if your anti-d is an SNRI, and check if it affects dopamine? SNRI's work well for people with anxiety issues. Pamelor worked great for me during my cold turkey WD off Oxy.
But the dopamine stuff turned me into instant witch!!! I was so cranky that my family hated to be around me, I also hated to be near me!! lol
Lara
Dear Larsy,
There are many receptors on your brain cells. Antidepressants work much differently than opiates. Anti D's keep certain chemicals from being uptaked by the receptors They do not block them like the opiates. I recommend you take the zoloft as prescribed along with your other meds.
Contact me if you wish to talk,
Laurie
yes.
Related topics
suboxone, zoloft, depression, opiate dependence, opiate
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