Opiod Dependence 304.00 Diagnosis

[betrayed 2]

I saw a non VA Shrink (M.D.) who diagnosed me with severe depression and opiod dependence. I am sending his pyschiatric assesment to the VA as evidence in my case to get my depression rating increased. I am letting the cat out of the bag and dont know what to expect......................I have read the DSM-IV Criteria for the diagnosis and I meet it......... :D

[john999 978]

I wonder if opiod dependence is going to make much difference in a depression claim? I know it is a symptom of chronic pain disorder. You know that opiods are depressants so they do aggravate depression. Tell me if it helps because I have the same problem due to chronic pain. I take morphine and oxycodone. I am also slightly dependent on some sedatives for sleep.

[BoonDoc 0]

I saw a non VA Shrink (M.D.) who diagnosed me with severe depression and opiod dependence. I am sending his pyschiatric assesment to the VA as evidence in my case to get my depression rating increased. I am letting the cat out of the bag and dont know what to expect......................I have read the DSM-IV Criteria for the diagnosis and I meet it......... :D

My doctor was telling me that my chronic opiod use may be causing me to have more depression. Thing is I had the depression prior to opiate use. I do know that the chronic pain does make you depressed.

I do know that this happens, so it may be somethin that will help me too.

Yesterday, I went to my private doc (who is part owner of the VA outpatient Cl. I go to also) wrote migraines, depression/anxiety and underlined "chronic pain" I didn't remember about the aspect of the chronic pain med use util you mentioned it.

Are you afraid of having your medication cut back...that's my big fear, I can't live with the amount of pain that I have without using my meds. I can can't walk without it. And evn with the opiates I hurt so bad sometimes I wake up in the night feeling like I've been in a kick boxing fight all night, and lost!

It took me so many years to get proper pain meds (as it does for most of us) for migraines, and spondylothropthy, arthritis, etc. that I take my pain meds very serious.

I'm sure that you have considered and pondered this for sometime, and have made the best decision based on your factors. I wish you the best, and hope that you get it raised.

I'm going to go check out the reference that you mentioned.

Boondoc

Edited September 21, 2006 by BoonDoc

[john999 978]

Boondoc

I went cold turkey in a VAMC nut ward because the doctors would not continue my prescription for vicodin or anything else. It was bad and I won't go back inside the VAMC as an inpatient if I can help it. I never say never. When my neck pain starts up nothing really helps except maybe an injection of morphine.

[BoonDoc 0]

Boondoc

I went cold turkey in a VAMC nut ward because the doctors would not continue my prescription for vicodin or anything else. It was bad and I won't go back inside the VAMC as an inpatient if I can help it. I never say never. When my neck pain starts up nothing really helps except maybe an injection of morphine.

I went cold turkey off xanax back in 1995, but I was given methadone for pain, and I had the edge cut off. Man I can't imagine going cold turkey off my pain meds! Does the thought of taking pain meds bother . I won't ever take tranquilizers on a routine basis, unless something changes...I do take a Valium under the tounge before my son's basketball game so I can stand to be around the crowd.

Have you come up wuth some good info on the opiates causing depression yet? I'm getting ready to research it myself.

Boondoc

Corpsman up

[betrayed 2]

Have you come up wuth some good info on the opiates causing depression yet? I'm getting ready to research it myself.

Boondoc

Corpsman up

Its in the DSM-IV, you guys would be doing yourself a big favor if you went to the public library and checked one out like I did, if you cant go yourself get a friend or family member to. I am going to buy one IT IS INVALUABLE !

I went cold turkey of oxycontin 20 mg and Oxycodone (tylox) for break through. I was ruff but I made it, dont want to do it again. Having a talk with my pysch tomorrow and told him to get my PCM from General Medicine to attend because I want to talk about pain management.

We are gonna talk about my label of opiod dependent and my continuation with Fentanyl patches and Oxycodone if appropriate

[BoonDoc 0]

Its in the DSM-IV, you guys would be doing yourself a big favor if you went to the public library and checked one out like I did, if you cant go yourself get a friend or family member to. I am going to buy one IT IS INVALUABLE !

I went cold turkey of oxycontin 20 mg and Oxycodone (tylox) for break through. I was ruff but I made it, dont want to do it again. Having a talk with my pysch tomorrow and told him to get my PCM from General Medicine to attend because I want to talk about pain management.

We are gonna talk about my label of opiod dependent and my continuation with Fentanyl patches and Oxycodone if appropriate

I'm familiar with the DSM-iv, but didn't use it as LPO of Sick Call, we refered them to down the hall to see the psychologist for testing. I'll go check one out, or try to find it online.

I was a little disappointed when my doctor underlined Chronic Pain on the patient check out form that i had migraines causing anxiety and depression. Maybe I was not looking at it from this angle. He told me that chronic opiate use could cause depression, as well as the migraines/chronic pain. I've been on opiates for the past 10 years.

I'm looking for a social worker or shrink to go for testing, and counseling for all of this.

Another piece of ammo...thanks for bringing it up

Boondoc

[john999 978]

I think there is no question that using opiods can cause depression over time. I think if you went to google and put in opiods and depresssion you would find information on this subject. I was using ambien and clonazepam to help me sleep at night and I stopped taking it. I could not sleep for two days. I am using benedryl now to get back to normal if that is possible. Morphine keeps me awake and screws up my gut. All narcotics interfer with my sleep and keep me awake. Sleep deprivations can cause depression.

[BoonDoc 0]

I think there is no question that using opiods can cause depression over time. I think if you went to google and put in opiods and depresssion you would find information on this subject. I was using ambien and clonazepam to help me sleep at night and I stopped taking it. I could not sleep for two days. I am using benedryl now to get back to normal if that is possible. Morphine keeps me awake and screws up my gut. All narcotics interfer with my sleep and keep me awake. Sleep deprivations can cause depression.

Have you ever tried melatonin before to try to sleep?

Boondoc

[john999 978]

Boondoc

Yes, the melatonin did not help me. I took Rozeram and that is like a hormone and it did not help me.

[betrayed 2]

how about trazodone