Posted by 4WD on January 27, 2009, at 0:20:01
In reply to Re: Endogenous Depression Caused By Lack Of Endorphins » mav27, posted by Phillipa on January 26, 2009, at 20:17:27
Hi everyone,
I haven't posted for a while but the reason Phillipa is asking about it is because she and I have been emailing about it. My doctor (not my pdoc, my family doctor) has diagnosed me as having genetic or endogenous endorphin deficiency. I have just begun seeing an addictions specialist because I have been using opiods to get the endorphins to kick in and can't get off them because the withdrawal is so horrible - I fall into total, suicidal despair and because on opiates I feel energetic, motivated and happy. My depression goes away, my anxiety is cut by 9/10s and I generally feel like a normal person when I take Percocet. Trouble is, tolerance and my usage is getting out of hand.
The new doctor I am seeing will be treating me with Subutex or Suboxone. Which is better?
I definitely am a substance abuser - have been self medicating with narcotics off and on for years. Had three years of total abstinence March 05 through June 08 when I broke my back and had to be exposed to narcotics again. As soon as I started taking them, I felt normal again (depression persisted the whole time I was clean). So for the first couple of weeks after starting on Percocet I was able to take it as prescribed but then the whole craving/obsession thing was reawakened and I've been battling with it ever since.
The new doctor I am seeing held a seminar last week. I attended and he was talking about endorphins. I raised my hand and told him my doctor had diagnosed me with genetic endorphin deficiency. He told the class that my doctor was a very wise man who kept up with the literature because endogenous endorphin deficiency was on the cutting edge of neuroscience right now.
I truly believe that is what is wrong with me and been wrong with me all my life. I was put on ADs at age 13. The only times I've felt normal and whole was when I first started Geodon (lasted about 6 months then pooped out) and when I first started Nardil - got some mild hypomania for a few weeks, then went away and depression started returning. I was dealing with it the best I could then I broke my back and voila! problem solved. I had an excuse to take pain meds and my life and enjoyment of it returned to normal immediately. Unfortunately my abuse returned as well. Well, it's not really abuse, I guess, it's self medicating and needing more than originally prescribed because of tolerance issue.
I start the Subutex therapy on Thursday or Friday. Will post again and let you all know how it goes and if the doctor I am seeing for the subutex therapy has more to say about endorphin deficiency.
Marsha
poster:4WD
thread:875814
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20090104/msgs/876483.html