Anti-depressants vs. painkillers...?

Question

Why is it when I take painkillers I feel more normal than if I take my anti-depressants, i.e.: Prozac, etc.?

Answer 1

pain killers work on your dopamine center. Which is your pleasure center. They can make you fell less depressed however over time you will need more of the drug to get the same felling and then you will not be able to get the feeling at all. Once you have burned out your dopamine center you can not fix it which could lead to life long depression.

Answer 2

Prozac (or dose) is probably not working for you. Could be that you also are dealing with anxiety since you say pain killers make you feel more normal. If that's it, there are better meds that do not lead to psychosis and addiction like pain meds do. Also, if you've been on prozac for more than two months and are at a mid-range dosage, I'd make an appointment to see a psychiatrist instead of a gp. They are the doctors that specialize in meds for depression, anxiety, etc., and are more apt to get you on the right stuff quicker than a gp.

Answer 3

First of all, were you diagnosed by a doctor? What type of painkillers and how many do you take. Maybe prozac is not the right type of anti depressant. Ask for Paxil. It is wonderful.

Answer 4

First of all, antidepressants and pain killers manage different problems. Antidepressants take a long time to become "therapeutic". This means that you need to be on them for weeks to stabilize your emotional state.

This medication can only be obtain by perscription after being seen by a doctor and diagnosed with the depression or anxiety that the medication would treat. It takes a long time for it to get to the right blood level and it takes a couple days for it to totally leave your system when you stop taking it. You should never just stop taking any medication like this 'cold turkey'. Always speak to your doctor first.

About Depression Medication: http://depression.about.com/od/depressionmedication1/

Pain medication, on the other hand, is usually a short acting medicine (this is referring to the typical over-the-counter medicine). It takes about an hour or so to become "therapeutic". That means it starts managing your pain after about 1 to 2 hours. But then after 4 to 6 hours (usually) it is out of your system entirely. Pain medicine manages pain NOT your emotional state of depression or anxiety.

About Pain medication/analgesia: http://arthritis.about.com/od/analgesic/g/analgesic.htm

So, feeling normal after taking pain medicine only works if it is pain you are feeling.... NOT depression.

Never self-medicate except for over-the-counter medicine... and then ONLY AS PER THE INSTRUCTIONS on the bottle.

Answer 5

i dont have an answer for you but, i do the same as you, as does my sister, as does my best friend, as does her mom, see, your not alone. personally, i don't think it has to do with the anti depp. not being the right one, i know what you mean about the feeling normal- the feeling i get from painkillers is like a burst of glee

Answer 6

painkillers can actually be a depressant.....and even cause psychosis in some cases (or make it worse if you already have it)

you are probably on the wrong antidepressant...... sometimes it takes several tries to get it right...talk to your doctor.....

Answer 7

your anti-depressants arent working properly.
switch to another type.

Answer 8

Prozac side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any signs of an allergic reaction to Prozac: skin rash or hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Report any new or worsening symptoms to your doctor, such as: mood or behavior changes, anxiety, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, or if you feel impulsive, irritable, agitated, hostile, aggressive, restless, hyperactive (mentally or physically), more depressed, or have thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself.
Call your doctor at once if you have:
- blurred vision, tunnel vision, eye pain or swelling, or seeing halos around lights;
- high levels of serotonin in the body - agitation, hallucinations, fever, fast heart rate, overactive reflexes, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of coordination, fainting;
- low levels of sodium in the body - headache, confusion, slurred speech, severe weakness, vomiting, loss of coordination, feeling unsteady;
- severe nervous system reaction - very stiff (rigid) muscles, high fever, sweating, confusion, fast or uneven heartbeats, tremors, feeling like you might pass out; or
- severe skin reaction - fever, sore throat, swelling in your face or tongue, burning in your eyes, skin pain, followed by a red or purple skin rash that spreads (especially in the face or upper body) and causes blistering and peeling.
Common Prozac side effects may include:
- sleep problems (insomnia), strange dreams;
- headache, dizziness, vision changes;
- tremors or shaking, feeling anxious or nervous;
- pain, weakness, yawning, tired feeling;
- upset stomach, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea;
- dry mouth, sweating, hot flashes;
- changes in weight or appetite;
- stuffy nose, sinus pain, sore throat, flu symptoms; or
- decreased sex drive, impotence, or difficulty having an orgasm.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
See also: Side effects (in more detail)


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