Pain meds to treat anxiety

[crzychic]

I have anxiety disorder (not GAD or free floating) and had a complete breakdown when I was 29.  I took Paxil for several years and it helped me, but I hated the side effects--horrible night sweats, sexual issues, and the general problem with SSRI's--I dont think I cried for many years..you just lose those highs and lows, and of course the worst thing...getting off of it was impossible.  I had a prescription for hydrocodone (pain pills) and took those everyday when I quit the Paxil--they were not prescribed for anxiety.  It worked!!  I didnt have any of the psycho feelings and dizzyness I normally felt when I missed two or three days of Paxil.  The problem was running out of pain meds.  Right now, I am scraping along, close to having a nervous breakdown, just getting by.  I am going to start taking Effexor as I understand its a lot easier to come off of...but I was wondering why not just try taking the pain medicine instead?  I dont know any doctor that would prescribe it for anxiety, but why not?  It worked for me.  I guess what I want to know is, has anyone else experienced this or know anything about this?

[lkb]

I don't know anything about pain medication, but did the Paxil make you happy and you live your life normally?  Why did you go off?  The side effects?  I don't think I cried much on Effexor either when I got well, but I was happy.........this time it's just taking the Effexor longer.

[apple]

I take pain meds for my fibromyalgia.  Yes they also help with the anxiety.  However...the narcotic ones risk chance of dependance or addiction.  With codiene it gives me a little high..of course I feel good.  The doc will not give me many because I could very easily abuse them. I know that about myself already.  So I am on a different pain med that is not so risky.

[nevergoback]

Yes for many people this will work, but narcotics (including hydrocodone) are extremely addictive. Of course, so is Xanax and even other benzos are to a lesser extent. This is probably not a road to go down, as you're already "running out." Ask your doctor about Ativan or Klonopin, and using one of those in combination with a controller is probably the better way to go.