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The Depression Ambiguity

K

KingConvenience

Bluelighter
Joined
Nov 9, 2007
Messages
101
So I went to the chemist to get a script filled for Efexor (an SNRI AD) and also asked for a packet of panafen plus for a fracture (12.8mg codeine & 200mg ibuprofen). The pharmacist gave me a massive lecture on how one shouldn't be taking the two together due to codeine being a "depressant" and this will counteract the "anti-depressants" and make me "depressed".

It might just be me but I thought my depression was due to a perceived lack of serotonin/noradrenalin and not because my body was functioning at a slower level as in neurons being depressed, and hence there would be no negative interaction with the two. In fact my "feel sad depression" LOVES and is greatly improved by the "slowed body depression" (ie: codeine/opiates).

SO do opiates like codeine slow the release of serotonin or something?? Makes no sense otherwise.
 
The pharmacist gave me a massive lecture on how one shouldn't be taking the two together due to codeine being a "depressant" and this will counteract the "anti-depressants" and make me "depressed".
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sounds like he was talking down to you like you're some kind of idiot. he probably thought you were gonna try to get high on the codeine, and felt that was a bad idea. he should have explained his position more professionally.

if he really believes what he said, he should loose his license.
 
Glad to see I'm not delirious. I also read somewhere that higher dosages of SNRIs can have an impact on dopamine levels? Could this be what he was referring to? I guess not likely as they were only 75mg.
 
An SNRI could have some slight effect on dopamine, but not enough to call it a DRI, SDRI, SDNRI, etc. So no, its negligible, and not what he was referring to.
He's just retarded.
 
Effexor doesn't inhibit the reuptake of dopamine until you're up to 300mg a day.

It doesn't even bother with norepinephrine until 150-200mg/day. At 75mg you are effectively taking an SSRI.
 
I think the whole "depressants make you depressed" cliche is absolute garbage.

Addiction to depressants may make you depressed, but taking them periodically? Not at all.

CNS depressants produce more euphoria than dysphoria.
 
It's a simple confusion of two different meanings of the verb "to depress".

Captain obvious to the rescue!
 
Also, codeine isn't a depressant--it is an opiate. Yes, it will depress the CNS, but it isn't a depressant.

Depressants can sometimes cause one to be more liable, and can cause one to get depressed if taken in large quantities and then had something happen that caused them to adopt a crappy mood. I am pretty sure you have seen those people who start crying while drinking for the stupidest things.

However, in general, I have thought that opiates tend to alleviate depression more than exacerbate it. Therefore, what he says is hogwash. As ham said, addiction to it will cause depression, but while on the drug, you feel fine.

Nullify the effects--I call shenadigans. If so, tramadol wouldn't have antidepressant properties at all, because the SSRI effects would be taken over by the "depressant" effects of the synthetic opiate.

Sometimes pharmacists don't know that much. I have definitely had them comment on the fact that I get ritalin and sleeping pills. They were like--if you didn't take so much ritalin, you wouldn't need the sleeping pills. I respond to them by telling them that a) sometimes my ritalin helps me sleep and doesn't actually keep me up that much, and b) I have sometimes taken breaks from my ritalin, and I was still unable to sleep. He meant well, but he didn't understand all the circumstances of the situation.
 
Also, codeine isn't a depressant--it is an opiate. Yes, it will depress the CNS, but it isn't a depressant.
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The very definition of a depressant is a substance that depresses activity in the CNS. As opposed to stimulants, which, well, stimulate activity in the CNS.

It doesn't describe substances that will make you sad.

Sometimes pharmacists don't know that much.
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Yeah, I hate when that happens. I once went to try and buy some codeine from a pharmacy I hadn't been to before, got put through the Spanish Inquisition by some lady who was trying to tell me codeine is one of the most 'powerful opioids' around. I accidentally opened my mouth and told her that codeine is piss weak and it's effects come from it being metabolized to morphine in the liver. And guess what? She didn't believe me! And still sold me the codeine!
 
if that were true then docs would be prescribing meth for depression, and as temporary a help that might be...... it's not really a treatment i would like.
 
if that were true then docs would be prescribing meth for depression, and as temporary a help that might be...... it's not really a treatment i would like.
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Why wouldn't meth help with depression, regardless of the stupid pharmacist's ideas in the original post or whether docs are prescribing it for that? They prescribe it for extreme ADHD and narcolepsy.

It releases a SHIT LOAD of dopamine into the synapse, which is guaranteed to make you feel better for a short time. Of course, the crash would be a hell hole to someone already suffering from clinical depression.
 
Actually, the term "depression" used for a mental disorder is pretty new. It used to be called Melancholia.

As for CNS-depressants, of which codeine certainly IS one, it is an established fact that extended use of benzodiazepines WILL cause melancholia. I don't know if its an established fact, but I know that I get melancholic when feeling addicted to opiates.

However, that has nothing to do with them being called "depressants". It happens on a more neuro-endocrine level.

Next time your stupid pharmacist tells you this, ask him, "Then how come tramadol is an SNRI AND a Depressant?"
 
Next time your stupid pharmacist tells you this, ask him, "Then how come tramadol is an SNRI AND a Depressant?"
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Lol, so many times I've wanted to show up the pharmacist. Just make sure you have another one close by you can visit instead!
 
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