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MedHelp Member's Question

Weaning of Oxycontin

by Lindy, Jul 28, 2000 12:00AM
Can someone please tell me if I am currently taking 30 mg Oxycontin 2 times a day is it possible to wean myself off this medication without any of the terrible side effects that come with it? Can I slowly taper off without the depression and the willies and everything else that goes along with it? I have been on this medication for 8 months. I take it for Fibro. I have had it with the running out too soon. Vacations ruined because I have run out. Visits to emergency rooms in towns where I am on vacation. I want to try to wean off myself first then get outside help if I cant do it alone. But can someone tell me how  can do this?  Thank you for reading this and any response you can give.

Member Comments (32)

by Sherriq, Jul 28, 2000 12:00AM
Lindy,



I can't answer your question directly, but the question of tapering has been addressed before in this forum - several times, in fact.  Browse through the archives and the other postings regarding Oxycontin - especially responses by Brian.  He has written about it to others and given them some possible ways to do it.  But - I must tell you - don't make it hard on yourself.  The very BEST way to do it is with professional help - especially  since you have other medical concerns.  



Please keep posting - you'll find a lot of good people and good support on this board.  Many of those who post here have been through or are currently going through withdrawal from Oxycontin - they'll be here to help you all the way.



Take care, and let us know how you're doing.

Sherri

by To Lindy From Bonnie, Jul 29, 2000 12:00AM
I was told you can wean yourself off any meds. but if you are on the same type of oxycontin i am on it will be difficult. I am on the time released pill,they are too small to break in half and its not safe to do it that way since they are time released.I am also on 30 mg a day ,but I take more than that.I have a spinal disease and I am wondering how I could even cope without the oxycontin but like you it is also ruining my life.I cant even leave the house if i dont have the pills with me.I also suffer from panick /anxiety attacks and take xanax for that ,I am so affraid of how my body will react without the oxycontin ,since anxiety is a side effect with withdrawl i am fearing I may go crazy.I am very freightend of the road I must go down soon.I hope you get the answers you need and know that you are not alone ,I feel your pain too. Bonnie

by Brian to Sick and Scared § ALL you guys, Jul 29, 2000 12:00AM
Tapering is actually more difficult with oxycontin because, as the prior post says, if you break the pill in order to reduce dosage you will cause it to increase the amount hitting your system at one time (since it will not be time released).  I would speak with your doctor about either using buprenorphine to detox you (and you can use it for your fibro; however, it is only in injection form at this time) or, your doctor can prescribe a sufficient amount of hydrocodone which you can then use to taper down.  Your doctor can also prescribe other medications such as clonidine for any withdrawal symptoms.  Buprenorphine is your best bet.  Good luck.

by From Aunt Lindy to Mariah, Jul 29, 2000 12:00AM
Thanks for the response. Bonnie I think we are in the same boat.  I was thinking maybe doing 20 in the am and in the eve. for a while. Then start using my 10 mg in the am and eve. It helps me for what I take it for but I am tired of feeling like a prisoner to meds.  I am currently taking an antidepressant and Xanax when needed. I dont like the Xanax it makes me too sleepy and sometimes depressed.  I am also doing meditation, acupuncture and massage.  Bonnie keep me posted on how you are doing too. This is such a great site. If it was not for everyone on here I would feel so alone with this. No one in my family knows of my inner torment that I go through. One on hand the meds really do work. They help me for what they are supposed too and at the same time I fear going off of them.  That is why I supplement with holistic approaches too. Thanks again, you all are so terrific to me.

by tom to Lindy, Jul 29, 2000 12:00AM
just a word from the un-wise but experienced about Xanax or any benzo used with opiates like Oxy or Vicodin: I have what is called in medical catch-all jargon "degenerative disk disease" and need daily painkillers in order to support a career and family. I was able to control my use of opiates for more than 10 years. There was, of course, tolerance and escalating dosages, but I functioned in all the normal aspects of my life - work, marriage, kids, friends, bills, taxes and so on ... But then I added Valium, later switching between Xanax and Klonopin (doesn't really matter -- same brain receptors). The benzo affected me like alcohol in that it acted as a disinhibitor, breaking down the common-sense limits I was able to put on my opiate use. In addition, and probably more to the point, relying on an outside source to cope with anxiety caused by own natural ability to cope with anxiety to completely fall away. Someone better educated about the brain's relationship with benzo's could explain it more fully, but the result was that, by using benzos to cope, I effectively stripped myself of any natural ability or inclination to cope with anxiety in healthy ways. The Xanax literally created the need for more of itself -- a self-purpetuating drug that had the unfortunate side effect of causing me to increase my opiate use. Whatever your condition, I strongly urge you to very slowly wean yourself off the benzo (you MUST do it gradually or you could siezure -- I know from experience). Talk to Brian on this subject. He is well informed and, I believe, a medical professional of some kind. I know he will back me up on this.

by From Aunt Lindy to Mariah, Jul 29, 2000 12:00AM
Hi Tom,

Thank God I rarely take the Xanax! I probably take it .50 four times a month.  I take it to sleep. I CANNOT take it during the day because it just makes me way to groggy.  Thank you for your email. After seeing all the Xanax questions on this site I thank god that I rarely take it!



by To tom,Lindy From Bonnie, Jul 30, 2000 12:00AM
I am on Pamelor twice daily and xanax .05 x5 times a day.I tried going off my xanax but could not stand it.I thought I was going crazy,what a horrible feeling .I am so scared ,to be honest I dont feel I am strong enough to get off this stuff,I know it sounds like a cop out but its my honest feelings.I have never been so freightend in my life.To make things worse I have been hospitalized 4 timesprior to even starting oxycontin/percocet.I swore then I would never go backto the hospital ,but now I have another bridge to cross ,going off the opiates and keeping my sanity.I have read many inspirational storieson here but still have not gotten to the point where I can say "I can beat this".thanks to you all and keep up the couragious paths you have taken. Bonnie

by patrick, Jul 31, 2000 12:00AM
Stay away from Xanax....halusinations are typical when you quit..I flipped out when I stopped..thought I was going to die..anybody know how long oxy is detected in system..been taking 40 mg twica a day for almost 3 months....also how will I stop w/o great trauma...thanks

by bob, Jul 31, 2000 12:00AM
I have had 8 major back surgeries and am only 36. I had lost the ability to do much of anything more than go to work (desk job) and go home and sit. I was evaluated and attempted several pain mgt. clinics all with no success. I have taken and overtaken every conceivable narcotic analgesic and all wound me up in some sort of detox (either alone or supervised) because the Dr.'s refused to continue to write scripts as fast as I was burning through them. I have detoxed more times than I care to count. I too have had every vacation in recent memory ruined by a trip to an ER somewhere. I have seen more Er's in 36 years than most 10 others see ever.



Then, out of sheer desperation I went to one of the clinics that our local teaching hospital (OHSU) has in the area. When i walked in I decided to lay all my cards on the table. I went in, I explained my history....how I've never been able to take a prescription as prescribed...how I've been fired from more Dr.'s than most people ever see...etc.



He did more for my pain than anyone ever. He prescribed a pain patch for me called Duragesic (fentenyl). It's like a stop smoking patch that I apply to my skin and for 3 days it delivers a measured dose of the BEST pain medication I've ever used. I'm currently wearing a 50 mcgh (micrograms per hour) size which means that I have two more sizes before I reach the top size...then they saay I can wear more than one at a time if I get to that point.



I have my life back!!! I can have sex, go golfing, water ski, and bowl all in the same day without winding up in the hospital for 3-4 days, I did it this weekend!! I sleep at night, I have an appetite again, and the best part for me is that I don't have to worry about pills. He is still prescribing me 7.5mg Percocet for breakthrough, but I usually wind up taking my whole months supply in a few days, so next month I'm gonna' tell him no more of those.



Anyway, for those of us tired of pills and trying to manage an unmanageable situation....maybe these can help you too!!!



Good luck everyone, from one grateful addict.



Bob

by tom to Bob, Aug 01, 2000 12:00AM
you're in the common position of needing opiates for legitimate reasons but also liking the hell out of them. Welcome, oh new member of the ever expanding club. I think it's terrific you've found Duragesic. Maybe the controlled nature of the time-release patch will save you. Of course, I've heard of people putting on double patches (wouldn't you know it?). Fentanyl (duragesic) is big-time narcotics. It's the one they usually mean when they say "designer" heroin or words to that effect. More power to you, Bob. Controlled time-release of potent narcs may be the formula you can finally live with. It's worth all of us noting ... but of course I'm waiting to hear what Brian thinks (no sarcasim intended, Brian, your posts are always interesting and enlightening). I'm going to an orthopedic surgeon on Friday -- referred by my family doc who keeps me in Darvon alternating months with Vicodin. I have three "degenerative disks," one with a significant degree of bulge (what a phrase ... you can tell I'm not a doctor). Should I ask him about Duragesic? Or is it such serious stuff that I will instantly bring on all sorts of tests and treatments just to be on it? I've had surgery once and am not seeking more. Rather, I would settle for non-invasive therapy and maintenance pain meds. This is to Brian, Bob or anyone experienced in this stuff.

by Brian to Sick and Scared § ALL you guys, Aug 01, 2000 12:00AM
Duragesic patches seem to be the medication most abused by anesthesiologists.  Fentanyl is a synthetic opiate somewhere between 50 and 100 times the strength of morphine.  It has been used in anesthesia since the 1970's but wasn't available for the treatment of pain until the transdermal patch came out in I believe 1991 or so.  It is a great medication for severe, chronic pain.  Tom, I would not ask for fentanyl if you are currently receiving Darvon and Vicodin.  Most doctors don't prescribe it unless there is SEVERE and chronic pain.  It is most often prescribed to cancer patients.  Since you are taking relatively weak painkillers at present (compared to fentanyl) it is likely your doctor will think you are a drug seeking addict.  Furthermore, the ortho's usually want to operate to control pain.  The next step for you if your pain isn't adequately controlled, and if surgery isn't an option, would likely be a long-acting narcotic such as