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STOPPING OXYCONTIN

by Mike, Dec 12, 1999 12:00AM
Tags: Addiction
I have been taking 80mg of Oxycontin for about 8 months, prior to that it was Vicoden at about 60 to 80mg for about a year and a half total. I can go to a rehab place down the street. They said Methadone for about 6 months to kick it. I am afraid to get on Methadone. I heard it is pretty hard drug. What should I do? Help me Please!!!!!
Member Comments (24)

by Mike, Dec 14, 1999 12:00AM
Help Doc!

by Mike, Dec 14, 1999 12:00AM
I just went to the Detox place. I started a 31 day program. I hope this go's well. Starting dose of Methodone-20mg.

by some one who cares, Dec 17, 1999 12:00AM
instead of going to detox gradually decrease you oxycontin dose over a period of a week or two. You might try going down to 40mg then 20mg then you should be able to stop

by Bleu', Jan 29, 2000 12:00AM
Getting off OXYCONTIN is hard any way you go, and there is NO way

around it!!  Tapering down is difficult unless someone else is

controlling your intake daily, because if it's availiable you will take it.  Methadone will work, but then you have to get off

that to!!!  It's an afwal cycle.  

by Tim, Aug 02, 2000 12:00AM
I have been on Oxycontin for 13 months now. I started taking it 20mg x 2 daily. I stayed on that dosage for almost 9 months then I went to 40 mg x 2 daily with 5mg oxycodone (fast release) for in between. I was up to around 100mg or so a day, now I have talked to my Doctor because I tried going cold turkey NO WAY!!!!! I have never been soo sick!!!! He has weened me down to 20mg a day, now the hard part is taking my last pill and stopping....it isnt easy. He gave me a drug called clonine or somthing like that used for high blood pressure, and told me it would help the withdrawls if I need it. Tomorrow I will try to take one 10mg in the morning and one 5mg at night, then the next day one 5mg in am and one 5mg in pm , then the next day one 5mg and no more there after...I hope that will give me less withdrawl symptons.....I hope this works....I have never been in a situation like this before and I really want to get off without going to a rehab!

by Need help, Nov 04, 2000 12:00AM
I am on 2400mgs of oxycontin and want to get off of it.  I would like to go to methadone, but do not know how much equals that, then how much to decrease, and at what rate.  This started out slow and as my tolerance grew, I had to keep taking more.  Has anyone out there been in this situation??  Any help would be greatly appreciated!!  Thank you.

by To the guy on Oxy 2400/day, Nov 08, 2000 12:00AM
2400 mg is a LOT of Oxycontin.   But not impossible to get away from.  I myself had a habit in that range - taking 25+ of the 80mg every day for about 3 months.  



At those quantities there are almost certainly other issues besides the addiction - as in if you are buying them you must be spending a TON of money!  Or if you are getting scrips, you are surely seeing more than one Doc (which is against the law, as I am sure you know....).  Or you are writing you own scrips... which is even worse should you get caught.   And trust me, the odds are you WILL get caught.  More than likely it's a combo of these things.



My advice - go to an inpatient detox center now.  Right away, before you risk any more trouble.  I mean now, not tomorrow...today!!   At 2400 per day it is highly unlikely you will be able to do it yourself - the drug has too strong a hold on you.  Your medical troubles will be tough enough to deal with without adding legal issues!



I did this, but unfortunately my legal issues caught up with me a day after I went to Detox, and I was arrested IN the detox center (they figured out where I was - at those levels there couldnt be too many places and even though Detox is confidential, you arent safe if they have a warrant).  I would give ANYTHING to not be facing the charges I now face.  



The Detox wasnt as bad as I thought - 7 days of hell, for sure, but nothing like the night in jail with nothing for withdrawl.  The only problem for me is 7 days wasnt enough.  I still was withdrawling when I left Detox and 'slipped' when I got home and could do nothing by cry for 2 days.   My plan now is legal RX only (one doc, taken as prescribed) to go back to Detox (a longer program ...30 days??  whatever it takes) as soon as I can HOPEFULLY get my charges reduced to something less than mandatory jail time.  



My legal problems are severe - if you going to Detox today means you won't end up like me, its worth it!!!   Possession of greater than 3 times the evarage daily dose, which is 3 pills as the law here sees it (per the PDR) is classed as a 2nd degree Felony which is not a probationable offense.   A prescription filled that shouldnt be (duplicate doctors, forged scrip, etc.) is all they need to 'prove' the possession part - you don;t even have to be caught with the pills.  I had NO pills when they came to my house and wasnt even home (as I said, I was in Detox)but I'm still in BIG trouble.  My only hope is someone will have mercy on me in my trial and drop the charges to a 3rd or 4th degree felony and give me probation so I can stay with my family.

Ive never been in trouble before for anything either.



Do yourself a favor and avoid the mess I'm in.  



Getting away from the Oxies at your level is going to require more than a short program - dont let them (Detox facility) tell you 3-5 days will do it.  Most places have very little experience with the high levels you describe and treate everyone the same.  The same didnt work for me, and probably wont for you,   I believe with a longer program (30 days?) you have a good chance of beating this.  And frmo people I have spoken with, Rapid Detox isn't much of an answer either.  You will need the time to deal with life without oxy.



Please write back with any questions if I havent written enough to convince you to go to detox right away,  If you are like I was, you probably think you can wait a little while longer.  But that extra day may be the day you have TWO problems (legal and medical).  Don;t let it happen!

by To the guy on Oxy 2400/day, Nov 08, 2000 12:00AM
2400 mg is a LOT of Oxycontin.   But not impossible to get away from.  I myself had a habit in that range - taking 25+ of the 80mg every day for about 3 months.  



At those quantities there are almost certainly other issues besides the addiction - as in if you are buying them you must be spending a TON of money!  Or if you are getting scrips, you are surely seeing more than one Doc (which is against the law, as I am sure you know....).  Or you are writing you own scrips... which is even worse should you get caught.   And trust me, the odds are you WILL get caught.  More than likely it's a combo of these things.



My advice - go to an inpatient detox center now.  Right away, before you risk any more trouble.  I mean now, not tomorrow...today!!   At 2400 per day it is highly unlikely you will be able to do it yourself - the drug has too strong a hold on you.  Your medical troubles will be tough enough to deal with without adding legal issues!



I did this, but unfortunately my legal issues caught up with me a day after I went to Detox, and I was arrested IN the detox center (they figured out where I was - at those levels there couldnt be too many places and even though Detox is confidential, you arent safe if they have a warrant).  I would give ANYTHING to not be facing the charges I now face.  



The Detox wasnt as bad as I thought - 7 days of hell, for sure, but nothing like the night in jail with nothing for withdrawl.  The only problem for me is 7 days wasnt enough.  I still was withdrawling when I left Detox and 'slipped' when I got home and could do nothing by cry for 2 days.   My plan now is legal RX only (one doc, taken as prescribed) to go back to Detox (a longer program ...30 days??  whatever it takes) as soon as I can HOPEFULLY get my charges reduced to something less than mandatory jail time.  



My legal problems are severe - if you going to Detox today means you won't end up like me, its worth it!!!   Possession of greater than 3 times the evarage daily dose, which is 3 pills as the law here sees it (per the PDR) is classed as a 2nd degree Felony which is not a probationable offense.   A prescription filled that shouldnt be (duplicate doctors, forged scrip, etc.) is all they need to 'prove' the possession part - you don;t even have to be caught with the pills.  I had NO pills when they came to my house and wasnt even home (as I said, I was in Detox)but I'm still in BIG trouble.  My only hope is someone will have mercy on me in my trial and drop the charges to a 3rd or 4th degree felony and give me probation so I can stay with my family.

Ive never been in trouble before for anything either.



Do yourself a favor and avoid the mess I'm in.  



Getting away from the Oxies at your level is going to require more than a short program - dont let them (Detox facility) tell you 3-5 days will do it.  Most places have very little experience with the high levels you describe and treate everyone the same.  The same didnt work for me, and probably wont for you,   I believe with a longer program (30 days?) you have a good chance of beating this.  And frmo people I have spoken with, Rapid Detox isn't much of an answer either.  You will need the time to deal with life without oxy.



Please write back with any questions if I havent written enough to convince you to go to detox right away,  If you are like I was, you probably think you can wait a little while longer.  But that extra day may be the day you have TWO problems (legal and medical).  Don;t let it happen!

by MiaDrake, Aug 14, 2007 11:59AM
To: Need help - from Mia
You are taking such a great step - well done!
Problem is if you take methadone you will be replacing one addiction for another so effectively have to go through cold turkey twice - unfortunately their is no easy way.

I have just come off Oxycontin (3 weeks ago), I did it at home with a supportive family, and some Lofexidiene (have to admit it didn't do a great deal - I was just not going to take methadone etc...just another thing to come off!).

Do it with a Doc, the pain is unbearable and without someone medical at least knowing what you are going thru its a lonley and scary place.

Trust me that even when the pain is at its worst and seems to go on for a lifetime, you do get through it, stay calm, try not to fear, just breathe, and make sure you keep your fluids up.  Tell eveyone around you to be patient, supportive and encouraging - it takes as long as it takes - but doesn;t last forever.

Small steps - but speak to a doc as Im not sure how hard your system will take going from 2000 odd to nothing, you may to go on some sort of reduction program, like reducing 10mg per day - that should be better, although doing that you will have some symptoms of cold turkey.

So its either - a long drawn out process or shorter and more painful.

The options aren't great - but its worth it when you are on the other side.

I'm still here and better for it!

Good luck x Mia

by jwill1558, Sep 22, 2007 03:51AM
ive been oxycontin for about 1 year now. I started taking 20mg a day. and then after about 6 months it was 40mg. then about two months later i started to become stupid and snort the ****. dumb dumb dumb. My tolerance rose so quickly it is ridiculous. I got up to 2 and a half 80's a day for about 2 months. Now i am down to a half to three quarters a day. I have been replacing 1 20mg dose with 10 mg of methadone. It is working decent but not great. Does anyone have any advice to give. I know that i am not taking that much right now but it seems that i just cantget past where i am presently at.

by freeforestiger, Sep 29, 2007 11:43PM
To: anyone on Oxy
If you are abusing Oxy, you WILL DIE if you don't find a way to stop.  I watched my father die from just 40 mg because he was addicted and his body hadn't had it in too long.  I lost an aunt, a friend, and several acquaintances to the same situation.  I myself used to be a drug addict.  I've shot up heroin, and then shot up Oxy, and CHOSE the Oxy every time thereafter whenever a choice was to be made!  This drug may be a miracle for those in severe pain who are taking it as prescribed...but it is a POWERFUL drug to become addicted to.  And what sucks is that every one thinks rehab is this magic solution, but it's not.  Rehab is only effective for those who adopt the right mind set about it.  You have to recognize that you will die from the addiction, and WANT to stop, or else there is no chance.  For some people, that requires hitting rock bottom, whether that includes jail, overdose, losing one's family, permanent bodily harm, whatever. Sometimes lucky other people can recognize that this is happening before the addiction takes everything from them.  I personally was not ready for rehab when I tried it, and it didn't help me...but when I was ready, I managed to move away from everything I knew and start all over again.  I smoked pot and went hiking a lot.  I kept busy.  I found new hobbies.I didn't try to seek out connections or even friends, I just worked and hiked and stayed focused on my goal of avoiding needles at all costs.  Maybe if you are spiritual, you can turn to your religion to help you with this.  Or maybe you have children, and they can be your motivation...do whatever it takes for them.  I beg all of you, both as a former drug addict who understands your addiction, and as a daughter who literally watched her father die from OxyContin complications:  PLEASE get help.  Maybe you need rehab, or maybe you can get yourself away from the environment you're in.  Maybe you just need a good detox and support from friends and family.  But if you don't do SOMETHING, your friends and family will have to go through something so terrible that they will be forever changed by it.    Addiction is a disease and there is no reason to be ashamed of it.  Most people need help to deal with their addictions.  DO WHATEVER IT TAKES AND GOOD LUCK!!!

by layne2000, Oct 01, 2007 08:09AM
Hi everyone, I am posting this same message on every Oxycontin forum I can find..........

Hi
I'm new to these forums, due unfortunately to the worst weekend of my entire life.
This drug (Oxycontin is a monster!!!! Get off it as soon as you can.
I have suffered chronic back pain for the past 10 months. The pain is almost unbearable at times.
After all else failed, my GP prescribed me 40mg oxycontin daily.
Wonder of wonders!!! they worked and I was almost pain free for a couple of weeks.
After 6 weeks, they didn't work so well, and I was on the brink of going back to the GP to have my dose increased.
A few wees ago, I ran out and ordered an emergency prescription.
Cutting a very long story short, my husband forgot to pick up the prescription so I had to wait and go without the drug all weekend.
Within 24 hours I was shaking, couldn't breathe, coughing, shivers chills the lot.
Basically, I realised I was suffering withdrawal symptoms.
I had the worst weekend of my life and have never felt so ill.
If I had an oxycontin in the house, I would have taken the damn thing to make me feel better and for these awful symptoms to go away.
While checking the withdrawal symptoms for the monster drug, I came across an old forum linked to this site, full of what I can only describe as a forum of ' lost souls'
Mostly all very genuine people like me, normal housewives, and husbands who were not drug abusers, but given oxycontin for genuine back pain.
They were all pitifully addicted to this drug and had no hope of getting off it.
Their lives were in ruins and they had no hope.
The withdrawal symptoms that hit me after 6 shorts weeks of use, were monsterous.
These poor lost souls were on a higher dose than me, and had no hope of quitting.

Needless to say, after doing my cold turkey, I have not gone back on the tablets and am suffering terribly again and my quality of life is zero sometimes.

Please please stop taking Oxycontin if you can.... it's a monster drug and highly addictive.
Don't end up suffering like me and the forum of lost souls.
I sencerely hope you all manage to find some alternative.
Kindest regards
Layne

by Matt299, Oct 31, 2007 07:51PM
To: OxyContin Information
Hi, I am a journalism student from Canada.  I am doing an assignment on the dangers of OxyContin and am looking for someone who is experienced in using the drug to help me get the word out about the dangers of it.  If anyone would be interested in this, please contact me at ***@****

Thank you very much.

by FLbella, Oct 31, 2007 08:05PM
Your name Chris? I say that because your story is like that of my friend.  He's on a fairly lowish dose of oxy's and one doc wanted to put him on methadone.   Three docs later, Methadone was not the best option for someone on such a small amt of oxy.  Try suboxone first if you can. I'm new to all of this too, but I'm switching to subutex.....  A bit different.  I have also seen people in methadone withdrawal..... HOLY CRUD!!!!!!!!!!!!  It makes my oxy withdrawal look like a stroll in candy land.  Don't do that to yourself please.