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Effects of Percocet and Oxycontin
by Not Perfect Either, Mar 18, 2003 12:00AM
My husband is taking both of the pills listed above and is buying them from dealers. It has been going on over 3 years now and has really gotten expensive. He has HepC and I have told him how damaging this is to take these pills with his liver disease. He says that he can't work the way he does without them because they give him energy. I am starting to see the sudden outburst of anger. Especially if I say anything about the pills. Can anybody tell me what the long term effects are going to be for him and how I can get him to see that the pills are not really giving him energy and how bad they are for him?
Well, I'm surprised you didn't see the anger(volatility) much sooner. That is something many of us have experienced first hand, and is one of the many wonderful(NOT) side effects of oxycodone, and opiates in general. Hell i remember if someone even looked at me funny at the grocery store, i was ready to clobber them; and truth is they were probably just going to say hi.
As far as other side effects, well of course there is the liver which you mentioned and the kidneys. Thankfully there isn't tylenol in the oxycontin, but the tylenol with percs is surely compromising these organs' well being. My very good friend, a percocet abuser, just got off a dialysis machine 2 days ago, for failed liver and kidney function. He is an otherwise healthy 32 year old man. Then there are changes that occur to the brain, that in many cases can be permanent. Some addiction specialists draw the analogy of an addicts brain to a person that has had a stroke. Although recovery is CERTAINLY possible, the addict has to basically train different parts of the brain to resume normal function. So clearly, there is a relationship to length of abuse and damage, and in turn recovery efficiency.
Then there are things like the continual stress to the GI tract, and ability(or lack of) to rid the body of toxins, since your husband is probably constipated all the time. And one of my favorites that many people kind of forget about(since these things can ultimately suck the life right out of you), is the erosion of your teeth. I think this is a result of the severe mineral depletion that results from opiate abuse. It cost me several thousand dollars to get mine back to health after i got off percs. Oh, and we can't forget about sex life; husband had any animal instincts lately(not trying to be too personal); probably not, if he is like most of us that get stripped of our "drive".
Now the second part of your question. It is too bad it is not your husband asking these questions, as your good intentions will likely fall on deaf ears. You can point out these things, but he has to want to change his behaviour first. I am NOT trying to discourage you, but it is what it is!!!
In any case, I wish you and your husband the very best!
percs
I think you get the idea, a pretty lousy deal all the way around!!
The good news is that you are on a relatively low doseage, and for a relatively short period of time; so this is an excellent time to put a stop to it. (You did say you know what to do.....ie. quitting)
Two choices: 1.) Cold Turkey---gets it over with quicker, and you can hide behind a good flu story. After about the third or forth day, you should start feeling better; with the exception perhaps of sound, and a full nights sleep; lack of concentration...and generally lethargic.
2.) Tapering---(my preferred method, but prolongs things and can be very difficult will power-wise) At about 4 pills/day??, you could drop 1 and stay at 3/ day for four or five days, then dropping another pill, to 2/day staying here for about a week......down to zero. When you get to 1/day, you can break them in half taking half in the morning and half at night. Remember now you are taking them to help stave off withdrawals, NOT get buzzed. There really is no need to drag this out too long, especially if there is a chance of eroding your resolve to get off them.
BOTH OPTIONS ARE OPEN TO YOU
Read through the Thomas Recipe(posted everywhere here), and specifically the L-Tyrosine/B-6 ingredients; exercise; drinks lots of fluids; and in no time, you'll be enjoying your wonderful wife and kids, growing your business further....all without hydro.
Take Care
i think mr michaels advice is excellent
and he hit the nail on the head,
perc no mas was just as good.
get out asap.
peace!!!!!!!!!!!!!!hippy
keep us posted.
MrM hit it on the head and his advice along with Percs and Hippy should be taken very seriously. Drug addiction is not a pretty site my friend at all. You are at such a low dose now that just giving them up will be a breeze. A little flu like **** for a couple of days and you will have your life back.
Lets just leave it at this, if you pop back on here in a year all strung out and messed up I will find you and beat the **** out of you. LOL
Good Luck my friend...........bmac the troublemaker
I have learned lots today about the effects of long time abuse.
I am considering printing out the info that I have read and passing it on to my husband. Thank you again for responding so soon. I was a little desperate today. Oh, the "anger thing" has been an on going process over the last 2 years but I have noticed over the last 6 mths that he quicker to anger than before. However he is not abusive to me or the kids just kinda flies off the handle. I worry most about his health and the financial aspect of all of this. I am still searching the site and tell me what does CT mean?