Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum.  ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Mental Health  (Expert Forum)
 | 
Help with Oxycontin withdrawals
Answered by
Roger Gould, M.D. - Mental Health, Wellness
Questions posted in the Mental Health forum are being answered by Dr. Roger L. Gould, author of the Mastering Stress and Depression program and affiliated with the UCLA. Department of Psychiatry. Topics covered include anger, attention deficit disorder (ADD), bipolar disorder, dementia, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), learning disabilities, memory, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic, personality disorders, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia, stress, transitions, and work problems.
Post a Question Back to Forum
MedHelp Member's Question

Help with Oxycontin withdrawals

by tuesday89, Jul 11, 2005 12:00AM
As of now I've been off oxycontin (used them for 9 months) for about 5 hours and am already experiencing withdrawals.  I see so many people talk about getting med's perscribed to help with these.  My Dr. knows I'm doing this and has never offered any help.  Can you recommend any med's that I could call and talk to him about?  He was carefree in giving them, but doesn't seem to think about me going off of them, just that I need to.  Please any help would be so very much appreciated!!!!
Doctor's Answer

by Roger Gould, M.D., Jul 12, 2005 12:00AM
Ask your doctor about valium or klonopin, or a formal detox program if your dose was high.  Also, look at the addiction forum here at medhelp... a lot of comments re oxycontin withdrawal...may be something more useful there.
Member Comments (41)

by Starzstuff, Jul 12, 2005 12:00AM
Got to www.cchr.org for all the answers you need on meds. You can also report abuse there. Seems that you need answers and the doctor failed in his profession. That is abuse.

by tuesday89, Jul 15, 2005 12:00AM
Well, on Tues. he put me on Librium, 25mgs 3x/day.  Helped a tiny bit, but haven't slept very good.  I don't know if the other 2 mentioned by the MD here would do anything different.  I'm on day 4 and feel like this will never end.  I am getting better, I had to come to my parents to get online.  I did find out that taking baths really helped, but not for long.  It made my skin all one temp, which I think is why people tell you to do it.  Any idea when I will feel normal again.

by sky9494, Jul 21, 2005 12:00AM
I'm addicted to oxycottin to. From what i have heard withdraws last for 7 to 10 days. I have been addicted for 2 and a half years, and it has been a goal of mine for a year to just go through one week of hell and get through the with draws and try quite. Valum will help you sleep and it makes you forget you having withdraws.

by KittyMeghanLeah2, Jul 26, 2005 12:00AM
I do believe valium is somewhat easier to get off of than Klonopin.  I would agree w/ previous comment.

by tuesday89, Jul 26, 2005 12:00AM
Well it's been 2 weeks of hell.  The Librium didn't help with sleep, and I think it made me get the chills.  Anyway, I'm off that now and for a few days tried Tramadol for my pain, didn't work.  Yesterday I started Gabapentin (sp).  It seems to be working.  This is the first day I can actually breath without hurting so much.  I still have pain but not the OMG kind.  I had my appendix rupture 2 years ago, and my Gallbladder out 5 weeks later (It origionally started with my GB, but my appendix went before I my schedule surgery date).  I've had pain where my gallbladder is ever since.  I had so so many tests and nothing came up.  Now they think it's a combo of nerve, muscle damage and scar tissue.  If anyone is thinking about going off, YOU CAN DO IT!!!! It's really a mind game, and I'm winning it.  I knew I wanted off the oxy within a few months of taking it, but was scared about being in pain.  Then I talked to my Dr, tapered down and went through 2 weeks, and I think I'm through the worst.  I think I saw somewhere it can take months or a year or 2 for everything to go back to normal.  Good luck to anyone who's going to do it.  Just keep it in your mind all the time there is no going back, and work with your Dr on new med's to control you pain..

by tenuis70, Jul 29, 2005 12:00AM
I have been abusing oxycontin for a few years (160mg per day...it always varied) I do not use it for pain management but escape and the euphoria it produces, for me it has been a rollercoaster of addiction and withdrawal, seems like I am withdrawling all the time so I am out to stop using once and for all. I know all about the relapses and sucess rates with opiate addiction. The things that seem to help me deal with withdrawal is valium or xnanx to sleep at night, go to the Doctor and get a prescription anti-diarrhea prescription if possible (seems to work better than Imodium AD) also I exercise (walking) I know it seems hard because of the lack of energy but it will help beacause it will help your brain produce it's own natural opiates which the oxycontin was replacing for so long. Withdrawal symptoms are caused by the brain having to catch up on producing it's own natural opiates which it hasn't done for the duration of oxy use. It really is a 3-4 day period of pure hell if you stop cold turkey, there is no real way not to have withdrawal symptoms after using such a powerful opiate such as oxycontin, as long as you have some sort of support ie. family, your Doctor (if he/she is a good one) etc. then you have a good chance. The hardest part is that 3-5 day period after stopping not to use again in order to relieve withdrawal symtoms. I wish you the best of luck!

by KittyMeghanLeah2, Aug 02, 2005 12:00AM
hmmn if you do have a history of abusing pills, I would probably agree more with a "formal detox."  Because if you take klonopin or valium you will end up having a new addiction.

by bar44, Aug 09, 2005 12:00AM
help-i have been on hydrocodone for 2 years.does anyone know of a doctor in atlanta that will prescribe me medication like suboxone to help with the withdrawals?any advice on how to go through the withdrawals as painlessly as possible?

by MedHawk, Aug 16, 2005 12:00AM
I was a carpenter, when I ruptured 3 disk in my spine. I sought relief from a spine specialist due to not wanting to undergo surgery. After one year of Spinal shots and Oxicotin and Oxicodon (mass amounts). I realized that the pain was still there and surgery was nesecary. The surgeon decided that he would leave the pain relief to the Dr. already treating me for it.Well 4 weeks after surgery, it was decided to start reducing the amount of Oxi's. Each reduction took about 3-5 days for my body to taper or level off. Yes it was hell on both myself and family. On the last 30mgs a day I went cold turkey and roughed it out. It felt like I had arthritis in 90% of my body, hot flashes, cold flashes, shaken all over, but it was knowing that I will not go through this again that kept me going, not to mention the support of a very loving family.

I stopped taking the Oxitin's first because they were fast acting and fast to let you down. The Oxicodone were long lasting and slower let down.This seemed to help, I am 3 weeks clean (I heard it takes 2 weeks to leave you'r system)now and going through phisical rehab for my back, my energy level is very low and still going throught some tough mental times. I feel I have learned an awfull lot about detox on you'r own. I am new to all these web sites so sorry if I rambled on too much. but I would be glad for any more info on my energy level ex.vitamins, protien drinks, seem to help a little, or if I can answer a question I would love too. Thank You

by tybalt7, Aug 23, 2005 12:00AM
Angiepooh- I would be very interested in your dr.  I'm in the area and am interested in learning about that type of resource.  Interesting posts all-I'm new.  Tybalt7.

by Angipooh, Aug 23, 2005 12:00AM
Hi1 I have been on the Suboxone program for almost 3 weeks and it has been a miracle for me. I was addicted to hydro 10/325 for over 2 years and if anyone wants to know the name of the Dr that I'm seeing for this in Atlanta, please let me know..



Take care,

Angipooh

by aliciap, Aug 24, 2005 12:00AM
My husband just confessed to me on Monday he had a problem with Oxycontin.  He was taking 80mg pills and shooting up.  I see my husband everyday and had NO IDEA!!!  The mood swings were the key to know something was wrong and the fact $3,000.00 A month was going missing!  We saw doctor yesterday(after 2 days of withdrawal).  We are now taking Suboxone(1 pill a day a doctor may recomend 2 a day). It will help you sleep, stops the aches and pains of withdrawal (for several hours), and it is non-narcotic.  We have only taken this for 1 day, I can not praise this drug yet.  I hope we get through this.  Any one who is addicted to this drug needs to seek help FAST, it is SERIOUSLY addicting.  I pray for any of you who needs help with this, that you will have support from your family and your doctor.  Detox is the hardest part! Get through that and make sure you talk with a counselor or a psych.  Speak with someone soon because the depression will be a major role it what makes you or breaks you!  Good Luck to you all, may God bless you!

by azadman, Aug 30, 2005 12:00AM
I am 3 days off oxycontin (today Aug.30th.2005)up to 8 80's a day. I have severe spinal