33 hours since last oxycontin pill what should i expect

Hi,

I have been taking 5mgs oxycontin 3 times a day. Total 15mgs daily. It's 33 hours since I last took it. I want off as it constipates me very badly and I already have a serious constipation problem due to a dysfuntion of my autonomic nervous system. I've been taking it for about 4 months. I'm wondering what I can expect in relation to withdrawal symptoms and how long bad withdrawal lasts. I take the oxycontin for chronic daily migraine so I may have to get back on it if I experience migraine that lasts longer than 24 hours. I truly hope not, as I want off it as side effects are messing with the rest of my body. I did take some 10mgs periactin (an antihistamine called cyproheptadine) last night and intend to take it tonight. It used to work as a migraine preventor but it stopped working. It did help me sleep. I'm hoping it's going to work again as it's been explained to me that if you take a holiday from a drug like cyproheptadine that has stopped working it may kick in and start working again. I've had my drug 'holiday' and am hoping they cypro will work for migraine. But am really wondering and scared of what I'm in for in regards to withdrawal from 15mgs oxycontin a day. Hope someone can help. many thanks. red. just. please. no horror stories. I'm aware that 15mgs is not a big dose. I just need a rational response. Many thanks again.

[jstntime]

Hey there,

Welcome.  I really think your wd will be minimal in both severity and length.  You might get a few chills and wake up with a few sweats but truly, this should not be too bad.  

The worst of your wd will likely occur around 72 hours after stopping.  Once you make it to that point you should know that it won''t get any worse.

I hope you get relief from the migraines, I know how much they hurt!!!

You will be fine with wd, most here wish they could jump from your dose.  You are wise to do this now!!!!!

Goodluck,

bob

[LeaAnn807]

Hi!  Your withdrawal shouldn't be too bad.  You were not on it a long time at a high dose, so it shouldn't be really hard.  One thing I would caution you on is be careful about saying things like I hope I don't have to go back on it.  You are probably going to experience some pain and headache for the next few days.  That is to be expected.  Just hang on though.  Most people experience less pain after the WD is over than when they took the pain meds because of rebound pain from the narcotic.

If you really want to stop, then be determined not to take anymore if you get a headache!  I know it hurts so bad, but you have to decide how bad you want to stop the pills.  I recommend now, since you have not been on them for a long time!  

You are doing the right thing for yourself!  I'm proud of you for doing this!! : )

[redfrangipani]

thanks bob and tramahater,

So far I'm doing pretty good. Very restless night. Little sleep. At one point my upper body was doing this jerking thing and my legs were kicking. I tried to watch videos all night but in the end just laid on the couch in the dark and rested after the kicking legs stuff had receeded. Couldn't believe how horrible this must be for people on larger doses. Plus I can feel my migraine (ghost of it which gets stronger at times to a medium pain level then receeds to the point that I can just feel it's outline) and this started about 11 hours ago. I meant to mention that I'd been taking 5mgs endone (oxycodone hydrochloride) 3 times a day before I was switched to the oxycontin. So, I've actually been on naroctics for a total of about 7 months.

I am terrified of migraine. They are worse in pain level than this withdrawal so far. Chronic Daily Migraine is something l lived with for 3 and half years before the docs put me on endone and then oxy -- and even then I experienced breakthrough pain every day. But before the narcotics i had no life except one  of severe pain every day. I'd contemplated suicide a number of times. But with the narcotics I've traded one problem for another symptom being made more painful -- chronic constipation. Truly in the last few months i thought my intestines were going to burst and nothing that I can take seemed to make any difference and my gastroenterologist just plain ran out of ideas years ago. Actually. that's the main reason for getting off the oxy.

Anyway, I rang a govt. drug info line yesterday and the person I talked to suggested getting a pain psychologist (under Australian govt. medical plan we can see a psychologist up to 10 times and most of cost of the visit is covered by our public health system). He told me that they specialize a lot in helping people to deal with chronic pain in other ways. Alternative ways. Not sure what they mean but if I can stand to stay on the net a while longer I will trawl it and find out more about psychologists who treat chronic pain sufferrers and find resources for you to manage pain without meds.

Anyway, thanks so very much for responding. It was heartening to read your responses. It makes me feel so alone. I'm alone with this problem. Hubby doesn't even want to know  and will be cranky when there is no dinner for him tonight. I have one sister I can count on so I might ask her for help in bringing in supplies for me today.

Thankyou again,
red

[LeaAnn807]

Wow...sounds like you have suffered a lot!  I don't ever like hearing anyone say that they have that kind of pain, but I TRULY believe that if you give it a chance, you may find that you have less pain.  

I am glad you have your sister.  Your success may depend on your willingness to do this and having some support.  

So, it's been a couple of days, right?  Since you had a pill?  You are probably feeling about as bad as you will get during this.  Shouldn't get too much worse if you can hang on a couple more days.  The physical part gets better after about 3 or 4 days.

Hang in there.  We will help you!

[redfrangipani]

Thank you very much tramahater,

It's 47 hours since my last pill so I'm figuring it might get a bit worse for the next 25 hours (the peak) and then hoping it should start to ease off. As I understand it, 48-72 hours is the peak time after the last pill of oxy for bad withdrawal symptoms?

I'm actually doing almost fine so far. I do have a migraine but it's not too bad. And I can't concentrate. Plus I've never been this thirsty and I'm generally a very thirsty person -- have drunk a lot of water everyday nearly all my life. Apart from some muscle aches and pains that's about it. Oh, good news is my bowel seems to be starting to work a bit again. Fingers crossed. I actually welcome diarrhea because of the constipation problem. Hopefully it will come to having diarrhea just to empty our my bowels.

I really appreciate your support. Being able to come here is like having a guide through doing this. It makes it easier.

red