40mg oxy withdrawl, please help

[jacktheman]

Hello,

So I have been doing some research and am getting a lot of great answers, but I would like to express my situation. I have been taking vicodin for about 9 months. It started out very slowly for the first 2 months. Only taking 1 (10 mg, 500 mg) every couple of days. Then after 4 months, I started taking 2 (10 mg, 500 mg) every couple of days. It wasnt until about 6 months in (2 and a half months ago)  that I was doing 2 every day, on an occasional 3 for special weekends. Then 2 weeks ago, I tried 40mg oxy. I enjoyed it, it wasnt the be all end all of euphoria to me, but it was a nice background to the day. I did 1 40mg a day for 2 weeks. Then knowing I was out and would not be getting any more I stopped. Thinking it would be no worries, I started getting restless leg syndrome and didnt sleep all night. It wasnt until the shacking continued for about 4 hours that I started to get panic attacks for what was going on. I woke up the next day after only getting 3 hours of  sleep. I had started to worry that maybe this was what withdrawl is as it was my first 24 hours without it. I had something really important to do so I took one oxy to see if that was the problem. All I got out of it was being really tired all day, but yes, my restless leg syndrome and "assumed withdrawal" symptoms were gone. That very night, when it had only been maybe 10 hours since I took one, i started getting restless leg again, so I took a benadryal and went to bed just fine. I woke up fine, then a few hours went by and I started getting restless leg and shacking. I'm starting to get really worried that this is indeed withdrawl at this point. So I get online and start researching symptoms and sure enough, right up my alley, that only made the panic attacks 10x worse. It has now only been about 35 hours since I last took one 40mg pill, and the symptoms are only getting worse.
  I will say this, no nausea whatsoever, no flu, no vomiting, only incredibly fast restless leg syndrome, deep anxiety and now panic attacks coming to my first and unexpected addition withdrawl.

First off, should I be feeling this bad after only taking 40mg a day for 2 weeks? Or does the fact that I was doing 2 (10 mg, 500 mg) vicodin a day for 2 months play a big part in that?  Most of these addiction stories I'm reading are for far higher dosages and much longer time.

I have 4 40mg oxy left and 9 (10 mg, 500 mg) vicodin. I think I could try and bare the symptoms and get past this but this couldnt have come at a worse time. I'm about to go see family far away for 5 days, leaving in about a day.  Should I take what I have left on flight with me, or maybe just take the vicodin 1 pill a day until I get back? With 1 vicidin do much for my symptoms after explaining my previous in tack? I really do not want to have to tell my family what I'm going through, I'd rather deal when I get home. If these symptoms are going to last while I'm with family, I feel I should stay medicated until i get back, eventhough I just barely have enough meds left. I wouldnt mind taking the vicodin to ease off at first, but the oxy's scare me and I never want to take one ever again. If you can get addicted from 1 40mg a day for 2 weeks, this is some heavy and scary stuff.

Also, im 30 yrs old, 200lbs. I do drink and smoke medical marijuana pretty often for the past few years and have for the last couple of years. But I tried smoking today and that did not help. First time in forever I didnt feel content after smoking. Any thoughts and suggestions would be very much appreciated.

[gnarly_1]

Hey dude good to here your starting to feel a little better remember baby steps  but steps are steps......I highly recommend drinking whey protein shakes for the first few months
there loaded with vitamins essential amino acids along with the protein all of witch the brain needs to heal I drank 2 a day its fairly cheep walmarts got it for 15 bucks for a 2lb can
the chocolate flavor is good all you do is mix it with milk good nutrition plays a big roll in recovery it also time to start thinking about what type of aftercare your going to hook up with the detox is just the beginning will talk about this more later I got to run today is Christmas at my sons home try and have a Merry Christmas............Gnarly    

[jacktheman]

Day 5,

well, unfortunately vicki595 I assumed the worst was over, and for the most part it was. But I only got 3 hours of sleep last night and the anxiety and shakes seem to be back just a little more than last night. I'm not complaining though, give me 5 more days of this, anything is better than those first 3 or 4 days. I have been able to have a great Christmas morning. Even played in the snow this morning with my bro. I understand now that the symptoms will linger for awhile, after all, there is no easy withdrawal from this right? I'm expecting much better days from here on out, still taking it one day at a time. Merry Christmas everyone!

[vicki595]

Jack--  Halleluja !!   Sleep well tonight!!

[jacktheman]

end of day 4. I can not tell you how much better I feel. I mean there are still symptoms but there finally in the background and I can relax and focus on the holidays. I'm still sticking to the detox plan however, I'm going to stay clean and healthy, and keep chugging that water and taking my vitamins. I went out to eat with the family tonight and was even able to put down quite a bit of food. It was hard to pass up the free wine, but I knew dehydrating was not at all what I need right now. Thank you all again. I don't think I would have made it without your help. I will keep updating for the next few days, and then plan on keeping up after the holidays to ask all your suggestions on how to continue the detox.

[jacktheman]

thank you all for your support once again.  Yeah, I understand back2me. I was fearing that allllllll day trip on the worst withdrawl day and believe me, it was as bad as it sounds. But I knew if I could just throw out those pills I had left, get in the cab, and into the airport, there would be no turning back and I would have no choice but to tough this out for a week. Let me just say that, I was completly ignorant to the concept of this addiction. I had smoked and drank for many years now and each time I had gone many weeks without them, I just felt moody and cranky, so I figured, when people talked about opiate addiction, they just meant it was so good that they would be even more cranky without it. Boy, was that ever a stupid guess. I had no idea the difference between mental addiction and physical addiction. I now feel like I have a much greater understanding of this drug, and have so much more respect for people that battle it, even those that can't seem to get past it, I seem to have much more respect and understanding of what they go through.  My biggest prayer answered in my opinion was the fact that I withdrew as early into this as I did, and was able to realize what I was getting into before it was to late, that and never letting myself take another pill when the symptoms hit to know what it feels like to make the pain go away. I feared if I did that even once, it would be so much harder to quit because I would understand the feeling of easing the pain even more.  
Thank you all again, and it is now mid day 4 and I feel so much better than yesterday. Mind you, symptoms are still there, but they finally seem somewhat manageable and I dont feel like I'm fighting every second not to go out of my mind. Merry Christmas to all :)

[Back2Me]

Man you got VERY lucky IMO. There is no way in hell I could have done what you did this soon. Either that or you are a ninja or something. Anyway good job. Keep it up.

[vicki595]

Oh...where's my head??    MERRY  Christmas !     Just know you're doing a wonderful thing for yourself and for those who love you!!

[vicki595]

Jack...you're doing great. The sleep helps!   Now,just tell the folks that your're "fighting something but trying to be brave"...get that exercise in,drink,drink,drink!! Fluids help the RLS along with minerals like calcium,potassium,magnesium,and zinc.

It will not take 3 months to feel good. We can talk more about the 3 month thing when you get back west...and about that Xanax, it's a big no no with alcohol. Just FYI...

Mery Christmas!

[laurel453]

the exercise even in the middle of the snow will make wonders :) it seems you are gone through the worst, great... have a merry christmas night feeling proud of you !! :)

[jacktheman]

beginning of day 4,

I can't believe it, i got 8 hours of sleep last night!! It is one of the best feelings I've got since this all started. Now I'm still laying in bed as I just woke up, so its hard to say how my symptoms are, I'm pretty calm, but do feel the anxiety creeping in just a little and my leg started doing its thing a little, so I'm assuming as my mind wakes up, the symptoms will come back. But the sleep was a very good sign for me that I am actually getting better. I will try and go for a walk and get out of the house, although, im from sunny california, and im now in the snowy east coast so that alone wont be to easy. Ill just make sure to go during the peek of the day, should be fine. The signs of improvement are really giving me the strength and belief that I will beat this, and will see the light at the end of the tunnel if I can just stay positive. Thanks again for all your help gnarly and others.

[gnarly_1]

hey Jack I dont think it would look suspicious to anyone if you and your brother went for a walk around the block tell mom you need some fresh air ....starting out a walk around the block will seam like a lot remember theirs going to be an energy crash and your going to have to push yourself just to make it around the block im glad you told your brother now you have someone to talk to and be accountable to our secrets keep us sick your doing really well that flight must have been tuf showes your tanastaty off your a fighter your going to be fine I do this 6 nights a week after a wile I can almost tell the ones that are going to make it and the ones that are not putting everything into it ...you all in you will come out on top
just hang in there a little longer .......Gnarly  

[jacktheman]

Thank you so much gnarly, you have been so much help to me, you've really helped put my unknowledable mind at ease. I'm getting through this, my goal is just to take it one day at a time, and try my very best not to worry about the "exact" time I will be feeling better, and how much longer this will last. If I can get through the day, then I am doing great. Just so everyone knows, I told my brother what was going on and he is being very supportive and by my side for the next 5 days, it means so much to me not to be alone all day. However, we have agreed not to tell my mother. So I am visiting her telling her its just the flu. I feel really bad, but as I'm sure a  lot of you can imagine, it must be one of the worst things in the world for a mother to hear from her son " mom, im addicted to oxy" I think I can pull through and I would like to keep her mind at ease. However, in doing this, means I have to tell her I'm sick, therefor, hard for me to say I'm sick and then still say, I'm gonna go for a run. Any suggestions on how to get some exercise in? Possibly just sit ups in the bedroom and walking around?

[jacktheman]

I'm reading a lot about mental and even physical symptoms last as long as 3 months after this. Do you think that applies to someone like me with my time line and dosages (see first post on page)  It just sounds so overwhelming. I guess because I'm thinking the feelings I feel now are the feelings I will feel in 2 months, just not as bad. That sounds horrible to me. I know there is no easy road to oxy withdrawl, but can someone please tell me 1-3 months is not how long I will feel physical symptoms?

Also, when i google oxy detox, its a lot of professional medical sites saying that basically you have to hospitalize yourself for best results, and if you don't you might suffer worse long-term effects than you would if you just CT yourself. As someone who never saw this physical dependence coming, and someone that considers themselves a pretty strong person, do you think I will be ok trying to get better on my own?

[quitinoxys]

opiates are a cruel master they grab a hold on you and fight with your body to keep you, but you are fighting the good fight and you will make it. As far as all the posts you see here about people being on much higher doses all that means is it may take a little longer for your brain chemistry to get righted again. You have not been abusing for as long as some of us but as your brain and body is now telling you it was long enough to get dependent so that why you are not feeling well. The w/d's is like a roller coaster after a few days you start to feel ok and then like crap again. After a few more days your ok feeling will stay with you longer and the bad less. One thing I must say though is you should seek some aftercare once you are through with the nasties it will make all the difference in the world for your recovery. I will say a prayer for you to feel well through your visit with your family and Merry Christmas to you and your family.-----Rick

[Storme]

Day 5 you will still not feel your best but you "should" have a noticeable improvement in energy and function. I know I did. You might still feel a lot of anxiety but just remember that will be the drugs talking to you and I think you should just feel free to tell them to to f-off when they start screaming at you.

I am so proud of you for getting this far on the road to recovery! You are doing great and every day you will get stronger and stronger but it will always be a battle you must continue to fight. We are addicts now. It is not fun to say or easy to admit but it is the truth of it. However, just because we say it doesn't mean we are defeated hon. We can do this. One day at a time.

Hang in there!
Teresa~

[jacktheman]

thank you so much for your support quitonoxys. Every response I get like that just makes this thing a little easier to get through. Yes, sorry, by tremors I just meant the shakes, so I hope that is normal. Also, just curious, should my withdrawls last just as long as others who were taking much higher doses? Just curious because I don't see many people with the "little" dosage I was taking (I only mean that comparatively)  but believe me, to me, it feels like I am getting off a 3 year heroin binge.

So to keep up with my progress...

Day 3, was told it would be the worst day yet, and it was, and the worst part, Left the house at 5am, then was in airports and cars until 11pm. So horrible trying to contain myself in those little airplane seats. I was fearing this day so much and I am so glad I am at the end of it. I got a little sad because around 6pm I started feeling a little better and thought, oh what a relief, the worst is gone. but then 2 hours later it was right back to the way I have felt the last 2 days. Is this normal? I was told that I should expect 4 really bad days but this 5th should be much better. How much can I rely on that? Because I would really really like a goal to look forward to right now, not to mention, day 5 for me will be Christmas day. Thank you all for your support with this journey.

[quitinoxys]

Jack throwing those pills out was the best decision you made for yourself. As far as seizures unless you have an underlying problem that would cause them I wouldn't worry about it. I went CT off 80 mg 3X/day with 10 mg percs in between and didn't have seizures. You said you are having tremors do you mean you are shaking alot? Because if it's just shaking thats fairly normal (or it was for me). You can get through this and your brain will recover it just takes time. So listen to all the great advise everyone gave you here and you will be fine. I know you can do this just pull some inner strength from yourself and stay positive. Also drink alot of fluids especially juices and flush flush flush. I am pulling for ya so keep on keepin on. God Bless---Rick

[jacktheman]

day 2, 48 hours since i last used an oxy, but im not sure if you call that 48 hours or more like 36 hours. I have yet to feel nausea, the runs, or muscle pain. I'm trying to figure out if that means its going to last longer because that hasn't even kicked in yet, or if I just got lucky on that side of it. I hardly feel lucky though. The restless leg, lack of sleep, fear of this new feeling, and tremors have my full attention at all times. I'm so use to clouding myself, my brain doesn't know how to cope with reality. Worried about my trip, i fly out to see my mom with my brother for a 5 hour trip tomorrow, I don't know how ill be able to stand it. That seems like the worst place for someone in my condition to be.
  On what I feel is a good note though, I threw out all the pills i had left. I for some reason feel that Im early enough into this to quit cold turkey and never go back, if I tryd to taper I feel I would never stop. Thanks to everyone for listening.

[jacktheman]

also, thank you to bmdad, I was posting my response when you did, so I didnt get time to read yours until after I had written my last comment. I'm still quite up in the air as what to do. If I wasn't going to see family, i would bite the bullet at home. But going to see them, sitting down to open presents, going out to eat, watching movies, just seems like how the heck am I going to do that with a shacking leg non stop. I haven't gotten the flu or runs yet, but it sounds like from everyone else, thats just around the corner. I'm torn, because part of me wants to say taper down, take what you have left with family, then come home and bite the bullet CT. Then the other side of me says, maybe going out of town and a different environment could be just the thing I need. All I know is, if I don't take any more until the time I leave, I will be starting day 3 on a 5 hour plan ride. I'm sure some of you can imagine how horrible that would be.

[jacktheman]

thank you gnarly, I feel I may be glued to this forum for a few days. I'm kind of embarrassed about all of this and wan't to get through it. Man, what bad luck, right before I see family I only see a couple times a year. I'm hoping I can just tell them I'm coming down with the flu and they will be supportive and take care of me, even if not knowing what is going on. I would consider taking what I have left with me and see, I'm not even sure that one 10mg vicodin a day would do much for me after 2 weeks of 40mg oxy's anyway.
I've taken xaxax before but usually it just makes me go to sleep and then I feel really depressed the next day. I may try that though as anything would be better than taking oxy again to get through this in my opinion. Who knows, maybe I'll actually get some sleep tonight? Also, just curious, it is now 11:55 pm, and the last time I took 40mg oxy was yesterday at 9am. So how far into the process would you call this?

[bmdad]

You shouldn't have to worry about seizures unless you are already prone to them or have any other underlying health conditions such as a heart condition. Withdrawals aren't normally dangerous.
Since you're going out of town you are kind of in a tough bind right now. I'm not gonna recommend what I would do but I can tell you that days 3 and 4 seem to be the worst and day 5 starting to feel much better.
It's not just the oxy causing the withdrawal. Even though you were only taking one or two vicodin a day for a few months that is all it takes. Your body became use to having it. It's not so much the amount but the length of time you were taking them. But since you were on such a low dose your withdrawals may not be all that bad. They won't be fun but could be much worse if you continue down this path.
Tapering works for some but for most cold turkey is the only way. It takes an awful lot of discipline to taper. Ask yourself this...Would you rather feel kinda crummy for a few weeks while you taper or feel very crummy for a few days and get it over with? Most would say just bite the bullet and go cold turkey.
Don't mess with xanax for anxiety. That's just another med that will eventually cause withdrawals. If you look in the upper right hand side of the page you will see the health pages. Take a look at the amino acid protocol. It lists some vitamins and supplements that will help during withdrawals. There's also some other good info in there. Take hot showers for the chills and muscle aches. Get some immodium for the runs. Eat healthy and push the fluids. And be sure to exercise. I know it can be hard to muster up the energy to do so but force yourself even if it's just a short walk around the block at first. Exercise helps more than anything!
Just stay mentally strong and fight like crazy. Get through this and never touch one again. Many hardcore addicts start out just like you. The longer you take them the more you end up needing to get the same effects. Before you know it you could be looking back wondering what the heck happened!
Hang in there. There are some great people here that will help you get through this.
Best of luck!

Brian

[gnarly_1]

HI ya I think C/Tis the way to go I wouldn't worrie about seizures there really rare and usually caused by much higher doses you will be just fine jumping off it will make you fell like he!! for a couple of days but attitude is everything weed will only make you feel worst from most of our members experience if you can get some xanex but just enough for mabe 5 days\that stuff is highly addictive and its very ez to become cross addicted wile detoxing please dont let fear into the equation we do home detoxes everyday here you might want to look to the lower right of the screen under the helth pages theres something called the thomas recipe it will give you some stuff that will take away some of the symptoms just hang out with us will get you threw this in one piece keep posting for support......Gnarly  

[dominosarah]

I wouldnt worry about seizures. Those can occur when benzo's or tramadol is abruptly stopped.  You will feel flu like symptoms.  gnarly gave you some good advice on how to get thru this.  Stay positive as you can do this!!           sara