Any insight is appreciated (Oxyperc Abuse)

[NewLifePlease]

Hello All,

I have been taking oxycontin, percocet or oxypercs for about 2 years now. It is at the point where I truly hate myself.

Many years ago I was proscribed Ultracet for herniated discs in my back. I found myself popping so many pills at once that I stayed up all night and developed uncontrollable hiccups. However, the scrips ran out and I went back to life. But that was what whetted my appetite.

I work 12-14 hours a day, so I never dealt with my back issues via therapy. I just exercised to lose weight in order to reduce the burden on my spine. Around 2 years ago, my pains came back in a lighter form. I didn't want to go to the doctor because I was stubborn. My mother, who has cancer, offered me one of her oxycontins (5mg) and that seemed to help it out. My God, my mother just wanted to help but that taste started a very vicious cycle.

I found that along with pain relief, the OCs made me euphoric and focused. I kept asking my mother for pills and she would give it to me (she had a bottomless supply practically). I asked for them even when my back pain wasn't bad. Then, I found myself sneaking them out of her bottle. Out of all the things I've done while on this drug, this is the thing that haunts me the most. The thing that I hate myself for more than anything.

A few weeks into it, I found myself craving the euphoria. I did some street research and discovered several connections to OCs and OPs (those newer, chewier pills). It started as a low modest habit (if such a thing exists) . It snowballed into an 80mg a day habit, then 160mgs and then I I topped off at around 240mgs.

However, the habit recently became financially unsustainable. I make 70,000 dollars a year and found myself consistently broke, behind on bills and living off of change at the end of my pay cycles. It is sickening.

Recently, I've been on a mission to wing down. I've gotten it down to between 90-120 mgs a day. Today, I took only 60 mgs and I am all out. I start a week and a half vacation today and think it is the right time to go cold turkey.

Now, last summer I went to a rehab place. They loaded me up with pills (including Ritalin) that seemed to make everything worse. I never went back there again and stuck with my habit. Over the past week, I've been winging down. In that time, I've experienced some of the withdrawal symptoms that people often mention (sniffles, diarrhea, runny nose, FATIGUE and general blazeeness). Today was pretty bad. There was an hour of intense fatigue but I got over it. I just took the last of my stash an hour ago.

But tomorrow I want to start taking zero a day. I figure I can lock myself in the house for a few days and ride out the withdrawal. I just want to know a few things: a) what can I do to at least mitigate my symptoms?, b) how long might the withdrawal feeling last?, c) can i get over it enough to return to work in a week and a half a function properly? and d) is there anything else that I should know before I embark on this?

I hate myself. I have thrown thousands of dollars down the toilet, done a ton of damage to my body and become enslaved to this pill. I feel so weak, helpless and stupid. My hope is that I can kick this habit live like a normal middle class American. My hope is to enjoy life again without pills.

Thank you

[gnarly_1]

HI YOU have been givin good advise  all I want to add is try your best to keep a postive attitude going threw this.....thyis isa battle one or lost in ones own mind...it is 1/3 physical and 2/3 mental....be ready to fight it out on both fronts hot baths helped releave most of the symptoms....they make some stuff call highlands restfull legs its helpfull if you get restless legs
you can get it up at walmart or walgreens other then that rent a few movies your not going to sleep for a wile and try to stay bizzy it takes your mind off how lousy you feel keep posting to let us know how your doing good luck and God bless.......Gnarly

[justneedtotalk]

Welcome......Our stories are very similar....I too have a very good job and cannot believe I feel into this trap....I was stuck just like you are now....I was getting to the point where the pills didn't "do it for me" anymore....I over a month clean now and it was difficult but VERY worth it....Life is so much better after that first month....I am enjoying myself without having to rely on pills....I no longer have to afford, hide, count, ration, or chase after pills.

I found that there are some things you can do to help speed up the withdrawal process....I would drink as much water as you can get down you....Try and drink some orange juice or any other type of gatorade type drinks.  Get a heavy multivitamin and take one twice a day.  Get your hands on some protien powder and like other mentioned some valarian root and melatonine....The valarian can be taken all day and will help mellow you out.  Take both at night to help you sleep.  Exercise is probably the single most important thing when detoxing.....Exercise will feel like the last thing on earth you will be capable of or want to do but it helps!  In the upper right hand corner of this page you will see a Health Pages icon....Navigate there and find the Amino Therapy Protocol article.  This was designed for methadone users but works perfectly for any opiate addiction....There are a lot of natural suppliments you can take that I am convinced minimize withdrawal and speed up the process.....Don't get me wrong the next 3 to 7 days are going to be difficult but once over you will start feeling better daily.  It is important to maintain the suppliments, protien and vitamins for at least 2-3 months and if you can exercise you will be feeling better in no time.....Don't be shy with the immodium and keep lots of fluids down you.....The faster you can rinse out or sweat out the toxins, the sooner you will start to feel better....Also, most important.....Long hot hot baths or hot tubs.....This will be a little bit of heaven during that first week of detox.....

Congradulations on quitting and we are all here for support and questions.....You can do this!  F those pills!  There is a life after pills and it is GREAT!!!!!  You know what they are doing to your pocketbook, mind, and body so you MUST QUIT before they start doing perminant damage!!! Good luck and God bless!

[caregiver222]

Dave125 has provided you with excellent advice.

It's going to be rough. It's best if you are able to take completely off from work.

You are on a lot.

Remember that if you go off that doseage for a while, and start again with the same amount the cells will have "reset" and you may go into respiratory arrest. That is to say if you are taking 120 mgs a day, take two months off, and start at that amount there is a chance you may never wake up again.

[Dav125]

Get s some immodium and advil now. Your going to need it. Gatorade ? you need to drink lots of fluids..Plan on 3 real rough days here like a bad case of the flu..I don't have time to fill in more details right now, but if you have a week and a half to work with, you won't be 100% when going back to work, but you should be able to handle it. Get the immodium though. At the first signs of diarrehea, start taking it. Plan on little sleep. That going to be tough.Showers help...