Ease of opiate re-dependence.

After a medical procedure, I was on Oxycodone for two months and developed a physical dependence. I recently went through the withdrawal and detoxed from that and had the worst experience of my life. I didn't have any of the mental withdrawal or cravings. I've never had issues with depression or anything and really like having a clear head. My problem is...I'm going to have another procedure that will require pain medication again but I should only have to be on that for about a week this time. I have a couple questions.

1) After having developed a physical dependence in the past, is it going to be easier this time to develop that dependence again?

2) How much will trigger that? Will one week cause dependence? With my specified background?

It was really a horrible experience and I don't want to go through it again. I know a lot of this depends from person to person, but I'd like to hear about other people's experiences! Thanks for everyone's help!

Martin

[Tommas]

Hi ,,,I kinda posted the same question,,,,what happens down the road if I really do need pain meds??
I will cross that bridge when i get there,,the only thing I know I am going to do is tell the doc I was addicted to pain meds ,so He wont give me alot,,and I wont keep calling to get more. goodluck Tom

[notmenow!]

This time do a taper when you starting to come off the meds, Don't take them if you do not have to.
Try taking ibuprofen 800mg every 8hrs and half the amount of percocet? In the drug world of addiction if you take strong opiates for 3 days straight you can catch a habit. If your in mild pain try the ibuprofen fist wait 45 minutes and see if it works. Don't use aspirin as it is a blood thinner and will delay the healing process. Good Luck--------------------------------NOAH

[mart1n]

I don't want to beat a dead horse and I know I have not given my first post much time. Do not many people have experience with this? When most addicts relapse do they just go all out again? Never just a one to three day slip up? Going through withdrawals had a profound effect on me...it scared the $hit out of me! Don't want to deal with it again. Thanks again!

[avisg]

mart,
do you have someone that can hold the meds for you after surgery ? That way you are taking them as perscribed.Try the OTCs first then take as little as you need to make the pain manageable . It will really help if someone holds them . As soon as the pain is manageable from taking OTC ,then flush any left over pills.

[mart1n]

Thanks for the reply and the good info.

I'm not really worried about the mental addiction part. I didn't have any problems with cravings or anything, just went through the physical part. Not saying it couldn't happen though!

I know everyone's body is different but I'm mainly interested in learning information about how susceptible the human body is to the physical dependence after developing it once before? Since the body has been dependent before, will taking the medication just once cause dependence again or will it be the same as someone who has never developed a dependence before.

I'm not sure if there are permanent changes to the body caused by developing a physical dependence in the past or if it heals and goes back to normal? Before ever developing a dependence I've had opiate based pain medication for broken bones, ect. Where I only took them for a week or two and never had problems. After my last medical procedure and having developed a physical dependence will I still be able to do that (The one week thing) or will that cause dependence again? I hope that makes since.

I'm asking because I know I'm going to be given these things again in about a month and I'm scared of that physical dependence thing! Thanks again to everyone on these forums, very helpful and scary information!!

Martin

[kyjobr]

I've slipped for a day or two and haven't had w/d's but never more than that.  

[avisg]

Well, this is pretty much the way it goes  the longer you take them the higher the chance of dependence is .Your body gets used to the drug if more of your day is spent under the influence of the drug and the longer you take the drug the more the body depends on the drug to function . Pretty soon your body does not want to function without the drug ... So way to help or minimize the chances of this happening ..... Only take drug when OTCs wont handle the pain . Only take as much as you need start with half a pill and work your way up ... Take for the shortest time needed . What kind of surgery are you having ?

[kyjobr]

However your body must "remember" that you were addicted before because normally a person is able to use pills for at least a few weeks before becoming physically addicted but even if I've been clean for several weeks, if I use again for more than a day or two I'm stuck going through w/d's again.  That's usually my mind set when I slip.  I would figure, oh well I'm going to get sick anyway so I might as well keep going and enjoy it until it's time to pay the piper.  Sick thinking huh...

[beachtowel]

I have had a lot of surgeries but never needed oxycotin.......do you have to get something that strong.......

[beachtowel]

sorry I mis-read your post did you have percs?

You could try tylenol 3 and let someone hold them and dispense them to you when you need them..