Aa
HELP
hello, i found this site by googling. My name is Rev. and I think I'm withdrawing from Percocet. I have osteo and rheumatoid art. and have been on percs and other pain meds for many years aftter 16 ops. on legs and other laps. I am losing my mind. I feel like a hypocrite because I am Minister of Missions and counsel others in tihis situation. My doc. gave me Nucynta to replace percs. and for the past three days I have been sweating so badly that the smell has sunken ionto my bedclothes. The Nucynta didn't seem to prevent the symptoms so about two hours ago I had to take percs. I have the shakes, stomach cramps etc...What now? I thank you in advance for your support. Pray for me and I'll pray for you, I want to do something. Rev.
I'm happy to hear things are sounding better for you! As a pain sufferer myself I understand the need for meds. Like many others have said and I know you said you do, but always do your homework. The more you educate yourself on medication and pain therapy treatments, the better off you will be. I hope your pain does subside and will pray that it does. Please stick around this forum as you may be able to help others overcome there addiction. We can never have enough helpful hands around! God bless and I wish you the best of luck!
Brian
Brian
you sound so much better; hope all is well with you. Good luck and I am so glad that things seem to be calming down.
I spoke to my doc earlier today and she is sending me a script for percs at a higher dosage without the acetaminophen (stomach and liver damage). I cannnot take the Nucynta. In fact I told her that I will be bringing her the more than 100 that I have left, I originally had about 110 or so. I realize that if I was taking the meds to experience a 'high' then I would have taken them and the percs. by now. I have not had a new script for over a month. I truly appreciate everyone's response and concern. I have done my homework (actually had done it a couple months ago)and will continue to be proactive in my quest to find pain relief. I know that my decision to continue the percs. will not be understood by all but the past 4 days or so have enlightened me to the fact that I need them for relief. Btw I only mentioned my gender because Zillian thought I was a man. Theeagle, you're right about second opinions and I have had several ops. and now I have a team of docs. who manage my care. A part of my problem was that I did not keep a couple of scheduled appts and had not fully communicated with them due to embarrassment and shame and I didn't want them to take me off of everything and I didn't want to start all over again. Now that I think about it I am taking a lower dosage now as I was on 10/325's before and went down to 5/325 and itt was the 5's that were not working when she tried the Nucynta. She is sending a script for 7.5's and since I now know of the problems with stopping abrutly I will make sure to keep appts. and communicate honestly with my docs. I understand that some people don't even have compassionate, knowledgable docs. to assist or even adequate insurance and I am glad I do. Zillian I think wrote earlier that there is a blessing in that I know firsthand the issues associated with meds, she is right, my ministry will benefit. Troubleinohio I am learning the terminology, thanx (smile) Imo you are all wonderful people who I glad to have met on this journey and in this world we need all of the love and support that we can get. Troubleinohio, it's funny but one my college profs. has nicknamed me trouble (I graduated in 2007 bachelor's religious studies and education) Sorry if I have been rambling but I feel so much better and it is a known fact that I love to talk. Anyway, I've gotta go but I will check in. Rev.
Good to see you here Rev - no matter what gender you are in today. Be very careful with the nucynta - - they are trying like mad for something both effective and not too harmful yet.......but its not here right now. The nucynta reminds me of a souped up tramadol with some real solid opiate qualities associated......is has properties of sub - both agonist and antagonist..... the action of nucynta (tependatol) on seretonin action is scary. It is supposed to provide analgesia qualitative to doses of hydro. morphine and several other narcs. THIS STUFF HAS ONLY BEEN AROUND SINCE 1992 - - and has only recently been dispensed to any degree........... Do your homework carefully, people. And remember that you obtain second opinions because not close to all the Docs can even agree with each other.
Thanx, I have been on tramadol for a long time(years) as well. I will go to the chronic pain site. The reason my doc gave me Nucynta because the perc didn't seem to be working as well, and I think that since I obciously can't take the Nucynta she'll give me the perc. Since I took the percs. yesterday they are having a better effect on my pain than without them. Looking back I did not take anything at all for 3 days, no tram,perc or any meds. I hadn't eaten or drank either. I will NEVER do that again, I am so thankful to God that he 'snigglinged" me and I found this site. I don't feel as hopeless or anxious as I did at my first posting yesterday morning. I guess for me the bottom line is that I will need to take pain meds to get through my medical issues but I will continue to use this site because it's been a long time since I've felt so connected to anyone, the funny thing is that I run a 12 step program but I guess I needed the true anonymity of the internet to fully appreciate my own issues. Thank God for you all. Rev
Rev, Im glad you posted again. Im also glad to see you do your homework =). I do hope that you will be seeing the doctor again asap as you need to get something worked out better. Is your current prescribing doctor cutting you off the percs? Will he/she not RX you anymore in the future? What was his/her reasoning for suggesting you get off the percs and try this new medicine? And yes, you definitely need to see a pain management doctor (although I really do despise those "pill nazi's as I like to call them) They can be extremely strict and tend to play "god" with their patients, demanding you to take drug tests (which i found out the hard way was a $442 urine test!!!), come in randomly for pill counts and coldly dismiss you if youre even one pill short, etc. But if your regular doctor does not want to RX you "real" narcotics anymore, you may have no choice left but to do to a PM (pain management). Btw, I dont usually give this kind of advice here because this is afterall, an addiction site but I believe you may fall through the cracks here and be a lost chronic pain patient who also may want to visit the pain management forum on this site as well. Dont get me wrong, Im not trying to shoo you away from us, Im just saying you may want to add that site to your arsenal as well, you could get some good advice from them too. ANother thing that concerns me- you said you are already taking tramadol? I didnt realize that. How long have you been on that? I hope you know about its problems and dont ever try to stop that one abruptly. I also wonder if you should be taking tramadol AND the Nucynta together as they seem to be very similarly related chemically. That may be a drug interaction and also could be why you are sweating so profusely. (sweating is an opiate WD symptom) but you have SO many different variables at play in your situation it could be a combination of all these things, not just one cause. So what is your game plan? Are you wanting to quit some of your meds, or continue some, all, or what? Btw...IMO means In My Opinion. Sorry to have confused you with my abbreviation. Also , I am so very sorry for your losses. I cannot imagine having suffered so many tragedies of such a great magnitude. My heart goes out to you.
Please keep us updated as much as you can
Please keep us updated as much as you can
What does IMO mean? Sorry not familiar with much of the new abbreviated terminology. Rev.
I tried to post this earlier but it didn't go through, I am actually(not a male, as you thought) a 45 year old wife of 27yrs, mother of four deceased children. My 18 yr. old son was hit by a truck and killed last year while riding his bike home from church. I am going to try to watch a movie. I thank you all. Rev.
Thanks for your advice. I know that I have to be my own advocate. Anytime I am prescribed a new med or given dx. I research, research, research, which is how I found this site. I forgot to mention that I also have hypothyroidism and fibromyalgia. I wish I could go back to work as I miss being in the classroom and have been out on disability for 6 years. I wish I could concentrate for more than 2 minutes. You're right I must go to a pain management doc. and have a refferal but have not the energy to go anywhere or do anything other than surf tv or online. My docs. are actually good but physically I can't DO what they say although I THINK about it all the time. Sorry about the rambling. Madtram thanks for reminding me to breath as I do forget to do that. Unfortunately I can't take the epsom salt bath as I fall alot and can't get in and out of the bathtub alone. In the past year I have fallen and been hospitalized due to the falls no less than 10 times. I have given in and taken the percs. tram neurontin and flexeril because I can't deal with the wd I am not high but my pain is a lil better and lil more relaxed than at 5am. Again sorry about the rambling but it is just so good having a non jugemental place to express myself. Rev.
I agree with the others, you need better medical management of your condition, the teaching hospital suggestion is a good one.
For right now, make yourself as comfortable as possible & close your eyes.
Place one hand flat against your tummy around your navel.
Breathe in through your nose at an even rate taking the air deep into your tummy.
Allow your tummy to expand, rather than your upper chest. You should feel your hand being pushed away from your body as your stomach rises.
Breathe out slowly through your mouth. It should take twice as long to breath out as to breathe in.
This is the way we all breathe naturally when we are born If you practice for a while you will find that it will help to relieve your anxiety.
If you have any epsom salts handy, pop in the bath & have a good long soak, the magnesium will do wonders for your nervous system & your aches & pains, (not to mention the sweats).
Please believe that sweating, anxiety and panic are common in opiate withdrawal. The anxious thoughts are just the drugs talking, tell yourself that you don't need to listen, this will pass.
For right now, make yourself as comfortable as possible & close your eyes.
Place one hand flat against your tummy around your navel.
Breathe in through your nose at an even rate taking the air deep into your tummy.
Allow your tummy to expand, rather than your upper chest. You should feel your hand being pushed away from your body as your stomach rises.
Breathe out slowly through your mouth. It should take twice as long to breath out as to breathe in.
This is the way we all breathe naturally when we are born If you practice for a while you will find that it will help to relieve your anxiety.
If you have any epsom salts handy, pop in the bath & have a good long soak, the magnesium will do wonders for your nervous system & your aches & pains, (not to mention the sweats).
Please believe that sweating, anxiety and panic are common in opiate withdrawal. The anxious thoughts are just the drugs talking, tell yourself that you don't need to listen, this will pass.
btw here is the site i was reading about your new med if you want to read it in its full entirety
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tapentadol
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tapentadol
good moring Rev..i had never ever heard of the new medicine you are taking, so i just searched it...and..its a new med..and its also very similar to Ultram (tramadol)!!! I had no idea...i would call your doctor back today and see about getting back on a real opiate for starters. This new drug doesnt sound like its going to do squat for your pain, and if its just like tramadol it can be a dangerous drug. DO YOUR HOMEWORK on tramadol and this new drug you are taking. I dont want to see you comgin back here in a few months, addicted to this "new, non addictive drug" and having even worse symtpoms and problems than you do now. Do not put all your trust in doctors. you have to be your own advocate! Read on this forum about the horrors of Ultram/tramadol! Tramadol was given to god knows how many people, touted as a non-addictive alternative to opiates-- and it is VERY Addictive and causes WD symptoms worse than regular opiate wd including seizures. So please please do your homework. Its no wonder you are in such severe WD right now. I was wondering why you were when you said your doctor put you on a new "opiate". WEll after 16 years of you being on oxycodone, stopping that suddenly and taking a tramadol wannabe drug, isnt going to help you at all, IMO. You need to figure out what you want to do as far as opiates for pain...but if you are going to quit them, you should do a taper with the percs at least. Call your doctor today. How long have you been on this new drug? i forget... hang in there..we are here to help you! PS here is short piece of info I cut and paste from a website that had this new medicine description:
Tapentadol (Trade name Nucynta) is a centrally-acting analgesic with a unique dual mode of action as an agonist at the μ-opioid receptor and as a norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor.[2] It is considered to have a potency between tramadol and morphine.[3]. Tapentadol is a new molecular entity that is strucurally similar to tramadol (Ultram) It has opioid and nonopioid acitivity in a single compound.
Tapentadol is FDA approved for the treatment of moderate to severe acute pain. Due to the dual mechanism of action as an opioid agonist and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, there is potential for off label use in chronic pain. There have been no clinical studies conducted for off-label use of tapentadol in chronic pain.
Doctors use serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors in chronic pain management to increase the effectiveness of opioids and, to a lesser extent, NSAIDs (along with other analgesics) against neuropathic pain and from certain specific contributing causes such as fibromyalgia and diabetic neuropathy. One selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) often used as an adjunct, atypical & potentiator is duloxetine (Cymbalta). Another opioid with selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor effects is levorphanol (Levo-Dromoran).
Its dual mode of action provides analgesia at similar levels of more potent narcotic analgesics such as hydrocodone, oxycodone, and meperidine with a more tolerable side effect profile.
Tapentadol (Trade name Nucynta) is a centrally-acting analgesic with a unique dual mode of action as an agonist at the μ-opioid receptor and as a norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor.[2] It is considered to have a potency between tramadol and morphine.[3]. Tapentadol is a new molecular entity that is strucurally similar to tramadol (Ultram) It has opioid and nonopioid acitivity in a single compound.
Tapentadol is FDA approved for the treatment of moderate to severe acute pain. Due to the dual mechanism of action as an opioid agonist and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, there is potential for off label use in chronic pain. There have been no clinical studies conducted for off-label use of tapentadol in chronic pain.
Doctors use serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors in chronic pain management to increase the effectiveness of opioids and, to a lesser extent, NSAIDs (along with other analgesics) against neuropathic pain and from certain specific contributing causes such as fibromyalgia and diabetic neuropathy. One selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) often used as an adjunct, atypical & potentiator is duloxetine (Cymbalta). Another opioid with selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor effects is levorphanol (Levo-Dromoran).
Its dual mode of action provides analgesia at similar levels of more potent narcotic analgesics such as hydrocodone, oxycodone, and meperidine with a more tolerable side effect profile.
It is 5am and I woke up, if you could say I was sleeping and soaked, smelly,REALLY scared. Any comment is helpful as I feel so alone.
Just read your new post. LOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You are in PAIN. You don't abuse your medication, in fact you don't even take the prescribed dose. Who cares if you are addicted to your medicine. You need it. It is like doctors not wanting to give terminal cancer patients more morphine because they will become addicted. It makes no sense.
Have you seen a good pain management physician? If not it is worth a consultation at the closest teaching hospital near you. It doesn't sound like your pain is being managed too well.
Be good to yourself! You are suffering. You have my thoughts and prayers. Use us to help.
Have you seen a good pain management physician? If not it is worth a consultation at the closest teaching hospital near you. It doesn't sound like your pain is being managed too well.
Be good to yourself! You are suffering. You have my thoughts and prayers. Use us to help.
I agree with everything troubleinohio said above. You should not go cold turkey after 16 years on percs. Sometimes doctors make mistakes when it comes to addictive drugs and also underestimate the WD from drugs that are supposed to be "non-addictive". So it is good to check things out.
The thing that struck me in your post was somehow you feel ashamed. Because you are a minister you are not supposed to feel pain or get lost or get confused or overwhelmed, or need help with serious problems? To heal others you are making yourself vulnerable to thier pain and therefore need to monitor your own. Obviously you are a compassionate man. Now you must have compassion for yourself.
Also, and very importantly, this situation is a blessing in that it will make you a much better counselor! You will really understand something that must be experienced.
Keep posting with more information. You are not a hypocrite you are a human being. I think the job of a minister, clergy in general, is impossible. Everyone wants you to be perfect, and have all the answers, to be above the problems that they so often bring to you and after awhile you start believing that you should be.
You are going to be OK. You are in WD. And it can make you feel like you are losing your mind. You are not. Talk with your doctor. .
The thing that struck me in your post was somehow you feel ashamed. Because you are a minister you are not supposed to feel pain or get lost or get confused or overwhelmed, or need help with serious problems? To heal others you are making yourself vulnerable to thier pain and therefore need to monitor your own. Obviously you are a compassionate man. Now you must have compassion for yourself.
Also, and very importantly, this situation is a blessing in that it will make you a much better counselor! You will really understand something that must be experienced.
Keep posting with more information. You are not a hypocrite you are a human being. I think the job of a minister, clergy in general, is impossible. Everyone wants you to be perfect, and have all the answers, to be above the problems that they so often bring to you and after awhile you start believing that you should be.
You are going to be OK. You are in WD. And it can make you feel like you are losing your mind. You are not. Talk with your doctor. .
I have been told that there is nothing to be done about my legs and I basically might as well get used to being in my wheeelchair. I am in chronic pain at all times even when I've taken meds. Nucynta is a narcotic opiod like Perc but is shorter acting and suppossedly not as addicting. I have about 50 Percs. left and more than 100 Nucyntas. I don't take more than the prescribed dosage and actually only take about 3 per day and the script is for 6 per day. I would like to stop all of the meds but because of the art. and other medical issues (diabetes, diabetic neuropathy (nerve pain) etc.) don't think I can. I also take tramadol, flexeril, neurontin for pain and ativan, ambien and trazedone for sleep. My doc. didn't cold turkey me, she's not that crueI, I'm waiting for her to call back. I don't know. Thanks for listening. Rev.
Please call your doctor and don't go through this alone... even though you really are not, we are all here walking the same path as you are. I went to my church on Sunday evening, cried my eyes out and still felt hopeless. Real pain is real pain!! Withdrawals are real and my soul was cleansed but, my earthly flesh was not.. I felt sick, sick, sick. Just take it slow. I was a pre-school leader at our church and am a successful business owner/director of an after-school care facitlity. Also, a have 2 beautiful children, home, husband, etc... & yet I was still afflicted to this horrid pill.
I just posted something on the question site hoping everyone can see this. Here it is:
Talked with my doctor yesterday about going c/t. She advised against it... reminded me of the last time I went through the w/d's cold turkey. She stated she was concerned for my health due to my high blood pressure. She would like for me to be monitored in a hospital if I have to go c/t.
I told her I would continue the taper at home but, was not thrilled about this drawn out misery... guess I expected this to be easy and pain free. She did share with me that I probably weaned too much to soon. She had originally recommended 1 10/325's Hydro every 4 hours. I started with breaking the pills in 1/2 from the beginning of my taper (too little too soon). I probably would of had an easier time if I had followed her instructions. I guess I just wanted to get off this crazy merry-go-round.
It is now Day 5 and I just want to let everyone know out there that is dealing with the same misery, that their is light at the end of the tunnel.
Day 5 - and I am taking 1/2 pill every 5 hrs. for the next 5 days. Today has been the best day so far and I have to say not more than 24 hrs. ago I couldn't bear the thought of being on Day 5.
Thanks to everyone for sharing. I did not feel alone knowing others are out there like me.
I just posted something on the question site hoping everyone can see this. Here it is:
Talked with my doctor yesterday about going c/t. She advised against it... reminded me of the last time I went through the w/d's cold turkey. She stated she was concerned for my health due to my high blood pressure. She would like for me to be monitored in a hospital if I have to go c/t.
I told her I would continue the taper at home but, was not thrilled about this drawn out misery... guess I expected this to be easy and pain free. She did share with me that I probably weaned too much to soon. She had originally recommended 1 10/325's Hydro every 4 hours. I started with breaking the pills in 1/2 from the beginning of my taper (too little too soon). I probably would of had an easier time if I had followed her instructions. I guess I just wanted to get off this crazy merry-go-round.
It is now Day 5 and I just want to let everyone know out there that is dealing with the same misery, that their is light at the end of the tunnel.
Day 5 - and I am taking 1/2 pill every 5 hrs. for the next 5 days. Today has been the best day so far and I have to say not more than 24 hrs. ago I couldn't bear the thought of being on Day 5.
Thanks to everyone for sharing. I did not feel alone knowing others are out there like me.
Please do not judge yourself, we do not.
we are all human no matter what our positions are.
Yes, you are in withdrawl. get rid of the percocet or you will be back on the band wagon and going through this again.
we are all human no matter what our positions are.
Yes, you are in withdrawl. get rid of the percocet or you will be back on the band wagon and going through this again.
well the question is, do you want to quit your meds? are you addicted or dependant? Do you take as prescribed or abuse them? You said your doctor switched your meds? He doesnt want you on narcotics anymore? Did he offer you a taper plan to do at all? Usually doctors will slowly take you off them especially since youve been on them for 16 years?? thats crazy if he just cold turkied you. Had he mentioned in previous visits that he wanted you to decrease your intake or was this suddenly thrust on you?
you are definitely in WD if you stopped 3 days ago. You have classic WD symptoms for sure. How many percs do you have left (you said you took 2 just now). If you have a decent amount of them you could try a taper and slowly work your way off them. I guess i need more info first before i can really give you more advice- mainly if you are addicted to them or just dependant, if you want off them or not, if you have bad pain still daily ? can you function without? Of course after being on them for 16 years though, its going to be awhile before you know if you need them for pain. when you first quit pain pills, your pain level gets exagerrated and may seem worse because your brain is screaming out for its drugs and will do anything to try and make you take more. After you have been off them for awhile you may find that your pain is tolerable with non narcotics meds. good luck, keep reading and posting, you found a good place here.
you are definitely in WD if you stopped 3 days ago. You have classic WD symptoms for sure. How many percs do you have left (you said you took 2 just now). If you have a decent amount of them you could try a taper and slowly work your way off them. I guess i need more info first before i can really give you more advice- mainly if you are addicted to them or just dependant, if you want off them or not, if you have bad pain still daily ? can you function without? Of course after being on them for 16 years though, its going to be awhile before you know if you need them for pain. when you first quit pain pills, your pain level gets exagerrated and may seem worse because your brain is screaming out for its drugs and will do anything to try and make you take more. After you have been off them for awhile you may find that your pain is tolerable with non narcotics meds. good luck, keep reading and posting, you found a good place here.
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