How much longer?

[oxydog]

I was taking Oxycontin for about 8 months leading up to and following surgery for herniated disc - had the surgery in May.  Was successfully tapering off until I started having new back/leg pain -- started taking my Oxy 40's again but started chewing them to get faster relief (and the sense of euphoria was good too).  Did that for a couple weeks and then decided to stop and start back to tapering .. got down to 10 mg 1X/day -- took the last one last Monday (1 week ago today).  Had a couple pretty rough days with digestive problems etc.  I think I am past that but I cant stand this fatigue/lethargy.  I already take Celexa and Trazadone for depression -- increased my Celexa when I first started tapering off.  Already take B vitamins and Ginseng too. Been taking 1000 mg/day of L-Tyrosine since last Thursday as recommended on this forum.  

I am due to start back to work on Aug 1 -- the way I feel, I dont know how I am going to manage.  I have an executive position and I travel on business a lot. Just lifting my arm to brush my teeth in the morning is a challenge.

I have quit smoking and alcohol -- both of which I abused for many years -- but I never experienced this kind of lethargy and depression when I gave up those substances.

Is there anything more I can do to get some energy, clear my head, feel good about life?

[oxydog]

I've considered that as well ... that there may be some permanent neural changes .. I try not to think about it - I'd rather consider that it may take a few months to feel normal again and if it happens sooner, that's a bonus.  Also, I've decided that I will savour the good days (or good parts of days) and just do what I can to get through the bad days (keep busy, hot baths, herbal teas, --- NO DRUGS!).

[The_Sandman]

oxydog, interesting comments about your research indicating months before 'normal' is achieved.....I have been soaking up info on that topic as well and believe you may be right there.

I will see......and share my results.....but I think that tapering should be at least tried first and as conservatively as possible as well. But I am starting to believe once ANY level of dependence is achieved, w/d and long term recovery from the effects of opiates are unavoidable.

Essentially we supply ourselvs with "happy" in pill form so our bodies stop making it naturally. THEN WE ABUSE...making ourselves both physically and mentally accustomed to higher doses than EVEN OUR BODIES MADE BEFORE.....

One way or another our boddies have to be 'prodded' into producing more and more to make up for what it was being supplied externally until the levels are back to those that they were before....and frankly, with all the endocrinology and stuff associated with that and brain chemistry and who knows what else, it's no wonder this stuff effects us so profoundly.

It's even valid to be concerned that with such a delicate systems, perhaps some, NEVER really ever get better.....and that is a sobering thought.



s

[oxydog]

maybe if I had stayed on the taper schedule but when I was down to 10mg in am and a 5mg percocet in pm I started taking breaking my 40's in half and then started chewing them .. never did that the whole 7 mos I was on prior to my surgery but I enjoyed the buzz so kept doing it for a couple weeks .. then I cut back down to 2 X 10 mg/day and then after about a week to 1 10/day and then about a week of that and stopped.

I had 3 days of bad digestive problems, chills, sweats .. but now it is just the fatigue, lethargy, depressed feeling.  I thought this would be over in a few days but now I am thinking it could go on for months, based on further research I have done and info from other people who have discontinued Oxy.

I tried to stop right after my surgery by tapering fast and it was worse so I do think slowly getting down to 1 Oxy/day -- low dose helped.

[The_Sandman]

wait your down to 1 pill a day - quit a week ago - and still having withdraw? I am surprised? Did you do the 1 pill a day for a while or for just a short time?

I imagine that from 1 a day to nothing should be pretty easy.....maybe if you went 1/2 a day for a week or so before quitting, one might expect to avoid the acute withdraws I would think.....but I guess it all depends on the quantity you were using and for how long.

I guess I say this because I was clean for a week, could not handle it after day 5 and have been taking 2 maybe 3 a day for the last few days....plan to taper to 1/2 a pill twice a day for a week and then quit.....but I FULLY hopped/prayed to avoid what I felt a week ago when I quit c/t. THIS, after having gone 2 weeks with 5-10 a day PLUS - I have been abusing for maybe a month or two tops.

Am I kidding myself?

Not to hijack this thread but- im getting worried that the w/d will come back. I mean I expect a little something, but VERY little w/d with this strategy.

Any words of encouragement or methods to taper?

Too may people here are c/t types - mostly I think, because their scripts ran out and were forced too. There seems to be very precious little data on taper plans and experiences. Any feedback?

S

[wickedwanderer]

it should start improving, but it's kind of slow-going.  yeah, you're going to have good days and bad days (i think this is more mental than physical withdrawal).  

i'm on celexa and trazodone too...that caught my eye.

maybe going back to work will help you not focus on the withdrawal...ya know?

[oxydog]

Man - I dont know if I can go on like this for months.  do you have good days and bad days?  or does it get progressively better?

[justlikeyou]

exersise will help, im still exhausted after 3 months, but im like you even brushing my teeth is often too much effort.

it does get better but its slooooooooooooooooooow

[GA Guy]

You're a long ways into the WD's, and things should be getting better very soon, Just hang in there. Try and be as active as possible. I know it's hard, but exercise can help detox and get your energy back. Just take it one day at a time. One hour or minute at a time if you must. The clouds should be parting soon.