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How to go back to prescribed dose and stop snorting

Hi all, I am new to the forum and have been reading some very good advice in here! I do have a question if anyone is able to help. My addiction is oxycontin....have been on it for approx. eight years now. My prescribed dose is 70 mg. a day and I have been exceeding that dose for over a year now. On average, I snort anywhere from 60 - 120 mg a day. What I am struggling with at present is getting back to my prescribed dose and swallow them as I am supposed to. I have been trying, but I keep having withdrawl symptons. Don't understand why the withdrawl, when I swallow my pills, as it is still going into my system? Is it because the amount I am swallowing is less than what I was snorting? And if so, how long will I have to deal with the withdrawl symptons? Was put on oxy for very legit chronic pain. I am 54 yrs. old and female. Anyone that can shed some light on this for me, I would really appreciate it. Currently very depressed about my addiction and also am scared of withdrawl as I have suffered through it cold turkey once, so now as soon as I start to have any withdrawl, it's like I go into a panic. Thanks for any insight you can give me.

Joanne
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Avatar universal
Please never loose hope, you WILL succeed!  I hear your advice loud and clear and appreciate it. I would never trust myself with the oxy ir as i know that would have the same effect. Came to the conclusion that I would never be able to control the drug in that form......tried for years and just not possible.
If I could offer you some advice.....what really helped me to beat this was being honest with my family about my addiction and inability to control it. In my opinion that took some of the control away from the drug as I had no choice once everyone knew, it was very hard to be deceptive because they were all keeping an eye on me! Wish you the very best at beating your addiction, you CAN do it.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thank you! It wasn't easy for sure, but worth it. I have never before had an addiction problem, well except cigarettes, even did cocaine 20 yrs ago and never got addicted. That oxycontin when snorted was unbelievable how it took control over me! Swallowing them, no problem, I even forget to take my dose sometimes and remember when my pain escalates.
I am so grateful for getting control back.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thank u for ur post. It gives me hope. I am having similiar issues only on a much much grander scale. Can I please give u some advise? No matter what!!!! Do NOT let them prescribe you oxy ir's. U will be tempted immidiatley. I'm not saying u will guve in. But I guaremtee u will b tempted. I kniw the hell of snorting and smoking wd's. If ur past it, I wud never want to hear that u fell back into it
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401095 tn?1351391770
Good 4 u!  I dont think they make oxy in snortable form anmore except the quick release.  Just stay on track and always move forward (:
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi all.......well it has been four years since this post and just wanted to let you know that I was able to do it!! Went back to prescribed dose and taking it properly! Can't tell you what the secret was but this is how it happened. First I never hid the problem from my hubby and he was so very patient and non judgemental. I had him hold my pills for me, they were kept in a locked safe and he held the key. At first he would give me my daily amount when he left for work in the mornings. I was still snorting at that point and would end up doing my dose by late afternoon and then not having for the night. So then he just left me my morn. and afternoon dose and my nighttime dose when he got home from work. Battled with getting back to swallowing, was able to swallow only part of daily dose, but snorted most. It wasn't until they changed the drug to oxy neo that I was able to stop snorting totally. At first I tried to snort new ones (by means of heat method) and hated it. Someone gave me a few percs and said they snorted them so I tried that but hated it!  After that I just accepted the fact that the snorting was done with and have been taking the oxy neo properly for a yr now. Can honestly say that I have absolutely no cravings at all for snorting. Now my only problem is my pain, as these new pills are just not effective at all and my pain has gotten out of control, not leveled out at all. I have been on a waiting list for a pain clinic for months as my new doctor just does not understand chronic pain and will not prescribe anything for breakthrough pain. I suffer unbelievably at work, by end of day I do good to drive my car home as I am in so much pain it hurts to even push the clutch in to shift my car. Anyway, even with this high pain level, I have been able to stay away from taking extra or abusing in any other way. Thanks for reading.
Jo
Helpful - 0
401095 tn?1351391770
I have never seen an addict..especailly one who has gone the snorting route nor even a swallowing addict return to a prescribed dose successfully..not for long..snorting is a definite addict behavior and there are no 2 ways about it...if u r able to do it please let us know the secret...quitting is probably ur only option at this point but everyone is different
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Avatar universal
Thank you so much for your quick replies. Am headed to bed, so will check-in tomorrow when I get home from work. Made a mistake, it has been 5 yrs. on them not 8. Still a long time though. Being off the meds. is not an option for me right now as there is no way possible for me to work without them. My neck has severe damage at 4 levels and surgery is out of the question for a number of reasons.
There is no doubt about it, I cannot control my intake on my own. My plan is to stop snorting and then have my partner just give me my daily dose. It started off good, I was able to not snort......the problem lies in the withdrawl symptoms....I didn't think I would have the withdrawl as long as the drug was in my system. As soon as I feel that withdrawl, I start to panic. I am comitted to getting this under control.......sick of being controlled by it!! Yet I still need it for the pain, just need to get back on track and wanting some info. on the withdrawl doing it this way.
Thanks again for your help.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
i have not had experience seeing addicts go back to a controled dose after they have abused their meds
keep in mind this is coming from someone who is in recovery and works in a tx facility, i see tons of addicts
not telling you its impossible, its highly unlikly
after all a cucumber can never go back to being a pickle
please do not feel depressed about your addiction, first note that the drug you are taking was intended for terminally ill patients, advanced stages of cancer, aids, 8 yrs is a long time
i was on pain meds for over a decade, got clean in na 2004
if you want to get off the ox's you could enter a detox facility
or taper at home with the help of a friend or family memeber have someone calculate your taper with what pills you have now, do not refill another script
make sure you have someone there to keep your meds away from you, most addicts will change their mind about detoxing when they get down to a minimal dose
have your doc monitor your BP or do this yourself at wallgreens
make a relaspe prevention plan that includes pain management
most pain pill addict say pain if their biggest relaspe trigger
Helpful - 0
684067 tn?1314292786
I was perscribed 2 60mg oxys and 6 roxy30s a day......all which i snorted and abused. See the thing with those oxys is that time release its more for long term( even though we get rid of that before we snort.....maybe you could try to suck that off then swallow.....don't know if that will help but maybe someone else can offer you better advice.; good luck.
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