Is there a difference between withdrawl from oxycodone that has been used for chronic pain control and that that has been used for getting high?

[tigggr1570]

Three years ago I blew my back out at work. I had spinal fusion surgery that failed about 10  months after the initial injury. They are calling it failed back syndrome but no one can tell me why I still hurt after countless painful and excruciating tests. I was told I would be on pain management drugs (oxycontin, oxycodone, muscle relaxers, etc.) for the rest of my life.

Recently I decided I was sick of being exhausted all the time and I don't want to take my medication any longer even if I am in pain. (Thankfully, exhaustion has really been my only problem with the oxy other than a little constipation.  I have been blessed that I didn't have the other side effects that many suffer like fuzzy thoughts, irritability, etc.)  I have managed to get myself off of the oxycontin er (60mg twice a day) completely. I haven't taken any of them in over a month. I just quit taking them and didn't have any trouble or withdrawl, probably because I was still taking the oxy IR. The oxycodone IR I take is 15mg and I took anywhere from 8-12 a day. I have gotten myself down to 2-4 a day, most of the time 3-4.

I have asked my family doctor to take over my care since I want to get off of the meds and away from my pain specialist the work comp people require me to go to.  Last year she suggested I try marijuana for pain (which is illegal in my state as it is in most) and then had me drug tested for the first time ever the following month telling me it was a new procedure because a local doctor went down for a pill mill. I felt like the work comp company or my employer were trying to get me fired for legitimate reasons.  As a teacher, using illegal drugs would do it.  They had already had me followed and video taped trying to prove I was faking or working at another job while taking their money, but they failed because I wasn't doing either!

Today I talked to my family doctor and asked him for 10mg oxy IR now so that I can try to get further down from where I am. The oxy I currently take is straight oxy with no tylenol as my pain specialist was worried about my liver.  My doctor prescribed percocet 325 for me. What are your thoughts on this? And, again, are withdrawl symptoms different for getting high vs. a legitimate pain use, or are the symptoms and severity the same no matter what? By the way, I have never used illegal drugs before and I have never abused prescription drugs, either. I do drink ever once in a while, but pretty much quit that when I got hurt as it didn't mix with my medications according to the labels.

I appreciate you taking the time to read my long story, but for informed answers, I figured you would need the whole background.

[avisg]

Tigggr

WOW that is a scary amount of meds to have had you on all at the same time .I would have been afriad to go to sleep in fear I would not wake up.It sounds like you have worked out a good way to contue to get off  them and done a great job so far.You will have your good and bad days .
I dont blame you for no wanting do go on other meds .I am/was addicted tramadol so I am glad they dont have you on there as well. keep in thouch so we know how you are doing we will be here to help.

[tigggr1570]

"How Many of percocets are you going to be taking has your doctor worked out a taper schedule."

I had already tapered myself way past what he had suggested doing before I started seeing him for the pain meds once I get rid of my specialist. I am actually still under work comp at this point as I haven't received the paperwork to dismiss it yet. I was suppose to go see him the end of August to start our work on switching to a non-narcotic pain reliever. However, I started tapering myself before that as I didn't want to wait that long to get started and I was doing so well on my own with the tapering. I had gotten myself to a point where I needed a different dosage to continue but I didn't want to call my pain specialist as I never want to see her again!!! I wanted to switch to 10mg and I couldn't cut the 15mg accurately enough to do 10mg therefore, I called him. The prescription is 1 per 4-6 hours of 10/325 percocet (generic). My old prescription was 2-15mg pure oxy every 3-4 hours.  He gave me 100 of them for 30 days and then I plan to have my next prescription be 7.5/325 and then 5.5/325, and then finally 2.5/325. I am in serious pain most of the day since I am stopping my pain meds so at some point when it is safe we will probably be able to introduce something that is non-narcotic to start controlling the pain once again. During this time of taper I am going to continue to try to take as few a day as I can and try to keep it to 3-4 a day, however, with a smaller dose, I may have to go back up to 4-5 and then taper it back again after a few days.  I am hoping to not have to add another drug such as the clonidine, methadone, or tranzenes in order to get off of this. At one point in time my pain specialist had me on 9 different meds including:
1.  60mg oxycodone ER 2 times a day
2.  15mg oxycontontin IR 2 pills up to 6x a day
3.  100 microgram fentynyl patches changed every 3 days
4.  900 mg gabapentin per day
5.  cymbalta (can't remember dose)
6.  350 mg (I think) soma several times a day
7.  abien c4 (can't remember dose) each evening
8.
9.
can't remember the last two without looking them up!

I quit them all with NO help of other meds or a doctor except the two oxy dosages at once last year as they weren't helping my pain and I was sick of taking pills and feeling like ****!!!!!

Anyway, that is more of my story.

I am hoping I can get switched to a non-narcotic successfully and not have to go back because of the pain. I do not find myself wanting the pills when I don't hurt, so I am glad to say I don't think I have an emotional or mental addiction to them so if I can find something else to control the pain, I think I can be oxy free completely!

[Ella789]

No, withdrawl is painful either way,  whether used for chronic pain or to get high (if used for very long) anyway.  

Your Dr. can help you with Clonidine and a few tranzenes, if you ask or let him know you want off the pain meds.

Ella

[avisg]

Withdrawal is withdrawal whether you started off taking it for pain or just recreation.Most of us here have chronic pain issues and got started that way but addicted is addcited any way you look at it even it you have pain.How Many of percocets are you going to be taking has your doctor worked out a taper schedule.

[GA Guy]

Opiates don't differentiate from addicts and pain patients. If both are taking 100mg a day and go cold turkey, they will have the same physical withdrawals...all things being equal. The mental withdrawals will be somewhat different for the addict. The daily limit for Tylenol is 4000mg. So, taking 4-5 of the 10/325 Percocets is well under that limit.

[leeisgettingclean]

i would think you have done a good long term taper and in my thoughts your w/ds should be minamal at best. Yeah i  think you might be a lil unconfortable but atleast youu relize the prob and you are seeking help. I think you are doing things right. Now i dont know if what i said is true, i have 4 days clean so i am sure more will come along and have better imput, i just sayin what ipersonally think