Oxy Withdrawal--Anyone else experience debilitating fatigue and other similar symptoms?

Question

Hey All,

I am on day 8 of opiate withdrawal and wondered if what I'm experiencing is normal. 

If it makes any difference I am a pain patient WITHOUT an addiction to pills and have used Oxycodone and Oxycontin daily at high doses (usually around 250 mg a day but at times up to 300 or more, depending on pain level). My use increased over time along with changes in my pain, but overall use has been daily for about 5 years. 

I've has some changes in my symptoms that allowed me to lower and finally get off my pills, at least for now. I tapered off Oxycontin onto Oxycodone and after getting down to about 7-10 mg a day of Oxycodone went off cold turkey. The tapering from 240 mg to less than 10 per day took about 1.5-2 months or so. 

I experienced all the usual horrible symptoms of early withdrawal like pain, insomnia, heart racing, stomach cramps, sweats and chills etc, but am wondering if my symptoms now are part of withdrawal or if they have to do with my pain and other health issues. I'd love feedback from anyone who's been through withdrawal after long term, daily or very regular use of high doses of opiates regardless of if you are a pain patient or recreational user. 

The symptoms I'm worried about are 1)severe debilitating fatigue and 2) weird sleep issues 3) extreme hunger pangs and 4) brain fog, 5) emotional issues.

Brain fog--I defintitely found that over time the pills caused my brain to function very poorly. Thinking clearly was often not possible and I lost most of my motivation and ability to function normally in daily life. I wrongly believed that getting off the pills would mean getting my mental clarity back. This has not happened. While I have felt maybe the tiniest bit more clear overall I still have severe brain fog. Have others experienced this too, and if so how long did it take for your brain to feel more normal?

Fatigue and Sleep--I also am severely fatigued. Once the revved up stage of withdrawal subsided I fell into fatigue. I still have trouble falling alseep at night and can't stay asleep for as long as I used to be able to but that has improved a lot since the first days of withdrawal. Now though I find myself falling asleep for a couple hours in the middle of the day, and can't seem to feel awake or energetic no matter how much cofee I drink. I find I can do little more than lay on the bed or sofa and forcing myself to do any physical exertion feels like walking through a pool of jello. Have others experienced this and if so how long did it last for you? Because of health reasons I dont' want to take adrenal support pills till I see a doctor. Other than that are there any suggestions to help with fatgue. I do try to exercise when I can which for now just means going for a walk.


Hunger Pangs/Weight Gain--At first I lost weight during withdrawal but now I seem to be extremely hungry very often thoughout the day and I gained a few pounds in just a few days. I haven't eaten that much more than normal to explain the rapid gain. I've already gained weight due to medical problems and want to lose it, so I really hope withdrawal does not contribute to more weight gain. Any thoughts here?

Emotionally--I at least don't feel severe depression or anyting. I feared while I was on the medicine that it was giving me a false sense of wellbeing and that if I went off I'd find that I really was depressed underneath. Luckily this hasn't happened but I'm finding that emotionally I am not feeling quite right and am lacking in confidence. Maybe that is the fatigue and years of being mostly nonfunctional while on high doses of pills, I don't know.

Anyway I'd love to hear feedback about any of this from anyone who can share their experiences or knowledge. I will also be following up with my doctor.

Nancygynnurse · Answer

I am in process of decreasing from 45 mg of total oxycodone beteeen oxycontin and Percocet. Im now down to 10 mg. And yes, my primary symptom now is fatigue. I also have trouble sleeping. I like you, have had a great decrease in my symptoms and want to be off the opioid medication. I wish us both well. Im sure it will stop. Someone suggested to me to exercise. But I dont even want to get out of bed. Be well and keep going. Time will help (I hope).

ButterflyGardener48 · Answer

Thanks so much, I did as you said. I appreciate you, thanks!

IBKleen · Answer

Hi Butterfly & Welcome,

You are in an old post. I assume you arrived here by google search. Go to the top of this page and hit the "post a question" button to create your own post. This is a great place for support. Let us know if you need help.

ButterflyGardener48 · Answer

I was on Fentanyl 75 mchs every 48 hours  for about 5 years for bulging disc  & severe Sciatica pain. I was experiencing fatigue on the day I changed my patch, my body didn't like it when my levels were low. Once the meds from the patch kicked in & had normal energy levels again. 
I no longer have the medical issues & I've been weaning myself off the drugs. I'm down to 50 mchs every 48 hours. This reduction took about 1 week. The fatigue is debilitating! I can barely get off the couch!  I also have been very agitated, emotional, my eyes were tearing, I had sweats & chills & felt very flu like. The extreme fatigue is the worst!  I'm going down to 25 mchs tomorrow & I dread feeling even worse than I already do. I have a detox patch from the doctor which has helped with the chills & sweats. I took 3 weeks off from work & was going to try to return earlier but I can see now that's not going to happen. It has been so hard to do any physical activity at all, it feels like I'm walking under water. The dog misses our walks but I feel incapacitated. I was always a walker, walking 2 to 3 miles every day. I can feel myself spreading out as I spend all day long on the couch unable to do much of anything. When will this fatigue pass?

clean_in_ks · Answer

Welcome to the forum, Brigadoon!  This thread is dated 2010 so not many folks will see this and respond.  If you can find the orange post a question tab at the top of this page and re-post your question/comment....that will put you on the latest current forum page where people can interact with you.
I ended up on an old thread when I first came here, too.  Using your search engine will bring up these older posts.  Hope you'll start a new thread of your own.....lots of support and help on this forum~

Brigadoon35 · Answer

I have been on 120mg to 160mg Oxycodone for 3 years.  My usage is from scoliosis surgery 3 years ago.  I started tapering off my dosage 12/28 and have cut my dose down to 90 mg.  I am experiencing extreme fatigue and hunger as well.  My Doctor told me to taper off gradually. He advised me to reduce my dose by 5 mg each month given how long I have been on the drug.  I still have some pain from my surgery so I may not be able 
To get off completely.  I find that Tylenol helps a lot for pain.  
I am wondering why you wanted to cut your dose so quickly.

Brigadoon35 · Answer

I have been on 120mg to 160mg Oxycodone for 3 years.  My usage is from scoliosis surgery 3 years ago.  I started tapering off my dosage 12/28 and have cut my dose down to 90 mg.  I am experiencing extreme fatigue and hunger as well.  My Doctor told me to taper off gradually. He advised me to reduce my dose by 5 mg each month given how long I have been on the drug.  I still have some pain from my surgery so I may not be able 
To get off completely.  I find that Tylenol helps a lot for pain.  
I am wondering why you wanted to cut your dose so quickly.

nightkap · Answer

I am 32, and am off oxy now 4yrs. I was injecting them so my experience was a little different. I still take Subutex because I have no desire to feel that horrible withdrawl...maybe someday. But my life is great now. I have a family, and no desire to use. Subutex, and Suboxone saved my life. Good luck to all.

margokreeg · Answer

I did the same thing you did the last time i got and stayed clean for a bit.  The severe depression was so bad for weeks that i would go on these kind of sights just so someone could tell me that i would be okay and that it will end.  It does.  Honestly it may take 2-3 weeks more, its just your brain getting use to dealing with every day problems and situations without instant gratification at your disposal.  I promise the insane depression does end...finally getting over it is enough to make you never want to use again.

lael991 · Answer

I am 5 weeks clean and the severe depression set in 2 weeks ago. I cant seem to do anything I cry everyday. I used for about 5 years lortabs that is. I even started Welbutrin it hasnt helped at all. Someone please tellme I will feel normal again soon. I'm starting to think using was waaay better than this.

ladyrhea4 · Answer

I took pain meds for the Skin Cancer I got in 2001 and did a Year of Chemo in 2002 and stayed in pain from there on. But 6 years ago I had to find my own methadone which the doctors put me on and I have not taken them ever to get high, Took myself from 80mg a day to 10 mg and Now I'm done with my 2nd go around with Skin cancer and I thought this is so wrong, I'm in pain but how do I know if in all these years I don't get off them and see if there is true pain. Interferon makes you feel Flue Like systems and guess what so does getting off Methadone.!  But 11 days off and I won't go back..You can do it and all the Side effects are what has been told to me Normal..I just wanted to say Hello and Wanted to wish you well and You can do it...........Ladyrhea4

IBKleen · Answer

Hi Margo,

You are talking with a member who posted (above) 3 months ago and does not seem to have posted since.

I suggest that you go to the top of this page and hit the green "Post A Question" button and start your own thread. That way people will get to know you.

Congrats on Day 9!!!!!!!!!

margokreeg · Answer

Oh and im on day 9...2nd relapse yikes.  I could never get past 3 days because i would just ***** and moan about the withdrawls and severe fatigue.  This time i sucked it up and forced myself to be active. Get up at 6am and start the day.  A few things that are really helping: Yoga, Meditation, and Clonidine.  The Yoga helps your body feel a little better, Meditation helps the anxiety and stress, and Clonidine (while it doesnt help severe cases as well) is a high blood pressure medication you can get for withdrawl/detox that helps you sleep, releves anxiety, and stops hot and cold sweats.  Clonidine stops adrenaline from flowing through the body, which is what causes most withdrawal effects. Im optomistic this combination is whats going to get me and help me stay clean. Its working wonderfuly already dispite all the side effects

margokreeg · Answer

All of these side effects are completely normal. Your ability to fall asleep and STAY asleep will return in about a month, i know it takes forever to your body to get use to falling asleep without oxycodone in your system. The Fatigue will subside faster then the sleep, but of corse you need sleep to end the fatigue. The longest lasting effects of oxycontin withdrawl by far is the depression and anxiety.  These can last for month...its up to the user to clear these up. Personally it took me 6 months before i began to feel normal and not crazy anymore. Goodluck.

justme555 · Answer

Thanks for the info. 5 more days and I'll be at 2 weeks. Hope to be better by then. I got used the energy I got from the initial withdrawal stage so this fatigue feels even worse in comparison.

justme555 · Answer

Did it feel like physical fatigue? I have trouble just getting up at all.  I've got a terrible headache today, but slept 8 hours straight for the first time since going off the pills, so that is an improvement.

 Congrats on your 31 days. That is awesome! Thanks for the encouragement too.

tonyw11 · Answer

I had physical WDs for about a month but after 2 weeks I becomes livable

Radiostar55 · Answer

I'm 31 days clean..I still feel some sort of fatigue..I think more depressed that fatigue..Everyday is fight  YOU can do it..Looks like you have the right frame of mind

Good Luck
G

justme555 · Answer

Thanks Back2me and Tonyw11,

I really appreicate knowing it takes quite a while, even though it ***** that that is true, it's good to know too. I don't have an addiction thankfully, so my issue isn't about staying clean. It's more about trying to get back on track physically and mentally after being in a pill stupor due to chronic pain for 5 years. I never used my meds more than direction or got a high from them. But withdrawal is withdrawal regardless of why or how we were on the substances. This forum has helped me a lot in getting thorugh my first days of withdrawal and seeing that my symptoms were normal.

I have one other question. I am still feeling pain but don't know if it is just my pain that I will always have or if it is an effect of withdrawal. Did others still have body aches and pains at this stage, day 8 or 9? 

Thank you and I want to offer encouragement to everyone working to get off substances. Wishing you peace and best of luck.

tonyw11 · Answer

Exactly during withdrawals I hated pill for what they had done to me.  But as soon as I got feeling better that's all I could think about.  Its almost like your brain blocked out those horrible memories of WDs. Just gotta learn from your mistakes this time

Back2Me · Answer

That is exactly what happened to me. Almost as soon as I felt good again I starting thinking I could use again recreationally.  Bad move. I am hoping to learn from that mistake and keep that in mind this time around. it's weird but I didn't have too much problem with cravings during withdrawls it was like I was too sick to even think about using but as soon as I felt better I could not overcome it. This time it has to be different.

tonyw11 · Answer

Your conditions are almost exactly the same as I had last time I got clean. But your only 8 days in that's perfectly normal the longest I was able to stay clean was 9 weeks I remember about week 6 or 7 until I leveled out by the ninth week I was almost compleatly back to normal it all goes away and you'll be the same person you were before you took any drugs just hang in there.  Just don't believe your brain when it tells you that can use responsably now that your clean. That was my mistake now here I am again on day 19 had to do it all overr again.

Back2Me · Answer

I think day 8 is way too early to tell anything. My last time I did not feel any energy for at least a few weeks. And some people I know took over a month. That's where I am now heading to day 4. But I did make it outside today to let the dogs out and ALMOST took one for a small walk. That is my goal tomorrow.