Oxy to Vicodin

[Chas]

Ive been snorting oxy contins for almost a year now.  Recently Ive been doing about 40mg a day of the oxys.  Ive tried to quit a few times, and the withdrawals are too unbearable to stay with it.  I cant function enough to go to work every day for 9 hours.  SO i have never been successful quitting them.  I absolutely cant miss time at work and my job is extremely important for me right now.  Recently i found someone with some vicodin 750s and i have some of those.  I have been doing 2 or three of those a day for the past few days and not any oxy's at all.  Im hoping that going to a couple vicodins a day will make the withdrawals much more manageable. With the vicodins i dont really get 'high" or anything, but I dont feel the need to get the oxys.  I feel like i can bring myself down to 1 or 2 vicodins a day very soon.  Just wondering if i am wasting my time?  WIll the withdrawals be just as bad when i stop completely??

[steve]

Hey Dude. I have a lot of personal experience with opiates, and I've been through it. A few years ago I had to have some surgery, and was getting vicodan and lortabs. It only takes a couple of weeks of doing them several times a day to develope a chippy, or minor addiction, which I did. From previous experience (i had a heroine problem in the '70s) I knew that I had to get things under control. If you have a good amount of personal control, you can kick without any real bad side effects. What I did was cut my dose by 1/3rd every three days until I was down to taking single pills. Than I cut to half a pill, than a quarter. It took some will power, but I can tell you that it beats the hell out of even minor withdrawl symptoms. Try some Nytol or other over the counter medication to help with sleep. Within a week of finishing your detox, you will feel fine. If you don't do it yourself, your going to have to have somebody else help you with it, but you gotta do it. There is no darker, lonlier place than withdrawl. The sooner you get rid of this habit, the sooner you can get back to your life.

[To Tom and rest of forum from Maryanne]

I have experience taking oxy's and vic's and I'll tell you this:  Oxy's are a longer lasting/acting opiate than the vics.  It's better to taper from vics than oxy's for this reason. As long as you stick to it, you'll be successful.   Someone I know did this very same thing.  It's hard to taper but you're doing it!  Good luck and stick with it because the truth is, some people CAN do it.  You are on the right track.  Taper slowly and listen to your body.  As long as you don't deviate from the program, the end will eventually come!  Please keep us posted on your progress and remember, you are not alone!

[DChasonOXY]

Thanks guys for the encouragement.  I feel a lot better about making an attempt at this.  The problem is that i love the oxy's!
I dont get that great feeling from the vics - but i can function and get through the day.  It is going good.  I take one hole in the morning and then swallow a couple broken up at night, that satisfies my urge to "get high" and gives me a little of that warm fuzzy feeling.  I hope i can stick to this but I dont have enough vicodins!  I really hope i can find some more (or percocets) so that i can stay off the oxys.  Otherwise this may not work.  I only have enough of these to last 4 or 5 days if i take 2-3 per day.  So I may slip back to the OC's if i cant get more.  I wish i could just get 1 script so i could complete the tapering process.  Plus my birthday is next week and I have lots of other plans.  When my vics run out im going to have to get something!

[russki]

Chas,

I heard snorting oxycontins just wreaks havoc on your nose.
Is your nose all stuffed up or bloody?

[Chas to Tom]

Bill - was that a serious question?  Well anyway I dont think its really something that is important but for your info ive never had a bloody nose or anything like that.  Where did you get your info?  Maybe if youre curious you should try.  
At least I dont inject them into my arm like other addicts I know.  Oxycontins will give as intense a high as heroin and are just as addictive if you abuse them - and believe me, if you get the high that first time - you always have that urge to feel it again no matter how bad you want to rid yourself of it.
I would take your question seriously but the "hows your nose" thing kinda made me think different.  Im looking for some support here, not wiseguys.

[rose]

I would really like to talk with you on this oxycontin subject
but I am a new computer student and don't know much about making contact with people on line.  I have some serious problems with oxycontin.  I need to talk to someone.  I cannot do that in this small town.  Is there a way we can communicate.  My address is Rose ***@****

[DChasonOXY]

If you want to talk my aol screenname is battabinger.
we can chat.  Add me to your buddy list and IM me anytime!
is your screenname roseedgell? If it is i will add you to my list.  I am online (w/ AOL) usually after 6pm most everyday. (eastern time).

[marie]

Chas,
I don't think that Bill was making a wisecrack. It's a good question. We know that snorting cocaine messes up your nose, so perhaps he's wondering if snorting oxycontin does the same thing.Good luck with your tapering, tapering never worked for me with the oxy's. I ended up going the in patient detox route. Keep posting, these people are incredibly supportive but also at times, curious too. I don't think he meant you any harm.

[Tara to Chas]

Hello,

I'm wondering what oxycontins are and what the difference is between them and percocet.  I take percoset and I heard opiates are the hardest to get off of.  But earlier you were saying you couldn't get vic's (percoset), and I was wondering how powerful are oxy's if percoset is something that can be weaned off of more easily?  I am having a very difficult time tapering myself off of percoset.  I tapered myself somewhat like what steve did but now that I am down to my last 1/2 pill/day, I can't stop taking it every morning.  I get too scared or I dont want to or something along those lines, I haven't quite figured it out yet.  Sorry for the overabundance of questions, but I am also curious as to what vicodin and it's purpose is?

Thanks,
Tara

[russki]

Chas,


To be honest I have snorted oxys and they tend to clog up my nose unlike cocaine. The high was stronger that chewing them but honestly I am suprised if your nose was not effected by snorting them.

I would never make fun or joke about addiction buddy!

Just looking to find some answers as I have been there as well.

Take care.

[DChasonOXY]

Hey Tara,  
Oxys come in 10,20,40,80 and 160mg tablets.  I usually get the 40mg or 80mg's.  I dont take them as they are supposed to (they have a time release coating which i remove) and compared to percocets and vicodin which are usually 5mg (hydrocodone) they are much stronger.  So i end up doing much more opiate wise when i do the oxy's.  For instance a 40mg oxycontin tablet would equal about 8 percs or vics.  When i have the percs or vics I never do that many in a day.  I usually will do about 3 or 4.  
If you are down to 1/2 of a percocet you are in great shape to compeletely kick the habit!  You will have some minor withdrawals but nothing that will be too bad at all.  Sounds like it will be more challenging mentally for you to quit all together.  My goal is to get where you are - but the problem is its harder for me to get the percs/vics than the oxys (I buy them off the street).  So if I had more I could taper down more successfully - but I end up running out and cant find more so I end up doing the oxys.
In general people who are prescribed painkillers are given oxys if the vicodin or percocet doesnt kill the pain without taking a large amount of them.

[web girl]

i've been taking percocet, vicodin, oxcontin, morphine patches
for some time. i started taking percocet to get throught the day
because i had alot of severe back pain, several surgeries, and
several years later i'm still taking vicodin and percocet. i hate
what i've become i don't know how to feel anymore. i used to
work for a doctor who gave me all the medication i wanted, and
then deceided to be super doctor and stop. now my life is find
one doctor after another who will help. i really want to stop i
want to feel good without the medication. i just had cervical surgery
last tuesday jan 30th aqnd it hurts like hell, i have a surgeon
who only believes in darvocet for pain, as you can imagine i'm
going through my own private hell. please share your stories.

[tom to web girl]

is your surgeon aware of your obvious tolerance for opiates? If you could work that into your medical history without revealing too much, he might be convinced to give you something stronger without branding you an addict. You could recount a single health incident where Darvocet was prescribed and either didn't work at all or try the following:

You could tell him that the Darvocet makes you sick to your stomach, dizzy and claustrophobic -- all commonly known adverse effects of this drug), which might convince him to give you, a least, some tylenol#3. (He sounds like a tight ass with the drugs -- you have my sympathy). I use a plain form of darvon to stave off withdrawal from my opiate dependence, but, as a pain killer, darvocet's a pretty poor choice. He must believe that your particular surgery shouldn't be causing much pain to only give you Darvocet for it. Good luck. Hope this helps.

[cindi]

To Web Girl,  If you have alot of intense, major pain then you obviously need the pain med.  You said you want to feel good without the meds but Give yourself a break,,,You just had surgery.  These Docs really irritate me. i wish they would understand that Pain medication was made to treat pain. I had a really horrible C-section.  The incision opened up and the pain was out of this world.  My doc was the Darvocet Man but I did convince him I needed something stronger  A few vicodin with no refills.  I was very sick for a few months. But, If these Docs were in the pain that we are in there is no doubt in my mind they would make sure they had something for themselves.   I agree with Tom,  talk to the Doc re: the adverse affects of Darvocet.  Hope you feel better soon.  Cindi

[Tara to web girl]

I too had a surgeon that only believed in darvocet or just plain Advil for pain.  When I was released from the hospital this is what he gave me.  I explained I was in too much pain, but he insisted this would work.  Two days after I was released, I was rushed to the hospital, I had been dealing with this pain thinking that it was normal and I guess it was too much and I passed out.  By the time I came to, I had been admitted into the hospital again and was filled with morphine. When the emergency room contacted my surgeon, he then prescribed percoset. After that I was able to get an unlimited amount of percoset without question - One extreme to the next, but we are the ones who have to deal with the consequences.  It shouldn't have to come to this when you are sincerely in need of pain meds.  I would think especially immediately after surgery.

Not really any point to my story, just bitching I guess.

Take Care,

Tara

[Did yall watch 20/20 tonight???]

Can you belive this Dr. Lilly???  Now I see why we have a real pain crisis in this country!

[PS >>>>Annie]

This Doctor is the reason you have to be literally bleeding to death or dead to receive adequate pain medicine.  Doctors are just afraid...Period!  Everytime I see the media exposing these situations, it worries me.  
annie
C'mon......did anybody see this tonight??? It was unbeliveable

[Vicodin Gurrl to Dan]

I take Oxycontin 40mg 2-3 times a day for chronic pain, I was recently prescribed this medication and it has been AMAZING!  No more going to the ER for nasty Demerol injections 3 x week and taking tons of horribly unhealthy Vicodin and Tylenol!! It has literally changed my life, and my family is continuously commenting about how wonderful it is to have my pain under control.  Then my mom watched 20/20 tonight and called me up in a panic talking about how maybe I shouldnt be taking this medication and how this boy died, etc...Unfortunately, I didnt see the program, but it took me an hour to set my mother straight about the difference between DEPENDANCE and ADDICTION and the fact that taking Oxycontin and really any drug AS PRESCRIBED by a responsible pain specialist is OK, and that probably that boy that died CHEWED or cut the med or something (please no flames if I am wrong, just making an assumption as again I did not see the show). Damn 20/20...they are such alarmists.  And from what I heard that doctor was a JOKE...how can MDs stay in business running their practices in that manner?  Anyway, I did not get to see it but certainly HEARD about it...anyone else??

[PS >>>>Annie]

.....I agree w/ you.  I was somw p'od..at 20/20.  Why dont they do a story on some of the people on this forum.  Like me.  Lets here the other side for a change.  What about people committing suicide, because they cant handle the levels of pain they are experiencing.  What about doctors who are not ADEQUATELY treating people, because they are afraid of being sanctioned.  This is inhumane.  Dont get me wrong, this doctor was a joke, but they (20/20)cant wait to step up to the plate and run w/ this ****.  And as I said before, we will suffer for the wreckless actions of these few.  Good luck to you and I hope you are at peace w/ your life now.

[Billy]

i been using oc for 2 years I dont abuse them and the are the diference between returning to work or living on ss.i sometimes misss a dose so i am familiar with the feelings of withdrawal
i have cut back on the amount by 10 mg a day for 3 weeks and then dropped 10 again
stayed at that for 3 weks Gradual is the only way and stay in touch with your doctori am currently down from 120 to 90 withoutany major problems.Ive stopped where I am b ecause of the pain level.On my 3rd of major spinal surgury.slow and easy does it and undr Dr adviseif at 1st you dont succed try again

[Billy]

i been using oc for 2 years I dont abuse them and the are the diference between returning to work or living on ss.i sometimes misss a dose so i am familiar with the feelings of withdrawal
i have cut back on the amount by 10 mg a day for 3 weeks and then dropped 10 again
stayed at that for 3 weks Gradual is the only way and stay in touch with your doctori am currently down from 120 to 90 withoutany major problems.Ive stopped where I am b ecause of the pain level.On my 3rd of major spinal surgury.slow and easy does it and undr Dr adviseif at 1st you dont succed try again

[Billy]

i been using oc for 2 years I dont abuse them and the are the diference between returning to work or living on ss.i sometimes misss a dose so i am familiar with the feelings of withdrawal
i have cut back on the amount by 10 mg a day for 3 weeks and then dropped 10 again
stayed at that for 3 weks Gradual is the only way and stay in touch with your doctori am currently down from 120 to 90 withoutany major problems.Ive stopped where I am b ecause of the pain level.On my 3rd of major spinal surgury.slow and easy does it and undr Dr adviseif at 1st you dont succed try again

[Joseph Shepard]

I read with interest the comments and questions in this forum on the problems of addiction and dependence resulting from commonly prescribed opiates.

I was suprised that many of the comments mistakenly referenced the ingredients of LORCET, VICODN and PERCODAN/PERCOSET and OXYCONTIN.  For instance, many writers did not know that Oxycontin and Percodan or Percocet share oxycodone as the opiate ingredient.  Hydrododone is the ingredient of the others.  

If you are using them or abusing them,  substituting one for the other then you should know the ingredients.  All are different and produce different effects both on the way up and down.

PEACE

[pat to joseph s]

FYI:

you might add that these details can be resolved for an rx drug at
www.rxlist.com
you don't need to be an MD to use the site either.