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OxyContin =Depression
I have been on OxyContin for five and a half years for pain management. I started of taking 20mg three times a day and after two years it was increased to 40mg three times a day. I became very depressed around that time and I asked my GP if Oxy could be the reason and he said no. I was under terrible stress with sickness in my family and he put it down to that. He put me on antidepressants and I've struggled everyday with terrible depression
I lost a heap of weight and my blood dropped so my GP suggested that it might be worth thinking about decreasing my Oxy dose. Without any more discussion I went home and halved my Oxy. I went from 40mg three times a day to 40mg at 7am and 20mg at 2pm with no side effects at all.
Three days ago, I had enough and instead of researching the medical sites, I went to the Forums. My god what an eye opener, people wrote about the same depression that I am going through. I decided to drop my dose, thinking I could do the same as last time on my own. The first day I managed on one 20mg morning and one 20mg around 2pm. Yesterday was pure hell, I took one 20mg at 5.30am and intended not to take anymore. By around 12.30pm the withdrawals kicked in. The pain in my body was cruel, I was racing to the loo, freezing cold and shaking.
So back to the forums for advise, the recommendation was NOT to try this on my own so I took one more 20mg and I'll go and ask my GP for help. I'm scared after yesterday's episode, coming off is so much harder than I thought. Can anyone give me some advise please, how long should it take to come off this terrible drug without going through hell? I will not allow my GP to put me on another drug that is addictive. I never want to repeat yesterday's ordeal. I'm a strong willed person but not strong enough to do it on my own.
I lost a heap of weight and my blood dropped so my GP suggested that it might be worth thinking about decreasing my Oxy dose. Without any more discussion I went home and halved my Oxy. I went from 40mg three times a day to 40mg at 7am and 20mg at 2pm with no side effects at all.
Three days ago, I had enough and instead of researching the medical sites, I went to the Forums. My god what an eye opener, people wrote about the same depression that I am going through. I decided to drop my dose, thinking I could do the same as last time on my own. The first day I managed on one 20mg morning and one 20mg around 2pm. Yesterday was pure hell, I took one 20mg at 5.30am and intended not to take anymore. By around 12.30pm the withdrawals kicked in. The pain in my body was cruel, I was racing to the loo, freezing cold and shaking.
So back to the forums for advise, the recommendation was NOT to try this on my own so I took one more 20mg and I'll go and ask my GP for help. I'm scared after yesterday's episode, coming off is so much harder than I thought. Can anyone give me some advise please, how long should it take to come off this terrible drug without going through hell? I will not allow my GP to put me on another drug that is addictive. I never want to repeat yesterday's ordeal. I'm a strong willed person but not strong enough to do it on my own.
Sleeping isn't easy. I managed three hours and now I'm wide awake. The pain isn't great and Oxy is the only drug that helps. Normally if I had a painful night I would take 20mg Oxy and wait 90 mins for it to work. It's 4.30am and I won't take my 15mg tapering dose until 7am. Pain always seems worse at night. :-(
It sounds like you have an excellent plan. Please post any time you need to vent, or to ask questions, or for any reason. We'll be here to support and help.
The feeling of being supported is so wonderful. Until joining this group I had no support. I have a husband who needs my care and support, there is no way he could help me. So to have your support means more than words can express. I just sit and cry when I read your posts, they are tears of comfort not pain.
My GP gave me a script for 15mg Oxy, I have to take one morning and one later in the day. He has given me a script for 5mg Valium which I can use if I feel I'm not coping. I can take up to four whole tablets a day or take half a tablet if I think that is all I need. Or none at all if I can handle the unknown. I told him I neededs to come off it gently because of my responsibilities at home. I will stay on 15mg x 2 for two weeks and then go back to see him in two weeks. All going well he will drop me down to 10mg x 2 for two weeks, followed by 5mg x 2 for a further two weeks.
I will have to see how I manage my pain as I come off the Oxy. If it's as cruel as it was when I was put onto Oxy, then it's going to pretty rough. Nevertheless, I'm more than willing to let this happen because getting off this poison takes priority. I'm sick to death of feeling depressed every day. May you live in peace and love.
My GP gave me a script for 15mg Oxy, I have to take one morning and one later in the day. He has given me a script for 5mg Valium which I can use if I feel I'm not coping. I can take up to four whole tablets a day or take half a tablet if I think that is all I need. Or none at all if I can handle the unknown. I told him I neededs to come off it gently because of my responsibilities at home. I will stay on 15mg x 2 for two weeks and then go back to see him in two weeks. All going well he will drop me down to 10mg x 2 for two weeks, followed by 5mg x 2 for a further two weeks.
I will have to see how I manage my pain as I come off the Oxy. If it's as cruel as it was when I was put onto Oxy, then it's going to pretty rough. Nevertheless, I'm more than willing to let this happen because getting off this poison takes priority. I'm sick to death of feeling depressed every day. May you live in peace and love.
Hi and welcome!
It's good that you're getting help from your doctor. I would just like to add that if you do have chronic pain, work with your doctor to find alternate ways to cope with it. For example, I go to physical therapy, massage therapy,, exercise, and get trigger point injections. Having a plan for when you have a flareup helped me a lot.
I'm glad you found us and keep posting :)
Minn
It's good that you're getting help from your doctor. I would just like to add that if you do have chronic pain, work with your doctor to find alternate ways to cope with it. For example, I go to physical therapy, massage therapy,, exercise, and get trigger point injections. Having a plan for when you have a flareup helped me a lot.
I'm glad you found us and keep posting :)
Minn
HI just jumping off this stufff can give you a scare talk to your doctor he can put you on a proper taper and soften the blow it will not get you around the withdrawals but they wont be a sever tapering ant for every one a lot of people cant do it that why so many just jump stick with us here we can support you as you go off these look up the thomas recipe on the lower right of this page and pick up the stuff ...I know how trapped you feel i was stuck in pain management for 16 1/2yrs so lets help you get your life back you dont have to live thjis way as for the depression it will lift with time but it can be a fight but one worth doing good luck and God bless.......Gnarly
I don't feel alone any longer. I'm seeing my GP later today to get some help. I thought I could go cold turkey but after yesterday's episode, it's scared the hell out of me and I know I can't do it that way. I'll let you know the outcome of my doctor's visit. I have managed to drop down from sixty to 40mg a day this week and I'm totally committed to be clean ASAP. Thanks again for being there more me.
Im not trying to scare you. if you jump. or taper get your mind right. keep talking to us. or me. if i can so it you can too
Hey darling. Im in the same boat as you. i was moved to oxy for pain. i couldn't manage my pain on tabs anymore. i was on the twenties for two years. two a day. then i had a knee replacement and was moved to two forties and two fifteen instants. i haven't managed my pills very good over the last two years. I've battled using detoxing etc for a long long time. the oxies always won. then last year around this time i was sick of being sick i started buying off the streets. and snorting roxies. 30mgs sometimes four to six times a day. i cleaned up for 90 days...had a torn acl and had to go back on the oxies. this time i was moved to the 60s twice. day. and once again i abused. some days upwards of 360mgs a day....well needless to say i ran out early....ten days. and well i was FORCED into detoxing or buying off my old dealer. i had my car repoed in Feb so i know i can't buy off the streets....15 bucks a pill and i spend 60 a day?? can't handle it
your doctor can help with some non addictive meds if he/she is aware of what to do. Some do and some don't.
hate to be the one to tell you this but......you have been on high doses for such a long time ever if you taper there still is going to be hell time during WD talk to your dr if you want off these....like i a lot of people go cold turkey not saying it's the best way to go but it gets it over quicker !!! sorry bout being blunt there is no easy WD off these....i'm going through this myself 10 days now first five......HARD !!!!! then it starts getting better day by day...... hope this helps a little
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