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2108228 tn?1339862242

Oxycontin Detox

I want to stop taking my pain medicine soon. I've gotten it down to (2 /40mg) every 12 hrs. I have stage 3 colon cancer and had a colostomy for 8 months until they reversed it which was approximately 90 days ago (my 2nd major surgery in 9 months). I have been on them about 2 years now due to severe pain and a tendon rupture.

My question is, first off is what I'm taking a large amount or not too large amount of what people out there take? I'm terrified of WD. When I stopped taking my short term oxy's 15 mg every 4 hours I was nauseous every day all day for a week. Could I have been nauseous from something else or would stopping the short term when still on the long term not do that ? I have hot and cold sweats and felt just terrible. I only reduced the small amount of oxy's though and I want to get off the other as well but I am terrified of the WD's. Is/are there anything I can do/buy to take to ease the withdrawals?
12 Responses
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Avatar universal
I really want to try a oxycontin detox. Has anyone done this? Was it affective?
Helpful - 0
2108228 tn?1339862242
Thank YOU marycarmel !
Helpful - 0
1855076 tn?1337115303
I just want to second what Rick mentioned about talking to your doctor.  Stopping narcotics CT is generally not something people need to worry about.  The intensity of the withdrawals vary from person to person.  Some have somewhat mild withdrawals and others have terrible ones.

But if someone has an underlying condition, it's best to do this with the supervision of your doctor.  He could come up with a taper plan that will minimize most withdrawal symptoms.

I'm a pain patient, and though I never was addicted, like anyone taking them for a period of time, I was physically dependent.  (And I also never felt high when taking them.)  Like no_more_pills, I had a lot of surgeries (and also wound up with a fusion in my thumb joint.)  Also like him, my pain has lessened since I was on the pills.

They had me on tons and at very high doses and it made me very nervous being on them.  I tapered on my own and wound up in withdrawal several times and also wound up in the ER twice and hospitalized once.  I had/have underlying health issues that made CT unadvisable but I was in such a hurry to get off them, at times I tapered too quickly.

I think you're very brave and very smart to want to come off the pills if you feel like you don't need them so much for the pain.  What pain you do have may be easily managed with other methods.  I still have significant pain but use ibuprofen, topical prescription gels and other things than narcotics and most of the time it's tolerable.

Please don't be in too much of a hurry and cause yourself any unneeded discomfort or put your health at risk.  Tapering can take a while but sometimes, for some people, it's the best route to take.

All the best with this and at your follow-up on your cancer ...hopefully you'll still be NED then (and forever!)
Helpful - 0
2108228 tn?1339862242
Thank you for that information quitinoxys. You're right ALL of my friends tell me I am VERY Strong woman. But, not sure how true that is....ya gotta do what ya gotta do when there's no other choices available to you to save your life. I just did what everyone else would do in similar circumstances : )
Helpful - 0
1331115 tn?1536362140
You sound like a very strong person so I don't see you having a problem tapering down off oxys. If you could taper down a little more you may not experience a great deal of w/d symptoms. I would caution you though since you had a colostomy reversal be careful because one of the w/d symptoms is bad diarrhea and you wouldn't want to create a problem for yourself. Have you talked to your doctor about getting off the oxys? I think it would be prudent to do so. Good luck and I will pray for you. God Bless---Rick  
Helpful - 0
2108228 tn?1339862242
Thank you for responding. I am sorry for your pain but your story inspires me. Helps me to believe that I can do this too. Just the I did all the other surgeries and the colostomy all within 1 year period. It can't be harder than that.

You done GOOD ! I'm proud of you
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hey Sherise, ok I know that what I have experienced pain wise is probably nothing compared to what you are going through, but I have had some experience with pain. I first hurt my right shoulder when I was 17, I am now 19 and I have had a total of 10 surgeries on my shoulder. The big ones include a laterjet procedure, shoulder reconstruction, and most recently shoulder fusion surgery. I also became a tramadol addict big time. I had my shoulder fusion surgery 4 months ago and these past two years I have spent every waking hour in pain. 36 days ago I decided to quit taking tramadol, even though I was still in constant pain, because my addiction was way out of hand. I would love to tell you my withdrawals were easy, but they weren't. They were terrible, but then again I was taking much more than you. I took it completely for pain and not for the high so at least I was good there. I know this might sound completely stupid (I hope it doesn't), but around the time my withdrawal symptoms started to alleviate so did my shoulder pain. It's like being on the pills made me think about the pain more and more. I was a recluse on pills, but now that I'm off of them I'm much more active and while I really have no movement in my right arm because it basically screwed down to my side it feels so much better. I take two Advil every morning and that gets me through the pain that I recieve from my shoulder. I hope this makes sense. Maybe I'm just different from most people, but I can truly say coming off of pills has greatly reduced the amount of pain that I feel.
Helpful - 0
2108228 tn?1339862242
Thank you Amethyst_

You're probably right it's probably much scarier in my mind. Correction my last surgery was 4 months ago (colostomy reversal March 26 2012).  
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2108228 tn?1339862242
Hi sic430

Thanks for responding. Yes, I still have colon cancer, they have surgically removed the cancer and 5 lymph nodes, I finished my first 12 rounds of chemo (6 months) 4 months ago and still have pain from the colostomy site (which was successfully reversed) which I last had surgery to reverse March 26 (3 months ago). They have no "evidence" I still have cancer. I go for my first 3 month check up in 3 weeks (my first cancer screen). I'm praying there's no more cancer (of course) but being that I was diagnosed as stage 3C...I have my doubts.

My thing is I don't feel that I have that much pain that I should "need" them. I don't get high from them, I never have. Nor do any pain med's make me I high that I can tell, I just get very nauseous from them.

Thanks :  )
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi I to have had surgery for stage 2 cancer and have been of of the drugs for about 2 months now. I also have cervical dystonia which can be very painful at times. Are you still having pain from your surgery or are you too afraid of the withdrawels? That fear kept me from detoxing for a long time. I detoxed in early Dec then found out about the cancer, had surgery and chemo and then went off of the pain meds. I did what everyone suggested to me about the baths, Thomas recipe and it really did help me a lot. It was not easy but not nearly as bad as my mind was telling me. Get with your dr and tell him that you want to do and go from there. I am here to tell you that you CAN do this and it is so worth it. Hang in there and keep posting there are a lot of people here to help.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
If you have a desire to stop then you should. I am not an addict but the stories about oxy are very scary on here. It has been nine months since your last surgery, has your pain subsided? Tapering off the drug will definitely help you wd easier but it is not something you should do without a few necessities. You will need immodium, Gatorade and ensure. You will probably not be able to eat well so just get it in your head that thru wd you have the flu. You have lived thru the flu right? Eat crackers and jello or soup. Hot, hot showers and anything to keep your mind entertained, movies, music or this sight. It may not be as horrible as you are thinking just be prepared and welcome to this place which is your best friend. Keep posting.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi, question for you, you say you have stage 3 colon cancer, are you taking the pills for pain or for the high? If it's for pain with cancer, I'm not sure this is the best time for you to stop. You are not taking that much, talk to your doctor first and see what he/she recommends that you do for now. Best of luck.
Helpful - 0
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