PLEASE BE OUT THERE

Hello everyone,
   I have a serious predicament I'm facing. I have been taking meds, oxycontin for over 12 years. I have tried at different times, without success, to quit. I have had 20 plus surgeries/amputations and do have pain, but I need, for myself, to find other options for relief, but first I need to get off of this. I take 640 mgs per day, but I want to taper off of em, until I am done, but also evaluate any issues that may arise. i.e. lack of energy, sleep, etc. and address em, as they arise. I expect to experience some of this, but how bad will it get, if I stick to a regime of tapering off daily. Oh, any advice as to how to taper off would be wonderful too, but I need ANY advice i can get, as I have to succeed in this....too many things have been put "on hold" because of it. Please, any help from any of you who have been thru this or anything similar, would be greatly appreciated.

[perkanator]

you came to the right place for sure, have you thought of speaking to your doctor about this,he would be able to help you. also, anyone you can turn to at home would be really beneficial. i am not the best person to really give advise as i to am very much addicted and not able to kick the habbit....but i want to. you will get a lot of support in this forum. i know the more and more i read i will get stronger and eventually take the step, good luck and stay strong.

[122 Tactical Fighter Group]

A very common mistake that many make is to try and finish the problem up too rapidly. It doesnt work that way. You need to reduce your dose (10% PER WEEK IS A GOOD NUMBER..) so that your body gets used to the reduced dose and is comfortable.  Then the dose may be reduced again. You realize tthat you are on a hefty dose of oxy......you may want to also post this question on the "expert addiction site" - the guy that answers those is an MD and addictionologist that is entirely sold on suboxone. That may be a recommendation. Dont make the decision to get on sub lightly. Do all of your homework before you make a decision. No one person is the same with this stuff or with the answers.  Good luck to you......

[nurseaudrea]

Everytime I have tapered down for upcoming surgeries I went down 20% every 3-4 days. Your on a rather high dose so I don't know if that would be too much for you to cut down all at once. If you really want to be successful trying to taper at 10% would probably work better for the dose you are on. You can cut it down every week or so until your dose gets a lot lower. Have you talked to your doctor about this. They will usually help you out and give you a regime to follow and when it becomes harder with the lower dose they can give you other meds to help you through it. You will usually still get some withdrawals but they won't be near as bad as going cold turkey. My doctor gave me valium to help with the anxiousness and RLS, and Ambien CR to help with the insomnia the last week when I weaned down all the way.  It really helped. Good luck and talk to your PM doctor.

[avisg]

You can do this but on this high of a dose you really need a doctors assistance .Talk it over with him I am sure he will be able to help you . Good luck .
Avis

[mojorisin64]

you will have my support,i was on oxys but not at that level so they know what they are talking about...you will find what you need here ,welcome

[broknbck]

there was someone on line this morning that was into their 3rd day of really... drastic tapering. but she said that her doctor had given her Provigal to take once a day. it is for someone who is very tired and helps with energy and anxiety. i have never heard of it before but she said it was working pretty well.