Percocet withdrawl please help!!

[Laci27]

I have been luckier than most people here, I have only taken maybe max three perks a day and only for a year or so. I've never had cravings for the drug, if I have it or don't. I've been off and on them for my pain, sometimes weeks without. I usually had stomach issues and restlessness in between, and sometimes nothing. This time, my last dose was Sunday night (its now Tuesday night). And that was even an accident....I had a Dr appt Monday morning, and was planning on having them start tapering me on my dosage, or I would do it myself (I am a pharmacy technician). But the specialist I saw apparently as a rule doesn't prescribe any kind of  pain medications, even Motrin. So I was stopped suddenly. This time, I have very severe what feels like restless leg syndrome on crack but all over my body. Just that weird under the skin feeling like I HAVE to move. Its awful, and its all over. I also so far only have minor stomach stuff. This weird skin crawling thing is driving me batty. I do currently take gabapentin and alprazolam (both at night) and they didn't do anything last night. Hot baths haven't helped. Because its all over my body, RLS tips only kind of help. I would love any help and tips (including OTC meds that would help kind of) that I can get my hands on!!

[asms1108]

going cold turkey is sooo dangerious and i'm so surprised that the dr.s ***-istant. didn't notify the dr. before sending you on your way.

[VICourageous]

Ohhh God bless you..I hope that you get some rest and a good night sleep...You know it will get better...You hang in there..You will be so helpful if you stick around the medhelp..I learn so much in here..I swear I never new there were so many wise people in the world..Hey its my 6 month right now the ticker went to 180days..Yea..It can be done there girl...It did take me this long to turn the corner..Today was the best day..
Thank you so much for the information..I have to see the doc any day now..I will sure do my homework on this one....
Bless u
vickie.

[Laci27]

No recall that I know of and I work partly for Medicare so we get notified of that kind of stuff way before retail pharmacies.

So the other med I took didn't help the withdrawals, but didn't help my leg injury either. Well, the pain has been worse before. Just hoped it would help.

[VICourageous]

OH Yea my Thats right..I had a resident on that...A few...I thought they did some kind of a re-call on them..Or something?? If not that is a good one...

[Laci27]

No not fentanyl, I was thinking the Lidoderm ones. It's kind of like lidocaine/novocaine.

[VICourageous]

You mean the morpine base ones I can not spell it F***patches..No I can not go there...I think I can find something good and eat the inflamation type of foods..I guess I will talk to the doc. He is sooo proud of my recovery..He wants me to stay focus so I do not want or go with anything that can be addictive...
thanks

[Laci27]

Have you ever tried patches?

[VICourageous]

Hi thanks No I am just taking a sh***t load of vit/min I get into all the natural things..I do however have some mobic...I just stayed away from things because of my detox..I came off of methedone, addrral and was snorting them for energy and took a clonazepam at night..So I pulled my nervous system in many directions..I did not know the pain because of my pain pill use for over 16 yrs..(hydo/oxy) before the methedone..Some pain has gone due to using but the R shoulder and back is a issue..I think the all over is just the snow, age and not getting the exercise I always did...So I have to see doc but I do not want anything that will get me back in time...

[Laci27]

Nah not a problem I figured it was confusing. The RLS all over my whole body is the worst of the withdrawal symptoms I'm having. No one knows what's wrong with my leg....I've been to four different doctors, and been dealing with it for almost two years. There have been trials of various things that lasts weeks, that's why there has only been four. The latest specialist I saw wants a way more extensive MRI apparently, which is what I'm waiting on. She refused to refill my Percocets, so that's why I accidentally went cold turkey. I'm a pharmacy tech, so I know how to taper myself when I know I'm running out. This time I didn't know, has completely kicked my ***. I think the RLS thing with this also might be making my leg worse.

For you, do you know what's causing your pain? Bursitis gets worse with the weather. As does arthritis. Are you talking suggestions other than opioids, or like other than some kind of pills?

[VICourageous]

Ok now I am on track..I just read the whole post and everyone was trying to help with the RLS ...So it is a slighty disabled L leg and that is the reason why...Ok so you live with alot of pain in that leg..and now you do not want to take the pain meds...If u find something that works good for pain please let me know? I have a mild disabled R shoulder and back issue and I have tried everything..I think it has alot to do with the snow weather..That is why I go under the heating blanket..If not I wake up with the feeling I have Mr. Art all over too !!
Thanks now u can give me some info....

[Laci27]

No I don't have RLS without the drug withdrawal. I've had a problem with my right  leg for over a year.

[VICourageous]

Oh no you live with the restless leg thing no matter What??How long have you had this...Oh I feel for you...Does the otc things from the stores help at all???

[Laci27]

Oh no no no not RLS pain....my leg is the reason I was put on Percocet in the first place. And the med I wanted to take is prescribed

[VICourageous]

From my experience and mine...If I took anything that was not natural from otc,prescibed, or any sleep aid, It put me in a worse w/d..I did not have the leg thing this time around..But one night I took a sleep aid and the leg started to do it..I got up and took the hot bath, put some warm towels around my leg and it was gone..NO WAY was I going to get the leg thing..
That was my worst fear and I prayed hard and long for God to remove that one...It worked...I also get under a heating blanket for all the aches and pains....
Good Job !!!!
vickie

[Laci27]

My leg pain bas been getting worse and worse as the day has gone on. Will taking another pain med that's not an opioid mess with my withdrawal symptoms?

[vicki595]

Hi Laci-   I'm sorry you've been so uncomfortable! The RLS can be treated easily with some supplements : potassium and magnesium. Hot baths with Epsom salts (which is full of magnesium) and some Hylands Restfull Legs tablets. I know Walmart and Walgreens have Hylands...

I tend to agree with you about going cold turkey from opiates...many people do just fine medically yet others have serious cardiac and/or neurological problems. Plus it's just plain unpleasant. A gradual taper is much more gentle both mentally and physically.

I'm sure you're over the worst of the wd's ... I hope so anyway...Please be sure you're taking in plenty of fluids and sticking with nutritious meals!

Stay in touch-

[Laci27]

Well, I have been off the meds since Sunday night. Idk if I'm getting used to my entire body feeling like RLS on speed or what. Tuesday night I slept with a pillow between my knees to help the RLS feeling, and my legs got all hot and funny feeling......and it was fabulous. I think it was my nerves relaxing. I tend to usually sleep with my pillow between my arms anyway, so I didn't feel it anywhere else but my legs.  But since then, MAN are my muscles killing me. But its bearable. Yesterday and today as well, I have had massively bad headaches. Can't tell if its from the sinus infection I have, the withdrawals, but its probably from both. The headaches make my eyes feel like heavy and weird.(I don't usually get that from sinus infections)  Also, the pain I was taking this for in the first place is coming back with a vengeance. It apparently likes to do that after I see a Dr and they mess with it, and I saw the specialist on Monday.

[YesLife4Me]

Hi Lacy,

Sounds to me like you weren't abusing your percs, but did like them for what they did for you as far as energy, etc and that you don't mind leaving them behind, you just want to get through this.  Am I correct?   What concerns me for anyone taking opiates that enjoy any of the side effects such as euphoria and energy is that they miss it when they stop.  Even if they weren't abusing them and felt fine walking away from them.  That's how we all got started and in time, which could be years, such as my experience, I started enjoying them too much, then wanted them all the time.  That want turned into need and then a full blown addiction.  Started finding ways to get them.  Anyways, I noticed you said you naturally don't have energy which raised a red flag for me and I may be wrong.  

The is some stuff at Walmart called Restless Legs that some have said really helped them.  Magnesium and Potassium also can help.  Soaks in Epsom salts also.  If you can't soak, use it as a scrub in the shower.  

I too just got a dx with fibro.  Im taking 3600 mg of Gaba daily and what a difference it makes!  Altnough I do feel loopy like a drunk sometimes.  LOL! I hear that the neurontin can help with the RLS, anxiety and sleep when going through wd.  I know I sleep like a baby on it.  I take a couple melatonins with it at night and I am gone!  I was taking ambien and xanax, but don't feel I need it anymore like before.  My Dr said opiates weren't the best option for fibro.  He sais Tramadol was the better option for it since it has an SSRI quality to it that helps with the overactive nerves.  It is a synthetic opiate, so it can be abused and even taken long term, a person will have wd from them.

I think what people are trying to tell you is that the first few days of withdraw are the worst and then it gradually starts to get better but the lingering effects of low to no energy hang around for a bit.  That depends on how much and how long you took opiates.  There really is no time schedule for when you will feel better since everyone is different.  In any case, you are getting better each day.  Give it about 30 days before you should start feeling more like yourself, but usually within a week to 10 days you notice a significant improvement.  

[penelopejane]

I've been forced to go cold turkey a few times in the past when I was unable to find any. Usually at about two weeks I would come out of that initial funk. That's not to say that the restless legs lasted that long. At the most those would continue for about 3 or so days. I'd get on my treadmill and run because trying to sit through it would make me want to rip my hair out. Running/walking also gets some endorphins pumping which will help a little. I've heard potassium helps a lot with restless legs too.

[Laci27]

See I just got dx with fibromyalgia (now my whole life makes sense---but that dx is not what started the Percocet) so I never had natural energy before.  Usually physicallly I have the habits of around a fifty year old. And I'm only 27! ADEXEC benadryl is a hit or miss when I take it for itching or sinus stuff usually.....sometimes I get knocked out, sometimes it doesn't do a thing (including doesn't help the thing I would take it for) I haven't taken it because I'm way afraid of it knocking me out to the point I'd be falling asleep at work the next day. I take xanax for anxiety, so I've been using that. I got prescribed trazadone as well today (because I usually have sleep issues regardless of Percocet). Never had trazadone, but was told it would mix ok with the gabapentin I'm also on at night. Not sure if either of those might help too?

[adexec181]

Laci, I found that taking OTC Benadryl tablets very 4-6 hours for the first 2weeks helped me a lot with the restless jumping-out-of-my-skin feeling, in addition to making sure you drink a lot of fluids (Vitamin Water Revive with B vitamins and electrolytes helped a lot...I drank bout four a day and still do!!), and try taking a magnesium supplement, especially at night.  These things helped me a lot during the early days.

[VICourageous]

Oh yes all those meds got most of us wired up to the moon..I went up the latter from hydo/oxy to the methedone and was adding the adderral just to get a bigger buzz, so I can go to work and do everything at one time..I had very complusive behavior..What a dumb mistake but It was a mistake and I just take it as a Blessing and a lession..That is the hardest part for most of us.."we lived to use and used to live" Now aftercare helps me stay strong and fight this demon off my back..I have mellowed out so much in my 56yrs...I like the new me....lol
Hang in you will be fine..You are doing great and you will beat it too..Think God you were on a low dose..It did not build up as bad so it should detox at a good rate..Remember the magnz and/or any detox vit/min. Stay hydrated and get the electros going..
vickie

[clean_in_ks]

For most of us, at some point in our "taking of the pills" we had more energy, too.  But sooner or later.. the brain chemistry changes and you DON'T continue to have more energy....but less....they actually cause "dullness or inaction" at some point.

You are making a great/wise decision to get off them NOW before you get to a level many of us did.....and like toothfaire said....the energy WILL return for you. (course she needs to teach me a thing or too about that lol)
All kidding aside...the energy you are lacking now is due to the w/drawal process and the re-setting and healing of your brain.  When you get "to the other side" of this, your energy will be natural....not opiate induced.

Hang in there.....you are doing really good~

[Laci27]

See Percocets always gave me a ton of energy!