QUESTION ABOUT WITHDRAWL - :(

[benevolentlaughter]

Thanks for everyone's help in the other "topic" I posted earlier today. I have some other questions, though...

1]  Because the Percocet I've been on for the past 3-4 months now doesn't have Tylenol in it, does this mean that the withdrawl won't be AS bad as they'd be with regular Percocet?  [ As stated before, Im currently on Oxycodone HCL 5mg]

2]  I've been on Percocet DAILY for the past year, give or take a month or so.. My stomach, first thing in the morning, kills me. Right now, I'm used to taking on average 10 pills a day of Percocet [no other medicines, JUST this one] and normally by this time [9pm] I've taken like 9, where as right now I've only taken 5 pills total for the day. My stomach is KILLING ME! Could something be wrong with me? And is this normal?

I'm just hoping this stomach thing isn't going to be anything... deadly or you know.  Sigh.

Also... Thanks for everyone's response. I'm just very panicky, but need to hear the truth.

Love you all...

[dominosarah]

Your stomach may be hurting more cuz you are so worried right now.  Try and read all you can on this, read the health pages as that has very good info.  You wont die going thru this so please try and ease your mind on that......We are living proof!!!

[theeagle]

Acetaminophen will not affect the withdrawals at all - its the opiate that does the stuff to you.

Could the earlier perc's have been 10mg by any chance at all?  I agree with Sarah - - Opiate w/d's do not kill you unless you have a pre-existing condition that gets you.  You might possibly need a prilosec or the equivalent -  you could very likely be having some excess stomach acid from bouncing around with the dose. Or from worrying about the whole situation. But if you plan to taper you should do it in an organized manner. Taking half as many pills one day as you are used to taking could be causing a problem....

[benevolentlaughter]

Here is what I've been taking, just so you get a better idea for the answers:

When I first sought medical assistance for my persistant and worsening knee issues/pain, the first doctor I was seeing prescribed me Percocet 5/325 APAP and I was on this particular dosage of Percocet for approximately 6-7 months.

THEN, I had an issue with a Nurse there in the office, and after speaking with this doctor, we both declared it to be within my best interest to A. Get a second opinion and B. Go see another doctor since this nurse was as problem-ish [haha] as she was.. So, I started going to my father and stepmother's doctor where they live, and this Doctor gave me 2 scripts for Percocet 5/325 APAP two weeks in a row, and then switched it to the Oxycodone HCL 5mg since he figured [well, we both figured] I'd be on the pain medicine for quite some time.

Also, just for some more information for you all... I've been receiving approximately 250 pills a month for the past 2 months now. Prior to this doctor, I wasn't receiving as many as he was giving out to me.

Like I said before.. This morning he called me and told me he wouldn't refill the script because the diagnosis they've finally come up with for my knee would be fine in treating it with Physical Therapy and not narcs..

[dominosarah]

The one good thing about this is you havent been taking these pills for years and years like some of us had been doing.  I know this is all easier said than done, start thinking positive as you will be amazed at how much better you will see things and feel once you are no longer taking these pills.  I went ct off mine as i am an all or nothing type person.  You wont feel good for a few days, no doubt about it but it will go away.  The mental part is what is hard and i know that is hard to believe right now but that is the facts.  Start drinking plenty of fluids like gatorade, have some immodium on hand, bananas are good for RLS, get some fresh air, and keep telling yourself you can do this.  We will be right beside you helping you.......sara

[benevolentlaughter]

Thank you so much for your words of encouragement, they mean so much to me right now. Do you mind if I ask what you were taking, how often a day and for how long?

The reason I ask, because for some reason my mindset is that people in the Forums here aren't daily users of the medications they seek assistance in trying to quit, if you know what I mean. I haven't "not" taken a pill everyday for the past year or so. In other words, everyday for the last year now, I've always had pills to take, if that makes sense..

Thanks in advance for your response, and I look forward to hearing from you all soon. I'm begining to feel as though this a huge family, and for that I'm extremely grateful to each and everyone of you.

[dominosarah]

I took 18 vicoprofen a day before i found this site......I have been abusing drugs and alcohol since my early teens.  It was everyday and i finally realized i was going to die.  I just had enough and that was it.  I was very afraid of wd's until i came here and saw all the people posting about how they made it thru and i thought well if they can do it so can i.....I took myself to a different place in my mind.  I knew i had to go thru the wd's to get to the other side....I was sick, no doubt about it but it was okay as i needed to get rid of the toxins in my body.  Dont let fear hold you back.....its no fun but it is necessary.  Like i said before we are all here for you and will help you get thru this.    sara

[benevolentlaughter]

I apologize in advance for asking so many questions... But are you telling me that for numerous years you took 18 narcotic pain pills per day without any breaks of not taking any for a few days in between? I ask this, because it makes my "panic mode" go down a little lower since it hasn't been that many for me, and maybe my withdrawl won't be AS bad as I'm imagining it to turn out in my head, you know?

You've been a doll to me, and for that I want to thank you. You guys have been so amazing. You have no idea how many times I've cried today alone JUST from the thoughtful and caring words I've received from each and every member that has taken the time out of their lives to assist me with calming me down with the thought of what I'll be dreadfully facing here soon..

So if you don't mind, can I ask the following:

1]  How long did your withdrawl last you?

2]  Did you take that many pills every single day with no breaks in between of not taking the medicine?

3]  How long did you take the pills with no breaks [every single day], like, as in how many years?

<3

[worried878]

CET=tylenol..any drug that has CET at the end has tylenol in it as a rule..tylenol usually doesnt hurt ur stomach//only ur liver which is a bit worse...oxycontin is oxycodone without tylenol added ..percodan i believe is oxycodone withut tylenol added//would need to check that and not gonna right now...but if ur rx says "cet" in the name then u r still consuming tylenol

[dominosarah]

at my high point of addiction i was taking 18 of them.  Your tolerance builds and you end up taking more and more.  I didnt always take that many and others have taken alot more a day than that.  My wd's lasted about a week, the stomach and diarrhea part,  energy sleep and appetite took longer.  I either drank or took pills or both for many many many many years.  I have been sober for over 7 yrs now and over a year clean off pills.  I had been taking strictly pills for over 7 yrs.  When i sobered up i switched addictions.  Coming off pills is a process and it all takes time.  Our bodies and mind have to get used to not being numb all the time.  We take baby steps here on the forum.....I hope you are feeling better about this.  I am glad to see you havent been taking them any longer.....now is a great time to just give them up.  My biggest surprise was to know that motrin actually worked!!!!

[benevolentlaughter]

The prescription is for Oxycodone HCL. I asked my doctor what the difference between this and regular Oxycodone 5/325 APAP was, and he stated that the one I'm on doesn't have Tylenol in it. He said that the APAP stood for Tylenol, not the CET; Because I asked about that, too.

Weird, huh?  =]

[theeagle]

Nothing weird about it.  Your oxy is the same as your perc minus the acetaminophen. Perc's contain oxycodone and acetaminophen. Your oxy hcl are just the oxycodone part.

And I spent many more years than you would accept taking usually between 18-30 10mg hydrocodone per day......unless I was taking some oxy or some morphine or - - - - you should get the picture.   Try and relax just a little bit........  and i did my first heroin in 1970 during Vietnam.........

[benevolentlaughter]

Thanks so much for your help, eagle!

[worried878]

as long as it doesnt say "cet" ur tyelenol free as a rule ..ultracet is a bad one for trammers..atho no narc in exces is good//keep posting

[benevolentlaughter]

Thanks.

[Kevin_Bacon]

Ah -- the stomach pain. Since most long-termoxy abusers (I'm guessing here, but just "most") end up snorting the suff, there isn't the same direct, immediate contact with the stomach. Have you tasted the stuff? It's extremely bitter -- either very acidic or very alkaline. Either way, it's an assault on a sensitive stomach, especially if you chew them.

NOTE: Could you clarify what preparations, and for how long, you've been taking? The formulation with oxycodone and Tylenol is Percocet; the 5mg straight oxcodone is Oxycontin. Your post is a little confusing there. To answer your other question, pure oxy is generally tougher to kick, if you're taking a lot more than 5mg. The Tylenol in Percocet, which actually contains about 4.6mg of oxycodone in it, slows down the metabolism of the oxy.

Anyhoooooo, Oxycontin can really "burn" your stomach; Rolaids in your purse, beside the bed, rolaids everywhere ... buy a bottle of Maalox or a similar chalky-tasting liquid antacid and the pain should go.