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What is "Normal" Oxycodone Withdrawal

I had knee replacement surgery 5 weeks ago. From that point in time I was prescribed a daily dosage of oxycodone that averaged about 15 mg/day, a relatively low dosage. After finishing several weeks of physical therapy, I started my cold-turkey withdrawal 4 days ago - no more drug, period. So this is a very typical profile of a person who has had NO other addictions to any drugs and does not have any chronic pain problems that requires continual usage of oxycodone.

I have endured the typical withdrawal symptoms - shivers, sweating, anxiety, tingling, and depression - as reported by many others. But I could not find good comments for other oxycodone withdrawal questions with this typical profile since many of the commenters have admitted to extensive oxycodone use in the past.

My question: what's ahead for me? Am I over the bad part, or is there a lot more bad stuff to come? How long does the withdrawal effects last? Physically? Mentally? Surely there are many of you in a very similar limited-first-time-with-oxycodone-for-surgery situation who can give advice. Thanks for any info and help.

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Avatar universal
I'm on day 4 wd from 3 times a day oxycodone and it's a nightmare the worst thing is the rls my legs are driving me crazy and this is day 3 of no sleep, I go to bed lay there for 15 minutes and there  go my legs and I got to get up. I went cold turkey, not sure I done right?? When do I get to sleep??
Hangin in there
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1 Comments
try a warm bath in epsom salts.  Lack of sleep is a part of withdrawal and it will get better.  
Avatar universal
I'm on day 4 wd from 3 times a day oxycodone and it's a nightmare the worst thing is the rls my legs are driving me crazy and this is day 3 of no sleep, I go to bed lay there for 15 minutes and there  go my legs and I got to get up. I went cold turkey, not sure I done right?? When do I get to sleep??
Hangin in there
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I had been prescribed 7.5/325mg of oxycodone, 2 every six hours for pain after shoulder surgery. I quit cold turkey Tuesday 10/11/16 I am having withdrawal symptoms after only 7 days of taking the medication. I started with fatigue, sweating, chills, hot flashes, and now rls, as well as restlessness. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to ease the withdrawal symptoms? Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
Avatar universal
Hip trouble for me that ended in total hip replacement.  

I was on 2-40mg's control release twice a day and 2-7.5 every four hours for almost three months before surgery on 8/26/13.  I left the hospital on day four and eased myself off of the controlled release within a week.

8 days ago I stopped the 7.5 mg's cold turkey and I am paying a heavy price, Constant headaches, flu like symptoms and no sleep without sleeping pills.  

I know that I could just start taking them again but I don't want to. Both my orthopedist and GP have told me they will wean me off,  but I thought I would try it on my own.  What a mistake!!!


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Avatar universal
Hi there..just ran across this..it is so sad that health care professionals have to be the gatekeepers so rigidly when people are in pain.  I just wish they could experience what we do.  I have been on 20 mg oxcontin 2X day and 15 mg oxcodone 4 times day.  I am down to the oxycodone only 1/2 pill a day and am in tremendous pain.  The stupid thing is that no matter what dose we are all on, we are addicts as we just are and that is what we are labelled.  Stupid stigma..  However I am trying to wean off of everything so I can see what my real pain is and my real needs and will go back on if I need to.  I have severe facial pain, trigeminal neuralgia back, neck issues, etc...pain pain pain.  I hate it.  I used to be a great runner and now I can barely survive one hour at a time.  I have a pc that works closely with me and monitors my drugs.  Oxcontin lasts longer in system, but again, addictive.  I wish I had really understood all of this when I started, however, the 15 advil a day was killing me.  Tramedol does nothing for me.  If you take 2 advil and 2 tylenol that acts kind of like a narcotic, but I would check with doctor first before doing this.  So sorry you are in pain.
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Avatar universal
I am at week three following surgery, and doing very well, but ready to stop the Percocet. Pain-wise it is no problem, but I am feeling depressed and 'achy' so checked out the withdrawal symptoms, one of which is achy bones. I can identify with that. One place said it should be done gradually rather than cold-turkey, so may try that. To start, I cut one of my 7 1/2 pills in half to see if that relieves the symptoms. If it does not, then I will start tomorrow by taking half the number of doses, then gradually cut each dose lower by splitting the pills. Am hoping that will get me through it with fewer of the unpleasant symptoms. And to the person who was wondering about it, you gave a good description of how it goes. The only thing I would add to it is that it is VERY IMPORTANT that you work on getting mobility back by doing you daily exercises.  I just had my second knee done, but the first one is like normal, and expect great things a few months out after I finish the therapy on this one, too.
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Avatar universal
I have been taking 10mg oxycodone for 9 months now for chronic back pain due to ruptured discs in my lower back. I can go several days without taking the oxy but when I do I get really depressed. I feel like I just want to crawl into a hole and die. I also get bad hand tremors and anxiety. I am hoping to have my surgery soon (worker's comp keeps jerking me around) and recover so I can stop taking them for good.
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Avatar universal
I am wondering why you went cold turkey.  I have been on oxy after my knee repl. and at 10 weeks I had tapered down to 3 5m. a day so I thought I could stop at that point.  I am definitely feeling the nausea and fighting the depression.  At this point I wonder if  I should take one a day just to ease off a little slower.  I have only been off for about a day.  I have been supplementing with Advil for the edema in my knee and the pain I still have.  Any thoughts?
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Avatar universal
I was on tramadol for 7 years and decided to quit taking them in 2011. The withdrawals were absolutely horrible.  So last fall due to some issues I began using oxycodone, hydrocone, oxycontin, etc... whatever I could get. Obviously not for physical pain, but to deal with a divorce and his new gf (they made me not care).  8 months later I was not taking as many as most, but I was taking enough when I realized I was hooked. So, my idiotic self went to my dr and got tramadol thinking it would help me wean off the opiates. After one month of taking 1-2 tramadol a day I tried to stop and within 24 hours of taking my last pill felt like I was losing my mind... like I wanted to rip my skin off. So, I went and got some oxycodone 5's, which I was taking for a month about 10-15mg a day. I took my last dose Monday...it's now Thursday.  I have had some withdrawals.... nervousness, agitation, crying, chills, sleeplessness, but NOTHING like with tramadol. Don't take it! I will say that Xanax for the last 3 days has been a lifesaver. I take one .05 mg Xanax during the day at work, and then the night time withdrawal ease capsules at night, which consist of melatonin, etc. Day 3 for me (today) I have experienced the worst physical symptoms so far and I'm hoping it they get better, not worse, from here.  IMO I think that it's just that your nerves, colon, etc. have been numbed by the drug for so long that they "wake up" and that's what you feel.  At least that's what I keep telling myself. My ending statement will be to reiterate DON'T TAKE TRAMADOL... the WD's are MUCH worse.
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Avatar universal
wow 5 years, and you quit, may I ask what prompted you to go off oxycodone? I am going on 4 years, I am in severe pain 24/7 but the oxy's is what gets me through day by day, I am taking 8 to 10 30mg a day, close to 9 pills in an 18hour span, I am running out before my appointment and my doctor will not help me until I see him next thrusday and I am freaking out, I have 3 pills laid out for each day until next thrusday, and my doc ordered me tramadol, I am like what, are you serious, that is not acceptable, I was furious, how can a pain mgmt doc do that when he should know what the withdrawls are like, knowing I am use to 9 a day, for the past 2 years and told him I would be out by this saturday if I stay at only  7 a day, and the receptionist said sorry but that is the best he can do is give you TRAMADOL, so I am feeling withdrawls and severe pain, and freaking out, who can help me here.
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Avatar universal
I was on oxycodone for 5 years, I quit taking oxy and suboxone with no withdrawls. PM me for details
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Avatar universal
I'm twelve days and still struggling, depression, feeling sore to the bone, craps in the gut, with the runs, and no energy at all. this takes much longer and I'm going to flip.
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Avatar universal
I'm twelve days and still struggling, depression, feeling sore to the bone, craps in the gut, with the runs, and no energy at all. this takes much longer and I'm going to flip.
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Avatar universal
http://www.withdrawal-ease.com/ try this it wont hurt u at all and be strong nutting gone happen make ur mind strong
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Avatar universal
I wonder how u would have gone if u slowly reduced it over time - even a month long. The slower the better. U can use the older oxycontin pills as they are easier to break up than oxycodone. Though the newer oxycontin (pills marked with OP) have some special stuff so u cant chew them up.
Glad your doing better. Im just coming off oxycodone slowly ( I have to as I have CFS and cant afford much withdrawl). I have come off morphine slowly no problem at all. Seems Oxycodone may be more difficult. Its hard to know as im not coming off it because I dont have any pain anymore, but because my body gets resistant to it fast. If i take it constantly I will be resistant in 8 days. So Ive just been having 1 dose in the night. Which gives me about 3-4 weeks before it stops working. Its rough stuff.
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Avatar universal
Prior to spinal surgery earlier this year (severe spinal stenosis of the lumbar area), I was in a significant AMOUNT of pain and had been prescribed Oxycodone to the tune of 240mg/day..(that is a lot !). I am now down to 15-20mg/day...4 months after my surgery. And yes the weaning process is a formidible battle. It seems that I have experienced all the typical side effects while taking the drug and through the weaning process. It is rather de-moralizing ! One of the less common side effects that I have experienced and still do is severe 'cramping' in my leg calves. Anybody ever have this problem ?

djseaman
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Avatar universal
Just a progress report, for the sake of providing information to others ... recall this all started from 5 weeks exposure to 15 mg per day of oxycodone for pain management after my knee surgery. Compared to most, that's a pretty liight exposure. Nevertheless, apparently I am extrememly sensitive to the drug and therefore became addicted. Consequently I went cold turkey over three weeks ago.

unfortunately the wd effects extended beyond 2 weeks for me. In particular days 18-19 was marked by a sharp 15-minute dehabiliting anxiety episode followed by at least 18 straight-hours of the most extreme fatigue. I had started the anti-depressant citalopram at day 15, but it's hard to tell whether these symptoms were due to it or the original withdrawal.

I'm now at day 22 in the wd and day 8 with the citalopram with the last 3 straight days feeling O.K. (a milestone!) except for insomia with a mild lack of energy and occasional episodes of restless legs. Interestingly I tried Hylands Restful Legs for the RLS but that failed. Then I discovered that RLS could also erupt from iron deficiency - so I popped a couple of dietary iron pills - and they worked! What can I say?

So I think I am finally getting into the clear. (All fingers and toes crossed!) Thanks to many of you who helped me so much, especially in those difficult early periods of depression I went through.
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How are things going for you toketeeman?  You posted your experiences with OXYcodone withdrwals back in 2010 (you and Viki595 gave me hope and assured me that I was not alone, BLESS YOU for that).  After my hip replacement, I took had Percocet for about 2-3 weeks and drastically cut donw the dosage.  I started to have severe WDs and I am about 4 weeks in!  I'm better than I was a couple of weeks ago but not yet in the clear. My next step is to go to a Psych Therapist.  Very curious to know when ALL of your symptoms finally stopped.  thanx again, again I am 4weeks in and still having some episodes of anxiety and re-occuring disturbing thoughts.  THANX AGAIN
Avatar universal
Yes,be patient and give yourself a break from looking things up!! LOL  You'll do fine,I'm
certain.
Being in the PNW does not do a lot for mood sometimes,huh? Just push on...

Do you watch "Lost"?  We're getting together tonight to watch the finale and again for "24" tomorrow night.  I'm wondering what will become of both "Jacks".

Take care~
V. xo
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Avatar universal
Thank you, gnarly_1 and vicki595 for your great reassurance. Sometimes I over-research things, and I've read that having some down times after starting an anti-depressant is one symptom for which I should "immediately" call my doc. So I appreciate your mutual common sense.

Yes, I'm been a little bit of a shut-in this weekend due to horrible wet overcast cold weather here in the PNW (having a very late spring), but I will be going out very soon to do some yard work - the sun FINALLY broke out! I can open my petals again! Ha!

- toketeeman
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Avatar universal
Hi~  Give the Celexa a little time to begin working...

Are you getting exercise consistently everyday?  Getting out of the house? I hope so...

Your daughter sounds like a real sweetheart. You're fortunate to have her close by.

Hang in there...you'll feel better.

Vicki
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Avatar universal
hi cangads on day 17 ....I have taken celexa b/4 it takes a wile for it to start to work
usually around 2 weeks till it builds up enough in your system to be effective...coming off narcotics send a lot of people into depression the celexa should help but your just going to have to give it some time...also the longer your clean the less symptoms you should have...look up the amino acids in the health pages on the right of the screen they help out alot...also I drink whey protein shakes you can pick it up at walmart for 15buck a 2lb can
it is loaded with vitamins as well as amino acids along with the protein all of witch the brain needs to heal you might give it a try..it helped me...god luck and God bless...Gnarly    
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Avatar universal
Now going into day 17, two days with the anti-depressant. Unfortunately, I am still having down/sad periods. I hope this is a temporary of an adjustment to the drug because I felt better back on days 13 and 14 ... my daughter keeps encouraging me, take it day by day. Gotta keep going.
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Avatar universal
LOLOL...Violent??   You're talking to the girl who has NEVER missed an episode of "24" !!!

You'll feel better...the "stuff" works!!

Vicki  xo
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Avatar universal
Thanks for the great reassurance on my new direstion. You made me feel better instantly (wish anti-depressants could do that!).

I will likely watch Bones and Fringe in the summer re-reuns to catch up. But warning: Grey's Anatomy is very good, but also very, very VIOLENT. It is definitely riveting. Enjoy.
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Avatar universal
Hey~ It's okay. It's not going to be bad. Let go of any negativity here. This is an anti depressant along the lines of Paxil,Prozac etc...  It will get you over the "hump" and you won't become addicted to it per se'.  It's recommended that it be tapered a bit prior to discontinuing...that way blood levels won't plummet all at once.  Your doctor sounds great. He sees this as a temporary episode and put you on the lowest dose possible.

You'll notice it's effect in 1-4 weeks (usually 2 with each day better). The effect is subtle.
You'll just begin to feel "okay"...

Hang in there!    BTW I read "Grey's Anatomy" was great last night. I didn't see it. I like
"Bones" and "Fringe". LOL    I'll watch Grey tonight!!
Vicki  xo
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