Aa
am i going through withdrawal???
hi. so - i have been taking percocet for the last 1.5 years. a few days ago i looked at my life and felt so ashamed! i thought that i just had to stop taking them and free my mind up with activities so i didn't think about not taking them - so far so good! it's been 2 days since i last had one and i cannot believe what i have experienced - hence my search for a forum like this! last night i was sweating all night, shaking all night in bed, tossing and turning and in a ridiculous amount of pain - what felt like terrible cramps down my legs and back. today i have been so moody, and the cramps are still in my legs and back. in fact, my back hurt so bad i decided to visit my chiropractor.....my point is that i had NO idea i was addicted until one day i just decided enough was enough! i am in so much pain, so much misery and am too ashamed to ask anyone for help......i'm hoping this goes away by tomorrow b/c i don't want to take even an advil to help me with my pain.....
thank you all so much! i'm so exhuasted and reading all of your supportive comments and similar stories keep me on the right track! day 3 - going to bed and hoping for a good nights rest *finally*
Yes. Definately WD. This is completely normal however. Abruptly abstaining without the help of other drugs is tough so be proud. The worst is behind you. I am in day six now and finally feeling well enough to get back to my normal routine. This after four years of Massive amounts of Oxycodone, 1000mgs daily. Your DOC is Percs, nomatter, its Oxy plus Acetamophen which can cause liver damage. Stay with it and experience the miracle.
Best of luck to you.
Best of luck to you.
You will be amazed what a change in diet can do. I have gone through some massive withdrawals, all of them cold-turkey, and the one constant in my solo rehab is a complete change in the foods I eat. It really helps me getting back to feeling normal sooner.
Turn your pill anger into weeks, and then months of sobriety...
Turn your pill anger into weeks, and then months of sobriety...
i don't see myself ever using this drug again - i know that's easy to say now as i am going through what i am going through!!! but i really don't see this happening again....i have always thought my pain tolerance was pretty high - i even delivered my son w/o meds.....but this pain is RIDICULOUS and enough to keep me away :) i know i have a "light habit" - i am glad i chose to stop when i did....it was like i just woke up and looked at the pcet and said "i hate you".....
Just keep in mine that what you are describing right now is a "light habit" and "light withdrawal" (I know, hard to believe!!!).
As you continue to take perc's/opiate based meds, over time your body will change more and more over time. The symptoms you described in the first day will intensify and last longer, up to four days, and you'll start to suffer secondary long term symptoms to.
Sooo...
Now may be a good time to start being very careful about your opiate based medication intake!!
Most people find that even if they go a few years without taking it, if they develop a habit again, the symptom intensity picks up right where you left off, it doesn't reset back to that first, easy withdrawal.
As you continue to take perc's/opiate based meds, over time your body will change more and more over time. The symptoms you described in the first day will intensify and last longer, up to four days, and you'll start to suffer secondary long term symptoms to.
Sooo...
Now may be a good time to start being very careful about your opiate based medication intake!!
Most people find that even if they go a few years without taking it, if they develop a habit again, the symptom intensity picks up right where you left off, it doesn't reset back to that first, easy withdrawal.
Keep busy...it helps for sure. If this is day 3, expect a little more of what you felt yesterday and then know it's downhill from there. Hang in there. If I can help, let me know.
Rosie
Rosie
wow - thank you both so much for responding!!! update: i finally felt the jitters start to disappear at about 4am and was able to fit in 4 hours of sleep! the hardest part about these last 2 days has been having the energy for my 2 year old son - so that isn't something i can take off from :) what i did yesterday was stay active so i didn't think about my symptoms - walking, pilates, and swimming with him...it wasn't easy! i feel much better just waking up this morning and am hoping for a good day as this is day 3.....
This is a work in progress...something I've been working on off and on for the last couple of weeks. It's not considered complete, but has lots of info from lots of sources. If any of the "old timers" have anything to add, let me know and I'll add it to the document. I hope to use this to post a general "how to" every couple of days or so.
Listed below are suggestions for detoxing and quitting an opiate addiction. They are just suggestions compiled from the detox plans of people that have gone through cold turkey detox before. They are just that, suggestions, and any detox plan is best when done under a doctor's care. Consult your doctor before trying any of the suggestions below.
This is prewritten for anyone who is beginning, or planning on beginning, a cold turkey withdrawal to opiates. This includes drugs such as tramadol (Ultracet and Ultram) codeine (Tylenol #3, #4), Darvocet, Hydrocodone (Vicodin, Norco, Lortab and derivatives), Oxycodone (Endocet, Percocet, Oxycontin), Morphine, Demerol. Fentanyl, and Dilaudud. There are many other opiates not listed, so if you don’t see it listed, you can still use these suggestions if it’s an opiate based addiction. None of these apply to benzodiazepine based addictions. These addictions should never be dealt with by going cold turkey. Always consult a doctor for a detox plan for benzos.
First of all, opiate withdrawals are uncomfortable, but rarely life threatening. You may think you’re going to die, but most of the withdrawal symptoms are just very uncomfortable. If possible, take some time off work or schedule a week or so in order to fully detox. You will honestly not feel like doing much anyway. Opiate withdrawal symptoms usually start 12-24 hours after your last dose. But, the timing of withdrawal symptoms depends upon the drug taken, length of time you’ve been taking it, and how you react to medications. The physical withdrawals usually last 3-7 days, with days 3 and 4 being the worst. Once again, this is all dependent on the person. You can expect these symptoms. Dilated pupils, diarrhea, runny nose, goose bumps, abdominal pain, stomach cramps, sweating, agitation, anxiety, nausea, vomiting, leg cramps, general aches and pains, and sleeplessness. This list is not absolute. You may experience all of these symptoms, only some of them, or other symptoms. Again, we are all different. Below is the famous Thomas Recipe. It gives some general information along with supplements that help with the withdrawal symptoms. The only thing I would add to this list is a blood pressure drug named clonidine. It effectively lowers the blood pressure and lessens many of the withdrawal symptoms. Most any doctor will prescribe it if you’re honest as to why you need it. Discuss dosages and frequency with your doctor.
Thomas Recipe:
1. Valium (or another benzodiazepine such as Klonopin, Librium, Ativan or Xanax). Of these, Valium and Klonopin are best suited for tapering since they come in tablet form. Librium is also an excellent detox benzo, but comes in capsules, making it hard to taper the dose. Ativan or Xanax should only be used if you can't get one of the others.
2. Imodium (over the counter, any drug or grocery store).
3. L-Tyrosine (500 mg caps) from the health food store.
4. Strong wide-spectrum mineral supplement with at least 100% RDA of Zinc, Phosphorus, Copper and Magnesium.
5. Vitamin B6 caps.
6. Access to hot baths or a Jacuzzi (or hot showers if that's all that's available).
How to use the recipe:
Begin your detox with regular doses of Valium (or alternate benzo). Start with a dose high enough to produce sleep. Before you use any benzo, make sure you're aware of how often it can be safely taken. Different benzos have different dosing schedules. Taper your Valium dosage down after each day. The goal is to get through day 4, after which the worst WD symptoms will subside. You shouldn't need the Valium after day 4 or 5. During detox, hit the hot bath or Jacuzzi as often as you need to for muscle aches. Don't underestimate the effectiveness of hot soaks. Spend the entire time, if necessary, in a hot bath. This simple method will alleviate what is for many the worst opiate WD symptom.
Use the Imodium aggressively to stop the runs. Take as much as you need, as often as you need it. Don't take it, however, if you don't need it. At the end of the fourth day, you should be waking up from the Valium and experiencing the beginnings of the opiate WD malaise. Upon rising (empty stomach), take the L-Tyrosine. Try 2000 mgs, and scale up or down, depending on how you feel. You can take up to 4,000 mgs. Take the L-Tyrosine with B6 to help absorption. Wait about one hour before eating breakfast. The L-Tyrosine will give you a surge of physical and mental energy that will help counteract the malaise. You may continue to take it each morning for as long as it helps. If you find it gives you the "coffee jitters," consider lowering the dosage or discontinuing it altogether. Occasionally, L-Tyrosine can cause the runs. Unlike the runs from opiate WD, however, this effect of L-Tyrosine is mild and normally does not return after the first hour. Lowering the dosage may help. With breakfast, take the mineral supplement. As soon as you can force yourself to, get some mild exercise such as walking, cycling, swimming, etc. This will be hard at first, but will make you feel considerably better.
Listed below are suggestions for detoxing and quitting an opiate addiction. They are just suggestions compiled from the detox plans of people that have gone through cold turkey detox before. They are just that, suggestions, and any detox plan is best when done under a doctor's care. Consult your doctor before trying any of the suggestions below.
This is prewritten for anyone who is beginning, or planning on beginning, a cold turkey withdrawal to opiates. This includes drugs such as tramadol (Ultracet and Ultram) codeine (Tylenol #3, #4), Darvocet, Hydrocodone (Vicodin, Norco, Lortab and derivatives), Oxycodone (Endocet, Percocet, Oxycontin), Morphine, Demerol. Fentanyl, and Dilaudud. There are many other opiates not listed, so if you don’t see it listed, you can still use these suggestions if it’s an opiate based addiction. None of these apply to benzodiazepine based addictions. These addictions should never be dealt with by going cold turkey. Always consult a doctor for a detox plan for benzos.
First of all, opiate withdrawals are uncomfortable, but rarely life threatening. You may think you’re going to die, but most of the withdrawal symptoms are just very uncomfortable. If possible, take some time off work or schedule a week or so in order to fully detox. You will honestly not feel like doing much anyway. Opiate withdrawal symptoms usually start 12-24 hours after your last dose. But, the timing of withdrawal symptoms depends upon the drug taken, length of time you’ve been taking it, and how you react to medications. The physical withdrawals usually last 3-7 days, with days 3 and 4 being the worst. Once again, this is all dependent on the person. You can expect these symptoms. Dilated pupils, diarrhea, runny nose, goose bumps, abdominal pain, stomach cramps, sweating, agitation, anxiety, nausea, vomiting, leg cramps, general aches and pains, and sleeplessness. This list is not absolute. You may experience all of these symptoms, only some of them, or other symptoms. Again, we are all different. Below is the famous Thomas Recipe. It gives some general information along with supplements that help with the withdrawal symptoms. The only thing I would add to this list is a blood pressure drug named clonidine. It effectively lowers the blood pressure and lessens many of the withdrawal symptoms. Most any doctor will prescribe it if you’re honest as to why you need it. Discuss dosages and frequency with your doctor.
Thomas Recipe:
1. Valium (or another benzodiazepine such as Klonopin, Librium, Ativan or Xanax). Of these, Valium and Klonopin are best suited for tapering since they come in tablet form. Librium is also an excellent detox benzo, but comes in capsules, making it hard to taper the dose. Ativan or Xanax should only be used if you can't get one of the others.
2. Imodium (over the counter, any drug or grocery store).
3. L-Tyrosine (500 mg caps) from the health food store.
4. Strong wide-spectrum mineral supplement with at least 100% RDA of Zinc, Phosphorus, Copper and Magnesium.
5. Vitamin B6 caps.
6. Access to hot baths or a Jacuzzi (or hot showers if that's all that's available).
How to use the recipe:
Begin your detox with regular doses of Valium (or alternate benzo). Start with a dose high enough to produce sleep. Before you use any benzo, make sure you're aware of how often it can be safely taken. Different benzos have different dosing schedules. Taper your Valium dosage down after each day. The goal is to get through day 4, after which the worst WD symptoms will subside. You shouldn't need the Valium after day 4 or 5. During detox, hit the hot bath or Jacuzzi as often as you need to for muscle aches. Don't underestimate the effectiveness of hot soaks. Spend the entire time, if necessary, in a hot bath. This simple method will alleviate what is for many the worst opiate WD symptom.
Use the Imodium aggressively to stop the runs. Take as much as you need, as often as you need it. Don't take it, however, if you don't need it. At the end of the fourth day, you should be waking up from the Valium and experiencing the beginnings of the opiate WD malaise. Upon rising (empty stomach), take the L-Tyrosine. Try 2000 mgs, and scale up or down, depending on how you feel. You can take up to 4,000 mgs. Take the L-Tyrosine with B6 to help absorption. Wait about one hour before eating breakfast. The L-Tyrosine will give you a surge of physical and mental energy that will help counteract the malaise. You may continue to take it each morning for as long as it helps. If you find it gives you the "coffee jitters," consider lowering the dosage or discontinuing it altogether. Occasionally, L-Tyrosine can cause the runs. Unlike the runs from opiate WD, however, this effect of L-Tyrosine is mild and normally does not return after the first hour. Lowering the dosage may help. With breakfast, take the mineral supplement. As soon as you can force yourself to, get some mild exercise such as walking, cycling, swimming, etc. This will be hard at first, but will make you feel considerably better.
Yes, you are experiencing full blown withdrawal, no doubt about it. So sorry. I think one thing you have going for you is your drug of choice. As sick as you are right now, if you had been taking methadone or oxycontin, it would be worse and last longer (in my opinion). But withdrawal is withdrawal, no matter what drug, and it is a nightmare, I know. Sorry. Let us know how you are doing tomorrow, hopefully every day will be a little easier.
Love, Cindy
Love, Cindy
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