just thinking out loud

Does anyone know if there is a difference between percocet and tylenol with cod#3. maybe I should ask my doctor to perscribe the tylenol for me instead, then when I do get off it won't be as bad and that way when I need a pain killer I won't go back to the percocet.

[GoingToMakeIt]

Tylenol #3 is less potent than percocet as I remember.

[worried878]

Percocet is oxycodone and tylenol #3 is codeine, a weaker narctoic but is also habit forming,,,,always look at your tylenol content as you could inadvertantly take more as it is not quite as strong....easier to wd from as a rule thand hydrocodone or oxycodone

[chanch]

Thanks. By the way I know I'm knew here, and to accepting that I May be addicted to percocet, but do you mean to tell me that when I actually stop taking the stuff I am still going to WANT to have it, and I will NEVER be able to touch the stuff again?

[SableZen]

"Percocet is acetaminophen and oxycodone (opioid)."

"Tylenol 3 is acetaminophen and codeine (opioid)."

"Codeine is the starting material and prototype of a large class of mainly mild to moderately strong opioids such as hydrocodone, dihydrocodeine and its derivatives such as nicocodeine, oxycodone etc."

--------

So if you are looking to avoid opioids - Tylenol 3 isn't such a great idea.

[GoingToMakeIt]

Once an addict...always an addict, is all too true. Your body chemistry gets altered and may never be back to normal. You can get off them and a year later, if you take them, you will be right back up to where you were in use.
Welcome to the forum! This is a great place to get support and info.

[chanch]

Just your nickname itself gives me hope and support, thanks a lot!
Again, I still can't believe that I got myself into this ust by having back surgery. It was suppose to make my life easier, not more compliceted!

[SableZen]

To try to answer your second question... it's called relapse for most of us. And usually it's due to convincing yourself that it's ok ("It'll be different this time," "I learned my lesson last time," etc...) to start with it again.

If you are having any difficulty at all with oxycodone (Percocet) now - I'd avoid any opioid in the future at all cost. But that's my opinion.

You didn't really mention what you were taking Percocets for or if you were concerned with dependence or abuse...

For someone with no history of abuse - a limited prescription of Tylenol 3 isn't a big deal. Totally different story for someone (like me) that was addicted to an opioid.

[worried878]

Having to come to this forum is not always a great place to be unfortunately as it means u may have an addiction problem...but it is the safe and right place to be and there is alot of info and support here...and it is true...if u do have a problem u will probably never be able to successfully take oxycodone or any narcotic again...sad but true....your dose will always creep back up to the old dose...quickly or slowly and many go and find this out the hard way and come right back here...i for one was clean for 2 months from an 80 mg hydro habit and tried to take them after a procedure...was going right back to abuse and my tolerence does not go away fast... if ever...switching to a drug like tylox etc with codeine may cause you just to take more of those as your body is craving that same narcotic level that you had with the oxy...that is why i said be careful with the tylenol content as it is close to the same..kinda sux but true that u may never be able to take narcotics with ease again if u have a problem...but only u know that and everyone is different

[worried878]

As sablezen said...i would probably go to town with codeine...not sure but i think i would...dern...i know i would

[chanch]

I had Back surgery 1 1/2 years ago, I went to a top pain managemnet center for 7 months after the surgery. In the begining I was taking 5mg every 4-6 hrs and then I started to have my regular active lifestyle and told my doctor to give me 10mgs. I have been on 10-15mgs for over a year. but I worked hard to go from 4-6 to 12-13 hrs. I wait for at the end of the day to relax me. and when I don't get my complete "FIX", so to speak, I get a bit upset. But I was on vicodin 6 years ago and stopped cold turkey after only 4 months, I hated being tired...

[worried878]

Sounds as if u r taking them as prescribed....do you take them now for pain?  or is it a need?  sounds like u have kept it under control and are good at now overdoing your doses...it is when i felt yucky and clammy that i reached for them that started to scare me...and not due to pain but to make that yucky feeling go away...

[ILoveLukey]

Wheras I  could take one or two percs for the "high" if I could get my hands on Tylenol #3 I would take 5 or 6 for the same high. Alot less potent.

[chanch]

I ONLY take them when either I am in a lot of pain, which I try to hold out until my time is up, if it's too early I use a patch. If I'm feeling ok and I go too long w/o it, then I have to take it for the withdrawl (withdrawal) symtoms (symptoms), which I hate. BUT>>>I do enjoy the feeling when I take them. I'M just afraid that I am in too far. How long can I still convince my doctor that I still need some kind of pain releiver?

[worried878]

What type of patch?   I saw you had posted on clonidine as well   I may have missed your major story as i have only read these 2 posts and it is a bit unusual to use clonidine for WDs from 30 mg of percocet per day..But if it helps you quit and you feel the need to quit...by all means..use the clonidine...have i missed something?   not being facetious but not sure I am up to date on everything that is going on...call me crazy!   early onset alzheimers i think  LOL

[GoingToMakeIt]

If the patch is Fentanyl, stay the heck away from that! It is one of the toughest drugs to get off of.

[worried878]

If it is a fentanyl patch.....that is a different ballgame verses 30 mg of percocet a day...just trying to get a heads up on your usage

[SableZen]

If you are taking them more for the emotional lift they give and not so much the pain. I would be very concerned. From what I've read, the euphoric feeling (or well-being) that the opioid gives you increases pain tolerance. A depressed person has a lowered threshold for pain. And that's how people get stuck... With the opioid, you maintain a feeling of being normal and a sense of well-being, and you can take the pain a bit easier. But the opioid also brings about depression when your brain isn't getting enough - so your pain tolerance drops. The drug actually makes it harder for a person to deal with pain than if they had never started the cycle when either your tolerance goes up or you cut your dosage back. When the drug makes your mental well-being such a integral part of managing pain, it's hard not to become addicted... very insidious.

[worried878]

well said...your brain will acually quit or reduce producing the endorphins needed for mental well-being  ..the body is a fine tuned mechanism in a constant state of checks and balances...if you are feeding it happy/endorphins it will lower or cease to produce those endorphins....hence depression sets in when u skip your pills

[chanch]

1st of all, it lidocaine, not fentanyl, and I for some reason I have high threshold for pain. I walked around with 2 fractors in my vertbrea for almost 6 months, because I was too busy directing a play in a camp up in the mountains..long story short, after I was teaching one day I realized that I couldn't lift my leg properly, and experience from my last back surgery warned me something was wrong. I calapsed that night, and the next day, one of the biggest neurosurgeons from Mt. Saini in Manhattan told me that parts of my back were broken. I told him I would have to wait a week until I settled all of my kids. and with only tylenol w/ codine i waited a week. I woke up with 8 screws and 2 rods in my back. I couldn't have morphine(allergic), so they gave me something else...it didn't work at all, and stupid me didn't want to bother anyone by telling them, so my body went into shock..from tues until sat. night I went with barely any pain relief...then they gave me percidan, and the rest, as they say, is History. So, yes I think it MIght be psycological why I take it but sometimes I really need it fro severe pain, like when it rains...Thanks for the support. It really helps. Good night y'all

[GoingToMakeIt]

Good night and good luck. We were just worried that the patch you mentioned was A stronger drug. One that you really don't want to be on. I am glad it's Lidocaine.

[worried878]

Me too.....when i saw patch i was worried...lidocaine is not a problem and i wish you luck with whatever you decide to do