painkiller withdrawal

[emmy22]

hey guys. I have only posted once before-last week. my name is emily and for about four years i have been on and off painkillers, mostly vicodin es and tylenol with codeine#3. I have endometriosis and anyway, my last pill was two weeks ago today. I am nervous because even after two weeks, i am still so tired- i feel like i have to take a nap in the middle of the day, and i am sluggish all the time. I was taking 4-6 pills a day on and off(on for a few months, off for a few weeks, etc.)When i try to relax, i still have the feeling of restless leg syndrome, even after two weeks, but it is not as bad as before. Also, what are my chances of liver damage after the amount of pills i have taken? I am really scared, and i am also scared about the funny heartbeat that occured when i took the pills, although it has subsided a whole lot since i stopped. can anyone help??? Thanks    Emily from NH

[CleanUpTime]

Hang in there. The tough parts last 3-5 days and gradually get better.

We've ALL been there. Take Hot Baths; they HELP!!!

Also, try Fladdicts Amino Acid Protocol (on the right colum under "Most Viewed Health pages".

Best thing you can do for you and your kids is get clean and stay clean!

I'm on day 14 and the first few days, I didn't think i was going to make it either.

Just keep telling yourself you will make it and slowly but surely, everything will go back to normal.

[mamatwo4]

WOW i never new there were people put there like me.. I felt so alone.. I have been on lorcets 10-600mg 10x a day for on again and off again 1 year. I had a trauma tap last year where they thought that i had a brain anyresium but, really they caused me to bleed well anyways i also have chrons so i get scripts anytime well i have been taking them for almost a year and decided im done i dont want live this way.. I stopped yesturday and now i am feeling like utter ****. My knees hurt, i feel sooooo depressed all i want to do is sleep!! i have 4 kids to raise as a single mom how long is this going to take.. My doctor gave my adivan (which i heard was bad) to sleep and for the anxiety.. but thats makeing me feel out of it.. PLEASE any advice

[kiki2]

I would appreciate any feedback to concerns I am having about Hydrocodone. I started taking 2 .5/500 (Lortab 7.5) after a car accident a little over a year ago for carpal tunnel syndrome in both wrist and 3 damaged disks in my neck. I have since had surgery on both wrist and that pain has subsided, however, no decision about my neck has been made and the Dr. continues to prescribe the Hydro. Is taking only 2 per day considered a problem or addition? I have obviously developed a physical dependency. I did not refill my RX and have been off the Hydro for 4 miserable days. I have all the body aches, fatigue, blurry vision, and no energy that many of you have also experienced. Since I still have a pretty bad neck problem, should I continue the drug or go for cortisone injections or consider surgery? I don't want to get any more dependent on the drug than I already am. Thank you all for sharing your experiences. Again, I would appreciate any advise or feedback.
Kiki

[GOD]

Hope you guys are doing O.K.!~

As for the seizures, you and your wife have NOTHING to worry about. Opiate withdrawl can be HELL, but, I've never known of anyone to get seizures for lack of Percocet. Had you guys been detoxing from a big Valium or other benzodiazipnes or a large alcohol habit, It (your detox period of the first 5 days to a week) would need to be medically supervised.

Remember that you may *feel* like your dying those first couple days, but it WILL get better. Tonight (Monday) and tomorrow night (Tuesday) will probably be the absolute worst for y0ou guys, then every day should be less painful.

I wish you the best!
Jess

[sarge929]

Jess,                                                              Thank you for your help..It's monday 10:20am(day one)i dont feel bad yet...i'm really worried about my wife,shes scared of siezures.If you can tell us anything about this PLEASE do.                                             SARGE

[sarge929]

Jessesarpy,                                                         Thank you for your help.It's monday(day one)10:13am,i don't feel that bad yet.i'm really worried about my wife!She's very scared of siezures.If you know anything about this PLEASE write back......

[GOD]

Sarge,
What can you expect?

About 1 week of withdrawl symptoms that will feel like the WORST flu you've ever had... (sorry, but there is no sugar-coating it in this forum! We are about TOTAL honesty here..)

Anyway, besides the physical symptoms including: Diarreah, stomach cramps, your muscles feel very restless (especially in the legs), so you feel that you need to keep kicking with your legs, vomiting, lack of appetite, you will probably feel quite depressed for some time.

If You and your wife are doing this [kicking the drug habit] together, you are lucky in the fact that you and her can sympathize with each other, and know each other's suffering.

What really helped me was:

Lots of gatoraid (to replentish lost fluids from the runs!)
Immodium (for controlling the runs)
I also found that dramamine (an anti-motion sickness drug) helped me with that post-drug nausea.
& KavaKava (an herbal supplement found in most pharmacies & nutrition centers) really helps you to "Relax"... It DID take away some of my anxiety!

I hope the best for you guys! It isn't a walk in the park, but you CAN do it (quit the drugs) if you want it badly enough..

Good luck,
Jess

[sarge929]

Hi!Me and my wife took our last percocet earlier this evening.We are going to try to quit and were very scared.we were taking 20 5mg percs a day.We don't know what to expect?If anyone can help please e-mail me @ ***@****

[Don63]

I just found this group. I have been off and on perscription dugs for over 3 years now due to a back injury. I started on Tylenol 3's went to Vicaden, then  graduated to taking 6 60mg ms contins a day. I have tapered off to 4 30 mgs a day but have found this to be my threshold of tolerrance. I will be starting the cold turkey attempt here in a couple days. I have gotten Clonadine, and some Ambiem to hepl with the sleep. This has come from my doctor. Can anyone give and pointers as to make this pass any more comfortable? Feel free to email me if necassary @ ***@****. I will keep you informed and maybe in a sadistic type way, going to try and keep a journal as to my thoughts and actions each day.
Thanks and looking forward in participating in this group.

Don

[puna]

Thanks for the imput. I was on tussinex for 3 months would take a tsp a day during the last few weeks.  I weaned myself as much as i could but it still took about 5 days to feel somewhat normal again.  Even tho i was careful not to go over board i still went thru some serious withdrawal.  Ive been on pain killers before in pill form but this time the withdrawal lasted much longer and no doubt wouldve been more painful had i not weaned myself. This must be some serious medicine.. Thanks again

[mrmichael67]

Tussionex has hydrocodone in it.  Taking tussionex is just like taking lorcet or lortab with 10mg of hydro.  The difference is that tussionex is a much nicer buzz.  It is longer lasting and has what is called resins of hydrocodone in it.  Whatever, no less addicting.

[puna]

Hi guys, ive been reading the post here and my heart goes out to anyone going thru withdrawal.  I have been on and off drugs my entire adult life.  Im sitting here now going thru a slight withdrawal from tussinex cough surup. Ive been on the med for about 4months and was pretty good about not taking too much or too many doses.  The last prescription my doc gave me, i babied hoping to have an easier withdrawal.. Apparently, that was a good idea, cos im still feeling lots of those same old symtoms but not as bad.  I hear this is a very strong narcotic and ofcourse begin an addict, i was happy to get the scrip, even knowing what the end results would be.. God, whats wrong with me, will i ever learn. Anyway, im discusted with myself and needed to talk to someone who understands.  Does anyone have any idea how long it will take to get these withdrawal symthoms over with, has been a week and im still feeling lousy??  Thanks

[percsnomas]

Should have been more specific... sorry.
I knew from Tom's previous posts that he was taking between 10-15 5mg Oxycodone per day, Not too dissimilar to myself; and that the taper I talked about applied to that useage.

Again, sorry, was not lumping all "cases" into one.

[jillybean82002]

I have been clean for 2 weeks & 2 days. I feel better, but I have no energy. I read somewhere about that Thomas' recipe. I looked it up everywhere, but found no results. What is the recipe????
I woke up this morning thinking about pills, but I knew if I had just one, it would keep on. Just pray to GOD he will help.

Someone e-mail me about that Thomas' recipe. please ***@****

[percsnomas]

Again I just wrote down my plan of attack:

There are lots of ways to do this....this is just what worked for me(and it only applies to Pain meds, specifically oxycodone which is what I was on for back pain mgmt..ie.NOT BENZO'S)

Plotted mg. of OXY on "y" axis & DAYS on "x" axis.
I simply stepped down to achieve ZERO mg. on or before day 14.
ie. Don't really care how you get there(whatever is easiest for you) just get there!!
Approx. 5 days before being at zero (was at ~ 12.5 to 17.5 mg Oxy) started Thomas Recipe.
I found tapering definately "drags out" the W/D but was kinda like an awful flu, and at least mentally seemed executeable.
The worst of the W/D's still came for the 3 days following last mg. of Oxy; but amazingly day 4 started to climb out, and continually improved from there.
I've read soooooo much about this stuff, that the "Ask a Doctor" web site, convinced me anything over about two weeks(again just talking about Oxy, Hydro..) IS JUST PROCRASTINATING.

I think you probably know already, there's lots of ways to skin the cat...Use all the info from this site. Good Luck

[a549056]

how did you taper? now i take bout 10-15 pills a day. 5mg--little white ones. did you get parinoid during withdrawls? i remember the last time i quit. it seemed the 4th day was worsed. then on day 7 i was able to function. still a little pain, but i could do things. today i took 10 already :(  got more but hopefully aint gonna take them. man, the **** i get myself in to----talk at ya later
tom

[percsnomas]

I simply read everything on this forum; and all the questions or concerns are addressed somewhere in here.
tex3 on August 13/02 (C2) has some amazingly upbeat insight that I kind of follow daily.... it really helped me thru the W/D'S.

I also was on Oxy's for about the same period; starting after my first back surgery; AND I CAN TELL YOU IT CAN BE DONE.

Just pull all the different suggestions (some physical, some mental) and put your plan into action.

Man after being completely off for a couple weeks(this is the first time I tried) I'm really starting to feel like my "old" self....Life before those ridiculous bastards.

Good luck...in the words of many others: "You're where you need to be to get off"
ps I tapered(with a friend holding the pills) over a 13 day period

[mrmichael67]

It depends on how high a dose you are on.  I wouldn't suggest someone who was taking 320mg of oxy a day for a couple of years to go to zero in two weeks.  They are just setting themselves up for a relapse and needless withdrawal symtoms.  For a lower tolerance, then ok.  But, you can't lump everyone together because everyone is different.  People should remember when detoxing that they didn't get hooked overnight so they shouldn't try to get clean overnight.  That is why the failure rate is so high.  People tend to get too anxious.  I know a girl from another site who had withdrawal symtoms for a month straight from oxycontin at a very high daily dose for a long time.  If you are taking 15 to 20 vics or percs a day, then I would say a two week taper is more than possible.  I don't know of a pain doctor in his right mind that would detox a person off of a high oxycontin dose in two weeks.  A few months is more like it.  And, if that person can't do it, then either it is cold turkey or methadone.

[a549056]

well kid, want some company in hell? i'm headed there myself. went thru it once already. was clean for 72 days. really blew it fallin off the wagon. but, it CAN be done. God be with you

[a549056]

well, its about 4pm now. im startin ta feel "it" anyone out there?

[PING]

HOW COME TAKING 3-10 MG'S OF OXYCONTIN IS SO BAD, MY DR SAY'S TAKE THEM THAT WAY, ISN'T THAT SAFER THEN 2-20 MG'S A DAY? I HAVE NOICED A COUPLE OF POST ABOUT HOW BAD THE 3 A DAY IS BAD.
THANKS VERY MUCH, HAVE A GOOD EVEING.
                            LEE.

[a549056]

heres how i feel when not taking the oxycodone. i'll explain it as good as possible--- first off, my stomach hurts, real weak all over, parinoid--of what i have no idea., everything hurts, like my joints,head, arms burn. then diarreah, sneezing, runny nose, dont want to do NOTHING. tv not interesting, not hungary, start sweating, then i'm cold. i get scared of going to work. scared something will happen and i wont be able to handle it. scared to drive in traffic. the parinoia bothers me the most. does anyone else get real parinoid? well, i recon thats it for now. thanks for listining.

tom

[a549056]

hello folks. my name is tom. i went and got myself strung out on oxycodone. been bout 3yrs now. i been tryin to get off them. i'm getting them off the street. the withdrawls are a real killer, huh? i would like to join this group in hope of talking things thru with folks who understand. right now, i took a few pills so i could get on this site and write. when im withdrawing, i can hardly get on the computer, but since i found this group maybe i can change that. i hope to get help here and maybe help others too. my e-mail is: ***@****  anyone feel free to mail me anytime. thanks and lets all hang in there.

tom

[Jessica5683]

Hey Everyone,
Well, I have ten pills left which will last me till tomorrow morning and though I have some refills left on the scription I'm NOT going to get it refilled. I will do my best to stop taking them and bare the withdraws. Although, I'm scared shitless to do this and scared I will give in and get my script refilled I'm gonna try really hard. I fooled myself thinking I could tapper down LMAO yah right!!!!!! No will power here!!!!!!! I guess thats all just wanted to post. Take care all I'm off to a few weeks in hell and then some. Jessica