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percocet dependence withdrawal

I was put on percocet, 10-325's,up to 4x times daily, and Oxcycontin, 30mg, 2x daily about 3 yrs. ago for chronic, severe OA throughout my spine.

Around spring of this year, (2013) I'd told my prescribing pain management dr., I felt I was becoming dependent on these meds though I never used the full rx each month, never used any type of street drugs. Passed every drug test with flying colors. He'd said that was par for the course and it was ok.
A couple months ago, for whatever reason, my pain decreased markedly and I no longer felt the need for this level of pain meds.

I titrated down on the Oxcy and he stopped that at the beginning of Aug. I was also titrating down off the percs and thought I was doing ok. Low and behold, I'm not doing at all well.
I'd asked him for help and he said I shouldn't be having these withdrawal problems and sent me on my way with no further appts. I had a full rx for the percs left and have been fighting to titrate down off them on my own.
I'm managing to take 3/4 of a pill roughly every 5 hrs. before I go nuts from shaking, shortness of breath, rapid pulse, sweats/chills, the diarreha(sp). loss of appetite, etc. etc. etc..

Where I live, "dependence" is considered addiction and no dr. will help me with the w/d symptoms. I'm 67 yrs. old
and have no support whatever.

This BS consistently wakes me every night, even with taking the rx sleep meds that I'd already been on. I'm "allowed" 2mg. of valium 4x a day for anxiety but it isn't touching these tremors let alone the anxiety.
Benzos are  huge no no in my area as well and the rx'ing dr. on them is pushing the flap as it is. No hope of
getting a higher dose, period.

I need to get of this garbage but don't see any end in sight. I need medical help but around here "addicts" are SOL unless they nearly OD, and since it's a dependence issue, no addictive type behaviour, I'm not taken seriously.

How in the heck do I pull this off? I never dreamt I'd have this kind of trouble since I never abused the meds.
I need help now and just can't get it.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated....

thanx in advance,
marcie
7 Responses
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Avatar universal
i had this problem as well altho i'm only 26 yrs old and a female the best way i got threw was i took a shot ok a little more like a double shot of tequlia before bed . well after i was already in bed and was restless and couldn't get to sleep get up take the shot or two and right to bed i went no tv no book just restful sleep . that is the only way i was able to sleep
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
OverThosePills, congrats on your success, that is wonderful and I'm so happy for you!!!

Thank you all for your encouragement and understanding.
I'm not doing at all well, still can't get past that 3 &1/2 mark when the
shaking takes off like a freight train.

Still can't find a dr. to help me, pain dr. that knew this was happening back in the spring now won't even give me an appt.

I went to the ER Fri. a.m. because not only did I have the shakes but a headache worse than any migraine along with horrific, new pain on both sides of my neck, dizzy and disoriented.
They gave me a dose of clonidine which made things markedly worse...
that knocked me for a loop to put it mildly. My BP dropped to the low
80's over low 60's, O2 down to 86. I'd told them I couldn't remember if I'd taken my own BP med (lisonipril/hctz 10/12.5) earlier or not.
They did ask if my BP was normally that low to which I'd replied never had that happened.
They gave me a small bag of saline to bring the numbers up and sent me
on my saying saying to "see your family dr." whom I'd already told them
won't touch me.

I got rid of the clocks in my room to avoid a possible mental trigger from them but seems no matter what I'm doing, faithfully, after 3-3&1/2 hrs.
the shakes hit and I fight tooth and nail to make it to 5 hrs. between
doses. Between those and the sensation of panic, I just can't get past 5 hrs.

I feel like an utter failure because I've seen how others have beat these types of meds yet here I am, not being able to even get past 5 hrs. without
all heck breaking loose.

This has been bad enough to fight but now my adult son apparently has cancer in 3 different places and his isn. won't pay for the extra tests needed
to further evaluate those.
That stress has only made things worse:(:(
B4 he'd told me that, I was going to look into going inpatient but right now,
he needs me and my support to get through his own terror.

There's other, major things going on that are having a negative impact
on my overall medical care and right now, I just feel like caving in and saying the heck with it and let the dr. put me back on the darn things and be done with it even though I know that would be a greater evil:(:(

Thank you all once again and I will try to stay more in touch....

Hope everyone is having as good a day as possible....

marcie
Helpful - 0
4522800 tn?1470325834
Hi and Welcome. It is late so it is very quite out here. I just got up for a minute..Anyway if you keep doing a nice and easy taper this will be good. What could help right now is to make sure you drink lots and lots of water to help rid the poison so you will not have it so build up either. There are many substance that mess up the Neurotransmitter and Receptors. This is where it will give us anxiety, depression and sleep issues because it takes awhile to balance back out and to recycle right. You can make sure you are taking lots of vit/min while you do your taper. Magnesium is one of the best to help detox poison out and it also helps the brain. There is so much out here that we can help you with when you get down to nothing. Right now just take it slow and easy.
YOU are not alone out here. We come flowing in and out so keep checking your post and you will get all kinds of feed back .OK?
Bless
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I'm still not off them, can't go beyond 3 & 1/2 hrs. before the symptoms start back up with a vengance:(:(  Am taking 1/2 tab now, 3 x a day.
The shakes are my biggest problem, can't do anything when they ramp up.

If I can't get past this level, I won't dare just stop them altogether, I fear
where my mind would take me:(:(

I am totally alone in my world and for me, trying to just keep titrating down
is the safest, if not the wisest option.

All this has only served to make my depression and anxiety ramp up to
the nth degree and since I can't tolerate AD's I'm up the creek on that:(:(

I'm just angry the rx'ing dr. didn't address this months ago when I first
told him what was happening:(:(
His saying I can't possibly be having withdrawals because I never abused
the meds didn't help matters either.

It's just so hard to go through this alone in my real world and being
viewed as a street  addict just makes it all worse:(:(

Thanx for your kindness.....
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Really GREAT post @ over those pills! Congrats to you on 4 days! I encourage you to start a new thread and introduce yourself so that we can ALL encourage and support you through this. Marci, congrats on realizing it has become a problem. That's the first step. YOU are NOT alone. We have ALL been there and have lived through it to tell our stories and hopefully help others. Quitting isn't the easiest thing in the world but nowhere near the hardest either. One minute,one hour, one choice at a time! YOU CAN DO IT!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Also I went and bought lots of vitamins that I've been taking every morning. There is a recipe on this page called the Thomas recipe and works great for most people. Everyone says its at the bottom of the page I am usually on my phone or iPad so I haven't seen it myself but I am sure someone will post it for you. You have no idea how reading this site has helped me so much. Just to see all these people that are just like me and they went through the same things we are right now is so awesome to me and all the help and advice you get here is better than any therapy you could pay for.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hey Marci I have never posted on this site before but I have read it constantly for the past week because I knew I was quitting the pain killers on Saturday. I am no expert on the subject by any means. Today will be my 4th day without any norco 10/325 and I was on them for over 8 years doctor prescribed. Just know that each day gets so much better than the last day. Try not to look at the clock every second because that will drive you nuts. Yesterday I made myself get out of the house and I even cooked supper for my family. It seems the more I make myself do the better I feel. You can definitely do this! I was also lucky enough to already have a script for requip which is for restless legs and that has helped tremendously. I'll try to stay here for a little bit if I can help you in any way.
Helpful - 0
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