percocet withdrawls

[cindytoo]

I was put on vicodin at the end of May for excruciating neck pain...two herniated discs with bone spurs growing into the nerve of my arms.  I was taking 6-10 a day, 500 mg.  I finally had surgery July 2, I had two discs fused, the bone spurs removed.  After surgery I heard the nurses comment that I required a lot of morphine to relieve the pain and asked me if I had been on pain killers prior to the surgery.  The surgeon went thru the throat which gave me the most discomfort but got back the feeling in both arms and hands...pain free.  However, I was given percocet for the post surgery..325 mg. I took 2 every four hours for the first week and now I am trying to wean myself off.  I stopped taking them and feel like I am going to jump out of my skin.  I sweat profusely and them am cold.  Last night I could not sleep and then started this endless twiching of my body.  It really scared me.  How long will this take?  I just want to feel normal again.  Is it better to let yourself sweat it out and flush your system with lots of water?  Anyone out there have some advice?  What do you do at night when you can't sleep and you feel like you are jumping around inside?

[GA Guy]

Those are the lower dosages that those particular medications come in...which is a good thing. You say you're taking them every 2 hours...is that night and day? Just trying to get an idea of how much you're taking in a 24 hour period. If you can taper, it's the least painful. I couldn't do that..they'd be all gone in a week. Everything you mentioned is a normal symptom of opiate withdrawals. Clonidine (a blood pressure med used for withdrawals) helped me immensely. If you tell your doc why you want it, he should prescribe it without any trouble. Also, search the forum for the Thomas Recipe. It gives lots of info about how to go cold turkey and help with the sleep and anxiety. I had little-moderate anxiety when I used the clonidine. Hope this helps..Good Luck!!!

[cindytoo]

On the Vicodin it says: 500 mg/5 mg
the percocet is 5-325mg

[GA Guy]

You stated that your taking 325 mg percocet. That's the amount of acetaminophen (also called Tylenol or APAP, too) in your pills. How much oxycodone is in each pill? Usually it will say 5/325, 7.5/325, or 10/325. Also, how many are you taking every day right now? It will help someone give you a tapering plan if they know just how much you're taking of what strength each day.