what would you do?

[MayhemsGirl]

Hi all,  I am new to this forum and I have a question. I am currently prescribed 280 mg of oxycontin per day. I have been on them for approx. 3 years, up until about a year ago I took them as directed, but about a year ago I first began chewing the tablets to break there time release. After a short time the desired effect was no longer there and I moved on to injecting them. What a mistake!! It has cost me everything. As I sit here I am losing my home, job, vehicle but most of all I have lost my self worth. That's what matters most, the others I can replace when the time allows.  I am absolutely fed up, I want off this medication more than I have ever wanted anything, but I am terrified of the withdrawal. I have gone through the beginning stages of withdrawal numerous times,I constantly run out of my medications days sometimes weeks early. I will then allow myself to begin withdrawal and then I crack and go buy them somewhere.  My question is this, if I were to stop injecting and take the pills orally (not chewing them) would I suffer withdrawal from the change in how it is administered? The reason I think to do it this way as opposed to cold turkey is I think once I take them how they are prescribed they will lose there appeal as I won't be achieving a huge high when I take them.(compared to injecting) I have to get off of this drug. I hate the person it has made me. I am living a life heavily coated in oxycontin, I am done, just need to get some feed back here, what would you do?

[MrNewHope]

"I have gone to my doctor again since my initial post and expressed my desire to discontinue the medication."

You said that, not me. That's how it starts, just make the decisions u think necessary and it'll all come together.  

Don't worry about me :) Keep posting, it's going to feel good looking back at this post in the next couple of days.

[MayhemsGirl]

Hi, thanks for the reply....you are so right!! the after care is sooooo important. Well I begin my taper tomorrow morning, and I am very nervous.  I know I can do this tho. When you want something bad enough you find a way to get it. I took your advice and I am starting  journal. I suspected there would be some withdrawal in changing the route of entry, Thank you for confirming that. I will keep ya posted on how the next few days go, but you're roght if I find I am straying to much from my taper schedule then I am just gonna take the plunge. Chat soon!      

[MayhemsGirl]

Thank you so much for your reply.  You asked why I ever went back to using, for me opiates were introduced at such a young age. (14) at that time I was prescribed morphine for a debilitating female disease. As years went on I would stop and start painkillers,everything from demerol to dilaudid. None of these drugs had a hold on me like oxycontin does. Stopping this medication is a must for me, and a want greater than anything I have ever felt.  I have gone to my doctor again since my initial post and expressed my desire to discontinue the medication. He was very concerned that I would even consider cold turkey as he said my body will react horribly and that I need to taper off. He gave me 2 medications, 1 to help me sleep, the other to combat the anxiety.  For me a lot of it is the habit as well. I have certain times during each day where I sneak off to the restroom and do what I do. It is imperative that I find something to do during those times to take the place of. My day one starts tomorrow, no more stupid injections. I did one this morning and following it I broke everything and threw it all away. I am very happy I found this group, it sure feels good to get this stuff off my chest. Have you been a part of this forum for long? Also how is your withdrawal going? stay in touch! and thanks for the reply on my first ever post.

[julesd63]

possibly  a methadone clinic. i have found it extremely difficult to taper. the meds are there calling your name. it's way too easy to tell yourself "just one more day", "i'll start tomorrow", etc. the clinics give you "enough" to not get REAL sick, with emotional support as well. get some juices, popsicles, soups, heartburn meds, triple omega pills (sort of helps with depression), milk thistle (helps detox your liver), and lots of blankets!! Then....just settle in and deal the best you can. the methadone clinics at least gives you a place to go everyday. i did it by myself 2 yrs ago and that was a HUGE mistake, for me at least. i didn't leave my couch/bed for well over 4 months & ended up getting so "comfortable" that  i could barily leave my house ( now i rent, as i lost my home & job as well). i think i just prolonged my agony.. not sure, but i'm back on pills now...i didn't get the help i should have. in my opinion, its almost impossible for a "sick mind" to try to heal a sick mind!  i wish us all well.

[mebroken]

short answer- yes. you will have some 'changes' when you change mode of administration. has to do with bio-availability. injecting the drug you have 100% bio-availability, orally the % drops way down. however i think that is a great plan. it is way easier to taper off a set oral dose than any sort of injection taper. switch to oral and once you have stabilized on that start your taper off the oral dose asap. keep a written plan of how much you want to take each day and don't stray from that no matter what! at some point you'll have to jump off and go through the rest of withdrawals though. and if you find you can't stick to your taper then just jump . most of us cannot hold to a taper and some find it harder to detox a little at a time over long period rather than just going through it all at once. you might want to just go to an inpatient detox center and get it over with. don't be afraid to ask for help from an addiction specialist! help IS out there and even though most cost money- you end up saving tons of money that you were spending on the drugs (that whole 'penny wise-pound foolish' thing). plus in an inpatient setting they will give you tools to stay off the drugs- actually a harder thing than getting off them. think about it.....

[MrNewHope]

Hello,

I was doing 160mg of oxycontin, two 80mg pills a day, also chewing.  I'm on day 3 but in the morning will be my day 4 off the pills.  It's definately a tough road as you know.  My concern with your situation is the possiblity of anxiety or depression from your financial situation.  I know it's been an issue with mine.  You need to set a plan, set a date, taper down to a lower amount according to the date and just follow it through.  Learn from the mistakes you made when you tried quitting but went back... what caused you to go back?  Was it a dealer calling you? erase the dealer.  Was it a bill that had to paid? Pay the bill.  There are many little things that would cause us to break and relapse but as long as we learn from it, we can at least try to prevent it from happening.

Most important, you need to really really want this. People try but you really need to "do" it. Think of a gameplan and run with it.  I hope to see you here often and soon on your day 1,2,3,4,5....till infinity. :)