starting over or not with percocet withdraw?

[mlwal]

i did not realize how many percocets that i was taking this month and ended up taking 100 in less than 30 days i realized that i would not have enough for the month a few days ago and started to spare them so i took 2 yesterday and two today and i only have 2 (10/650) and cant get anymore until my appointment on the 21st.  i had no clue that i was going through withdraw until eariler today and thought that i was just getting sick.  i want to quit taking them and need to know if by taking the ones that i did have i prolonged my withraw?

i have felt bad for a couple of days how long will i feel like this and not be albe to sleep i have not slept in over 24 hours?

[jstntime]

Hi and welcome,

SO how many did you take on an "average" day???  Have you been on opiates for a long time???

Are you determined to stop for good or stop until you can get more?  As long as you take opiates you are prolonging the wd.  

Length and severity of wd is usually tied to size of habit and length of use.  Most people are through the worst of the physical stuff after 4 or 5 days.  The no sleep is tough, take it when you can get it.

If you have any more questions, don't hesitate to ask, we're all here to help.

Hang in there it DOES get better,

bob

[mlwal]

well i am determined to quit all together.  I really did not realize that i was an hooked on them.  i just though that i what taking them for the pain.  however after reading the stuff on here and the last 2 days of the way i feel now i know...and i feel really stupid....and i dont want to tell anyone in my family i am home alone for a couple more days then my daughter will be home and i start back to school in a week.

i think i was taking anywhere from 6-10 a day of the 10/650.....and i have been taking the regular for about 1 year.  

The sleep is killing me and also taking sleeping pills and atavin and i am out of them too so i really messed up and i have been on them for ever....

so am i really going to start over with all the symptoms because i took 2 pills a day for 2 days or is the worse over?

[LeaAnn807]

Hi.  I ditto Bob, and I'd add that as for your sleep, it may take longer than anything else to come back.  That....and energy!  

All that said, 100 pills in 30 days isn't a horrible amount.  I know people who have taken that many in two days!!!  

You can do this!  Just hang in there, and don't go get anymore pills after you get through it!!  That is the key!

[jstntime]

Hi again,

"Determined to quit" is good because THAT is what it takes.  

I don't understand the "starting over" comment.  You took pills, you reduced to 2 per day and initiated wd.  What is to start over?  The 2 pills woud have lessened the severity of your wd somewhat but truthfully, they likely didn't make much of a difference.

I don't believe you will be starting anything over, you will be continuing.  The fastest way to the "other side" is to stop them all together.  

Don't feel stupid.  It has nothing to do with your level of intelligence!!!!  You sound pretty smart to me because you are doing something about it.  

Hang in there, you CAN do this,
Keep posting, it helps!!!!

bob

[pattifan]

Congratulations. It sounds to me like you realise you have a problem with these tablets and genuinely want to get off them.

Let's face facts, you're going to withdraw before the 21st anyway, so you may as well do it properly and stay off them.

In answer to your question, you're right. Every percocet you take will prolong your withdrawal period.

Acute withdrawal lasts about 3 days. By day 5 you should be a bit better and by day 10 you'll be well on way to recovery. Yes it's tough but it really is worth it.

If you're going to do it, get rid of any pills in your house that contain any opiates such as codeine, tramadol etc

You're going to feel as if you have the flu so treat it in the same way.  You'll have some aches and pains so get some plain paracetamol and ibuprofen to take as needed. Get some travel sickness tablets to combat nausea, but only take them if your nauseated (if you take too many they'll make you twitch!). Get some imodium for diarrhoea too.

Various natural remedies will help you through this. All list members have their favourites but I would recommend:

1) A good multivitamin supplement
2) A Vitamin B Strong supplement
3) 5HPT to help with the withdrawals and to calm you down.
4) Valerian tincture to help you sleep.

You can get all the above from any good healthfood store or online. They're safe, natural, non habit-forming and you don't need a prescription.

Take at least one hot bath or shower every day, AND whenever you get the sweats.

Lay in a supply of your favourite DVD's. They are a good mental distraction and will help you if you're awake through the night. Lying down and listening to your favourite music can help too.

Try to go out for a short walk in the fresh air at least once a day. You won't feel like it to begin with but force yourself and you'll feel the benefit.

If you live with anyone else, carefully explain what's happening and why you want to do this because you'll need their support.  A friend on the end of the telephone is good too.

If there's anyone you definitely don't want to know what's going on, tell them you have the flu. The symptoms are similar and it lasts about the same length of time so they probably won't know any different.

I'm sure other member of the forum will chip in with other suggestions.

If things get really bad just get back on line. There's always someone online 24hrs a day, and well all do our best to help you in any way we can. If you just want to sound off, tell us how miserable you are, shout and swear- that's fine too. We're big boys and girls and we can handle it. You won't be saying anything we haven't heard many times before.

You're doing the right thing and you CAN do this. The discomfort comes to an end soon enough and then you can have your life back.

Keep in touch regularly to let us all know how you're doing.

Take care

[LeaAnn807]

Hey, I have been meaning to ask you and keep forgetting.  I hate to hijack this post, but it may help here too.  Is there a difference in Valerian Tincture and just Valerian Root capsules?  I tried the caps, and other than a headache, I couldn't tell it helped!

[pattifan]

Yes there is a real difference. Medical herbalists extract the valerian root as a concentrate in alcohol.

You've got a much better idea of what you're getting as some of the cheap brand producers really don't care how much valerian is in their product or what kind of quality it is.

Generally the tincture is a lot more potent, and it doesn't contain the impurities and additives that probably caused your headache!

There's a load of other herbs that are really great for sleep and anxiety too.  If I want some myself I usually ask the medical herbalist to make up a blend for me. The blend would contain valerian, hops, passiflora, skulcap, wild lettuce, wild oats and depending on my mood St Johns Wort too.  Trouble is that describing the action of all the herbs and how to combine them and avoid interactions, would turn my already long posts into 'War and Peace'!

By the way, the alcohol in the tincture isn't a problem as you only use a couple of ml diluted in a glass of water

[mlwal]

hey thanks i appreciate the help...so how do you know when your are almost done withrdaws?  Any sign so i can be hopinbg for something please?

I really dont know when i started my symptoms because i have felt sick for a few days and when i realized what the hell i was doing and would not have enough pill to last to my visit i cut them back and i think that was on friday or maybe thursday i really hope it was thursday.....

i do live with my 16 year old daughter and i dont really want to tell her does anyone have any thought on that subject?  She is at the beach with her friend until tuesday...which now i realize is tomorrow.....and still no sleep

appreciate any help and all the answers you all have started to give me

[LeaAnn807]

Hmmm......ok!  There are common symptoms for WD.  I'm sure you have read them!  Diarrhea, yawning, sneezing, sweating, chills, head and body aches, flu like symptoms, insomnia, weakness, low energy...etc..etc..etc!  When they start to let up, you are coming out of it!  After your last pill, then it is 3 or 4 days.  As far as telling your daughter, that is up to you completely.  You could just tell her you aren't feeling well.  I'm not sure how your relationship is?  

You will feel better in a few days! : )

[jstntime]

Hey again,

STAY BUSY!!!!  The best thing you can do now is to distract yourself.  Keep your mind off of things to stop the clock watching.  It WILL get better, trust us on that one.

Watch some funny movies, build a jigsaw puzzle, go to the mall, do SOMETHING to stay busy.  The symptoms WILL begin to ease.  

As for the daughter, that is YOUR call.  Do lots of reading in these posts and older ones to see what others did and how it all worked out for them.  There is a wealth of information in those posts.

Pulling for you to get through this, I know you CAN!!!!!

bob

[mlwal]

thanks for the encourgement...still hanging in there but no sleep and i catch myself watching the clock...i have been laying on the couch since yesterday and watching tv but now i am really starting to get board

[jstntime]

Hi again,

Getting bored is your enemy right now.  I understand how tough it is to do ANYTHING but you need to force yourself to get out.  Go for a walk or bikeride or drive.  Go hang out with a friend.  Try and find something that will make you laugh.

You can do this!!!!  Very happy to see you still hanging in there!!!!

bob

[mlwal]

thanks i am still hanging in there i did go to my brother and sister-in-laws house for dinner but really cound not eat much spent about an hour up there they live at the end or our lane so i could walk i was scared to drive i had really not slept more that 4 hours in i think 3 days and that was after i went to a concert and was drunk and did not realize what was going on......i do feel a little better i finally got a little sleep but it was with some help from valium i normally dont take them but i could not take the lack of sleep and my doctor and i have been struggling with that for about 15 years so i guess that i the next thing but i can only do one at a time.....but after talking to my brother and sister-in-law i am really determined to kick the habit and i think that i am going to do it for all the meds that i have been taking for years......switch sleeping pill every 6 months or so cause that dont work and i have had them all ambian, luneta, tradazone and others and then we swith between valium, ataivan and xannax for the anxiaty...but them i find myself not taking them througn the day i take them at bedtime to sleep and kind of alternate between the sleeping pills and the others or even sometime both....but i guess one at time is going to work better for me.....i dont think that i am going to tell my dauhter becaues i dont think that she will understand or forgive me.....i think that we fight alot becasue of me and the addiction to the pills so i think that i can hide the withdraw with the flu sumptoms for a couple more days and she will not be home until tomorrow...i took a valium about 4 pm this afternoon and i just took another one so i am hoping to get another 4 or 5 hours of sleep now so i will not be so wired when she gets home.....

thanks to everyone for the advice i really appreciate it

[jstntime]

I hope things are still working out for you.  I too had a hard time eating during detox.  I really had to force myself.  It's tough not having any energy because of detox but it's much tougher if you don't eat.

May your suffering end soon.
Let us know how it's going!!!!

bob

[mlwal]

Thanks so much....I am GREAT i have not had a pill since last saturday and i fell the best that I have in 10 years.....I quit almost everything....percocets GONE!!!!!!! ativan 4 times a day...GONE!!!!!!!  all sleeping pills...GONE.....talked to the doctor he did not want me to detox like that so i just lied to him and told him that i would just cut back he gave me another 100.....i filled the percsription then brought them home and flushed them ALL, he did put me on valium 10 for sleep and i told him that i would do that for 1 month and then they are done weather he wants me to or not.....i have struggled with sleep for over 15 years and have been taking meds for that long so i think that may be a little harder but so far so good only taking 1 valium at night and no more

I have the most energy that I have had in 10 years i am so happy.....my college classes start on monday and i have a new look on life....

I just want to thank everyone on here for the support and i will keep getting back on to stay in touch but I dont even want another percocet ever again in my entire life

[jstntime]

Wow,

What a cool Friday night feel gooder story!!!!  Your update is great news.  Many struggle with lack of energy, the fact yours has returned is amazing.

....and a flusher too????  That was a wise move to get rid of them before they started talking to you.  

Really really happy to see you succeeding and having a plan,
Keep keeping!!!!!

bob

[Storme]

So glad you are feeling better but I would probably flush the Valium as well. Have you looked into Valerian Tincture for sleep or SleepMD which are both natural and non habit forming? You can get both at WalMart or any health food store. You have kicked everything else and the Valium is just another opiate you know. Your progress is amazing and you should be so proud of yourself! Sleep will return to you as more and more you get your life back! Hang in there!

[offitall]

Kids are smart...she might know already. Has she ever seen you take them. If so, you might want to tell her (if she is at the point in her life where you think she will understand) - it is a lesson ALL kids today should learn. just a thought....?

[offitall]

And...I didnt read the rest of the posts (they were hidden). Way to go! Awesome! You are very strong and it is a beautiful life living it unaltered! Very happy for you!!!

[mlwal]

Still going stong and I did talk to my daughter and told her the truth and she did say that she knew but is proud of me.....As far as the valium that is next. The the smoking I think that will be the hardest.  I dont want to take anymore pills not even natural but I do take fish oil but working on that as we speak...

My only long term problem is I still get the shakes like in my hands and I was wondering that will ever go away, sometimes people notice it but only close friends that know me does anyone have any suggestions on that.

Thanks

[jstntime]

Really happy for you,

Thanks for the great update.  As for the shakes, I started getting them directly upon awakening for an hour or so.  It lasted a month or 2 for me.

Do you get them all the time???  I hink you can chalk it up to detox but you should get it checked out if it continues for a while.

Having your daughter's support is going to help you and I commend you for making what must have been a difficult conversation.

Crazy happy for you!!!!!  Keep keeping!!!!!

bob

[mlwal]

Thanks so much for the support and yes actually both of my daughters (22 at college) and (16 senior highschool) have been told.  They both told me that they knew and were glad that I had stopped.  They both also understood that the doctor was giving them to me the older one was more supportive and still is she is a division 1 college athlete on scholarship and she keeps telling me that I need to exercise, here major is health and PE.  The younger one is pretty good and we have been without a major blowup fight for close to 10 days which is a record so I think that it has helped us both.  I have started my college classes again and I am taking a yoga class and today was my first one so I hope that helps me get into the routine of exercise.  However as far as the shakes I have them more toward the end of the evening, probably starting about 8 or 9 pm as well as in the mornings but not as bad.  I am a little worried that it is from stopping the ataivan 4 times a day.  When I take the valium for sleep i usually take it about 1 hour before bed and then the shakes stop so just not sure.  I know it has only been almosst 2 weeks but all the other symptoms went away so I guess I just want this one to go as well.  I do go back to the doctor on the 17th of Sept, so if they have not stopped by then I will talk to him about it.

But on a good note I feel great and am sleeping about 6 hours a night but still with the valium so I guess that one will be next.  Thanks again for your support.

[Dknd4v]

the shakes can be from the ativan benzos arevery dangerous to stop on your own on high doses or lengthy use. So just be careful. I am very proud of you tho. Pills are by far i feel the hardest to stay off of and away from because of their ease of acess and legalness (if thats a word lol) to have an obtain them. One again keep up the good work.

[jstntime]

Hi again,

As Dknd pointed out, stopping benzos ct can be dangerous.  You should really talk to your doctor about doing this safely.  They should be tapered slowly to do this safely.

You have come so far and I am so happy for you.  It must be a huge relief to have your daughters know about your problem.  

You are doing all the right things but please be safe with the benzos!!!!

Keep keeping!!!

bob