Questions about Oxycontin detox

[mah20]

My husband is now on day 20 of his Oxycontin detox... He went through all the normal aches and vomiting all on the first week. He usually took 80 mg or so a day for the past year and a half.. He quit for a year before that and has taken then for around 3 to 4 years the first go round.. After three weeks of this detox he still aches and hurts muscle wise and it's hard for him to work his normal work hours.. I was wondering if you have any advice on how to make this better or what we can do to ease the hurt so much... Thanks..

[Julia M Aharonov, DO]

It is hard to stop cold turkey, but it seems that your husband is doing it.  Please don't let him give up, it is only going to get better and better from now on. It usually takes four to six weeks to go through the hard part of Oxycontin withdrawals, so he is more then half way there, and the hardest part is definitely behind him!  See if his doctor can write you a prescription for some Requip for restlessness, some Flexeril or Soma for a few weeks for muscle spasms and maybe some Seroquel low dose for sleep. It will make withdrawals easier.   Valerian and Magnesium is sometimes helpful remedies over the counter.
The severe symptoms should be better in a few weeks with oxy, but the residual insomnia, weakness and depression can last for months.
Make sure those are addressed and discussed with his physician so that he does not fail long term. Please take some time to look at my blogs (by clicking on my name and then blogs)to get more information. My website (www.mdsdrugdetox.com)  also has lots of information.
He obviously has a lot to live for and hopefully (having you for a wife) he knows what is important in life.  Eventually he will feel like his old self again but much better, because he will have regained the trust and respect of his family. And that is priceless...Good luck to you and your husband.

[done33]

Well...you have to think about why he was taking it in the first place. Ihave chronic pain, arthritis, trauma induced degenerative disc, and fibromylgia so I believe that even after day 20 I will still be in pain. I am only on day 2 of cold turkey...so I hope I make it to day 20...so far so good. Congrats to your husband!

[stoppero]

Im sure with the many years experience doing this you have heard it all.  I commend you for taking on such a difficult problem in our society.

I Have Interstitial Cystitis.  This horrible disease has altered the life that I have had. Not always easy to live with this dibitating disease.  Some days you are ok and poof your down for the count.  For those that don't know what it is Google it.

I am 49 and counting...(try to add humor) and first knew something was wrong when i was a junior in middle school. I just suffered when I had a flare. So it continued until I was in my early twenties and started the Doctor jumping routine to determine what was wrong with me..no one could help me or find out what it was.  Joan London on Good Morning America had mentioned my disease.  I read about it and knew instantly it was me.  But it took years before someone really listened.  I started on different drugs and the pain continued to haunt me to the point I couldn't work. No one knew this disease, they don't get the amount of pain we all are in.  Doctors didn't believe me, even my family thought for a while I was just drug seeking.

By luck in 1993  I found a doctor that was brave enough to treat IC patients in Memphis.  When I went to him I was shocked that finally a Doctor validated the amount of pain I was in. And didn't treat me like a drug seeking person like I had been.  He got it.  And hated to hear what my family was saying so much so he flew here to tell them I was not a drug seeker.  Finally I had an Ally. Someone understood.  I cried when he held my hand and said it's going to be ok. Back then he had started a pilot program with a new drug put out by Purdue to help control pain.  My concern was always the addiction factor and this new drug didn't have it (or so we were told) it was Oxycontin.  I started this drug and slowly titrated to an amount that got me pain free for the most part.   I was the first person in the state of michigan to take this drug for my disease years before it came to the public.  I was thrilled, back to work living enjoying life able to control my own pain with breakthrough medication and Oxycontin.

Last year when Purdue and with the approval of the FDA changed the formula I felt my life turn upside down, this drug no longer helped like it used to.  I heard from my treating doctor that others have felt the same way. But I stayed with it hoping that somehow it would change.  Over the last few months Ive developed stomach issues which we feel could be from the Polymer coating not sure.  My doctor wants me off it and to go on MS Contin as another pain control medicine, or he said I can start treatment with Suboxone at a detox center.  My concern or frustration is the stigma of a drug detox center.  I didn't abuse my drug once in all the years I have been on them not once. and it scares me what people may say. I am a successful business woman who wants to not have her family and friends treat her like she is an addict.
I understand that many truly have a alcohol or cocaine or pain medication addiction.  My issue is how do i get off Oxycontin and continue with pain management.   The whole thing scares me.  

My doctor will support me in anyway he can,  I just don't want to jump into another drug that is just as addictive or am i unrealistic, every drug has a dependence factor. Of  recent time I have been seeing a Holistic doctor...you know the whole eat better and take vitamin approach. lol.  Getting my hormones adjusted (heck who knew hormones could make you feel better) getting thyroid under control....So now I noticed that Im not taking Oxycontin like I did in the past.  Attribute that to changing the whole way I lived and the vitamins like I said.  So.... is it possible to go  off Oxycontin slowly? Is there drugs available that can control pain as needed without all the stigma side effects etc.   It's hard to know what to do.  I just want to continue feeling better and getting rid of this new formula that Purdue calls Oxycontin. It's awful. Have you ever seen what happens to it when it gets wet?  scary drug.  not sure how that got approved, but that is another story for another day.  Like to hear what you or others have to say.  PLEASE Im not trying to offend anyone.  So be supportive of my questions as I would be of you.

Thanks for your time.  And bless you for your support.

Autumn