oxy withdrawal vs hydro

[noobfarm]

Hello, I am new to these forums and have been without Oxy (time release) for 4 days.  I had some 5mg hydro to taper with but I have had many surgeries in my past and 5mg is a joke so it didn't really help.  I am on my 24th hour of nothing and with the help of clonidine I really don't feel all that bad.  2 years ago I was taking 10mg hydro, 30 a day, for maybe 6 mos and checked myself into a detox center.  5 days and when I came out I was really ok.  Leg shaking and back sweating was still there.  But what I don't understand is people talking about withdrawals lasting for months?  I have never experienced withdrawals for that long.  This last go round was for about 5 mos but 2 of those last 5 I have been taking nothing but oxy.  2 40mg every day.  Supposed to be every 12 hours but I found they wore off around 9 - 10 hours.  I am 34 and up until this last go round I was without pain meds for 2 years and lived a great life.  I am looking forward to getting that life back.   I have a problem with kidney stones that will occasionally put me back on the meds but I have been to the emergency room so many times,,,2mg of delatuded (sp?) doesn't cut it.  The time release oxy never gave me any kind of euphoria like hydro and I suppose thats because I have built quite an immunity for most of these drugs.  Seems to me, the longer you stay in that "high" the worse your withdrawals will be.  Where as me, I never really got high off the oxy.  Stayed pretty close to the 1 every 12 hours.  I had some surgery back when I was 23 or so and stayed high on hydro10/650 for a month or so.  I had never taken them before so 1 would put me on my butt.  I detoxed at home by myself and was fine in 5 days.  Not 100% but enough to smile that I was living without planning around pills.  I have taken some time off work for this stint and really wonder how people are experiencing WD for so many months after?  thanks!

[noobfarm]

Thanks for the answer doc.  I have to imagine the man above is watching me then.  I am on day 6 and feel about 95% which is great.  Still unable to sleep but there is very little ache anywhere in my body at this point.  I feel great and the only thing I can figure is its because I was taking the meds as prescribed.  After 3 surgeries and maybe 10 trips to the ER, my kidneys are free and clear of any stones so I am not having to deal with pain like many others here.  I consider myself blessed I reckon.  Thanks and Godspeed to you all!

[J T Junig, MD PhD]

The general rule is that long half-life opiates have longer, less intense withdrawal, and shorter half-life opiates have shorter, more intense withdrawal.  You mentioned you are at 24 hours-- very early for any opiate withdrawal, as even the shortest-acting substances will have w/d lasting a good 4-7 days-- followed by a month or more of 'post-acute withdrawal'.  That latter period is part neurochemistry and part addiction;  there are direct mood effects from the sudden lack of opiate stimulation, but also effects on mind and mood from not having something to reach for, from the shame of what has been going on; from the loneliness from being isolated by what has been going on...

I think many would consider you to be lucky!