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Oxymorphone?? Just switched to this med....

Was on Tramadol for the past 7 months, up to 400mg a day for severe neck/back injury/pain due to a car accident 8 months ago. My pain management doc gave me this Oxymorphone 5mg. up to 3 times daily yesterday. Doc said try this, but if that doesn't work, its epidural cervical injections and possible surgery. I'm worried about addiction now, w/ all these pills they throw at me. I feel like I might be prone to it, cause I'm suffering horrible panic attacks and ptsd from the accident and my marriage is going in a downward spiral. I just want to feel numb, I don't just want to be pain free.....I don't want to feel most days. I'm young and athletic and I'm so upset and depressed about my injuries. Hoping someone wants to chat who's been there.

Thanks
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1331804 tn?1336867358
Thank you for the compliment on my response.  It means a lot coming from an MD!  I did not know how many half life cycles are required for a medication to be considered nil in one's system.  Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us!

femmy  :)
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Avatar universal
your answer was excellent and very well informed.
as to how long a med is in your system the rule is 3-4 half lifes must pass to reach a level of nil. valium for instance is 87 hours, so it can up to a couple weeks from the time of steady state to nil from time of DC of Rx.
JKDMD
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1331804 tn?1336867358
That sounds like a great plan.  I think the oxymorphone will help you sleep a lot better and I am so glad that you are able to do the PT without pain now as I think that will help too.  

For a few months, I had a weird phenomenon if I took more than 1 mg of valium at bedtime with the morphine.  My circulation would really slow down and my hands would go numb.  Here recently that hasn't happened.  But I am certain it had to do with the additive effect of the morphine with the valium.  I take the valium at night with the morphine because without it I wake up stiff (not as stiff when the epidural injection is working but when it wears off it is pretty bad).  Found out muscle stiffness is a side effect of the morphine.

The Percocet causes a brief period of euphoria where I feel super happy.  It only lasts for about 30 mins but I try to not focus on it as I know as my tolerance builds that side effect will diminish.  The pain relief will still be there for awhile but the euphoric effects are short lived.  This is how addicts get in trouble.  They take more and more seeking the same effect but over time it completely disappears and they are left with taking the drug to just feel normal.  So it is a double edged sword.  Doesn't last forever.  

femmy
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Avatar universal
**correction,I was just reading my second reply post: "Looking forward to the next one and I can sleep again!"  That looks horrible, I meant, looking forward to my next PT session AND I can sleep again(cause I'm pain free in the neck).

Sorry, just bothered me when I read it. :)

@Femmy, not going off Klonopin.  As far as the Oxymorphone, I don't feel like I need it 3x daily. Twice at the most, I spaced it out today...hoping not to have another night like last night.

Peace
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1331804 tn?1336867358
The last part of your post kinda confused me.  I don't know how long Tramadol stays in your system after 6 to 7 months of use.  Tramadol doesn't have a very long half life so I would think the last dose you took is out of your system by now.  As when I was taking Tramadol, at night I would take a dose before bedtime and if I slept 9 hours, I would wake up in the morning with symptoms resembling the beginning stages of withdrawal.  

I had no withdrawal symtoms from Tramadol when switched to Morphine as the medicine masked whatever withdrawal symptoms were there.  When I first started Morphine I had really bad heartburn.  You could check the prescription leaflet for the Oxymorphone to see if anything you experienced last night is in there.  

Before switching to Morphine, I had 1/2 of my daily dose of Tramadol (200 mgs) switched out and replaced with Vicodin.  I did experience Tramadol withdrawal with this change and it lasted for a good month (chills, body aches, and restless legs).  My doctor gave me Ativan to help with the withdrawal.  I was on Tramadol for 4 years and stopped taking it completely in April of this year.

I think that probably the oxymorphone left your system in the middle of the night as you only took one earlier in the day and they last 8-12 hours.  However, for most folks 8 hours is the longest effectiveness experienced.  So it is very likely that you have some withdrawal from Tramadol.  The dry heaving part is what is confusing to me.  Diarrhea is usually a withdrawal symptom but you were nauseated (could be from the oxymorphone???, maybe consider visiting drugs.com to view a complete list of the side effects).  Maybe others here can comment on that part.

Be very careful of how you taper the Klonopin.  The withdrawal symptoms can cause seizures and be life threatening.  And also be extra careful with mixing the klonopin and oxymorphone as they are both CNS depressants and their effects are additive.  Your best bet is to stagger the klonopin around the oxymorphone but not take both together until you build up a safe tolerance.  I was afraid to take Valium with the Morphine and went 3 days without taking any Valium and I got severe out of the blue panic attacks and I felt like I was going to die on several occassions when driving home from work.  The half-life of Klonopin is comparable to Valium (48 to 58 hours) so you won't feel the withdrawals right away.  I take 3 mg of Valium a day.  I tapered from 5 mg prior to starting Morphine.

I am glad you are experiencing a lot less pain.  I admit I am concerned that you feel like you want to be numb mentally as well as physically and that the medication numbs you mentally.  As long as you don't escalate the dose, I don't think you will have any problems with addiction but don't let the euphoric effects of the drug control your intake as that can lead to trouble.  Focus on taking it just for pain relief and consider the euphoria a secondary side effect.

femmy
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Avatar universal
Thanks for the concern. Yes, I believe I am. That is why I posted it on the addiction board also, but MedHelp took it off there. I guess I understand why. But just looking for answers and we all know(at least for me, the Drs. haven't been there and they can't always relate) The Oxymorphone has been fantastic!! I've been in pain for 8 months! Tramadol only seemed to help a little, honestly...I didn't speak up enough. I was afraid of other meds...meds in general. I've been fit,healthy all natural and the meds and different docs since the car accident has been more than I can take.
The last two nights, I have been waking up sweating and last night was the worst, I woke up at like 3am and had terrible stomach pains and was dry heaving. I got myself in the shower and just sat in there for 1/2 hr. I got out had a huge glass of water and took one of the Oxymorphone, I felt better within 15 min. I think I made a big mistake , the Oxy was working so well, that I only needed one yesterday, stop taking my Zanaflex 4mg nightly muscle relaxer(didn't seem to need it) I usually take my Klonopin 3x daily 1mg. and I have only been taking two at the most. The Oxy is just working  that good for me. So even know my Pain Management Dr. failed to say this to me or maybe I'm wrong....6-7 months of Tramadol in your system...how long after stopping does it stay in your system?? I know nothing about any of this? I'm confused. He didn't say I would feel this way.
Hope my post made sense?
Thanks & Peace
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Avatar universal
Hi, I just wanted to know if you were feeling any ill effects from stopping the tramadol.  I saw your post on another thread where the OP was detoxing from tramadol and you expressed some concern.  Is everything OK?

Well wishes...

Sandy :)
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Avatar universal
I thought it was a big hop too. My Dr. was looking for something strong that also wouldn't make me nauseous. I have a big problem w/ that and I've already lost 12 pounds since my accident. The Oxymorphone does works though. I've had a great PT session on it. Looking forward to the next one and I can sleep again! I'm just hoping I can use long enough for PT to really start working and then wean off it. I understand that is not always the case and that is a huge concern for me. I started cognitive therapy today and I'm not thrilled. I'm thinking about calling around and trying a different therapist. I don't know how people just pick one out off a list?? I'm emotional,sensitive and this stuff I feel is personal....so, I wanna find someone who clicks w/ me. Thank you for the advice.

Peace
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Avatar universal
HI well your doctor switched you to a STRONG pain med opana it should take care of your pain but it is also higly addictive you need to get into consoling for the ptsd and just overall what your feeling or your will soon be abusing your pills to block the pain both physical and emotional you need to talk this out im so sorry adbout your accedent but they happen you will fully recover if you take the proper steps it just blows me away he would take you from tram to opana there are lots of steps in between there also I dont know how long you where on the tram but it has an antidepressant in it similar to effecsor so you may feel a crach comieg off that keep posting for support we will try to walk you threw this good luck and God bless......Gnarly  
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