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why do opiate withdrawal symptoms vary so much?
by franco1470, May 12, 2008 10:24PM
I saw my doctor last week and we are working on a new taper plan. But I had hoped to do this cold turkey as my dose is low (oxycontin 20mg x 2). I stocked up on supplies and spent weeks lurking here picking up information. For my c/t I was prepared for 7-10 days of being miserable. But the only symptom I had was a horrible ache in my lower back. It felt like someone had jabbed an ice pick in my lumbar region and kept pushing it in deeper. I never got to upset stomach, diarrhea, sweats, shakes or RLS (all of thats what I was prepared for).
I have been reading the posts of people who were taking huge amounts of opiates and many have made it thru c/t.
The other weird thing is that after I gave up on c/t and went back to my regular doses I still had a lot more pain than normal. After my c/t attempt it took almost 3 weeks to get back to my normal pain levels.
Last week I explained all of this to my doctor. He is going to help me with a taper plan and we changed my medication slightly. Instead of oxycontin 20mg I now have 15 mg oxycodone that are not time released. I split these
tiny pills in half because 15mg is too much. My doctor told me that many times when a patient changes from oxycontin or MS contin to a similar med thats not time released the doses are increased at first. So now I am taking
half a pill 6 or 7 times daily. Not so sure this is an improvement. But like my doctor said, don't be so impatient, I've been in pain for 10 years and on oxycontin for 7 years, so don't expect to quit in a couple of weeks.
I learned a couple of techniques when weaning down from 120mg/day to 40/day. I keep a daily written record of everything I've taken, time and dosage. One technique I learned I call my 15 minute rule. When craving a pill I will check my watch and note the time. I tell myself that if in 15 minutes I am hurting just as bad I'll take it then. When I get the next craving I check my watch and tell myself 15 more minutes. Sometimes hours will pass this way and I've managed to skip or delay my dose. My other technique when tapering down is to sometimes take the lower dose
every other day at first. After a week of taking less every other day its easier to stay at the lower level.
This is kind of a long post but I appreciate all of the help that everybody on the forum has given. I've learned a lot just
from reading and following other people's experiences
I have been reading the posts of people who were taking huge amounts of opiates and many have made it thru c/t.
The other weird thing is that after I gave up on c/t and went back to my regular doses I still had a lot more pain than normal. After my c/t attempt it took almost 3 weeks to get back to my normal pain levels.
Last week I explained all of this to my doctor. He is going to help me with a taper plan and we changed my medication slightly. Instead of oxycontin 20mg I now have 15 mg oxycodone that are not time released. I split these
tiny pills in half because 15mg is too much. My doctor told me that many times when a patient changes from oxycontin or MS contin to a similar med thats not time released the doses are increased at first. So now I am taking
half a pill 6 or 7 times daily. Not so sure this is an improvement. But like my doctor said, don't be so impatient, I've been in pain for 10 years and on oxycontin for 7 years, so don't expect to quit in a couple of weeks.
I learned a couple of techniques when weaning down from 120mg/day to 40/day. I keep a daily written record of everything I've taken, time and dosage. One technique I learned I call my 15 minute rule. When craving a pill I will check my watch and note the time. I tell myself that if in 15 minutes I am hurting just as bad I'll take it then. When I get the next craving I check my watch and tell myself 15 more minutes. Sometimes hours will pass this way and I've managed to skip or delay my dose. My other technique when tapering down is to sometimes take the lower dose
every other day at first. After a week of taking less every other day its easier to stay at the lower level.
This is kind of a long post but I appreciate all of the help that everybody on the forum has given. I've learned a lot just
from reading and following other people's experiences
Post Comment
i also like the thought of watching your watch, and the 15 min rule..It may help some...I know for me, if they were there, i was taking them....
Also the mind plays a very big part in this....
r2r
back to usual level.
I've used my pain meds responsibly, have never run out before months over or gone drug-seeking. I am lucky I guess that opiates aren't my DOC, if I had a prescription for barbiturates I could get in all kinds of trouble. And I loved weed from the first taste and smoked for years. I respect and fear the pain meds and there are times when I can barely walk without them so I've learned to try to cut back on the days when you feel better so that the medicine still works for you when are hurting badly.
I c/t off of them 3 yrs ago and it was worst then opiates....