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My tolerance is higher than everyone else's. What do I do?
I am so scared after searching this forum and the internet that I am really in trouble. I have had a fractured back at L5 for 17 years and nobody in Chicago said they could help me. I finally went to the Mayo Clinic and four weeks ago had a surgery and I am pain free. There is no place like the Mayo Clinic. I owe my life to that place. Now it's time for me to get off of Oxycodone and Opana and I realize that I can't find anyone on the internet at the dosage that I am currently taking. I am so scared and worried that I may have ruined the receptors in my brain. There are going to be many that aren't going to be believe the dosage I'm on. I'm currently taking 12 30mg Oxycodone IR pills at once and I do this every four hours. I also plug 60 mg of Opana (Oxymorphone). My family doesn't even think I'm on meds anymore because it appears as if I'm not on anything until I try going off. I am seriously petrified and am not exaggerating the dosage I'm taking. I take about 1000 30 mg Roxicodone a month with 240 Opana IR & 240 Opana ER 40 mg. Oxymorphone. If I want to feel a buzz of any kind I would have to take around 20 30mg Oxycodone pills. Opana is what caused my tolerance to go up like this. I used to think two 30 mg Oxycodone pills was enough. Please be warned for those taking Opana (Oxymorphone) your tolerance will skyrocket - especially if you are plugging or snorting the medication. I'm no longer in pain and refuse to continue taking the meds now. Now I need to find a way off and I'm not ever going to take Suboxone again. That is suicidal. For those of you thinking of going on Suboxone know that is about 1 year of withdrawals. Horrible drug. Thanks for all your comments- We're all in this together.
Best Answer
I know this is a very old post but I would love to know how everything when. I'm surprised no one followed up after the last post. How long did your withdrawals last?
Hi Everyone,
Just popping in with a reminder that we do not allow any tapering posts here on MedHelp. As a few people have stated, it is just impossible to know someone's entire medical history or if they have any other issues that may complicate or be complicated by tapering. We always encourage seeking medical advice while trying to wean off any medication or drug.
Thanks!
Steph
Just popping in with a reminder that we do not allow any tapering posts here on MedHelp. As a few people have stated, it is just impossible to know someone's entire medical history or if they have any other issues that may complicate or be complicated by tapering. We always encourage seeking medical advice while trying to wean off any medication or drug.
Thanks!
Steph
Here's what I think: Brian, you need to do this with a doctor and not with strangers on an addiction forum. I said before that I wouldn't even begin to make suggestions to you relative to those unbelievable doses. It's just too dangerous.
You need to be in a hospital to get this done! What happened with all these meds when you were at the Mayo? That's what I'd like to know...I can't believe a hospital staff nurse would feel comfortable handing all of that over to you on a daily basis.
Good luck!
You need to be in a hospital to get this done! What happened with all these meds when you were at the Mayo? That's what I'd like to know...I can't believe a hospital staff nurse would feel comfortable handing all of that over to you on a daily basis.
Good luck!
Thank you so much. I too used to be on high dosages of Fentanyl and Oxycodone years ago. Fentanyl was very hard for me to get off of. I've never weaned myself off of meds. I've always done it cold turkey because of how hard I find it to stick to a program when I'm in pain. Since the operation, my pain is gone. The Mayo Clinic is the most wonderful place I have ever been to. Every Doctor I've seen for 17 years has told me that my only solution is pain medication. I should be celebrating that the horrendous pain I woke up to and lived with every day since I was in high school is gone but I now have this dependency to get through. Maybe you're right. Just take a little less everyday and not put a time frame on it. Thank you for the great advice. I took another 5 Oxycodone and am no longer drenched in sweat but feel terrible anxiety. Hopefully I can sleep better than last night. Thanks for your kindness and support. I can not express how meaningful this is to me and probably saved my life. Thank you so much.
Brian, because of your dosage, I think maybe you just stay in the day and not worry too much about how long this will take. I am a chronic pain patient on a lot of different drugs, including Fentanyl. Though nowhere near your dosages, I was at a very high dose of oxycodone along with the Fentanyl, plus other medications. I went into withdrawal and it was very extreme, and I also felt even the air would hurt. I think seeing a specialist is a very wise move. You didn't get to this dosages overnight and it's going to take time. Who knows how long. It doesn't matter how long it takes. What matters is you do it safely. I understand you're anxious to get off everything, but just take it very slow for now. Maybe when you get to the lower dosages and down to just one medication you can think about tapering more quickly or going CT, depending on how you're health is and what your doctor thinks.
It's very hard to be patient when tapering. I finally finished my taper but it took a very long time for me. Please don't try to figure this out on your own.
It's very hard to be patient when tapering. I finally finished my taper but it took a very long time for me. Please don't try to figure this out on your own.
Thank you. I felt like every nerve in my body was exposed today. The air running across my skin actually hurt. I made a call today for a specialist and took your advice. I was suicidal today. I'm dripping in sweat. It seems that you all have much more knowledge than the doctors I've dealt with. What kind of time period do you think is reasonable to wean myself down? I have as much time as I need. I know this is going to be uncomfortable and I am going to go to a specialist next Monday but am interested in your opinion if you were in my shoes. I think Opana should be the first drug to go because Opana is what caused my tolerance to skyrocket like this. I remember reading a warning from someone on the Internet about your tolerance skyrocketing and I should have taken it seriously. I haven't taken Opana ER or IR in about 32 hours now. Should I wean with it or just try and cut it out and use Oxycodone to wean. Thank you everyone. If there is help I can give to any of you, I feel so indebted to you all already.
Brian, I have to agree this is not a safe or proper taper. Please call your doctor or go to the ER or find a doctor who can bring you off this safely.
Brian, Don't forget to hang out in a hot tub to help ease things for now. Also, I am not a fan of benz's as I overdid them in my detox and got further addicted, but in your case I would take your Doc's offer up on it for the first 4 days . If you are not getting any relief soon, an inpatient detox is your best bet. This isn't a weakness, it's a medical necessity. Warm hugs and much strength to you.
Brian, I hope you're doing okay. Reading through everyone's posts here, I think you're getting some very good advice. I hope you're absolutely crystal clear with your doctor on the dosage you've been taking. When I called my doctor to get a tapering schedule, he didn't even BOTHER asking me how much I was taking. It's unfortunate, but many of the doctors don't truly care. You should bug your doctor again and make sure you're tapering properly. It's not a race; YOU probably can't taper in a week or two - sounds like you may need longer. I commend you on your dedication and commitment to kicking the addiction. You must stay strong. The depression and anxiety will subside each day. You WILL be healed in due time as long as you're serious about this and do it properly. I wish you nothing but luck!
Also, did the doc do any bloodwork, liver function tests, anything? I think you need a THOROUGH medical work up...and a doctor who specializes in addiction IN a hospital setting.
Praying for you.
Praying for you.
NO WONDER you feel like you're dying! You went from at LEAST 1440mg Oxy PLUS 60mg Opana a day to 360mg of Oxy a day? That's not tapering! That IS basically cold turkey! Does this doc specialize in addiction, or is this doc the one who was prescribing these UNHEARD of amounts or narcs in the first place?
I'm sorry, but IMO, it's WAY too much, too fast. Normally, CT is not a big deal, medically, but with the amount you're taking, all bets are off. I really think this needs to be done in a controlled environment. Your BP is probably through the roof. The clonidine will help a LITTLE, but with the amount you were taking, there really are health risks here.
I don't know...but I really think you should consider doing this in a hospital setting...because this isn't a taper...not to drop that much that fast.
VERY best to you, I feel for you!!
I'm sorry, but IMO, it's WAY too much, too fast. Normally, CT is not a big deal, medically, but with the amount you're taking, all bets are off. I really think this needs to be done in a controlled environment. Your BP is probably through the roof. The clonidine will help a LITTLE, but with the amount you were taking, there really are health risks here.
I don't know...but I really think you should consider doing this in a hospital setting...because this isn't a taper...not to drop that much that fast.
VERY best to you, I feel for you!!
I feel like I'm dying. I've done this before but this time is so much worse. I have my plan, I'm on the clonidine patch, my doctor has cut out everything except Oxycodone, down to 60 mg every four hours. This feels like cold turkey to me. He offered me Valium but I declined. The depression is so bad and the nightmares are horrific. I woke up last night crying like a little boy would. Every nerve in my body is on fire. What do I do? Please help me...
I hope you and the doctor formed a plan today. You seem to be getting all your other affairs in order, that's great. I am a huge advocate of forming a plan and getting affairs in order before the taper. Less decisions and responsibility, less anxiety and pressure. I think you've got what it takes. Let us know how the doctor appointment went.
Not that it matters but why did you join Med Help 5 years ago and not post until last week? Again the important thing is you are here now. Good luck Tue @ the Doc.
Hi. I'm doing better now. Thank you, everyone. I just got back from my family party. The ironic part of all of this is everyone tells me how great I look and sound and how different I am since the surgery. I'm taking 150 mg of Oxycodone every 3 hours and it seems to keep the withdrawals just enough at bay. I'm seeing my doctor at 3:45 on Tuesday and have three different charts of withdrawal plans. One of them is to just use Opana ER and begin with 80 mg and work down from there until I get to 5. I also have an appointment with an addiction specialist who Dr. Pohl from LVRC recommended for me. I'm sweating so much though I've changed shirts 5 times today but the depression isn't nearly as bad as it was yesterday. I'm having really bad nightmares. I am fortunate that I own a very large and successful corporation that I can take as much time away as I need to. I called a Board of Directors meeting for first thing Tuesday morning and am going to be open with the Board and my upper management team about this. I am lucky that I can count on some really great men and women to take over while I'm out. I'm thinking of taking about 2 months off at first and see how this goes. I am so grateful for all of you and I can't express how important this is to me. I was excited on my drive home just to get to my computer and reach back out to all. I will keep you all up to date all weekend. I've read the Thomas receipe and am getting ready for the detox. Thank you everyone. I have felt so alone. This is such a wonderful thing you all are doing.
All I can say is listen to Vicki. She knows her stuff. Tuesday will be here before you know it and then you can deal with it properly.
Honestly, I wouldn't even know where to begin to know if the dose you're taking is okay, or smart, or stupid, or what!! I'm talking about the lower dose you've gotten down to. So, I'm not going to comment on that. I would tell you to just keep yourself safe until Tuesday.
Yes, your dose is confounding to me and I've seen some stuff over the years!
I know what would happen in the hospital but at home? No. That's why I want you to wait and not mess around with it very much.
As Sara said, keep checking in over the rest of the weekend. And don't think about all this so much right now. Just take a little break from it!
Yes, your dose is confounding to me and I've seen some stuff over the years!
I know what would happen in the hospital but at home? No. That's why I want you to wait and not mess around with it very much.
As Sara said, keep checking in over the rest of the weekend. And don't think about all this so much right now. Just take a little break from it!
Ok. Thank you Vicki. I didn't read this until now. I am sweating and shaking badly. I'll take a little now but I don't want to go back up to the huge dosages. This has really freaked me out. Am I really the person taking the most on the internet?? There was someone that posted on here that they didn't believe someone could take 30 30mg Oxycodone in one day! OMG - I can do that in six hours! I'm so scared I don't know what to do. Everyone says to trust you so I'm going to but i'm only taking six 30 mg Oxy every three hours and 1 Opana ER every 8 hours. I know it sounds ridiculous that I'm withdrawal after taking that. Thank you so much to everyone. Had I not read these comments I would probably keep raising my tolerance. The only med my insurance limits me on is the Opana. I'm only allowed 240 a month. Thank you so much for your caring. I will keep you up to date after my Tuesday appointment.
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Please wait until you get your plan and are able to talk to the doctor until Tuesday about this. You have your whole life ahead of you. Don't rush this!!!