Getting Off Oxycodone and Percocet

[AleBee]

I have been on Percocet (10mg) since 2003, with my prescription starting out at 1-2 per day to 4 per day.  I am also taking Oxycodone (20mg), 2 per day since May 2007.  These were prescribed before and after I had 3 cervical surgeries, between 2003 and 2005.  The neck and nerve pain in my right arm never subsided, thus the "pain relief" pills.  Well, I just returned from a wonderful week at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville FL, where they were able to make a diagnosis.  First, I should have NEVER had any of the neck surgeries (I'lll leave it at that), and the Doctor of Physical Therapy discovered treatment that will help to alleviate the nervepain in my right arm/shoulder, etc.  I start PT tomorrow, but will not be able to see my Pain Mgt doctor for 2 weeks.  He will need to do whatever it is to help with the neck pain I will have "forever", but that also includes getting off the Oxycodone and Percocet.  I've read other peoples stories which talked about taking 20 pills and up daily, whereas I am only taking a total of 6 pills daily (maybe an extra one once in a while), but I am concerned about how I will react mentally and physically when I "quit".  I personally think I will do fine, but I'm not considering stopping until I do see my Pain Management Dr in 2 weeks.  As a side note, I am/was an alcoholic until I stopped drinking in 1999.  I was a very heavy drinker for 25 years, no less than a pint of hard liquor daily, but when things got bad at home and my Pastor and the Elders at my church got involved, I was able to quit with absolutely no DT's.  I have no doubt it was a gift from God.  To this day, I have no urge or desire to have a drink.  So, that's my story.  Any comments for me would be graciously received.  Thank you.

[worried878]

OH!   but very do-able!  LOL....just not sure u could do it without any dicomfort...lots of support here...keep posting and let us know what u decide to do

[worried878]

so...u r taking 6 pills but 80 mg of oxycodone...percocet is oxycodone...i was at 80 mg of hydrocodone..considered to be a weaker narcotic..and i felt it when i quit...will not deny that....my friend has been sober for 5 years and she also quit the alcohol without a problem...narcotics was another story she said...have u ever tried to cut down or skip a dose?  if u decide to try to u will see if u r addicted or not fairly fast...ur pain mgt doctor can guide u but he will leave u in charge of whether or not the pills are a problem for u or not...he will not make u stay on them and they are usually happy to hear that someone would like to try another alternative to deal with their pain...I also have had cervical surgeries, a fusion etc..my pain doctor would have never given me that many per day...but now i am glad...i had to scramble to take 8 a day and mostly maintained at 60 mg a day due to lack of pills...it is hard and I am not sure if i would have quit if my doctor gave me enuf to keep up with my growing tolerence...who knows?..hopefully i would have.....but now i am glad because in 5-10 years i would need 15 or 20 pills to maintain....do u think ur tolerence is buildng or have u always been on that much per day?  and like u said in addict land that is not a ton....but it can be a problem getting of at that dose for many

[wannabefree330]

Well if your pain doctor can help you taper that may be your best bet.  If you've been taking them for that long and have managed to not get out of control (taking handfulls at a time) then you might not have as much problem coming off of them.  If you taper, the physical w/d will be minimal and sounds like mentally you can do this.  Just have to make sure you stick to the taper exactly.  Don't take any extra.  The other option would be totally stop CT.  Because you have become physically dependent on these (with no wrongdoing of your own, it just happens after long term use), you would definitely have the physical w/d any one would.  Whether it's 20 a day, or 6 the symptoms will be the same.  You will also have some anxiety, and may get a little depressed.  This is normal for w/d.  You might not have cravings, as it sounds to me like you aren't mentally addicted to them?  I could be wrong here.  But good for you!  Coming here to get suggestions and talk about what's going on is very wise.  Hope things work out for you.

[Kat8843]

Not sure bout what w/d's u will get everybody is different but i can tell u from my experience...i was taking 20: 10mglortab a day for about 6months and i had pretty bad w/d's..it felt like a really bad case of the flu, i ached all over and didn't sleep for 12 nights but it has now been 31 days and i feel great...still have alot of fatigue but other wise i feel great...the fatigue is the worse  for me the aches were bad but they get better after 10days but the fatigue just want go away!! hope this helps u oh and by the way welcome there will b others on here to help u also just keep posting.
best of luck to u!
kat