Opana ER Addiction

[AJAP17]

Hello all...I'm a senior...66 years old (hard to grasp that)...had neck fusion and now severe back pain...I have been on Opana ER 10mg 3x for about 8 months and I want to escape...I realize I am addicted...my first question...is withdrawal  harder if you have been on a drug a long time...or is it harder if you have been taking large doses?...and...do you suggest I taper or go "cold turkey"...I don't know if many of you realize how many "seniors" are on these powerful drugs...can anyone fill me in on what I am about to do and go through?...thanks, and I'm glad I found this Board...Tony

[AJAP17]

thanks all...my wife was very concerned today...just took a dose (my 2nd) 2 1/2 hours early.....felt horrible, nervous, anxious, you name it...going to see my Doctor ASAP...thanks for the warnings...33% less was too drastic I now realize, but my desire to get clean took over my reasoning...thanks for being there for me...

[GA_need_help]

tony,
I would love to discuss the Opana ER.  I am tapering now.  Thanks.
Marie

[Pamix]

Hi Tony-
I'm wondering if your still reading and checking out this form also would like to know if you have cut down or just stop taking your opana?
I to am on opana, was on 40mg three times a day then my Dr decided to cut me down to 20's three times a day? I have no clue what he was thinking but it didn't work to well for me. So I just seen him last week and he gave me "a choice"? He said I can give you 20 mg 3 times a day or 30 mgs twice a day. I chose the 30 mg 2 times a day. I think it might be the medicen, feeling down and all that? I don't know but I have been on opana for a year now and it seems as though I have become depressed some what. I'm 50 years young but feel like I'm 90 and can't wait till this effin life is OVER! LOL. Kidding aside-I don't want to be on these meds any longer but I'm afraid to go off them due to, the pain mostley. Im also on percocet, 10/325, 3-4 times a day, for the break through. That sure as hell dosent help either? I don't know what to do.
My insurance pays a huge portion of the rx bill, and I have the opana er card so I end up paying $35 for 60, this time I got 60! lol. I guess it's better then paying the $600 for 60 huh? So Tony-it's been sometime-(I havent read all the posts-so if you posted how your doing I missed it.) Are you off the opana, did you stop cold turkey-and if you did how are you feeling now? GOD be with you.
Take care my friend.
HUGGS!
Pam

[Whowantstoknow74]

Hi Pam not sure if you will even see this this with this forum being so old. However my husband has cancer and is on the Opanas. He lost his insurance in December and as you know those things are pretty costly. What is the Opana card you are referring to in this post. If you could email me info I would sure appreciate it. Tonya.***@****.

[Whowantstoknow74]

Well it won't let me leave my email I'll try it this way it's t o n y a . L e d f o r d at the yahoo mail

[BigBadWulf]

my name is bill, i jst found out tht my girl friend has ben takn opanas 4 ovr a yr. she brok up w me on oct 1st. rght bout the time she startd takn thm, is whn things got rocky 4 us. she ben sniffn thm & i think shes ben tradn favors 4 thm. i luv her alot, i dnt want nethg 2 hppn 2 her, but i think she neds hlp. i herd tht they r worst thn oc's & almst worst thn heroine

[Kendraerika]

Make a new.post as this one is old. More help that way.

[BigBadWulf]

my name is bill, i jst found out tht my girl friend has ben takn opanas 4 ovr a yr. she brok up w me on oct 1st. rght bout the time she startd takn thm, is whn things got rocky 4 us. she ben sniffn thm & i think shes ben tradn favors 4 thm. i luv her alot, i dnt want nethg 2 hppn 2 her, but i think she neds hlp. i herd tht they r worst thn oc's & almst worst thn heroine

[Ann2497]

Just came across your post.  How are you doing?

[chomper999]

10 mg opana er 3x a day is a baby dose..... we're not talking alot of pain med here esp if you use nothing else for breakthrough  I use to take 120 mg oxycodone/day for pain... new doc switched that to 2 -10 mg opana er's and only 60 mg oxycodone.....I sorely miss the oxy... opanas just suck.. not good for pain, no euphoria, just drowsiness and nausea.  I hardly even take mine regularly cause they really dont do anything...anyway ..u want off those ...just ween...ask him for 5mg tabs and a ween plan and be happy u never got hooked on oxys..thats real addiction!

[ImDONENoMore]

Bananas are GREAT for RLS - it's the potassium that relieves that awful symptom.  :)

[littlebit667]

I figured that Ajap, I just wanted to throw it out there!  It is a Parkinson's generic....dr. explained that they would take about 36 a day and with RLS it is only about 2-5 a day depending on the need.  She said do not worry about the stated side effects because of that.  But, with your needs...sure...have to be very careful.  There is a Hyland's restless leg from GNC (I think) that many have mentioned.  Maybe that is a choice.  Good luck!!!!!

[AJAP17]

thanks...I have never had RLS before so I hope it will go away in time...due to my CLL I do want want to add any more drugs into my system if I can help it...if anyone has tried a home remedy that worked I would love to hear it...

[littlebit667]

The RLS *****!  BTW, I am 60 years young!  My doctor gave me a script for cinemet or carbidopa/levo (generic) for the RLS!  I don't know if you can take it because of your medical diagnoses, but it has been a godsend for me.  I have been detoxing for almost 2 weeks and that is what has bothered me the most recently.  If you can't sleep, you can't heal.  There are also other more natural meds...potassium by mouth, bananas, etc.  Check with your doctor to see what he/she suggests.  Don't just live with it, it will kick your butt!!  Congrats on getting help.

[AJAP17]

back from detox...being over 65 I had to go to a Medicare facility...not the most pleasant place...I was in a lock-down unit with 15 others...some much more sick than others and some with duel problems...I could go on but the bottom line is in 7 days I was safely, medically tapered down until my release yesterday...I am over the hump and now entering phase 2...feeling like a have a horrible flu...body feels like I was hit by a truck...sleeping when I can and only about 3 hours at a time...terrible RLS (restless leg syndrome)...etc...but...my mind has not been this clear in two years...god bless all here...you can do this too!

[AJAP17]

by not being "rhythmic"...if you listen while taking BP you hear a "beat"

[mellie4]

Glad to hear it, Tony!!!  I wish you the best with it.  There are many people who swear that their pain lessens considerably once they come off narcotics.  And even though I'm not totally off and still on a low dosage, my pain now is more manageable than it used to be when I was on higher dosages and more medication.  I still have the pain, but piecing together little things helps more.  I hope you'll find that as well. (Though a lot of people say they have a period of time where the pain gets worse, and I found that true as well as I tapered down.  Some days I hurt places I never hurt before, but it all eventually calmed down, and I feel like I'm at a place where I have a truer sense of my pain.  Maybe it will lessen more when I get off totally.)

I think inpatient detox is always better if it's an option for someone.  You have the medical aspect of it to keep you safe physically, and you'll have lots of education and resources available to you for after you get out.

Hope you'll post how it goes for you, and keep the Pain Management forum in mind if you need help with your pain.  Lots of people manage their pain without medication and you can often find good ideas you may not have thought of before.

[vicki595]

Good...

What did you mean about your b/p not being "rhythmic"?  Just curious...

[AJAP17]

I have decided to Detox the safe way...as a patient in a rehab hospital that offers this service through Medicare...I believe I will enter the treatment program tomorrow...I feel better being under 24 hour supervision due to my various issues than on an outpatient basis...will keep posting

[bionicdjc]

Hi Tony................glad you're feeling better today.  I am, too; my dr gave me my pills (he doles them out to me Mon and Thurs) and I am down to 4 T3's/day.  Doing good so far but want a smoke (I quit July15)!  Hope all continues good with you.  Keep posting!

Diana

[mellie4]

Thanks, Tony ... makes me feel better!!!!  And also lets me know why my primary doctor made me promise to stop my tapering, at least for the moment!!  But she is an excellent physician and I trust her implicitly so I agreed, even though I got myself down so low and was so anxious to be off totally.

Sounds like you have some decisions to make as well.  I don't know what your pain is like but maybe you can get to a point where you can take things on an "as needed" basis versus daily.  That's where I'm hoping to get, as my pain will not get better and its difficult to treat as it's mostly nerve pain.

I am glad you've decided to slow it down ... I think it can be just as hard to taper properly and slowly as it can be to quit completely.  Some may disagree with that but when you went off, you want off and initially it seems like it's not a problem but eventually, if you taper too drastically, you wind up with pretty bad withdrawals, and if you have underlying health issues like you and I, that's not a safe thing.

And I really encourage you to check out the Pain Management Forum as well.  Great bunch of people with chronic pain and often some good ideas on managing your pain.

[AJAP17]

I neglected to post (and am doing so because of your post) I have CLL...which for those here who are not familiar is a Leukemia...have had it for 10 years...so if I can help you in any way please let me know...part of my problem with the Opana is my Doctors do not want me in chronic pain as this is not good for my immune system...that's part of why this is so troubling for me...desire to quit verses pain level without the Opana...

[mellie4]

Glad you're feeling better today.  We all want to be off everything today but it's not the safest way to go for a lot of people.  Gnarly likes to say that "this is a race won by the tortoise not the hare."  Good words to remember.  I'm stuck at my dosage right now as I'm being worked up for CLL.  It's a little frustrating because I want to be done with this, especially now that I'm at a very low dose.  But I know that's not in my best interest and they'll start my taper up again when it's best for me medically.

Let us know what the doctor says today!!

[AJAP17]

I learned my lesson last night...for one hour I had a "rapid heartbeat" feeling and my blood pressure (I have a cuff) was not rhythmic...better today...

[bionicdjc]

Tony, you did the right thing taking your med early.  We seniors are not quite as tough as we would like.  I am tapering fairly slowly and have not had really bad WD issues.  Going to the dr. this am to get my doses and I am down to 3-4(T3's) from 5 last week.  I want off these pills real bad but am cautioning myself not to go too fast.  Cal me impatient!

[mellie4]

So glad you'll be seeing your doctor!!!  It's the best way to go.  I don't believe you're addicted but dependent and make sure he knows that!!!  Also ask him if it's okay for you to take Valerian Root for anxiety.  It really works great, for me anyway.  And ask him about melatonin and/or Alteril for help with sleep.  Sometimes when you detox or taper, sleep can be an issue.  I find Alteril to be fantastic.

Vicki is right; tapering shouldn't be uncomfortable.  She told me the same thing quite a while ago because I was feeling lousy.  But I had tried to cut my dose and spread out the hours in between way too much and too fast.  We often are in such a hurry to get through all this and get off things that we go too quickly.  Slow and steady is the better way.

Right now, unfortunately, I am stuck on a very low dose.  I've promised my primary care and pain team that I will stop my taper until they get to the bottom of what's going on with me physically.  And I am frustrated and very tempted to cut back anyway, but I won't since I know what can happen.  For now, I'll wait it out and start tapering again when it is safer for me to do so.

I'm glad you took your dose when you needed it.  Your symptoms could have got much, much worse.  Once I wound up in the ER getting IV fluids and trying to get my blood pressure down (and I don't even have high blood pressure as a rule!)

I think it's great you want to come off and reevaluate your pain.  That's what I want as well.  If at that time it seems I really need it, I can always go back on, but my hope is I can go with a more "as needed" basis rather than an "every four hours" basis.

Let us know what the doctor says!!!  You did the right thing.