Oxycodone Withdrawal

[Brigadoon35]

I started taking 120 to 160mg of  Oxycodone after scoliosis surgery ( fused from T3 to S1) three years ago.  After a year, I had cut my dose back to 30 mg. all was going well until I was in a car accident and was read ended by a driver going 65 miles an hour.  No rods or screws were damaged, but I couldn't walk without unbearable nerve pain.  My level was a 4 or 5 with drugs!  Once again, I am back up to 120 mg. I am tapering off again.  I cut back by 30 mg. and my pain doc wants be to cut back by 5 mg a month going forward.  I notice that just cutting back by 30 mg 3 weeks ago has caused withdrawal symptoms for me.  I feel a great deal of fatigue and I am very hungry.  My pharmacist told me to also cut back slowly as well.  My question is why are so many of you quitting cold turkey or tapering quickly?  

[Neednomore]

So done with w.d.'s! Was taking as prescribed 4-5 15mg oxycodone a day for fibromyalgia and RA, and decided to be done! Was tired of feeling numb to the world and not seeming to get anything done like I use to! I'm 41 exercise faithfully 5-6 days a week, eat healthy, take my vitamins, and live a pretty healthy lifestyle, but yet still had no energy! I had a physical dependence on these stupid things, and even though I never took them to get high, I had to, to feel normal, and to stop not just the pains from conditions I have, but also now from medicine for 7 years! I knew that exercise everyday with my conditions should of been making me feel so much better, which in ways it help, but I shouldn't if been feeling so deprived of energy and life still! So made the choice! With my conditions, I hurts anyway! Their energy depleting anyway, so why take something that has that much more control of me and adds to it! But I'm on day 8, and it still *****! A lot better then the first 5 days, but can't sleep still, aggravating, annoying pains in my back and neck, agitated, get so irritated I get the urge to outburst! And can't stay off the toilet if I eat anything! Goes right through me! This needs to end! I see it's obviously got better, but lord help me! It makes me so mad that something that helps so much for a condition, also doesn't help, just gains control of someone! Why would anyone make things like this or prescribe! When's it going to end! I will never take another again! But sure wish there was a magic pill for W.D's without needing another evil thing scripted by a doctor that someone would have to detox off that too! Won't do that to myself and go through more! I don't know if I like reading the forums or not, hearing how bad thing are and how long! I can't go 8 weeks or months of feeling like this and no sleep! I have a 7 year old and two beautiful grown girls I love spending time with! Nothing seem to help! I've tried ibuprofen 800, extra strength tylenol, alieve, NyQuil, hylands natural calming pills, ect. Nothing works! Not even hot baths! Going back to the gym Monday, I haven't been able to go the past 8 days, and hoping that will help some. May try today to go for a shorter time then usual, but the back annoyance is why I can't seem to!

[againnot]

Someone brought up a point I've been thinking about.
Surely if I can stop smoking after smoking for 23 years , I can stop taking oxy. Cigarette were like a best friend... My "go to" thing.  Not smoked for 15 years.
I guess it's how bad you want it and the plan you have for cravings?

[OxyTired]

We are in the middle of someone elses thread (question)
Post your own question and you will get a lot more personal responses.

To address your question, I am 60 years old and six months clean from oxycodone. Both prescribed to me and abused by taking too many.

In short, if you do what these people recommend on the Forum, you can be clean from pills too.

It is a 100% process. 99% effort won't work. It has to absolutely be your number one priority. Definitely doable, if I could do it.

I still work a program of recovery and keep my guard up against the
pill Demon who is waiting for one tiny moment of weakness.
Sobriety is way worth the effort. Life is good.

[mangomike]

ive been taking oxy for 5 years im up to 6 30mg each day but I take more than that as I run out a week before I return to the doctor, I m 60 years old now and I want to stop cold turkey. I tried once be for I lasted 4 days on the 4th day I was throwing up so bad it was dry heave. and I flush all but 6 30mg just to get them away from me,what a mistake. ive read on here that Neurontin 300 mg works for withdrawals does anyone know how many a day I need to take to releave withdrawal pain and sickness to be able to stop taking oxy?? plus how many days does it take to be on the down side of the withdrawal from oxy??hope someone out has done this and can give me the answer to my question thank you MangoMike

[Brigadoon35]

Thank you!  I only hope that I am able to follow through.  I have been on them for so long that I may crave for more as I get closer to my goal.  It took me a long time to finally tell my doc to cut back on my dose.  Part of me wanted to keep extras around just in case.  I was able to finally do so after I realized (through therapy) that emotionally I was so afraid that if I didn't take the same dose the horrible, horrible pain I felt after my surgery would come back!  Once I let go of that fear, I committed to lowering my dose.  I do understand about wanting to get it over with.  I quit smoking 30 years ago cold turkey because I didn't want to be in a constant state of withdrawal.  I was young so it worked for me.  Now, I need to be easier on my body.  

[Sonrissa]

Hi Brigadoon, for me, I was also taking Oxycodone, my choice to quit cold turkey, was for 2 reasons. First, I was already going through my monthly script in 2-3 weeks. I was not able to taper, although I tried many times. If I had control over my pills, I took em. I was really sick of withdrawaling every month. Second, I just wanted it over with. I did not want to drag out the process over a long period of time. When I was done, I wanted to be done as quick as possible. I think it's great that you have your doctors support for a taper. I have always admired people who have the strength to do it. In my opinion, for those who have been taking high daily doses, and have been on them for a long time, tapering really is the best way to quit.

I wish you all the best. I hope you stick around and let us know how you are progressing. Take care.

[Brigadoon35]

Thank you for responding!  I missed the fact that many people are cut off by
their doctors and are forced to taper quickly.  Doctors that do that do not understand how the drug works and what people go through when they are forced to taper off so quickly.  Especially individuals who have to go back to work and can't get out of bed.  I guess I am lucky to have a pain management doctor who is willing to work with me.  

[petsrule]

I want to say Hi and welcome you to the community.  People have different reasons for the way they quit.  I am sure you will get some reasons.  I tried a taper (knowing I didn't have any more opiates than what I had on hand and prolonging the inevitable) but that was mental anguish.  It probably helped some with the body getting used to not having opiates in the system.  Different drugs affect the body and mind in different ways.  If you are going to quit a drug the body and mind go into a shock wanting the substance.  Different drugs withdrawal symptoms are different on the body and mind.  Most of us started for a pain situation.  In my case I became used to the dose and over time used to feel 'good' and not control the pain anymore.  I was miserable but was afraid because I started with a pain situation.  Everyone knows in their mind if they are taking a drug for medicinal purposes or abusing it.  I know this doesn't answer your question directly but you and your doctor are talking about the amount and you are on this board for a reason.  I to want to tell you that no matter what your mindset is, if you want to type it do... this place is wonderful and they understand everything.  wishing you the best...