Oxycodone addiction

[student1986]

Hi there,

I am a 24 yr old medical student seeking advice on how I can rid myself of this burden.  I'm very disappointed that I let this get to this point considering my career of choice...I guess it goes to show that ANYONE can become addicted.  Anyways, right now I am running 2 separate prescriptions, 1 for 60x40mg OxyContin (prescribed 1 pill twice daily), the other is 240x5mg Pms-Oxycodone (prescribed 2 pills 4 times daily).  I REALLY NEED to stop taking this stuff...I'm sure this has been said before, but I do have legitimate pain that many neuro-orthopedic surgeons say "will never fully go away." First off, I want to get back to 1 prescription only, due to the potential legal consequences of "double doctoring." I've read mixed reviews as to whether tapering is effective, but I have on occasion gone from 4-5 40mg OxyContin (crushed so 160-200mg/day - yikes!) to 7-8 5mg pills before and my body seems okay with that (but sometimes not). So I've been taking oxycodone in some formulation now for approximately 13 months.  Does anyone have any incite as to which prescription I should cut out first? My thought would be the OxyContin 40mg since I can guage my dosage per day with the 5mg tabs.  BUT, I'm worried that although I've "cut out" the 40mg OxyContin, the presciption is ready for pick-up every month at the pharmacy and I could easily have a weak moment and go and fill the scipt.  I'm aware that seeking medical care is best, but given the circumstances (my career for example) I'd like to avoid this at all costs. Does anyone have any experience with oxycodone for approximately the same amount of time I've been taking it? I'm curious to know how long I can expect withdrawl symptoms. Basically, how long for "restless leg syndrome" to subside...I feel this is the main reason I dont sleep at night, and in my line of work, I need to be well rested.  What I can tell you, is I have been short pills before (because I was self medicating and thus ran out before I was eligible to fill my next months script - the reason I started double doctoring in the first place), and more or less was forced to take less (for example if I'm prescribed 8/day for 30 days but only have 210 because I decide to go wild on day 1 and take 30 pills in that 1 day alone, I'm forced to take approximately 7/day so I dont run out; this is getting worse and worse forcing me at times to take 3/day - I guess I feel like 3/day is better than none per day).  At one point, I was taking 4-5 (5mgs) per day and was able to manage quite well - slept fine, functioned normally, only real problem was the thought of going wild just once and taking a lot - but I restrained myself and stuck to the schedule until I got more pills, and then YET AGAIN, I abused them.  So anyone who reads this and can help, please let me know ASAP. Its summer time and I feel now is the time to make the change while I'm not in semester. Again, I'm looking basically for advice on how to manage this ON MY OWN, without consulting a physician for reasons stated earlier.  Short term/immediate goal: get back to 1 prescription, goal for the end of summer: rid of oxy's for good.

Thanks,

CH

[student1986]

Thanks for all the reply's.  To be perfectly honest, this is the first time I've come clean about my problem and even though I haven't started my recovery yet, it feels good getting it off my chest.  I also confided in a close friend of mine as well...But I'm not going to lie, the thought of withdrawl symptoms (especially restless leg syndrome and lack of sleep) lasting AT LEAST 5-7 days scares me to death.  But clearly several of you have gone through it, which means I also have the ability to do the same.  Any tips on a how to limit the extent/severity of w/d symptoms over that 7 day period? I heard that some "home remedies" can help attenuate w/d...One more question, do you think telling my doctor that I no longer want to take oxycodone is a good idea and whether suggesting methadone/suboxone is a good/bad idea? I guess I'm afraid that if I ever NEED opioid pain medications again (aka if I contracted cancer - lets hope not), he/she would be more hesitant to provide them.  Then again, my friend told me he thinks its the addiction talking and thinking about taking them again in the near or distant future for any reason will only make things worse.  

I'm so upset with myself. It's sad that I can't do anything unless I have pills, and if I don't have them, well you all know how that can be I'm sure.

I'm a little hesitant with the idea of quitting cold turkey, I'm only being honest here.  But the more and more I talk to people and read what you've all said on this forum, IT IS becoming clear that it may be the only way for me. Honestly though, is there a good time to start my recovery? Should I TRY and taper off (even a little?) before going cold turkey? Here's where I'm @ right now.  Dont have any OxyContin 40mg right now, prescription is to be refilled next Thursday morning. I do however, have OxyContin 5mg and have been taking 1 tablet every few hours (roughly 8-10/day or 40-50mg), and I'm doing just fine - productive at the hospital, doing homework, sleeping, exercising, etc.  I feel like I should do this before I have the opportunity to get those 40mg tablets otherwise I'll take them...I KNOW IT!!! Has anyone gone through 7 days of w/d AND gone to work no matter how unpleasant?

AND finally, although most here are addicts/recovering addicts/recovering(ed) addicts, some of you must have legitimate pain still...What types of non-narcotic pain medications are you using as a substitute? Open to almost anything except Acetaminophen (Tylenol) which I'm allergic to.

Thanks,

CH

[quitinoxys]

I am glad to here you are facing your addiction. As far as tapering off that to me will just prolong the inevitable. You are going to have to detox which means you will go through w/d's. As one of the mo2000 said "just fake the flu" and stay home.  Most importantly make sure you have people around you for support it makes the world of difference. My pain doc gave me Naproxen 800mg 4x/day (I took one about 2 hrs ago) along with soma and it is relieving some pain. So try it might work for you. I wish you luck and God bless you.

[Danny111]

Coming clean, even if it's only to people on the internet is the first big step.  For me coming on here and talking to people and reading posts etc. was the first step in getting serious about stopping.  

Very often the fear of the withdrawals is actually way worse than the withdrawals themselves.  You'll feel bad for a week or two and then you'll be done.  The cravings will be there from time to time but the feeling sick will be gone.

[el_em_en_oh]

I'm in your boat, dude. I'm a recovering addict with legitimate acute & chronic pain (from kidney-stones & renal cysts).

My pain level day-to-day runs in the 4-5 range, and spikes to a 6 every once and a while. When I get a kidney-stone, all bets are off and my pain-level can be anywhere from a mid-6 to an 8-9.

Non-narcotic options for acute-pain? Unfortunately, I haven't found one to combat a kidney-stone.

Non-narcotic options for chronic-pain? My new PMdoc started me on Neurontin about 3 weeks ago, with little success so far. I've titrated up to the 2700mg's she recommended, with little to no results as of yet. I've been told I need to give it more time, so I'm going to do what they tell me to do and hope for the best.

I wish there was something I could tell you to make you feel better. I wish there was a non-narcotic "cure all" medication that I could tell you about. I wish that I could tell you that getting of pain-medication was going to be an easy road... I wish, I wish, I wish.

Alas, narcotic pain-killers, as far as I'm concerned, are the only thing that's worked for me thus far. I'm not saying there aren't non-narcotic options out there for YOU, but for me, so far, no results. Unfortunately, when the bottle says 1 every 4 hours as needed for pain, it ends up being 4 every 1 hour as needed for ME.

I know this isn't helping you with your cause and your search and your battle to quit,  I'm just being straight with you.

[vicki595]

Quit the pills and start your recovery today!!   Just do it.  It won't kill you.

You're a med student for God's sake. You can't be wrecked on pills;it's just so wrong.
You need a week. Get prepared for it. Read the health pages here.  This won't be the worst thing that will ever happen to you. As a matter of fact,it's the best thing. So get tough and keep posting. We'll be here to support you so get going,okay???

Vicki

[student1986]

Thanks to everyone for the advice and support...Quick question, I've heard days 1-4 are BRUTAL and days 5 and 6 are a little better and by day 7(ish), things start getting better.  Now obviously everyone is different which means everyone has different recovery times, so I'm wondering if someone could give me a break-down of their "1 week of hell" experience, mainly how long you were sleeping on day 1 vs. day 7.  I mean, I can start RIGHT NOW, and maybe if I'm one of the lucky ones, I'll be sleeping better in a week or so...

And I understand I'm a med student, which makes this so much worse (in my mind). I feel like I'm being a hypocrite...Today I was doing my rounds (residency) and talking to one gentlemen with a fractured tibia, fibula and femur about the dangers of opioids...I nearly broke down I was so ashamed.

CH