Oxycontin Withdrawels

[jontyra]

Does anyone have any answers to how to better come off of Oxys? I am on my third day of tapering off from 120mg a day to today of 5 mg. I have no energy, and have read to take lots of vitamins, which do not seem to be helping. Its the New Year and was hoping to have this habit kicked. I've got three beautiful children who want their Mom back and I can hardly get out of bed.

[lisabet]

Hey, sweetie - just read your post.  Please don't be so hard on yourself; relaspes are so common to all of us.  Just get up in the morning with the intentions of doing better. The important thing is, you realize you need to get off this stuff, and you're TRYING!!!  That is truly the first step.  No need to make excuses - the miserable truth is that you're (gasp)...human!...smile.  Have a good weekend. Love/Peace, Lisabet

[saveyourself]

Hey Brother,
Thanks for the reponse.  I had a good day today. Went to 2 NA meetings, stopped the klonopin, which I was using as prescribed by a book educated addictionoligist.  I just recently found out it is like valium.  Now I know why I was so fatigued. I am turning the corner I think. I will know when I get 3 good days in a row.  I will keep you informed.

Thanks for your help.
Greg

[hellbent]

Yes, they gave me meth for OXY detox. I think they would for anyone. However, you still need to bite the bullet and go through some hell, and by getting on methadone, you run the risk of the clinic convincing you to stay on it, or you convincing yourself. Everyone I know who is on methadone maintenance doesn't have much of a life at all, and I know a few. Many are hope-to-die junkies, taking pills and meth or heroin and meth simultaneously, though some clinics do test to see that you aren't abusing both. Bottom line is that methadone is harder to kick, once you have been on it for a while, than any pharmaceutical opiate...

Did it help me? I think it did, but it's hard to know how much, as I have nothing to compare it to. I know that when I got off methadone, and was withdrawing, I didn't have the worst symptoms people talk about: stomach cramps, restless leg.

If you have a few days clean, I strongly suggest you try and stick it out. How much were you taking for how long?

[melanieoxy]

thanks for responding, i'm really tripping out that i'm going to have to go thru this, as i never really thought i had a problem til this week when i ran out.  did you go on the 21 day meth program to get off the oxys?  will they do that?  did the meth help?

[hellbent]

Hey, sorry to get back to you so late.

I can only tell you my experience. I won't sugar coat it. But remember that I was taking twice the OC you were, and 5 times the klonopin, and stopped the OC cold after 21 day methadone and stopped the Klonopin completely C/T. So, whatever I went through should not be as bad for you.

I didn't sleep at all for 24 days (maybe 6-8 hours total). Things began to turn then. I could catch 1-3 restless hours. After a month, I could sleep from midnight to 4:30 am, if I was lucky. I probably averaged 2-5 hours until I had maybe two months clean. I took nothing at all, not even Benadryl, to "aid" my sleep - I had taken enough pills and was determined to get my natural sleep patterns back as much as possible.

The first 6 months were 4-6 hours of sleep, but it was nice popping up at 4-5am and not being sleepy as I had a new job I had to get to anyway. Recently, after almost 8 months, things have turned again for the better. I can get 7 hours, and can fall back asleep if I want to.

My first month, I literally could hardly move. The weakness was horrible. Plus, I looked like an lsd test subject: giant pupils, white tongue, constant diahrehhea, I smelled...it was so bad. After about a month, I forced myself to get out. I began attending meetings, began working out at the gym, dabbling in sports again. Slowly, strength and confidence returned. Very hard work at first, but I was so desperate and I knew that if I didn't put in the work up fron to rebuild my body, my mind, and my soul, I was a gonner. Couldn't sit around my house watching TV anymore, at all. Had to build a completely different life, be up and out, getting real with other addicts, getting stronger, being a part of life. Health has returned fully, as far as I can tell. Brain is still not what it was, but it's always getting better. I can drop off to sleep easily at night.

I can't believe how much has changed since April of last year. I sat alone for a while new years eve just in awe and gratitude at what's happened to me in 8 months. From hopeless OC addict, nearly dead, to where I am today.

Anyway, try some of the suggestions I gave you. Get a solid support group, excercise your mind and body, and push through to the other side. It's darkest before the dawn.


  

[lifeisbetter]

Hey girl, are you hanging in there?

Lisabet, I will definately share how I stay clean but I'm at work. I'll post a little later.