Oxycontin withdrawal

[bustedflush]

I am unfortunately hooked on oxycontin. I have arthritis of the back as well as fractured vertebrae.  Now I am ready to go cold turkey. Any suggestions on how to get thru it.

[worried878]

K...dont jump on and disappear!  LOL...how r u doing...update needed ?  LOl...i do hope u r doing well...and yes...bunch of paranoid perps on here...but when u get clean u just dont care so much anymore about who knows....it is not something to be ashamed of...just happened...and now u r gonna fix it....just gotta get ur head back on ur shoulders again and hold it high...keep posting busted

[bustedflush]

I was so desperate when I first found this forum that I didn't think about the fact I was   releasing enough information about myself that if a friend or family member read this, I would no longer be anonymous. I'm embarrassed that I got myself in this position and very few people know about it. Has this a been a problem for anyone?
I was surprised how open everyone was and how forthcoming they were with their help. I also was surprised how much it help.
Thanks again

[worried878]

but u r now ready to find a long term solution....everyone is different and their solution will be different as well....but moving forward and making a plan is a big part of the battle...deciding that u r raedy to do it...but like u said...do it safely...there is no reason to get ur self into physical distress and end up in the ER....i really dont think there i a way to quit that is toally pain free...but u can sure stack the odds in ur favor...good luckn

[bustedflush]

Thanks One thing I've learned is have a plan. I got thrown into this by my doctor going on vacation and I didn't get the memo. But the fear of this happening is always in the back of my mind and makes life miserable plus the guilt among co-workers and family.
I was so happy to find a pill to rid me of years of pain. My doctor told me it would not make me drowsy(which is why I couldn't take vicodins and other pain medicines) and "IT WON'T BE ADDICTIVE" he said when taken as prescribe. This is when the drug first came out and it sounded so good. I won't completely trash the drug because first of all I started snorting them so I wasn't taking as prescribed and for short term pain relief I believe it better than anything out there but it is not a long term solution.

[worried878]

I can see ur predicament and u were on a high dose...hard to do alone and it is great that u are planning to see ur doctor for help.... be safe..he can presribe things to help u like clonidine and such..as u said, u have health problems and need to have a plan that is safe...possibly even suboxone could help u...that would be something i would research and educate myself on extensively before choosing that route..i have researched alot about methadone and sub and sub seems like the safer of the two from what I have learned...turntohelp  dot  com  has a list of doctors by zip codes who are licensed to prescribe sub/there are options available to you that are safe and i am glad u r making a plan....hang in there and keep posting

[bukschacht]

i realize that taking one drug to get away from another seems somewhat counter-productive, but i stronly suggest smoking a little pot when the withdrawls become unbearable.   pot is not really a pain killer but it does allow your mind to wander and helps yo to concentrate on something other than your predicament.  
ps. be very careful with the methadone as it cn be just as addictive as the oxy.

peace

[bustedflush]

Sorry I haven't wrote but it was hell for 2 days but I broke down. A friend heard of my predicament and brought me 10-10 mg methadone(I didn't ask where he got them) I was so sick I gave in. It was worse than I thought. After thinking it's actuallybeen over five years with 4-5 80's a day prescribe by my doctor. I worried it could be fatal. I'm fifty-five years old and not in the best of health. After 38 hours I hated to give up, but every time I thought I could take it the w/d would ratchet up another notch. It was hell with the seconds seeming likes hours.A few times in the past I ran short and went thru minor withdrawal, nothing like this.The methadone has worked and I can get enough to make it to my doctor gets back. Then I swear I'm going to do it, but with a plan. I see there are clinics that will work with you as an out patient or I'll taper off  while on vacation from work, somehow I will get off but cold turkey is not the way.I can't thank everyone who responded on this forum enough. I hope you know how much help you provided to someone going thru this. You're not just typing words going out in cyberspace, they truly help and give me hope and resolve to beat this. I'll worry about the pain later, the pills may be fine in the short run but not a way to live. My thanks again and when I get a plan together I will let you know and I hope you support me again like you did this time.

[Twist1285]

bustedflush, Sit in that hot tub until it gets a bit cold, and then jsut fill it up again. I had to set a plastic chair in my shower, and just sit under the piping hot water for hours and hours. Also you should really have someone grab you some movies. About work on Monday, I highly doubt you will be working on Monday. You may be able to go the the ER if you have a script bottle that is not run out befoer the printed date. They will most likly give you SOMETHING until you can get with your doctor. When i went to the hospital I was on morphine and fentnyl patches. Now they may not give you that much, but they won't let you get to the point that it is dangerous to your health either. If it gets too bad to handle you really should go to the ER. Good Luck bustedflush, we are here for ya as much as we can help, I know that doesn;t sound like much right now, but it's all we can do for ya.

[bustedflush]

Thanks hot tub sounds good. I'm cold. I can't afford to buy enough pills to help me anyway. Doctor won't be back till Thursday the 19. Got to fly out Tuesday morning for a shoot. Hope I can make it till then. I wanted to get off these things but not this way

[worried878]

I tapered down quickly off of hydros and could have worked day 4 if i absolutely had too...but had taken it off and went back on day 5...i am a nurse so my job can be stressful...alot depends on the type of job u have and whether u can hide out and ow much mental/physical work it is....4 80 mg tabs a day of oxy is alot more than i was on tho....quitting these narcs are a priority right now....u r in it and i would worry about monday then...if u can not make it then u just cant..if u stopped today that would be r 5th day clean....I am just not sure but everyone is different

[Twist1285]

It's different for everyone, I am also an oxy addict, been clean (of 8-10 80's/day I.V. use) for almost a year. If you have an pre-existing condition (anxiety,depression) you may not want to do this cold turkey. If you think you can hack it more power to ya, but you can develope serious problems if you have these conditions. I was in the hospital for 21 days when i went into widthdrawl, and have now been on Subutex ever since, tapering slowly. I like that you are motivated to get clean, it's great, but you have to be very carful with this also, and you don't want it to get so bad that you are stuck in a position that you'll be forced to purchase them, nd use again, because even after 7,8,9 days, if you use JUST ONE TIME you are setting all the way back to the beginning. So if you feel you cannot do this without some help, I would say you should seek help now, rather than waiting until it's so bad that you will have to take drastic measures. I wish you the very very very best of luck, I promise you that I know what you are going through, you are not alone if you don't want to be! Sit in a hot hot hot bath as hot as you can take, drink plenty of fluids, and get someone to bring you a bunch of movies, it helps the nights go by more quickly while kindof taking your mind off of the pain.....alittle, and every little bit helps I know.

[bustedflush]

this isn't pleasant. Right now bearable. It's only been 8 hrs. What's important is making it to work Monday latest.Very uncomfortable. pain, anxiety,upset stomach don't really describe the symptons very well

[bustedflush]

check out some ads on this site that look good but I did plan this so I have no plan in    place to w/d and too late to see a doctor

[bustedflush]

I am going to call someone to get some aspirin and Immodium,Got to be okay Monday latest. Appreciate the help but it is getting harder to focus to type but will do as long as I can, Thanks

[bustedflush]

no body else in office.Don't seem right he doesn't allow for this.Will I be okay if I just tough it out

[bustedflush]

I have rheumatoid arthritis in my back dont know what A/s is. I had back pain for years.tried physical therapy, all the celebrex and anti inflammatory pills even magnets
I have hepc from a blood transfusion(really) & when I went thru the chemo treatment my arthritis flared to the point could get up some days. Long story found a doc who gave OXY 3 years ago. they didn't make drowsy they picked me up and controlled the pain. Now no pills and got to figure out how to get to work. I hope things are better then. right now I'm feeling pretty bad. Its an effort to type but it helps get my mind off it for a while. Don't know how lon g I will be able to communicate but I do appreciate the help

[AS_Steve]

  For now can't another doctor in the same office fill your script? Nobody on this drug should ever be left dry without notice. Wish I could be of more help.

  Steve

[Rose703]

Okay well don't worry this can be done but working will be tough for a few days. First things first take some Immodium, usually you have to take a double dose,  to stop the diarrhea. Your legs will be the next big thing along with your arms and back. The best thing for that is a hot, hot bath. Also eat lots of bananas and wrap your legs in ace bandages for relief from RLS. You will also get hot/cold sweats and all you can really do for that is carry a sweater with you so you can make yourself as comfy as possible. Look to the right side of this page and you will see the Thomas Recipe which has alot of good info on it for some supplements and so forth that will be a big help. The w/d's are very similar to a bad case of the flu so often times people will use the "flu" excuse to their family or co-workers so that nobody has to know unless you want them to know. The first 7 days will be tough with day 2-5 being the worst. If you could just take perhaps tomorrow and Monday off from work you would be through the absolute worst part of the w/d's.
If you have access to valium or xanax that will help with the anxiety and some of the sleep issues, but make sure you only use them until you get to day 5 and then stop or you will find yourself addicted to yet another drug.
I have legitamate pain issues as well which is how I got to where I am today. Trust me the pain isn't as bad as you think it is and once these pills are out of your system your body will start to make it's own pain killers. You will be surprised, once you get through the w/d's, how much Aleve or Excerdin actually does work.
The most important thing you can do is to keep posting here and get the support that you need. The only thing that kept me from pulling my hair out are the nice people on here that were willing to open up and tell me whatever they needed to in order to get me through another day.  

[AS_Steve]

My friend, you and I suffer from the same spinal condition by the sounds of it and believe me it *****. I thought Oxy was a godsend at first but after time it ruined my life and I wish I never tried it in the first place. I myself tapered down from 6-8 40mg pills a day to 1-2 a day within a week and then just stopped. That was a few days ago and I'm still going through withdrawls. I am pushing myself to exercise as much as I can though but there is no real easy way to stop doing this drug.
  If you want to talk privately then leave me a message, I'm curious to know if it is A.S. that you have and how long you've had it.

  Life is better with a clear mind, no doubt about it.

  Steve

[bustedflush]

I got to work if I don't I lose my job I am okay for today and maybe tomorrow but have to work Monday. No pills no plan except to rough it

[FlyFisher100]

You really should have had a plan.

W/D *****, totally.  I would have recommended a taper.  Oxy (which is not my DOC) is brutally strong and by snorting them, you indeed do have a problem.

Working right now is going to be tough for probably the next 10 days.  Keep your mind busy and take supplements that will help your energy.

Good Luck.

[bustedflush]

Oh yeah the w/d has started.  pain in my joints especially my back. Restless. diarrhea
I started orally for years but recently was crushing and snorting some,most of them.My doctor went on vacation and I didn't know. I have to work somehow

[Rose703]

Okay so you take (4) 80 mg Oxy's per day? How do you use them? Do you crush and swallow them, snort them, or do you take them as prescribed? Does your script run out early?

I just want to be clear on how much you use, how you use them, and if you ever use more than the 4 per day. With this information we will all be able to give you solid advise on the w/d's!! Don't worry if you have the mind set that you really want these out of your life then you can do it!! We will all be here for you to help!! Just relax because it does sound like the w/d's are setting in now. Stay on the forum as much as possible so we can help you!!

[bustedflush]

Is there anything I can do to ease the symptons. Also if I go thru this what do I do about the pain that got me here?