Oxycontin withdrawals

[cappkev]

I am a recovering addict with 18 years clean. I have a sponsee that has been taking lots of oxycontin for years.  He has gone to addictionologists and also heard elsewhere that if he goes cold turkey off of oxy then he could die.

His transition plan is to take subutex but thinks he needs to take it for years to keep from dying.

Obviously, with 18 years clean I have never taken the stuff and do not want to advise as if I were a doctor. I definitely dont want to be responsible for killing him.

My question is, can you die from cold turkey?  if you do go to subutex, how long is an appropriate transition to wean off of all drugs completely?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Kevin L.
Atlanta GA

[djp223]

I went cold turkey off Oxycontin about one year ago. It was the worst experience in my entire life. I was not prepared for what happened. I felt as if I wanted to jump out of my skin. I couldn't sit still. It was as if I had a terrible flu, and felt as if I couldn't breathe. I was sweating, vomiting, and was in bathroom constantly. I couldn't relate to anyone for anything.  Going cold turkey is not easy, but I was forced to do it because my doctor went on vacation and I couldn't find a doctor to give me the meds. My doctor was trying to wean me off the stuff. I was taking 15 to 18 15 mgs a day.

How did I do it? I prayed like I never did before. I have a strong faith and that helped me through it. I took my rosary beads and I just said as fast as I could, "Jesus, help me" on each bead (I didn't have the patience to say the whole rosary). I heard that a nun was healed of Parksinson's disease through the prayers of the late Pope John Paul II, so I had asked him to pray for me too. Why not. I needed all the help I could get. Within the first 24 hours, I changed my prayer. I started to pray for those whose addictions were worse than mine, and then I had my miracle. Within 24 to 48 hours, I was free of most symptoms. My doctor, who was about to send me to a rehab center, couldn't believe it because he knew just how dependent I was upon the drug.

I don't want to sound preachy, but if anyone out there has strong faith in God, try the rosay, and ask the late Pope to pray for you. It might work for you too. And yes, since then I haven't had any relaspe, while at times I do miss the stuff.

You also have to be careful about other types of abuse, like alchol and you need to talk to someone why you got yourself in that place to begin with. God does work miracles.

[sheila266]

I've been on Subutex for the past eight years. It has helped me kick the painkiller habit, but now I want to get off of Subutex, but I find it hard. Do you have any idea's how I can do it.

Sheila

[Oxykicker]

Hi all, thank you for all the help on this forum thread, I thought I was going insane.
A brief history: Suffered a nose condition, pescribed steriods, outcome without details, both hips needed replacing, was put on Oxycontin, and as the weeks went on so did my dosage, 240 mgs a day, well had op and was told ' carry on with painkillers', after 3 months I thought I should not need these anymore and cut down by half, the result was flu like feelings and a lot of muscle pain, this went on for 6 weeks feeling like ****, then I decided to STOP. Nothing prepared me for the HELL I was about to visit, all the symtoms,  85hrs off now, still got the sweats real bad, ( slept in dressing gown for warmth), and this morning it is soaked, and the what I call 'Crazy Arms and Legs', no wonder they call it 'Kicking the Habit'.

I thank God for this forum thread, boy have you great people helped, and I wanted to tell you I have kept a diary from the first hour I went CT to try and help others in the same boat, and to warn others of the danger of this drug, let's hope a few doctors read it, as it seems to me they should be more aware of the pitfalls.I will write up the diary when I feel I am clean and post all over the web on sites like this.
Kindest regards and keep at it, I'm sure we will all come clean together.

[tautou]

i am not a doctor. I was taking abouit 160mg a day, and I quit cold turkey for 45 days, then i found a bottle hydrocodone (dammit) and have been using again..

they wont die. i am sure of it. chances are better of dying if he DOESNT stop

[GoingToMakeIt]

Lots of information on naatb.org My understanding is that Suboxone would be better as it  causes withdrawal if the user takes opiates. It's like a guard dog keeping you from using.

[cappkev]

Thanks for your posts back.

I am not sure about how many mg he was taking, however, I know that he has lots of money and took as many as he wanted. I will refer him to this site.  I dont want him to take an alternative drug like subutex indefinitely b/c he is relying on incorrect information from doctors that benefit from him staying on the meds.

My ultimate advice to him was have a wean down or detox plan for the subutex as well.

He seems to think he needs to be on it for years before he can safely stop that as well.

I appreciate the time you have taken to assist.  You are all fulfilling a higher purpose to take time to help people with similar problems to yours.  One addict helping another is without parallel!

Kevin L

[johnnykelly]

Hi Kevin,That wonderful,your a great sponser to get outside assisstance when theres a gray area.Like Lurker stated theres variables and each person is some-what different. The common demoninator is tha addiction.I am 48yrs old and somewhat knowledgeable in regards to pain meds and i have not heard of anybody fatally sercumbing to withdrawl from oxycontin.Alcohol YES,Valium Yes,but health care people sat although its unpleasant opiate detox is not life thretening.Theres speculation that long term opiate use does change brain chemistry and trhats why a re-placement narcotic is designed as in Methadone or Suboxone or Subutex. The differance between to two is Suboxone has Naltrexone and an I.V. user cant inject it,the term is Subvert!!! your sponcee has an excellent sponser john

[sickcookie]

Why not tell him about this site he will get alot of info by just reading the posts and will find he is not alone there are lots of us in many stages ,it helps take the fear of the unknown away and that is a great way to start.You are a great friend to care

[lurker]

I took Suboxone to get off narcotics - how long you have to take it completely depends on how long you have been on narcotics and how you respond.  Very individualized. I only needed it for a couple of months - some people get off in a few days others in a couple of years.  It does completely obliterate withdrawals and cravings and combined with working a program should help your sponsee get off the Subutex sooner.

Good luck - it's a miracle drug and it has made a huge difference in my life.  But it is a partial narcotic and is addicting so people do have to taper off it - it's just a lot easier.

[enemy48]

Lots of people here took Oxycotin.  How many a day did he use, and for how long?