Percocet - withdrawal? dizzy!

[alberta_sunshine]

I have been taking percocet for arthritis pain for about 6 months.

My dr went on vacation 2 weeks ago and wasn't able to give me any but gave me T4's ... they do nothing.  

Anyway, I was taking up to 6 percocet a day, but 2 weeks ago I started not taking them ...or only 2 a day and in the past week I have only had 1 or 2 in total.

Yesterday I was laying down and I was really, really dizzy and that has continued into today on/off ... it's scaring me!  Withdrawal is the only thing I can think of what it could be, but why would it take this long to start having withdrawal??

And...how long will it last :(

Thanks!

[alberta_sunshine]

Dizziness and feeling sick were it... still a bit lightheaded but much better.

He was leaving town and didn't have a triplicate prescription pad (which you need for Percocet) so gave me T4s.  Scared me enough that I don't want to be back on them.

What do you take mellie4 for your pain in your joints?  I know, I have decided that narcotics are not the thing to do.  I am now taking Tylenol Arthritis regularly every 8 hours and it helps with some of the pain.  Just seeing my family dr.

[mellie4]

If you've been tapering down and using the T4s as well, you may not have felt the withdrawal.  Now that you're using less (or are out) you may be starting to feel it.  Dizziness can be caused by a lot of things.  Dehydration, an inner ear infection, and other things.  If it's withdrawal, you'll probably start feeling other symptoms soon.  In the meantime, drink plenty of fluids, especially water or clear liquids.  Gatorade is a good choice as well as it helps replace electrolytes.

Personally, I think your doctor was negligent to go off on vacation without making sure you were set with your medications.  I don't understand why he could give you a script for T4s but not for your Percocet.  Is there a reason for that?  Were you out of your prescription early?  Have you always taken your medication as directed?  If he thought you were misusing the Percocet, maybe he gave you the T4s thinking it would help you get off the Percocets.

I have bad arthritis in a lot of joints.  I've been on a lot of narcotics for other pain that came from an unsuccessful surgery.  Personally, I don't really think that narcotics are the best way to treat arthritis, at least not on a continuous basis.  There are a lot of other medications that can help with arthritis that are not narcotic.  Have you tried other pain meds?  And I'm just curious about what type of doctor you're seeing for your arthritis.  

[atthebeach]

Hello and welcome to MH. Yes you are in withdrawal. You body and your brain were used to taking 6 pills a day. So it is detoxing. The dizziness is from dehydration. It is important to drink a lot of fluids,water,juices,gatorade.
Once you totally stop taking the pills it will take about 5-7 days for the acute physical withdrawals to end.
Is dizziness the only symptom you are experiencing?