Percocet recovery.....day 2

[Hellcat]

Hi all, I am a new member here. I am addicted to percocet. It has been almost 2 years since I have even been a single day without one. This is day 2 of trying to get off of them and I am desperate. I need to know how long the physical withdrawl lasts, and will I always feel like I cant be happy without one?
I am 25, I have a wonderful husband and a beatiful daughter. I dont know anyone else that is addicted to pain pills, or even knows what they are capable of. I called an addiction counselor and tried to get some help yesterday, but all she preached to me about was quitting smoking...which is not my top priority right now. Right now, I just feel like my skin is screaming and my heart and stomache is going to jump out of my throat. I would really like to talk to a recovering pain pill addict, particularly someone who has been recovering from percocet, but I would appreciate ANY responses I get. I dont want to break down and get some more, but I dont know how I will get through another day and night like yesterday. Someone talk to me and tell me that it is eventually possible to live life and feel happiness without a pill.....if it is possible at all.


-Hellcat

[bmac]

Welcome.You need to find the Famous Thomas Recipe listed throughout the forum.It will help the withdrawals a whole lot.
Everyone here is either going thru or have just gone thru this hell you are in right now.Hang tight,take a lot of hot baths and get the recipe.Keep posting and asking questions,Good Luck!!!!
                            bmac

[Bodymechanic]

Why are you putting yourself through the pain of cold turkey. I read an article recently sighting that people who taper do much better in the long run than those that cold turkey. It has something to do with shocking the receptors in your brain.

In my opinion the Thomas recipt is ok for withdrawing but a much better option is a cocktail of clonidine, darvocet, deprenly, immodium and valium at night.  Obviously do not stay on the valium or davocet for more than a week. By that time you will be beyond all of the symptoms except fatigue and depression.  Deprenly will help with fatigue and depression much better the tyrosine alone.  All of these ingredients are available over the internet with the exception of darvocet (a critical ingredient) without a prescription.

If you are taking the percocet because it is the only thing that ever made you feel "normal" read the tread Getting through the weekend.

I am attaching a very important link that everyone here should read.

http://www.biopsychiatry.com/

Peace

[Hellcat]

I forgot to mention, the amount of percocet, vicodin, and tylox (primarily percocet)I have been using on a daily basis. 6 years ago I was introduced to percocet (maybe it was vicodin...no matter, its all the same in one way or another)by a friend who had had a wisdom tooth pulled. I knew nothing about them before that night, though for some reason, I cant ever remember being happy before them....but I guess I was. That whole summer, me and this friend spent every night crushing and snorting pills. One right after the other...it felt great. BUT, I wasnt addicted at that point. When they were gone...it sucked, but it didnt ruin our night...just made us buy more alcohol. After that summer was over, 4 years went by before I even saw one...or thought about one. Then, me and my husband got pregnant. In my 7th month, she sat on my tailbone and refused to move...it caused a great deal of pain and the Dr. gave me vicodin for the remainder of my pregnancy. After she was born (via c section), I came home with my percocet (for the pain of the c section) and by the 3rd day I was calling her telling her the perc was too strong and I needed some vic (LIE, I just wanted to stock up). Of course, it worked. Once all of the pain pills were gone, I tried to get more from her, but it didnt work..so I fell back on "old faithful" as I have lovingly come to call it...my wisdom teeth. I called the dentist and told them that I need 2 wisdom teeth taken out, but I was laid up from a recent birth...asked them to phone me in some...they did. Then I ran him for months and months and months...one bottle after the other. Mind you, to this day I still have my wisdom teeth...and probably always will. But, I digress....When he caught on to me and realised I was never going to let him pull my teeth, he wouldnt give me anymore...so I went on to other dentists. Then I went on to Dr.s. I ALWAYS got what I wanted...or so I thought. I honestly thought that they had no physical harm at all, but I also always told myself that after "this bottle" I will quit, so I must have known they were not good on some level. 2 years later...here I am. I am shaking, my back is KILLING me, my neck hurts, my heart and my stomach jumping...and my legs wont stay still...not sure what that is. I have quit cold turkey...mainly cause I cant get anymore, but also because it is causing my mom to take to her death bed...worrying about me so much. Damn television and the media who tells her they will kill my kidneys! Damn them straight to hell....or heaven...we'll see how I feel 2 weeks from now. I say 2 weeks because thats when I will have atleast another 75 5mg percs at my disposal, not that that even comes close to being enough. Thats only enough for 2 and a half a day. I am accustomed to taking atleast 8 a day, but normally 10 or more. There was no tapering for me...God knows I tried to taper, but I just didnt have the will power to have them here and not take them every time I wanted one...which is all the time. I know that I will get through these next 2 weeks, but only because I have to. I dont have any pills to turn to and for the first time, there is no way to get any. But what happens 2 weeks from now when they will be in my face...will the temptation even have begun to subside by then or will it be just as hard as it would be today....day 2? I am sorry for the long post, but I will blame it on being an addict....thats what I blame a lot of things one these days...but I want to change that.

-Hellcat

[percsnomas]

Hi, and welcome!!
I've been off percocet for >2.5 months; 12-18/day for 3-4 years.
How much were you taking?
Do as bmac suggested: Thomas Recipe and tons of hot baths...
You are in the hardest physical w/d's right now, but the good news is, you will start to feel better real soon(~day 4).
Your body needs to start "firing" again, by producing it's own pain killers(ie. dopamine)...the L-Tyrosine and Vit B-6, that is a part of the recipe, will dramatically help with that.
There are lots of knowledgeable people here, that have been/or going through what you are...YOU ARE NOT ALONE.
Post more about your story and hang in there!!

[Bodymechanic]

Hmmm....I didnt realize that you were a hard case. Seventy five percs in 2 days definately makes you a candidate for profession intervention. At that high of a dose the cocktail will probably not help you much. Also you are far above toxic doses of tylenol. The best option now would be detox with bupenorphine. But if you are doing this just to wait two weeks and then do it all over again, what is the point.

Peace

[percsnomas]

...okay, by the time i posted, you posted again regarding useage.
It's a lit'l early here, but i read that 75 percs(5mg) would normally last only 2.5 days, but then you said usually 8 or 10+ per day normally??? Just wanting some clarification, were you doing 30/day(which obviously has significantly more tylenol) or 10ish??

[vikequeen]

Hey Hell I am right there with you, I am apill adict my faves are percs they make 10mgs now you know, also vikes but lately vicoprofen cause its 7.5 and no tylenol, I have a bad tooth and have been going from dentist to dentist to get them, But last week a dentist gave me nothing, would not , could not did not! Its clear on the xray I need a root canal and right now its not causing me REAL pain but they dont know that but I stopped payment on the check to that Dentist cause He DID not treat me.

I do have some legit probs for painkillers I just hada total hip replacement in may. anyhow I am all out of everything but in a better position than most I have clonidine, klonopin and about 12 valium 10 mg my question is My clonidine is 0.1mg how many do I need to take for withdrwal? I have been in detox a few times and they gave me clonidine and I even have bentyl for stomach pains but how do I take the clonidine like they do in detox places I have only 24 of them so if anyone can help me I will be forever grateful love to ya'll baddgirl

[LizzyM]

HellCat..I KNOW exactly what you are going through!  You are NOT alone.  I found myselft addicted to pain killers last year.  I had 7 surgeries for severe Endometriosis and had been on my  favorite paon med--Percocet more times than I can remember.  Then I started taking Hydrocodone..really got addicted to it.  I have 3 very young children--age 7, and 10 mos old twins..they deserved better than this.  I'm suprised my husband hasn't traded me in for a "normal person " as I saw it.  13 days ago I went to Detox in the Hosp for 5 days.  I did great..then I started having severe Insomina for 3 days straight and had all this energy and slight shakes.  Finally, I couldn't take it anymore..felt like I was going crazy.  I went to a Therapist with my husband and she told me "well, this is part of the withdrawel stage..and you must be patient"!!  Finally, I called this Therapist yesterday and told her that I felt like I was literally going crazy.  After pleading with her to help me she finally called my Family doc to ask for help.  They decided to put me on AMBIEN, for only 2 weeks to help with the anxiety and insomnia..slept pretty good last night with the exception of night sweats.  This is HARD..real HARD!!  I also feel like I am alone and want to cry all the time.  I do know this..the first time I did Detox..I got through it and felt BETTER than ever!!  It DOES get better!  Then, I had surgery again and went down that same road and I REGRET it!!  I do know that I will feel good again soon, and really, these pills are the Devil's work. (and no, I am not some religious freak either..hardly ever go to church).  I want you to know, that there is life without pills, but it is going to be difficult.  Don't stop cold turkey!!  That is crazy!!  Try to lower your dosage, or got to a Detox...there is great support there and they make it so much easier for you with the withdrawals..everytime I woke up with problems..the nurses were there to give meds to help you. You get it over within 4-5 days.  I am going to the Detox Doctor tomorrow to get more help with the night sweats and insomnia.  IT DOES GET BETTER...BUT YOU HAVE TO GIVE IT TIME...I;m still beside myself in tears trying to deal with this..but the last time, once I got through it, I felt so damn good and happy!...Good luck..please let me know how you do.
Take care,
Lizzy

[CATUF]

I'm guessing she meant to say she'd have 25, not 75 -- that would cover 2.5 days at "at least 10 a day."

Hellcat -- What you're going through sounds like me in early September.  I did an extended taper, with my brother being "the keeper of the stash," an have been 100% clean since 9/30/02.  Even with the taper it was a while before I felt anywhere near "normal," let alone good, but here 37 days out I feel better than I have in YEARS.

In August I would have told you that I had never felt as good as I do now, but of course that wasn't true.  Likewise, I would have told you that I was sure I would never feel happy or enthusastic about life w/o my hydro -- not only was that false too, but the opposite was true and had been true for some time.  The hydro (or occasional oxycodone) was sapping all my physical, mental and spiritual energy -- I was literally a walking zombie hanging on to the notion that those little pills were still making me feel the way they did way back when.  In fact, I got very little boost from them anymore.

Gotta run . . . listen to the fine people in here, they know what they are talking about

CATUF

[LizzyM]

I was wondering if anyone has had withdrawals after being completed off of pills for over 12 days?  I feel like ****..my neck is all stiff, head is pounding and still have sleepless nights, sweats, and nausea.  Anyone know anything about this??  I called my Detox doctor and he isn't returning my calls.  My experience has been, you go through Detox with the help and doctors and then they don't give a **** about you as soon as you are released??  I know this is suppose to be hard, but I cannot stop the tears....Anyone have ANY suggestions??  I've tried taking Multi-vitamins, B-6..etc.. just adds to the nausea.  HELP!!  PLEASE!

[athena]

I think the post from Hellcat daid that 75 5mg percs was only enough for 2 1/2 a day.I guess they have to last for 3 weeks.

pixi

[percsnomas]

Thanks, i said it was early when i posted

[athena]

Hi percs.Yeah I know abot the early morning late night posting.Just read some of my confused ramblings.lol I knew you could give encouragement in the percs. dept. How is your day going?Great I hope.It's rainy and cold here in east tenn. I want to have a real fall for once!

pixi

[Bodymechanic]

Give yourself another week. Withdrawal can be stubborn. If you need relief darvocet is an excellent choice. It will completely relieve your symptoms. It is not cross addicting but don't stay on it too long. You can get this over the internet with a costly online consultion.

Peace

[percsnomas]

....it's going great, thanks for asking.
And the mother in law got out of detox today, and is at home with my wife and kids....with a very good attitude(so far so good).
Pretty soon i'll have my first quarter(as in year) under my belt; and it feels awesome.
How are you, and refresh my memory, where you're at...

[guppy]

Hey, everybody (esp. hellcat)! I know how you are feeling. I'm on day 2 of about 1 year of Ultram addiction (about 10-14 a day), but I tapered down to 6 a day lhe last week. I, too have clonidine and don't know how to take it. I keep seeing references to the "Thomas Recipe" and can't find it. Can anyone tell me how to dose the Clonidine and also what that famous recipe is? I'm 33 yrs. old & live a very public lifestyle, there's nowhere I can go for help other than the internet. I'm jumping out of my skin and don't know what to do......
Once I get over this ****- NOTHING ever AGAIN. It's not worth it.  So jumpy I can't type right either. My husband thinks I'm this freaked out because of
quitting smoking. Gotta go!
Thanks!
You can do it hellcat!

[bmac]

What's up my friend? I hope you are doing good.
                       bmac

[hippy]

L-tyrosine 500 mg  8 a day week 1  4 a day weeks following
b-6 100 mg 2 a day
multi vitamine
calsium -magnisum
vitamins  A, C, AND E
zinc
copper
phosphorus
manganese
IMODIUM  for the runs and shits.


GOTORAIDE FOR LOST ELECTOLITES.
BANNAS FOR RESTLESS LEG

[LizzyM]

Thank you so much.  I will try that..I'll let you know how it goes...trying to take care of myself, a 7 year old and and twins!  I am truely exhausted

[percsnomas]

Guppy: I'd add to the recipe above, tons of hot baths/tubs. Don't underestimate the effectiveness of hot soaks.
When i detoxed off percs, i had somewhere around 25 hot-tubs in the first 3 days. Hardly had energy to get out, but it really helped the "just run over with an 18 wheeler feeling".
As far as the Clonidine, i can't help you there(about amounts); but I do know my mother in law just got out of detox this morning, from cocaine, vicoden(15/day), xanax and booze, and said the Clonidine was her life saver.

Bmac: My friend, how are you?? Every day i get on here and expect an update that you're getting your knee done....wassup with the pending "cancellation"?
How has the morphine handled your pain, and what doseage did you settle with? Notice i didn't try to spell the morphine type...i never remember if it ends in the letter m or n.
Tell me whats going on brother...

[vikequeen]

Help! come one come all I need to know about the clonidine also, I need to know the dosages they use in detox. My friend who is a nurse is no help. anyone out there? I know someone has to know this. please please please! LOve Badd

[Bodymechanic]

The usual dosage for clonidine is .2mg 3-4 times per day. If you feel like you are going to pass out when you stand up then your blood pressure is too low and you need to cut back. You will also need immodium and an over the counter sleeping medication.

[puma]

(Hellcat),

I read you mentioning alcohol a couple of times. Are you on the booze too. That will definately complicate your withdrawal and will call for medical intervention for detox if you are heavy on the booze along with all that Tylenol in the opiates. Your liver will be gone soon.

Please read my response to (Tuxwan) farther up the thread about alcohol withdrawal if you drink more than a six pack of beer or pint of the hard stuff everyday or almost everyday, wine included. Alcohol withdrawal can kill you, opiate withdrawal will make you feel like you're gonna die. You can read up on (alcohol withdrawal syndrome) simply by plugging those three words into your search engine.

I wish you luck, keep posting and see an addiction doctor if you have the mix of alcohol and opiates. They should be able to get you through without too much pain and suffering. Take care,

Chatahan........wildcat

[gia]

Guppy
I feel your pain. I got over an addiction to Ultram myself and it was hell. I was only taking 4 then two a day for about 6 months straight. That withdrawal was worse than what I am going through now coming off of Vicoprofren or "hydro" as we call it here. I myself live a public life so i heavily rely on the internet as well. This forum is really great and has helped me through some of my cravings. But I can tell you once the withdrawal is over you are going to feel great again. I took me about a week and a half to feel almost normal again and I used Darvon to get through it as well as Vistaril.(antihistamine that helps you get through the day, not addictive)

Now to everyone about those Darvon, I agree they can help withdrawal but you must be very careful not to abuse them as well. I took only 100 mg for about 4 days, then 50mg 2 days, then 25 mg for two and then I stopped. This is just how I did it but if you are going to use this starting at 100 the tapering off is the best way to go, for this is addictive as well. The reason Darvon can help is because it is a chemical derivative of methadone and a pain reliever weaker than codiene. Now what I am talking about is propoxyphene hydrochloride, which can be confused with propoxyphene napsylate,the weaker version. I prefer Darvon Compound 65 because it has asparin and caffiene as well. I would not reccommend trying this however unles you are coming off of a heavy dose and have severe withdrawal.This method is not a traditonal detox method but it worked for me and some others, but you must taper off and start as low as possible 100- 150mg daily, and remember it's not suppose to make you feel completely normal because no matter what you are gonna have some pain that you are just gonna have to bear.Just don't take  for more than a week please.