Percocet side effects and withdrawal, please help!

[nancy]

I have been on Percocet for 4 months for a herniated disk.  I was taking half a day, then one a day, then up to 6 a day.  Then I started having awful side effects.  My back pain got worse, my tongue was swelling some, and had stomach pain too.  Then I had my lumbar injection and the pain got worse.  I am scared this is an allergic reaction.  I had my lumbar steroid injection, and the pain got worse, so my Dr prescribed Tylenol 4.  I haven't taken the Percocet in over a day now, as it has scared me.  I took the Tylenol 4 only twice yesterday.  Last night however, I woke up drenched in cold sweat.  Is this from stopping the Percocet?  My bowel movements have even changed color to a lighter shade, and that's what scared me too.  I am trying to get off these myself, and want to know what I am going to end up going through.    Do I need to not take the Tylenol 4 too?  Now, I am scared to take anything, but also don't want to die from taking the Percocet when the pain gets bad.  If a take half a Xanax, will that help to get through this?  This is terrible, and I don't wish this on anyone.

[kjay201626]

Hello  My name is Keith and i to went cold turkey and its no fun! i cant sleep right now  and it *****. I hope tomorrow is a better day as the leg pain is keeping me up! how long will this last?

[Kokobeware]

I'm 3 days without and I am just like you, I had NO IDEA other people were just like me. I have hideous leg aches and an awful time sleeping. No one knows I am going through this and this is the first time I have posted. It's obvious that something is wrong with me but it looks like the flu. I am soooo tired of taking pills. I cannot go on chasing this monster so I am suffering through this miserable cold turkey. We don't have to live like this. We can rejoin the world and you can run that race with your BF. We have to make it through this part first, then long term non usage. Life should not be dominated by these freaking PILLS. Help us Jesus!

[bmcmoss]

Wow, I really didn't know there were other people out there with the same exact thoughts.  I dread picking up my Rxs.  The pharmacy assistants just look at you or it's my guilt imagining them looking at me.  I've only been on percocets for 2 years or so.  I'm 2 days w/o right now and having an awful time.  My legs ache, I have no energy but can't sleep.  I took an ambien last night to get a few hours so I could survive work.  I can see the future of being healthy and I know I can do this...i just don't want to slip into popping pills....it's so easy and feels so good.  My best friend is running her first 5k this month after losing 80 pounds...I promised I would join her next year.

[seemural]

This is SO NOT TRUE. Just because you 'feel better' after taking the pain medicine does NOT mean you are 'addicted'. The original question should have been asked of the prescribing physician- not posted to the internet where you can get so many wrong, ignorant, AND DANGEROUS answers.

Please- IF ANY OF YOU are trying to decrease your medications- do it under the supervision of the prescribing physician for the safest results with the last withdrawal side effects. If you don't feel comfortable with the prescribing physician anymore, then go to a different one- preferably one who specialises in treating pain, or to a clinic which helps people stop taking narcotics. THOSE are the only people we should be listening to.

[knc911]

I hope you stuck it out. I was on 6 percocet 10's, 3 Roxycodone 15 mg, xanax for anxiety, flexeril and ambien to sleep..daily. 1 back surgery, 2 shoulder surgeries and 4 herniated discs in my neck. I didn't feel well most of the time, felt,"uncomfortably numb. My daughters saw me slipping away to a quiet, reclusive person, I felt embarrassed to pick up my scripts, as I always felt people were judging me. I never took more than prescribed, but my body was definitely addicted. 2 months ago I got a book by Dr. Mercola, "Take Control of Your Health" and I did just that. The first 7-10 days were horrible, restless leg, sweats, emotional, loose bowl movements, headaches, nausea. I lay crying on the floor and asked God to help me stick to my chosen path. (I had 180 Percs & 90 Roxys in my cupboard) I never even thought of breaking down. Once the withdrawl part was over, my back pain took the driver seat, heating pads, ice packs, Bengay ect.  it took me over 2 weeks to be able to sleep on my own. I am in CA and have a medical marijuana card, never liked it or smoked it before, but I heard people use it for headaches, pain and sleeplessness. It worked, it took the edge off and a lot of the symptoms, also did a lot of hot baths with dead sea salt. After about 2 weeks total, I started the YMCA, walking on the treadmill. I could only go about 5 minutes and felt dizzy and light headed. I pushed on, through the back pain, and every movement of my legs were painful. 2 1/2 months I am off all the meds and running/walking 2 miles a day. I take rests from the gym 2-3x's a week, but when I don't go my body starts to hurt again. Building my core with running/walking, circuit weight training and shooting basketballs to break it up sometimes, has kept me going and happy. I also met a few others there doing the same thing or 1 lady, a nurse, has been there for 5 yrs now since she quit pills after a bad car accident. The Roxycodone are like Oxycontin and are really horrible to withdrawl from, but you can do it. I was on them for 15 yrs!! Good luck and remember all those miserable symptoms don't last.  "Tough Times Don't Last, Tough People Do."  Robert Shueller

[azzpain]

hello,i have withdraled 2 or 3 times the only thing that works is ativan