Percocet..help!

[bluespence]

Hello! I have been taking percocet 7.5/500 for about 9 months. I have been diagnosed with degenerate arthritis in my spine. Like so many people on this site, I am addicted to the percocet. I find myself thinking about it a lot, I always run out early and then get real panicky because I go into withdrawals. It feels like I am dying. I want to get off the meds because it is so hard to get the meds (especially when you take more than you should) but I am scared of the pain I had originally before I started taking pain meds. I am also scared of the withdrawals. Is there medicine that can be prescribed so I won't have ANY withdrawals?? Also, I am going to a pain specialist in a few weeks and wonder how he will deal with the pain. Are there truly any therapies out there that control the pain or is it strictly meds that take away the pain? Part of me is so sick of taking the percocet, tired of feeling nervous when I get low...please help..any suggestions? I don't think I am strong enough to go cold turkey. Plus what about the pain??? Thank you for listening!

[worried878]

chronic pain is a bumber...i am typing with a cervical collar on right now with ice under it to ease the pain....u know after my tolerence built up....nothing/not even narcotics touched my pain anyway...i am trying to hold on as i know it is more painfuul in the long run to use...i could have gotten some yesterday...i was proud that i did not...my joint disease has moved into my jaws and not being exerienced with head pain...only constand neck/back pain...i have been given a new trial and i am over it...WHY ME!...so what do i do...like u i can never get enuf narcotics to keep up with my tolerence as my doctors are upright/respectable doctors...i am 48 but too young to throw my life away to pills....been there done that....all i can say is it is better on the other side...not pain free/not a perfect world...but it is better

[wannabefree330]

Clonidine is a medication that works well during w/d.  It is actually a blood pressure medicine, but helped me with the heart racing, RLS, and even some of the anxiety.  Another one to request is a small supply of xanax or valium.  These will help you with the anxiety and depression you will be facing, and hopefully allow you some sleep the first week.  These are also habit forming so be careful and only get a few (like 10), that way you're not tempted to switch from one drug to another.  So when you go back to him, those are the ones i'd request.  Get yourself some immodium and the other ingredients suggested on the Thomas recipe too.  You'll be surprised how much a vitamin helps when your having bad leg cramps.

[Mandapanda17]

at least you're being honest about liking the high. thats the first step...to admit that you know theres a problem! I know I have a problem. I am still in pain, but the pain would probably be manageable with ibu's or naprosyns. hopefully the doc. can help you, especially if you're honest with him/her. Maybe can help you with a tapering plan. You REALLY have to want to stick to it to do it. mines was h3ll at first, but now its getting easier. some of the anxiety has eased since the beginning of my taper. take care!!

[bluespence]

I just started to see a new Dr and he told me upfront he does not agree with just giving pain peds over and over. He agreed to give me a script, but only if I agree to go to a pain management DR. which I am going on Aug 27th. I have enough meds for about a week, but what then?? I told him upfront I would need something to deal with the w/d's and he stated he knew that and seemed okay with it. I see him again on the 7th so I want to know what I am supposed to do after that? My hope is he will prescrib me something then along with a tapering schedule or something. I can tell I am at the point where this dose I am on now isn't as strong as it was...I used to feel nothing, but now I feel some pain in my neck (not a lot) but just that I notice it! I have to be honest, I do like the high..too!

[Dezdon]

Keep your chin up. I too am looking at w/d's. i have abused my meds am about to run out. I di how ever save 5 20 mg's of oxy and wrote "w/d" on the bottle so i wont touch tem until i am at that point. Now, i wish i would have saved 10 ea. I know its not percocets, but just as bad. I do recommend the taper. then we are both going to have to learn to take the recommended doses or we we will be whining here every time we get close to being out. i know I will be. but writing here is therapeutic when i am suffering. the people here listen and understand and give great words of encouragement and are caring.
  You have to somehow get back to your prescribed doses just like I have to. I personally cant keep going through hell. its to hard on me.
all the best,
-Dez

[GoingToMakeIt]

W/D are nasty, but you live through them. If you made it 3 days, you were almost through the worst part. Tapering can be done too, but it takes much self control. whatever you do, stay away from tramadol. It has a very nasty w/d.
You are right hearing that the pain becomes more manageable after getting off the opiates. It may not go away but it does get less.

[ochooked]

I admire your ability to recognize what the Perc's are doing to you - getting you deeper and deeper until you are like many of us who only wish we were not so addicted.   They are definitely a trap - and if you are not careful your doctor will take the next step and have you on Oxycontin - and then begin upping the dose on those nasty little devils.  Your life will become a living h*ll as every day all you will think about is when you will get your next dose, fill date, etc.  Your kids will certainly not be as important to you as your next 'fix' as you begin the spiral down - -- So, congratulations on your maturity and insight to recognize the problem you are facing - - --- -  Pain can be dealt with much easier that Opiate addiciton.   I encourage you to continue to gather information from the good people on this site - -- - also, you should really have a heart to heart talk with your doctor.  The problem you will face (if you are like many of us) is that you will begin to hide the facts from your doctor until you are really in even deeper  - or even worse - buying on the street.  Almost all of us on this site started with legit pain but then the pills got hold of us and became our God - they make us feel sooooo good until you are really in deep and realize you can't make it without them ---  Best to you - you can and will do this - - there is a lot of help on this site from those who have been just where you are -- - all you need is to reach out to them.

[Mandapanda17]

you're welcome. we're all stuck in this h3ll together! We can do this, one day at a time. I always try to remember that otherwise I panic! We're ALL scared of withdrawal. you'll be ok and keep reading on here, it really helps!! :)

[bluespence]

It is so nice to know I am not the only one scared...those w/d's are awful! Thanks for caring!

[Mandapanda17]

I'm sorry you have to do all that while trying to withdrawal. its really hard.. tapering might be a good idea if you can. I've heard that tramadol can be very addictive too (even though they try to say its not) and will make you have withdrawals similar to those like vicodin, perks, etc. Sooooo, if you can I would try to taper. start at what feels ok for you and then drop 1/2 or 1 pill every 4-7 days if you can and hopefully the withdrawals will be easier to deal with. I know its awful...I'm procrastinating on going CT myself because I'm scared of working during withdrawals. not fun, but we can't go on like this forever. ttys!

[bluespence]

Thanks for the suggestion...actually I have been on pain meds for about two years. Started with Tylenol w/codine, then Vicoden and then Percocet..I have just built up a tolerance to everything so I keep moving up the line. But yeah I keep reading that the w/d's won't last more than a week...but the few times I have been w/o meds for about two to three days it seems those days are the longest days ever...plus I have two kids, I am a single mom and the w/d's really make me unavailable to my kids...that is why I was hoping to have something so I wouldn't have the w/d's

[bluespence]

Thank you for responding. I have tried Tramodol, but it did not even touch the pain..but my Dr put me on 50mg from 7.5/500 of the percocet. I had never heard of Tramadol and when I ask the pharmasist how it compared to the percocet, he said it was way less effective, so I was confused why my Dr took me from such a high dose of percocet to such a low dose of Tramadol...I keep reading that people say after a while of not being on the meds they realize the pain isn't as bad as they thought...I am just scared...

[Mandapanda17]

you could try to do a slow taper. Thats what I'm doing. down to 60mg of hydro a day rather than 70-150mg a day. I honestly think it you were to go CT your withdrawals would only last 4 maybe 5 days. I've been taking these evil pills for about 4 years. I'd LOVE to have been only taking them for 9 months. there isn't really any 'miracle' drug to stop withdrawals. sooner or later you'll have to deal with them. Read the Thomas Recipe on the right side of the screen and the Amino acid protocol and I'm sure those would help a little bit, once you're withdrawing from perks. good luck!! you can do it!!

[GoingToMakeIt]

Sorry it took a while to get to you. Quitting may be a really good idea. As for pain, have you discussed other no-narcotic apin relief? Let them know about the Percocet problem.

[bluespence]

Please help...I don't want this to go to the end of the forum..so I am responding to my own...someone please read and respond..Thank you