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Support with Oxycodone withdrawl
I have been taking oxycodone 10/mg for roughly 5 years now, started out with 5/mg tabs 4x a day, then convinced the Doctor to up the dosage to 10 mgs 4x a day about 3 years ago. The short story is my wife broke her back and pelvis in a horse-riding accident in 2007 and has a pharmacy of her own. I have steadily increased the dosage over the years to about 140/mg a day by using her pharmacy to (steal)supplement my addiction. I have been in recovery from alcoholism (via AA) since 2005 and have not had a drop since I walked thru the doors of AA. I retired in 2009 as a police officer after 20 years of service. I have tried to stop, taper, use the principle's of AA, etc to arrest this disease and have failed miserably each time. I tried NA, as that was the obvious choice for me, but the first couple of meetings were very controversial. I also take ativan for anxiety and paxil for depression. I also take lunesta for help with sleeping. I was told at the NA meetings that these were also "mind and mood altering drugs" and would have to be stopped if I wanted to be considered clean. I agree with that theory in principle, but I don't believe it is the right time for me to stop taking these drugs, especially now. I became very depressed after leaving NA and am relatively clueless of how to proceed from here. I am convinced and have a strong desire to stop taking the oxycodone, because I am convinced it is killing me and my relationship with my wife and friends. I have decided to quit cold turkey and have taken my last pill at 3pm est today~! I was hoping for some feedback and support over the next couple of days. The last time I tried it I made it 48hrs but once I started getting uncontrollable RLS, insomnia, and puking I gave in. I know it is going to be hell, was just hoping to get some suggestions with getting thru it this time!
This forum is awesome, such supportive, compassionate people! Thanks for all the comments and suggestions! Day 1 is over!!!! Surprised to say it wasn't as bad as my head believed it would be. I have the body aches, burning skin, nausea, and the hit by a truck feeling, but that will not kill me! I truly think it helped to get down on my knees and ask my higher power to do his will today(I know his will for me is to stop using), whatever that takes! I also turned the outcome over to him. I really feel almost fearless this time around because I have the mindset AT THIS MOMENT that I would rather die trying to get clean, then die a drug addict! To answer a few of your questions....I did tell my wife I was stealing her drugs, and they are in a safe now. I did that the last time around. I also shared what I am going thru with my inner circle in AA. They are all very supportive and scared for me. I am also considering going back to a few NA meetings to take what I can use and leave the rest.(That's what I always tell newcomers to AA, I also tell them to keep trying meetings till ya find one u like!) Maybe I should humble myself and take my own advice!! Thank God I have the tools of AA to help me with this! I know day 2 and 3 seem to be the most difficult for most, I know last time I quit, I relapsed after 48hrs because of the no sleeping(even with Lunesta) and the vomiting (I had never experienced before), but I believe if I take it as it comes, one day at time......more like a minute at a time for me, I can do this. I am trying to take fear and projection out of the equation for the next couple of days and just treat the symptoms as they come and believe they r only temporary. I have a life to live and I want to live it!! I just have one question at this point. I am in no shape for a meeting today, and most likely won't be for a couple days, Do u guys and gals force yorself to meetings during the first 3 or 4 days? Thanks again for all the support and suggestions offered, if I can help anyone thru this by sharing my experience, please don't hesitate to contact me.
This forum is awesome, such supportive, compassionate people! Thanks for all the comments and suggestions! Day 1 is over!!!! Surprised to say it wasn't as bad as my head believed it would be. I have the body aches, burning skin, nausea, and the hit by a truck feeling, but that will not kill me! I truly think it helped to get down on my knees and ask my higher power to do his will today(I know his will for me is to stop using), whatever that takes! I also turned the outcome over to him. I really feel almost fearless this time around because I have the mindset AT THIS MOMENT that I would rather die trying to get clean, then die a drug addict! To answer a few of your questions....I did tell my wife I was stealing her drugs, and they are in a safe now. I did that the last time around. I also shared what I am going thru with my inner circle in AA. They are all very supportive and scared for me. I am also considering going back to a few NA meetings to take what I can use and leave the rest.(That's what I always tell newcomers to AA, I also tell them to keep trying meetings till ya find one u like!) Maybe I should humble myself and take my own advice!! Thank God I have the tools of AA to help me with this! I know day 2 and 3 seem to be the most difficult for most, I know last time I quit, I relapsed after 48hrs because of the no sleeping(even with Lunesta) and the vomiting (I had never experienced before), but I believe if I take it as it comes, one day at time......more like a minute at a time for me, I can do this. I am trying to take fear and projection out of the equation for the next couple of days and just treat the symptoms as they come and believe they r only temporary. I have a life to live and I want to live it!! I just have one question at this point. I am in no shape for a meeting today, and most likely won't be for a couple days, Do u guys and gals force yorself to meetings during the first 3 or 4 days? Thanks again for all the support and suggestions offered, if I can help anyone thru this by sharing my experience, please don't hesitate to contact me.
Congrats on your decision to go cold turkey. I am on day 35 off of vicodin 5/500, between 5-10 a day almost everyday for a year and a half. I had a horrible rock climbing injury and before I knew it, my body needed them to not be sick. I just could not take it anymore. I am also on Lunesta and Valium, as I have extreme anxiety, insomnia and PTSD from being raped as a virgin teen. The w/ds are scarier in our own minds. YOU can DO this. Epsom salt baths to relax, I found some melatonin/valerian root to help me sleep from the health food store. Also Sedalia, a natural anxiety, stress reliever. Stay hydrated, B vitamins, multi vitamins...and you will be fine...I will have you in my thoughts. You have my support!
Belle
Belle
You have taken the first step and are in the right place. Remember there is light at the end of the detox tunnel, even though it takes you to darrrrk places! Stealing from family isn't unusual to get your "fix" I've done it from my grandmas "pharmacy" as well. We do strange, uncharacteristic things in our disease. Just stay the course one day at a time. Stock up on Imodium, that really helped my wd symptoms! Not just the bowel issues but also the sweating, runny nose, and restlessness.
I would strongly encourage you to open up to your AA friends. They won't judge you, you have the mind of an addict whether its alcohol, opiates, benzos, etc. Do you abuse your Ativan or Lunesta? I would definitely proceed with caution, especially with Ativan. Also, does your wife know you've been stealing her meds? You need to tell her and have her lock them up in a safe. Sounds extreme but that what we had to do with my hubby's Vicodin. He has them when he needs them (like once a month or less, lucky normie!) and they are inaccessible to me.
No judgement from me, no matter what you do. Remember we have all been there. I'm on day 6 of opiate detox and doing ok. You will be ok too my friend, I promise. Just stay clean.
I would strongly encourage you to open up to your AA friends. They won't judge you, you have the mind of an addict whether its alcohol, opiates, benzos, etc. Do you abuse your Ativan or Lunesta? I would definitely proceed with caution, especially with Ativan. Also, does your wife know you've been stealing her meds? You need to tell her and have her lock them up in a safe. Sounds extreme but that what we had to do with my hubby's Vicodin. He has them when he needs them (like once a month or less, lucky normie!) and they are inaccessible to me.
No judgement from me, no matter what you do. Remember we have all been there. I'm on day 6 of opiate detox and doing ok. You will be ok too my friend, I promise. Just stay clean.
Hi & Welcome..I went c/t from 3 meds and one of them was a benzo..You just do what is right for you..We just had a discussion about this in one of my NA last night..They are not there to tell you what or how or why you need to do what you should do..Only there to share there individual experiences and how it is working for them and hope that you can come completely clean some day..Some meds people just have to have and no one know but You & the Dr..I have not had a drink in over 8 years but I just Love my AA..Try going back to them..they seem to be very cross addiction now..Alot of people in there also have to be on some sort of meds too!! I do wish you well and just go to the meetings and take what helps and leave the rest behind. Time will tell what has to be Told!!!
Bless
Bless
If you are handling the drugs that you're being prescribed to for anxiety, depression and insomnia, and there is no problem with them, then it is not an issue for discussion. When and if it becomes a problem is when you ask for help. If I were you I would check out another NA meeting, and divulge your wish for support for quitting your narcotics addiction. You deserve the support from the program for the wonderful job you are doing, or are going to be doing, quitting the drug that became the problem. If in time, you say you may address the other drugs, power to you. Please remember, you take what you need from the program, it is your right as much as anyone's to garner from it what you need, and leave the rest. Hang in there, I quit the oxy's and after (quite) a few good cries, got on with life, relatively unscathed in a couple weeks. Good luck to you, and thanks for your 20 years of service in the PD.
Hey buddy
You are in the right place !! With the opiates we really need to stick it out for a few weeks before we start to reap the rewards. That is why it is so hard to kick them,in my opinion. I agree that if you are using the benzo as prescribed that now is not the time to quit that.
You will probably feel pretty bad for about 3-5 days and then the anxiety and depression will still be with you for another 15-30 days.I came off of an almost identical amount of oxy once and the magic number for me on that was about 19 days. I also suffer from depression but regular depression is a walk in the park compared to opiate induced withdrawal depression.It will get better though just remember that every day you get through you will be healing and by day 30 you will really feel fairly normal and be glad you did this. Keep posting. There are a ton of people here who will help you and give you tricks and tips to make this way easier
You are in the right place !! With the opiates we really need to stick it out for a few weeks before we start to reap the rewards. That is why it is so hard to kick them,in my opinion. I agree that if you are using the benzo as prescribed that now is not the time to quit that.
You will probably feel pretty bad for about 3-5 days and then the anxiety and depression will still be with you for another 15-30 days.I came off of an almost identical amount of oxy once and the magic number for me on that was about 19 days. I also suffer from depression but regular depression is a walk in the park compared to opiate induced withdrawal depression.It will get better though just remember that every day you get through you will be healing and by day 30 you will really feel fairly normal and be glad you did this. Keep posting. There are a ton of people here who will help you and give you tricks and tips to make this way easier
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