Weaning of Oxycontin

[Lindy]

Can someone please tell me if I am currently taking 30 mg Oxycontin 2 times a day is it possible to wean myself off this medication without any of the terrible side effects that come with it? Can I slowly taper off without the depression and the willies and everything else that goes along with it? I have been on this medication for 8 months. I take it for Fibro. I have had it with the running out too soon. Vacations ruined because I have run out. Visits to emergency rooms in towns where I am on vacation. I want to try to wean off myself first then get outside help if I cant do it alone. But can someone tell me how  can do this?  Thank you for reading this and any response you can give.

[Brian to Sick and Scared]

Duragesic patches seem to be the medication most abused by anesthesiologists.  Fentanyl is a synthetic opiate somewhere between 50 and 100 times the strength of morphine.  It has been used in anesthesia since the 1970's but wasn't available for the treatment of pain until the transdermal patch came out in I believe 1991 or so.  It is a great medication for severe, chronic pain.  Tom, I would not ask for fentanyl if you are currently receiving Darvon and Vicodin.  Most doctors don't prescribe it unless there is SEVERE and chronic pain.  It is most often prescribed to cancer patients.  Since you are taking relatively weak painkillers at present (compared to fentanyl) it is likely your doctor will think you are a drug seeking addict.  Furthermore, the ortho's usually want to operate to control pain.  The next step for you if your pain isn't adequately controlled, and if surgery isn't an option, would likely be a long-acting narcotic such as oxycontin.  With respect to Xanax and other benzodiazepines, your other post was right on the money.  They are highly addictive and are only appropriate either for very short term treatment (2 weeks or less) or for patients who do not respond to other, less addictive medications.  What you describe is a rebound anxiety caused by the brain and body becoming used to the sedating effects of the drug.  When the drug wears off, anxiety returns worse than before, and hence more of the drug is taken to combat the rebound anxiety.  It is a bad cycle.  As to permanent effects, the scientific community is divided.  Most people seem to return to their baseline within a few months after getting off the benzos.  Finally, it is worth noting that in Germany the most prescribed drugs for anxiety are Valerian and Kava.  Valerian acts similarly to benzos without the side effects or withdrawal syndrome.  Kava also seems to work quite well for anxiety.  Both work well for sleep.  Before going on either it is essential to check with your physician due to potential serious interactions between any medications you are taking and the herbal medications.

[tom to Bob]

you're in the common position of needing opiates for legitimate reasons but also liking the hell out of them. Welcome, oh new member of the ever expanding club. I think it's terrific you've found Duragesic. Maybe the controlled nature of the time-release patch will save you. Of course, I've heard of people putting on double patches (wouldn't you know it?). Fentanyl (duragesic) is big-time narcotics. It's the one they usually mean when they say "designer" heroin or words to that effect. More power to you, Bob. Controlled time-release of potent narcs may be the formula you can finally live with. It's worth all of us noting ... but of course I'm waiting to hear what Brian thinks (no sarcasim intended, Brian, your posts are always interesting and enlightening). I'm going to an orthopedic surgeon on Friday -- referred by my family doc who keeps me in Darvon alternating months with Vicodin. I have three "degenerative disks," one with a significant degree of bulge (what a phrase ... you can tell I'm not a doctor). Should I ask him about Duragesic? Or is it such serious stuff that I will instantly bring on all sorts of tests and treatments just to be on it? I've had surgery once and am not seeking more. Rather, I would settle for non-invasive therapy and maintenance pain meds. This is to Brian, Bob or anyone experienced in this stuff.

[bob]

I have had 8 major back surgeries and am only 36. I had lost the ability to do much of anything more than go to work (desk job) and go home and sit. I was evaluated and attempted several pain mgt. clinics all with no success. I have taken and overtaken every conceivable narcotic analgesic and all wound me up in some sort of detox (either alone or supervised) because the Dr.'s refused to continue to write scripts as fast as I was burning through them. I have detoxed more times than I care to count. I too have had every vacation in recent memory ruined by a trip to an ER somewhere. I have seen more Er's in 36 years than most 10 others see ever.

Then, out of sheer desperation I went to one of the clinics that our local teaching hospital (OHSU) has in the area. When i walked in I decided to lay all my cards on the table. I went in, I explained my history....how I've never been able to take a prescription as prescribed...how I've been fired from more Dr.'s than most people ever see...etc.

He did more for my pain than anyone ever. He prescribed a pain patch for me called Duragesic (fentenyl). It's like a stop smoking patch that I apply to my skin and for 3 days it delivers a measured dose of the BEST pain medication I've ever used. I'm currently wearing a 50 mcgh (micrograms per hour) size which means that I have two more sizes before I reach the top size...then they saay I can wear more than one at a time if I get to that point.

I have my life back!!! I can have sex, go golfing, water ski, and bowl all in the same day without winding up in the hospital for 3-4 days, I did it this weekend!! I sleep at night, I have an appetite again, and the best part for me is that I don't have to worry about pills. He is still prescribing me 7.5mg Percocet for breakthrough, but I usually wind up taking my whole months supply in a few days, so next month I'm gonna' tell him no more of those.

Anyway, for those of us tired of pills and trying to manage an unmanageable situation....maybe these can help you too!!!

Good luck everyone, from one grateful addict.

Bob

[patrick]

Stay away from Xanax....halusinations are typical when you quit..I flipped out when I stopped..thought I was going to die..anybody know how long oxy is detected in system..been taking 40 mg twica a day for almost 3 months....also how will I stop w/o great trauma...thanks

[To tom,Lindy From Bonnie]

I am on Pamelor twice daily and xanax .05 x5 times a day.I tried going off my xanax but could not stand it.I thought I was going crazy,what a horrible feeling .I am so scared ,to be honest I dont feel I am strong enough to get off this stuff,I know it sounds like a cop out but its my honest feelings.I have never been so freightend in my life.To make things worse I have been hospitalized 4 timesprior to even starting oxycontin/percocet.I swore then I would never go backto the hospital ,but now I have another bridge to cross ,going off the opiates and keeping my sanity.I have read many inspirational storieson here but still have not gotten to the point where I can say "I can beat this".thanks to you all and keep up the couragious paths you have taken. Bonnie

[From Aunt Lindy to Mariah]

Hi Tom,
Thank God I rarely take the Xanax! I probably take it .50 four times a month.  I take it to sleep. I CANNOT take it during the day because it just makes me way to groggy.  Thank you for your email. After seeing all the Xanax questions on this site I thank god that I rarely take it!