Withdrawl from Oxycotin

[KevinG]

I have been on a different pain killer for the past 7 months due to a knee injury. I started on hydrocodone/apap 7.5/500. After about a month, I stated to the doc that it didn't seem as if the pills were working, so he uped me to 10/650. I stayed on these up until my knee replacement last month, to when he discharged me with Oxycotin. I am now finishing with part of my therapy, and am trying to wein myself from the pain meds.
I've been taken to the ER twice thinking I was having heart attacks, been having shortness of breathe, chest pains, headaches, anxiety attacks, vomiting.
I was diagnosed as starting withdrawl, and prescribed Ativan.
How long should I expect these symptoms to remain, and is there anything other besides putting me on more drugs?
Thanks.

[skipper]

BeenThere:
welcome to the forum! there is always room for one more, so come on
in! i do hope you will keep posting, as we all need each others expierence, strength, and hope. p,lease post a little closer to the
top of the forum. see it's real easy to get overlooked in the base-
ment." hope to be hearing more from you!
keep an angel on your shoulder
kip

[BeenThere]

It's been 8 years and 15 operations and what I know about withdrawal is extensive . First compare the quality of life you have while on oxy then to laugh when you realize that withdrawal is the price you paid for all those days you felt like a member of the healthy. people around you wont ever understand how chronic pain can totally ruin you to the point of suicide . For 8 years I have gone on and off all the pain meds each one has a wicked withdrawals but its a small price to pay for so much relief .when you do go off oxycontin be smart prepare your self for two weeks of hell the first week is the hardest you need tons of fluids to flush out and add herbal vitamins witch you should have been taking all the way.
One help in this miserable week one is valerian root and B2 B12 and 3000mgs of C a day . Even though you will have diarrhea this is a must if you don't you first week could be worse X100.
So be smart plan for withdrawals plain to be very sick don't let this happen while you begging doctors to help its to late if you need to ask for more . Use it for life "Quality of Life" not to substitute .

[skipper]

it truely saddens me to hear of the loss of your 21 year old nephew
and the other young person you also mentioned. i however must dis-
agee with your oppinions about oxy-contin. as dangerious as this
narcotic drug is, it's what enables me to live a relatively normal life. since 1997 i have been in chronic intractable pain from damaged and since removed cervical discs. in the past 2 years i've had 2 major surgerys to further stablize my spine in the cevical region. last winter my neuro-surgeon told me that one of the fusion sites had failed and i would have to undergo more surgery. two days later found me with a shot gun in my mouth! judge me as you care too, i had lost all hope of an exitence without +9 pain level. oxy-contin has been one of the only drugs that has allowed  me to function. instead of taking oxy-contin off the market and depriving people who truly suffer, how about looking into this problem a little more closely. the media (newspapers, magazines, tv, etc) have a howling good time going hysterical about this drug. maybe you don't see the connection here, but i do. you yourself claim to have never heard of this drug untill 2 weeks ago. maybe if the media had not made such a fuss about it--well maybe your nephew wouldn't have heard about it either.
i will pray for you and the rest of your family, as you deal with
a truly devastating loss.
keep an angel on your shoulder
kip

[bsw4saw]

After reading the comments I would just like to add that two weeks ago my 21 tyear old nephew died from an oxycotin drug overdose and less than one week later 20 miles away another kid broke into a house, stole a oxycotin perscription and ingested them.  He realized that he was in trouble and went to the local hospital for help but was turned away.  Feeling at a complete loss in dealing with his stupidity he took his life by jumping off a bridge.  Oxycotin has been on the market for approximately three years and has over 1,000 deaths attributed to it.  Young people are getting into and not understanding the full implications of what it can do are playing with fire.  This is a drug that is far too dangerous to be on the market and something has to change.  Where we are we never heard of oxycotin until two weeks ago, now the name plagues our thoughts.  Don't take it.

[jennyfla]

Wow, what a bright future you have ahead of you... Definately another reason to stop this madness before it gets worse!!!!
You will grow to hate the drugs more and more as they take more and more of your life away from you.  You have so much going for you, it would be ashame to have something as senseless as some little pills take away all your dreams, and they will if you don't clean up soon!
Your parents will tire of your excuses, and they will begin to trust you less and less, if it hasn't already happened.  Sounds like you have a good support group with your friends, look at them as examples of what life can be without the drugs.  
Keep reading all these wonderful posts on this forum, these people are just out of this world with all their advice and recommendations; a group straight from heaven!!!
You will need to fight harder than anything else you have ever fought for, especially going into the medical field, you will always have this hanging over your head, and the temptation will always be there.  I really hope that you can straighten up and know what is most important in your life, YOU, not the pills!
I'm talking to myself as i'm typing this too, so don't think that i am wagging an almighty finger at you, i'm working on myself as i type these words.
Good luck to you, you sound like you have a good head on your shoulders, and know deep down what you need to do in order to have a successful life.  You sound like you are just sick and tired of the problems these pills are causing just enough to know what you need to do!!!!
Best of luck to you, and me too for that matter!
Stay strong, and stay with this forum, they really can help you help yourself!!!!!
:)
Lv Jenny

[jennyfla]

What a great story kip, thank you for sharing that, i really benefitted from all you said too! :)
I think you're pretty special your own self, and i hope that you are feeling better...  you sound better than you did earlier in the week, and i'm praying for you!  We will all have our weak moments, just don't let them swallow you up, you're too special to ever loose!
Just wanted to say thank you!!!!
Love and prayers, Jenny