Aa
Difference between Percocet and oxycontin?
i had knee surgery at end of Dec. and am just now coming off the pain pills and am going nuts. I'm sure its the percocet but am alittle confused about the difference between Percocet and the oxycontin as they both have said....OXYCODONE... on the label is the oxy just a time release percocet?
its the same med// 1 is immt release..one is time released over 12 hr period..but there both oxycodone..good pain killers
I wanted to respond to your original questions AND I wanted to elaborate on what Tuck said about rebound pain.
I've taken norco (10mg hydrocodone/325 tylenol) for over a year and only recently realized what rebound pain was and how serious it could be.
Rebound pain can be every bit as bad as your original pain, the difference between that and the original pain is rebound pain goes away within a few days to a couple weeks. It is easy to mistake rebound pain for your everyday pain and I did that for the longest time until I decided to lower my dose of pain medicine and then stop completely for a few days to "restart" my body. I had a theory that if it some of it was rebound pain that after a couple days it would ease up some and then when I started taking the pain medicine again I'd need less because my actual pain would be less. I was right and I'm now on 1/2 the dose I took before.
Also, it's good your doctor gave you ambien but if it gives you any bad side effects like grogginess the next day Id suggest trying an OTC med like Unisom. I personally prefer the sleepgels because they work better than an equal amount of the tablets for me. A side effect of weaning off of narcotic pain meds is insomnia and it too can last a while. It might be why you've had trouble sleeping at night.
I've taken norco (10mg hydrocodone/325 tylenol) for over a year and only recently realized what rebound pain was and how serious it could be.
Rebound pain can be every bit as bad as your original pain, the difference between that and the original pain is rebound pain goes away within a few days to a couple weeks. It is easy to mistake rebound pain for your everyday pain and I did that for the longest time until I decided to lower my dose of pain medicine and then stop completely for a few days to "restart" my body. I had a theory that if it some of it was rebound pain that after a couple days it would ease up some and then when I started taking the pain medicine again I'd need less because my actual pain would be less. I was right and I'm now on 1/2 the dose I took before.
Also, it's good your doctor gave you ambien but if it gives you any bad side effects like grogginess the next day Id suggest trying an OTC med like Unisom. I personally prefer the sleepgels because they work better than an equal amount of the tablets for me. A side effect of weaning off of narcotic pain meds is insomnia and it too can last a while. It might be why you've had trouble sleeping at night.
Thanks both of you! You guys have been a real help. i gave my wife the oxycontin to throw away, and am sticking to the splitting the percocets. I have been doing ok during the day its just that i can't sleep at night now. I saw my Doc today and he yelled at me for not calling him two weeks ago when this all started and gave me some ambein (sp?) and reinforced what you guys said about stopping the oxycontin and cutting back on the percs by cutting them in half. He said he could give me some 5's if i wanted them but i told him i was good. Thanks again for helping me understand all this!
I completely agree with everything Tuck said about stopping....I would eliminate the Oxycontin first, and then split the percocets into halfs, and then stretch the times between pills. You can even split the percocet into quarters if you really feel it to be necessary. You CANNOT split oxycontin EVER. And as Tuck said, seek the advice of your physician for this process also. Your doctor knows your entire history, and may have different recommendations for weaning. Depending on how long you plan for this weaning process, you also have the option of going on a lower dose of percocet (like 5's instead of 7.5's), and then splitting those in half, and quarters, increasing time between pills, etc.
Good Luck, and sorry it took so long to reply again:)
Good Luck, and sorry it took so long to reply again:)
Your symptoms will get better as time goes on and your body adjusts to be without the opiate....or on lower levels of an opiate. As you wean down you will experience withdrawal symptoms.
It is easier to wean gradually than it is to go cold turkey, which is never advisable. However there is no way to avoid withdrawal symptoms completely. Sorry they will make you feel like you are going crazy.
I know that you asked Optimus when you should "just stop" but I would also like to respond to that question. Always discuss it with your physician. You are no longer on a significant dose of percocet. By "Oxy" I think you mean OxyContin. That has a 12 - 24 hour life span. You may want to stop taking the Oxy and use the Percocet to help you through the withdrawal symptoms. But again discuss this with your physician.
Don't be surprised if your pain increases as your decrease and than stop your opiates. It is not uncommon to experience what is called "rebound pain" when ceasing an opiate. That too should clear up in a week or two. Usually the shorter time you have been on an opiate the less severe the withdrawal symptoms. This is not true for everyone of course. Four months is not a long time but certainly long enough for your system to become accustomed to the drug.
Best of luck.
It is easier to wean gradually than it is to go cold turkey, which is never advisable. However there is no way to avoid withdrawal symptoms completely. Sorry they will make you feel like you are going crazy.
I know that you asked Optimus when you should "just stop" but I would also like to respond to that question. Always discuss it with your physician. You are no longer on a significant dose of percocet. By "Oxy" I think you mean OxyContin. That has a 12 - 24 hour life span. You may want to stop taking the Oxy and use the Percocet to help you through the withdrawal symptoms. But again discuss this with your physician.
Don't be surprised if your pain increases as your decrease and than stop your opiates. It is not uncommon to experience what is called "rebound pain" when ceasing an opiate. That too should clear up in a week or two. Usually the shorter time you have been on an opiate the less severe the withdrawal symptoms. This is not true for everyone of course. Four months is not a long time but certainly long enough for your system to become accustomed to the drug.
Best of luck.
We have never really talked about except for him to say to try and stop using the oxy twice a day and lean more on the percocect which i started to do. i went to one oxy at night and used to percs during the day, but as soon as i cut back on the percs during the day my body started to freak out so i thought it was the percs doing it. The worst part now is i can't sleep well or even sit still for a long time. Getting better just trying to fig out how to stop altogether with out going crazy. Thanks for sharing with me!
Thanks for clearing that up. Yes i am coming off of them now and am having a hard time but things are getting better. For awhile i just thought i was going nuts. This forum has really helped, My wonderful wife found this stuff Hylands Restless Legs (after i read about it on this site) and i finally got some sleep last night! i am weaning myself off but not sure how long i should drag it out and how. i have been taking 7.5/325 percocet and 10 mg oxycontin i still have some of both. i am down to 1 percocet a day (1/2 in mid am and 1/2 mid pm) and 1 oxy at night. At what point should i just stop? Thanks for any input this is a great site!
Hi CJ.
Welcome to the Pain Mangement Forum. I am glad that you found us and took the time to post.
Optimus has provided you with a good explanation of Percocet and OxyContin. I have the same question. Is your surgeon weaning you off the narcotics.
When I had a MVA that left me in the hospital for almost six months I had over 24 surgical procedures. I was on large amounts of IM and oral narcotics. My surgeon knew nothing about weaning me off. He assured me I would not become addicted to narcotics because they were being used by my body to fight the pain. He was correct of course, I wasn't addicted...but my body was dependant. He never discussed that with me. I foolishly thought I would return to my normal life upon discharge and refused his offer for a RX for Percocet. I went through 24 hours of withdrawals before I realized what was happening to me.
That surgeon was one of the best in the state. Indeed he was instrumental in saving my life. However he knew nothing about opiates, dependancy or withdrawals. You may have to educate your surgeon a bit.
I wish you the best and hope you will let us know how you are doing.
Take Care,
~Tuck.
Welcome to the Pain Mangement Forum. I am glad that you found us and took the time to post.
Optimus has provided you with a good explanation of Percocet and OxyContin. I have the same question. Is your surgeon weaning you off the narcotics.
When I had a MVA that left me in the hospital for almost six months I had over 24 surgical procedures. I was on large amounts of IM and oral narcotics. My surgeon knew nothing about weaning me off. He assured me I would not become addicted to narcotics because they were being used by my body to fight the pain. He was correct of course, I wasn't addicted...but my body was dependant. He never discussed that with me. I foolishly thought I would return to my normal life upon discharge and refused his offer for a RX for Percocet. I went through 24 hours of withdrawals before I realized what was happening to me.
That surgeon was one of the best in the state. Indeed he was instrumental in saving my life. However he knew nothing about opiates, dependancy or withdrawals. You may have to educate your surgeon a bit.
I wish you the best and hope you will let us know how you are doing.
Take Care,
~Tuck.
They are both Oxycodone, but Percocet is the faster acting instant release medicine which also contains tylenol, and is typically taken every 4-6 hours, OR as needed for breakthrough pain when used in conjunction with an extended release med. Oxycontin is the long lasting extended relief form of oxycodone that does not contain tylenol, and is typically taken every 12 hours.
So you are coming off of them now? Are you weaning yourself off them?
If you have any further questions, feel free:)
So you are coming off of them now? Are you weaning yourself off them?
If you have any further questions, feel free:)
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Pain Management Community
Find out how beta-blocker eye drops show promising results for acute migraine relief.
Could it be something you ate? Lack of sleep? Here are 11 migraine triggers to look out for.
Find out if PRP therapy right for you.
Tips for preventing one of the most common types of knee injury.
Here are 10 ways to stop headaches before they start.
Tips and moves to ease backaches
