Percocet 5/325 - Hi all I am new to this support group. I am on the suboxone group, having been an?

Hi there Lady from... this is ... welcome to this site... yes, you are in the suboxone support group site although not everyone here is on suboxone... this site is welcome to all... so welcome.
I was taking around 15 Lortabs... which is hydrocodone and acetaminophen. Mine were 10/325. Yes, that was WAY, WAY too much acetaminophen. The maximum amount of acetaminophen allowed per day should be no more than 4000 mg. But when you are addicted, like I was, sometimes you take amounts that are over the limit to satisfy the addictive cravings. As Mary suggested, you might want to have your liver enzymes tested (called LFTs, for liver function tests) to see how your liver handled and is handling this much acetaminophen. My LFTs were OK... and if you are a fairly healthy person, other than your addiction to percs, yours should hopefully be OK also. But your liver, over time, cannot handle this much and eventually will show signs of toxicity. I was lucky. Anyway...

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From your question, I do not know if you are still on that much percocet or if you have started suboxone treatment. I chose to go the suboxone route instead of weaning off the opiates or going cold turkey. I had done this once before and the withdrawals were awful. With suboxone you can get off of the percs escaping the withdrawals and also by helping your brain "to heal" so to speak, at the receptor site level. So many folks on this site came to my aid and helped me through the rough time I had at the beginning... the going through the 24 hr. WD that is necessary before starting suboxone, and the terrible feelings of guilt, self loathing, etc., that comes from knowing you are an addict and wanting so desperately to be off of them and become "clean.". I cannot tell you how wonderful this folks here were for me... Jill, Coby, Von, Patti, Laurie, Sweet Lemon, pledge, Thor, and many many more... they all helped me through for what I am eternally grateful. So you are in the right place.
If you are thinking about going on suboxone (couldn't tell from your question) and need some help with that, as Mary and Laurie suggested, look at pattishan61's profile. Patti is the resident "guru"here on this site for suboxonel. You will gain a plethora of knowledge from reading her posts and profile.
There are a few guys here who started about the same time as I, a little sooner, but still within a month or so. We can all help and support you too. I presently am on 2 mg twice a day of the suboxone strips. Suboxone is working well for me, eliminating the cravings and giving me the feeling that I DO have a chance to be completely free. I say this because, as you probably know, part of suboxone is an opiate--buprenorphine. Bupe has a higher affinity for the opiate receptor and sort of kicks off any other opiate. It also does not cause you to need more and more because of building up a tolerance like other opiates. The other part of suboxone has a med that helps to eliminate cravings. Since bupe is an opiate it also will have to be weaned down to avoid WDs. Patti has outlined a taper plan that is successful and can and will (definitely by me) be used when the time comes to wean.
Suboxone is only meant to be a tool to overcoming opiate addiction... the other tools are getting an addiction counselor, and participating in some type of support group.
Anyway Lady, this might be info that you already know, but if you do not know this. I certainly hope that this helps you.
As I stated, Patti is, by far, the most knowledgeable here re: sub, but there are others, like me that are in some stage of treatment that will be here for support, knowledge, comfort, and whatever it is that you might need at this time.
Congratulations for taking the first step. Many of us here have been where you are... we want to help. So... pat yourself on the back and get moving toward your life towards being opiate free.
Many prayers and blessings going your way...

Welcome to a very compassionate helpful group. For me I started the percoset route. I was taking about 20 to 30 per day of 7.5 mgs percosets. this went on for about 4 or 5 years gradually increasing the number until I told my Dr that it seemed like to much acetaminophen. That is when I started taking Oxycotins. Started at 10 mgs and was at about 6 -40mgs per day when I said enough was enough. I stopped cold turkey and the withdrawals were awful. I lasted 8 weeks. I did not feel like I could make it even after 8 weeks, I had so many work related trips, meetings and obligations that I needed to be close to 100%. So I called another DR and 3 months ago started taking 2mgs per day of suboxone. The effect was instant. It is possible if I had more time, maybe more will power, I could have held out another week or two I would not have had to go on suboxone, or I would have relasped and gone back to the oxycotin. I do not know.

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Many days I wish I could have lasted longer and seen how much longer it would have taken until I would have felt close to normal. In bothers me that I did not continue my cold turkey but at the same time I know I would not be where I am right now if not for the suboxone. I will say right now I am glad I did call the suboxone Dr.
I am not saying it will be the same for you or not. You are indeed taking too much acetaminophen, so you should address that. There comes a time I think in our lives that we all know the pills we are ingesting disrupt our quality of life and make a decision to stop. I did it all wrong the first time. No taper plan no support, no friends, I had nothing but my will power. I would not advise you do the same. It is good you are discussing now with people that have gone through what you are contemplating. If you decide you are going to go cold turkey find a taper plan and be prepared. Get the support, the assistance from those who have done it. If it is suboxone you end up going on to help you with your addiction then there are many here that can consult with you and most importantly support you. Since it has been 8 years for you on the percosets, either way it will be a shock to your body and mind. Many of us on suboxone can say that the physical withdrawals are minimal, for me they did not exist or went away completely when I went on suboxone.
I plan on tapering soon and hope reducing my intake of suboxone on a regular schedule will help me become totally clean. I do not know the start date of my taper plan. I want to make sure I am ready and I have the time off ( if needed ) near the end to handle the symptoms from the withdrawals. Many people have gone this route and have had no problems and minimal withdrawals. To be safe though I am going to make sure I am ready either way!
So welcome to the site, you should be proud you have decided to make the step. No matter what your course of action is I wish you the best and offer whatever support I can give you. I also can assure you just about everyone in this group will be there for you.
Good luck and best wishes
Coby
Coby