[norm]

Hi all, I am a new member named Norm. I have read quite a few posts with great interest, but still have a problem I have not seen here. I decided to attempt cold turkey detox for oxy at home (avg. dose was 40mg/day. Anyone who has done this knows of the hell associated with it, but in my false sense of strength I was going to accomplish this in 3 days and go back to work. Well, that wasn't to be. The anguish and everything physical that goes with it I am tolerating (self punishment?) at home, but not fit for work of course. My dilemma is the necessity to work and support my family. So inpatient detox is out of the question, and by the time the meth clinic could get me started I will be out of a job. Does anyone have any suggestions? Most Health Care Professionals I spoke with before I decided to take on this task suggested weaning, but I would rather not drag this out for another 6 weeks or more. I don't have the depression I've had in the past when I was just out of luck on the hunt... I think that is because my mind doesn't want it, just my body. I know there are a lot of you out there with a lot worse problems than mine and I don't mean to waste anyones time, But I sure would appreciate any input from anyone more learned than me. Thank you and God bless us all in our quest for our lives back.

Norm T.

[mpvt]

I see were your coming from but the only way for you in this circumstance is a slow taper.If your able to taper very slowly youcan virtually side step the physical withdrawls.I know you don't want to prolong your use any longer but you must remember that this is a serious undertaking on your part and it is no secret that going cold turkey is the least succsesfull method of detox.I hope you can do it,also your at a dose of oxy where you could probably go on subuxone.Phone the methadone clinic and ask them were you can get someinfo on it.Good luck and hang in there,it'sworthit Dave

[El Jeffe]

I had the unfortunate experience of being hooked on oxycontin for the last four years. My dose became crazy. I had a script for 8 80mg oc a day, plus two 40mg, and 4 30mg roxicodone tablets a day for the last four years. Believe me, it took over my life. My life, whether I admitted it or not, was ruled by when my doctors appt. was, and if I could stretch them out and not get in trouble. I got sick of it this christmas. I was spending thoughsands of dollars, plus just chasing them around and playiing the game. I wanted to be free, but the same doc who would bring me this far, wanted
$1000.00 to do a cheesy detox. I tried methadone for a week, but it only made me sweat like a pig, and sick as hell. I prayed about it and decided to gut it out. I've never heard of anyone dying from it, so I decided to go through with it. I spent christmas eve until New Years day bymyself on the couch, throwing up everying I put in my mount. I hurled every 15 minutes or so, and I was shaking like a frozen leaf. My vision went black and white and I passed out. A friend took me to the hospital, and they got some iv's going in me and brought my water levels up. I felt much better, but still couldn't eat. They gave me ativan, and I was able to keep food down for the last few days. I feel great!!!!!!! I feel like a new man, and I'm so happy that I did it. Oxycontin is evil in a green pill. For those of you with the smallest bit of self confidence and strength, quit it. gut it out. You can do it, and you'll be the better for it. Methadone, bupe, etc, are only a trade off, and you're not really a clean person. With clean clear eyes you can see so much better, and your life will be worth living. Take my humble word from it. I've been hooked legally and illegally for many years, and I've spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on this wasteful ********. Life is beautiful and is good. Look for the beauty. I would be glad to help anyone I could. Thanks Shannon in Arizona.

[allvolgirl]

That is absolutely wonderful you could do that at home! My boyfriend is addicted to OC's too and he called them evil in a pill just yesterday. He wants to get off them, but doesn't know how to kick the mental craving. He's not sure what his life is like without them, i think. Do you have any suggestions on how to overcome the craving?
Thanks!
Jessyka

[livid]

speaking as someone addicted to benzodiazepines (not opiates) you never lose the psychological and mental craving/dependency (even after quitting for 6 months... I went back to em)... it's just something you have to deal with if you choose to quit.
I've had many friends who went thru heroin addiction and withdrawal, and i gotta tell you, oxy addiction is nothing compared to that. Both in the difference of severity and the social acceptance, oxy being a script drug. Slow lowering of dosage is the only way to ease the withdrawal, but that in itself usually fails because once you are taking your drug of choice you no longer feel the desire to quit in most cases... all I can say is good luck.

[norm]

Hi everybody. I appreciate all of your input. After reading some of the levels some people have taken of OC i figured I should be able to kick this "little 40-60mg-a-day" thing on my own. Maybe giving it more time it would work but after trying myself I don't recommend cold turkey. (Niether did anyone else I talked to.) It is not all about strength and willpower- even at small doses the withdrawal is bad. So I decided that since I joined this group for your insight and support I am trying your suggestions too. I just did one week at 1/3 a day instead of 1/2. I know that is "only" a 7 mg drop a day but as I explained in my earlier post I still have to function to feed my family. I experienced a little crankiness, tired more easily, small side effects that can be expected I'm sure. My next question is about timing... I figure my next drop to go to 1/4 a day (25 mg., another 8 mg drop)... any ideas on how long before I should try this? I don't want to go too slow and drag it out but I don't want to rush it and maybe backslide. Ah what a tangled web we weave! As someone said the hardest part of tapering is we still have our drug of choice. I am so afraid of that one bad day, or well, since I pulled a muscle this morning a little extra won't hurt- just for today, of course, right? I have been dealing with addiction all my life- alcohol up until 4 1/2 years ago and I have managed to stay alcohol free, so I know I have what it takes to stay off of this stuff too. Just need to get to the end of the rainbow. Once again, thanks for your time and any idea's or experiences you have please share.
Good luck and God bless, Norm

Norm T.

[Shawna J]

I would like to know if there is anyone out there who has had to go on oxygen as a result of oxycontin making them breathe too shallow anddeveloping Central Sleep Apney. I am at the end of my rope. I had 4 failled rotator cuff surgeries in 5 years. None worked and I will live with chronic pain the rest of my life. I have no life with oxycontin, the happy go lucky fun loving me is gone. My memory is shot, no sense of smell or ambition. They have given me pain killers til the person I am doesnn't resemble the old me. I was taking 80mg of oxycotin a day and 4 hydrocodone and two 75 miligram effexor a day. They tried me on mscontin, pain patches, loratab, etc before settling on oxycontin. I want my life back. I have to be on an oxygen concentrator when ever I sleep. The last test they run I wasn't breathing 45 minutes out of 8 hours. So I decided to quit all their stuff as I can't live tied to a machine. I am having so much trouble getting off. My shoulder hurts like hell, I'm vomitting, dirreha, dizzy, bad headaches, bones and muscles hurt. I am now taking one 10 mil in the morning and one 10 mil at night for the last week. I didn't expect this as the doctor told me it would not be addictive. She also had me on Effexor ER 75 twice a day. I quit that too. Have been home from work last week. When will this end? I'm really tired. Help anyone??????????????

[sfc420]

You need a lawyer and you need to look into why you had 4 straight rotater cuff surgeries that were unsuccessful. I dont mean to sound like a money grubbler but it sounds like your doctors ****ed up big time, and although you dont say your age, unless you are a senior citizen on your last wits you should not be on oxygen when sleeping. That means that your literally overdosing on the drug and keeping yourself alive with the oxygen. YOU MUST eliminate some of the drugs your taking, all of them are lowering ur respiratory system. I'm no doctor but I do know that is a horrible horrible life to live and there is a way out. Consider Narcotics Anonymous meetings, more physical therapy, and slowly weening yourself to a small amount of oxycontin a day. It is an extremely powerful drug, and when mixed with drugs like effexor and vicodin it's power gets even more dangerous. You might even want to consider calling a lawyer about the doc thats prescribing you all of this junk. you probably wouldn't have heard me say this a week ago, but oxycontin are not the only devilish pills - ALL of them are. you are depending on those drugs to stay alive and you NEED to ween yourself off very slowly. God bless, I hope my advice helped you.

[sfc420]

By the way, no one ever says this on the sight but Kava Kava is a natural detoxifier. Its hard going down your throat, but it is not only a muscle relaxer but a detoxifier as well. If you order it online (the best is kovakavafarm.com) you will get the amount you want, on your door step in a matter of days. Consider following their isntructions and drinking that, to see if it helps you with your pain. certain elements about kava make it hard to become dependent (the taste and the numbness of tongue and throat) but it is an amazing detoxifier! Good Luck

[norm]

My wife constantly reminds me that nothing happens in God's world without a reason, and I truly believe that. I started this topic, when I was going to quit oxycontin at home cold turkey. My last post was on the 15th, when I talked about striking out with that and weaning myself off. I wasn't doing good at all with that when a week ago I was run over by accident in a gas station parking lot. I thank God I ended up with only a broken foot and a couple of bruised ribs. To keep a long story short it put me at home, with no income but my wifes (NO extra cash there, with 4 teenagers at home) and a prescription from the Dr. for Vicodin. It has been a blessing in disguise.... I have the time I need to recover from the accident AND the Oxy addiction. The vicodin, which contains 5 mg. hydrocodone kept the first few days without it very bearable, and I have to make my 'scrip last (40 for one week) so it is easier to not abuse them. I am sure in the end it will be easier to quit completely.
While I DEFINITELY don't suggest running out in front of a truck, one consideration for those trying to wean themselves- instead of trying to take lesser doses of straight Oxy, take vicodin or percocet or some lesser dosage form and then wean from those. If you take two at a time it is only 10 mg., I used to take 20 in the a.m. You still feel a little antsy at first but it IS bearable. I feel blessed because I have been literally forced into this position. And I thank God because I am no good on my own, proved it time and again. Good luck and God Bless you all.

Norm T.

[mpvt]

Good luck Norm,if you run into trouble can you go on suboxone????In any case I wish you the best and tell your wife to hang in there because it will be worth it once your clean.........Dave

[norm]

i didn't check real deep into it, but I don't think suboxone is easy to get in this area... I went to the website and it had nothing I could find?

Norm T.

[trick]

Norm,

Maybe i can give you a bit of hope here. I have detoxed from Oxy and Morphine twice (had a broken back). At one point I was ~200mg of oxy and or 90mg of long acting morphine (switched from morph to oxy by dr). first go round was on them for about 9 mos, did a slow taper...it was misery w/ds lasted about 6 mos. Second after a surgery to fix a part of the vertabrea and 2 herniated discs I was on them for almost 18mos. Decided against the slow death and just quit when I didnt need them anymore.

Slow death or fast death, thats the choice when it comes to weaning...

Work was a issue, didnt sleep for 5 nights, but i found after about 5 days i was able to return, although drained and obviously in bad shape it was doable. And I have to stress how much better the cold turkey method was. Its misery for about a week to ten days, then it starts to improve....slowly but it improves....within 4 weeks i would say i was back to normal....its been 9 months now, dont even think about them.

It is doable, just keep a positive mindset. I think its most important to remember, that the wds WILL END at some point in the near future. No matter how bad it gets, you will turn a corner and it will get better.

Good luck and kudos for the courage....it aint easy...

[JonnieP]

I myself have been addicted to lortab and now oxycontin for a few years(im only 21) and i cant seem to get over this misery of a life.I have tried the methadone and "that is just trading one addiction for another" it didnt work.I've tried in-patent detox a few times and that didn't work. I have know idea what to do. I'm up to taking 320 to 400mg of oxy a day by "snorting" them.my life is at a standstill and I need to get my life started back up and be a productive citizen and grow up. I just wanted to see if anyone had any ideas for me to try.Good luck to all of you trying to overcome this horrible addiction and if anyone has any ideas please let me know. THANK YOU -JON

[mpvt]

You are a perfect canadate for a 30 day detox.Phone around and find one that you feel comfortable with.Ask them if they help with meds to make it easier ect.With your age and the amount of time you have been abusing you stand a very good chance to come out of this on top.Good luck to you and remember no one is more important than yourself......Dave

[JBowski13]

Jonnie, how about suboxone. I read about it on here and then set up with a doc appt. It stops withdrawl, no buzz, and tons of energy. I'm 24 and am about to have a baby soon, so I needed something fast. Maybe i'm trading another drug for another, but i've never taken one pill and felt great for 24 hours.

[norm]

Hey Jon, I have to agree that at this point in your life you CAN beat this and get on living... at 21 you have your whole life ahead of you. The dosage you describe is staggering, please consider Dave's advice for a 30 day detox. I never ended up in detox for my oxy addiction, but I am also a recovering alcoholic who drank for 25 years. I went to 3-5 day detox programs a number of times and, like you, it didn't stick. Not until I went to a 28 day inpatient program where they not only detox you but educate you on your addiction and teach you how to live without it. I was drinking over a fifth of straight whiskey a day when I went in; I have been alcohol free ever since (4 1/2 years and counting). Please don't compare alcohol to oxy as different- they are both drugs. It obviously didn't cure my addictive personality since I got hooked on Oxy a few years later but we aren't expected to be perfect. The amount you are taking could be very dangerous for you to quit without a medical detox to control siezures, etc. But please try the long term inpatient therapy. Not just to detox from it, but to learn how to live without it. Group therapy turned me off at first because I looked at it as everyone trying to get into my business, but after you start feeling better you see it for what it really means- YOU ARE NOT ALONE! Good Luck to you Jon. There is a much better life out there waiting for you to join it. God bless and keep your chin up. And keep coming to this board. I have learned so much from everyone here, and we all care or we wouldn't be here in the first place. Take care and keep us posted. Norm

[BRDY]

HI ALL AND GOOD LUCK I HAVE BEEN ON HYDROC EVER SENSE DECEMBER 5 2002, NOW THEY WANT TO PUT ME ON METHDONE TO HELP STOP THE PAIN DR SAID I COULD TAKE HYDROC ALSO IF I NEEDED TO, WHAT DOES METHDONE MAKE YOU FEEL LIKE? AND SHOULD I TAKE BOTH? I DO NOT THINK I COULD GET OFF THE HYDROC, I GET MY REFILLS EVERY 6 MONTS AT A TIME, THAN BACK TO THE DR AND GET 6 MORE MONTS OF HYDROC, HOW IS BOTH GOING TO MAKE ME FELL

CINDY STEPHENS

[Day]

BRDY:
Methadone lasts a lot longer than the hydros. Hydros usually last 4-6 hrs. methadone lasts around 24hrs. The methadone is similar to the hydros: somewhat of a pain reliever not as intense and takes up to an hour or more to work. You might have to take both, depending on how you feel. Good luck!
i know people who use methadone for pain and do well.

Day

[undrtkr]

I am a 35 year old professional male, married with two kids. I wear a suit and tie everyday to work. I was taking 15 to 20 10/500 Hydrocodones a day plus I had a prescription of 60 morphine pills that I took during a month. I, too, upon deciding it was time to quit used to frequent this board for inspiration. Although I never wrote in, I did read all of the posts and figured that I you could do it so could I.
The addiction with my got so bad that I could not do anything without have at least 5 or 6 Hydros in me. I would not go anywhere without my bottle of pills. They were always on my person at all times. Days before I would actually run out, I would spend countless hours trying to figure out how to get more. I had two permanent doctors that prescribed them for me and I doctor shopped several doctors a month to get more. I would see these doctors for one timers. I would travel far away from my town because the doctors here knew me.
It actually started out simple enough. I had sever back problems. I have two ruptured discs in L4 and L5 with impingement in the spinal canal. I have arthritis setting in in my hips and pelvic joints. Every doctor that I had seen for this suggested surgery, but at 33 who wants back surgery. So I went to a pain specialist. In the beginning it was great, the pain was gone. The about a year into the treatment, the pain was back, only worse. I took more and more painkillers to mask the pain that I was feeling. I had totally subscribed to the notion of better living through modern medicine. My doctor kept telling me as long as you take them as prescribed, that you won’t get addicted. I think that anyone that takes this drug for ANY extended time will get hooked.
I finally figured I was ready to get myself clean. I called all of my family together and told them what I had been doing and how much I was taking. To say the least, they were shocked. No one suspected a thing. The I went to my doctor and fessed up. I told him everything. How much I was taking, the doctor shopping, everything. He put me on Subutex. In my town, there was not a pharmacy here that had Subutex. I had to wait for two days before I could get it. Those two days were hell. The sweats, the chills, the vomiting, diarrhea, restless legs, no sleep. You guys that go through it cold turkey has a lot of guts. When I started on the Subutex, it was great. The withdrawal symptoms went away completely. I have been on the Subutex for a month, because it does contain some sort of pain reliever.
I decided enough was enough. If I was going to get clean, I needed to be ALL clean. Last week I stopped the Subutex. It was a challenge, but not like the Hydro withdrawals. I have been totally clean for 1 week now and everyday it gets easier and easier. I still WANT the Hydros, but it’s much easier to say no to then now.
The reason that I am writing, finally. Is to let those people that read this board and do not write in, to let them know that yes it is possible to kick this habit. It will take some determination and resolve on your part, but you too, can do it. You will need support from friends, family and talk to your doctor. He is there to help you. Your doctor doesn’t want you on these. With the Hydros, that much acetaminophen can really harm your liver. Anyway, I have babbled on long enough. Thanks to everyone on this board.
A couple more points, if I may, I have noticed that the pain is no where near what I remember it to be. Since I have been off of the painkillers, the pain in my back has become manageable with Tylenol and warm compresses. Go figure? It seems that body does have its own was of dealing with the pain without outside stimuli. One other thing, has anyone out there going through this had a strange smell constantly in their nostrils? Today is the first time since quitting have I not had a constant smell lingering in my nose. I was just curious. Thank You all, once again. And just for the record, I hold myself 100% accountable for my addiction, it was I who took more than prescribed, It was I who bounced from doctor to doctor to get it. I hold no animosity to my doctors, they were doing what they thought was right.

[mpvt]

Good post Undrtkr,I too hold myself and no one else responsible for my addiction.Congrats on your victory over the hydro's not an easy feat........Dave

Always consult a MD first