[notsoperky]

Hi,

I had surgery in January, and was taking Oxycontin, Percocet, Oxy-IR at first, but now I'm down to just the Percocet, and I need to stop taking them, but it's been very difficult. My Dr. told me I had no more pain (which is not true, but he's decided that I no longer need pain management), and the last Percocets I've obtained have not been through him- 'nuff said about that.

Anyway, I've got 9.5 pills left. I tried to not take one last night, but went completely berzerk over the night (all the things I read about today- shakes, tremors, very restless legs, panic, sweats/chills), and caved at 5 am. But I only took a half pill- it was enough to get me to sleep for a couple of hours. These are the 5/325 strength. I've managed all day without one, but I feel very weird. Bedtime is always the hardest for me.

After last night- I want to get myself off of these- Is it best to wean by taking progressively smaller amounts, or should I just quit cold and do the withdrawal now and get it overwith? If I start to wean, am I just prolonging or putting off the withdrawal? After last night's effects, I'm very scared of just running out before I try to wean if that's the better option.

Any thoughts are welcome- I'm uninsured, so OTC is preferred if there's anything to help- and mostly to help sleep.

[mpvt]

Since you've only been taking them sice January I wouls suggest weening down and then quit.Going cold turkey usually fails. You need to write out a truthfull list of when and how much you take a day. Then you need to try and break any habits you have ,say, taking a percocet before or with your first coffee.Write out a timetable with the time and amount you are going to take.try and cut it down one pill every 5-7 days.You need to let your body adjust to the detox,so do it slowly.....Good luck,I hope you can do it otherwise you're headed for a trip you don't want to take,believe me......Dave

[notsoperky]

Originally Posted by mpvt

Since you've only been taking them sice January I wouls suggest weening down and then quit.Going cold turkey usually fails. You need to write out a truthfull list of when and how much you take a day. Then you need to try and break any habits you have ,say, taking a percocet before or with your first coffee.Write out a timetable with the time and amount you are going to take.try and cut it down one pill every 5-7 days.You need to let your body adjust to the detox,so do it slowly.....Good luck,I hope you can do it otherwise you're headed for a trip you don't want to take,believe me......Dave

Thanks for your reply. I know that my problem isn't as grave as some here, so I appreciate the help. I looked back at my records- after surgery I kept a chart of what I took and when, and I was taking about 100 mg of some sort of oxycodone/day, between then oxycontins (20 mg twice/day) and lots of fill in by the OxyIR and Percocet.

I realized that I really have been slowly weaning myself, my problem is night-time. Sleeping. I haven't missed a bedtime Percocet yet. That's my weak time. So, that's what I'm working on. As I'm running out of pills, the urgency is upon me, so I'm splitting them. I was just really taken by surprise by how affected I was by *stopping* cold.

[mpvt]

Well it sounds as though you have things well in hand and never compare yourself to anyone else.Your situation is bad because it's your problem and no one can or should judge the severity of it.You may lose a week or so sleep and suffer some anxiety but it does pass.You may want to try Tylenol PM when you stop the bedtime percocet.Also when you do quit get some Imodium A.D. for stmach problems, Advil gel caps for aches and drink as much gatorade as you can.You can drink any sports drink as it doesn't have to be gayorade.Stay away from the so called energy drinks as they are loaded with cafdfine and will likely bring on bad headaches.Try and eat a high protien diet for the next few months and get out each morning for a walk and again after supper.Walking will help promote endorphine production which almost shuts down when you've been on opiate for more than a couple weeks.Good luck and keep me informed if you'd like......Dave

[notsoperky]

Hi Dave,

Just popped in to thank you for your kind words. I'm sticking with the program, and feeling a LOT better than I did just 3 days ago. I think the initial shock to my system was the worst, but with information and determination, things are getting better.

S

[mpvt]

That's great news S. Stay with the plan you set out for yourself.Beware of the cravings you will get.You won't believe how you can talk yourself into taking just one otr two pills.Usually after a couple weeks an addict starts to feel pretty good, they begin to thinkhey, now that I've got this licked I could catch a buzz every now and then". This is the mistake alot of us make.So just be aware that your body and mind will try to juatify taking those pills.
Other than that stay on a high protien diet for a couple months for energy.Get out for at least 2 walks a day.One walk in the am and another after supper.Walking help promote endorphin production which is extremely important.Gatorade or any sport drink is also a good thing to do.Advil for aches and pains.Good luck and keep us up to date on how your doing......Dave

[majikmaker03]

Originally Posted by mpvt

That's great news S. Stay with the plan you set out for yourself.Beware of the cravings you will get.You won't believe how you can talk yourself into taking just one otr two pills.Usually after a couple weeks an addict starts to feel pretty good, they begin to thinkhey, now that I've got this licked I could catch a buzz every now and then". This is the mistake alot of us make.So just be aware that your body and mind will try to juatify taking those pills.
Other than that stay on a high protien diet for a couple months for energy.Get out for at least 2 walks a day.One walk in the am and another after supper.Walking help promote endorphin production which is extremely important.Gatorade or any sport drink is also a good thing to do.Advil for aches and pains.Good luck and keep us up to date on how your doing......Dave

I,ve never taken percocet before but I've had some major withdrawl symptoms, what i was prescribed was ativan. I is often used for anxiety, panic, and withdrawl symptoms, and DT's from acholhal withdrawl. I would recomend you talk to your dr. about that at least for during tha day, as well as ambien for sleep at night . i allways have a hard time sleeping and ambien works great for me. helps me fall asleep fast and stay asleep, I did have night sweats from with withdral but it was not nearly as bad with the ambien helping me relax and sleep.
feel free to email me if you want.
sarah

[extreme1220]

i have advice and a request.....send them to me, i need them more than you know and my doc is a douchebag that thinks 15 every other month is more than enough, but my back and my wife who worries about permanent damge disagree.

[steves55]

The best way to do it is to wean down to 10mg a day or less, then go cold turkey, if you can get to five mg a day that will make the withdrawl a little easier. It is a trade off, if you wean down to 5mg you extend the length of time you withdrawl, that is the time between the 10mg and 5mg will be uncomfortable. If you go cold turkey at 10mg it will be a little worse, but you will not have to go through the uncomfortable period between 10mg and 5mg. The withdrawl period is generally three to four days, different people have different metabolisms, depending on your case you could take days, weeks and even months to get back to normal, or to get rid of that weird
feeling. The best thing to do is to stop asap, the longer you are on it, the
more your brain chemistry is changed, and the longer it will take for your
natural endorphins (your body's painkillers) to come back on line.