I think I am going through withdrawls and I am kinda freaking out. I was on 10mg taking about 7 pills a day. I have shivers, tremors, hot flashes and very low energy. No throwing up though. I can't get refill for a week. I am scared. What should I do???
I am on oxycodone for my back pain..I ran out three days ago?
Question posted by molovekayak on 7 Oct 2012
Last updated on 1 January 2017 by catskyn
12 Answers
catskyn
2 Jan 2017
Well its a little late now. Oxycodone withdrawals are the worst. When I run out I take Calm Support that I ordered from Amazon, Doans and Motrin 800mg every 4 to 6 hours. I make sure all my shopping is done because the last thing you are going to feel like dong is going anywhere. The worst is the depression I feel and the Restless Leg Syndrome that I get all over my body. The first 3 days are the worst then it really does get better .
subieman89
18 Dec 2016
I would just like to comment about running out early. I know sometimes it's from using too much. However there are times where your medical "professional" doesn't take things in account. So I am prescribed a very strong sleeping medication. That if I am not on it I do not sleep. My new doctor (because I moved) doesn't like this medication, so he will only prescribe 9 a month... so some math here 9 does not equal 30 or 31. I just saw some nasty comments that were judged without full knowledge of the person or the issues.
Sandra112
1 Feb 2014
I am going through the same thing as you. I, however, told my doctor that my medication (7.5/325 hydrocodone 3x a day) was no longer helping like it did when first prescribed almost a year an a half ago. On top of this he writes me a 10 day script which he refills every 14 days so I consistently am running out even when I follow dosing EXACTLY which is harder now that its not working as well.
I am missing cartilage in 3 spinal vertebrae and have 2 herniated disks which bother me at most points of the day but i work as a waitress on my feet all day which causes frequent sciatica and pain that I describe as glass moving in my back.
So back to when I told him yesterday...
He did nothing. He ignored what I said, didn't ask me any questions about what I said, and proceeded to write a script for the exact same thing he's always written me. I like this doctor on all aspects except listening when it comes to the medication regiment. And before anyone suggests it, switching docs is not an option. I have no insurance and am involved in a lawsuit this is the dr my lawyer has me seeing for the case.
So while everyone is correct that you should speak with your dr immediately, I'm just warning that he or she may do absolutely nothing about it unfortunately.
I wish you better luck with your doctor than I've had.
hippiechic420
13 Oct 2012
I had the same problem when I was seeing a pain Dr a cpl yrs ago after about a yr of being on my meds I started taking more cuz my tolerance was going up which was causing me to run low. I was honest with my Dr cuz she asked every appt when was ur last dose and didn't wanna lie and have them possibly do a random like most pain clinics and they find nothing in my system so I told her I ran out 3 days prior and I said I didn't feel like I was getting the same relief as I was before. She understood this and increased my quantity. Always be honest with ur Dr no matter what.
DzooBaby
8 Oct 2012
You might try calling the Dr for an earlier appt. Let them know that you have had a bad pain flare this month and you accidentally over used a bit because the pain was really bad. If you have a pain contract, DO NOT GO TO THE ER AND GET MEDS! You will violate your contract that way and get thrown out for sure. If this has never happened to you before, your Dr may refill early this one time or give you something else to tide you over (like hydrocodone-but dont take anything without your Drs approval-like Patti said, it is tempting to get something from family or friends, but if it is different and they do a UDS, you will be in trouble) but from now on you need to remember how terrible this feels and stick to your dosing schedule which I would bet is no more than 4 per day? If sticking to the prescribed dose isnt helping, you need to let your Dr know that and perhaps it is either time to up your dosage a bit or to rotate to a different drug.
Be open and honest with your Dr if it is not covering your pain at the current dose. Otherwise you will find yourself doing this every month and you will be miserable chasing your tail all the time. Opioids can be a real crutch sometimes. By taking more than prescribed, you can find yourself slipping down the path to addiction-just a warning! We have all done this and you most certainly wont be the first to tell your Dr you have run out early but running out early is not something you want to do very often because it does raise red flags with your Dr.
molovekayak
8 Oct 2012
Thanks y'all. I guess I have been taking more than I should be. I am on day four of withdrawl and I am trying really hard to be strong and take it minute by minute. I just can't believe I am at this place. I have Lupus and a horrible back so that is why I am on oxycodone. I think I may have a problem if this is how I am feeling. But how do I go off of these and deal with the pain?? It scares me.
kaismama
8 Oct 2012
This doesn't mean you're addicted to it. Our bodies become dependent on having it and this is what happens when we don't. Do you see a pain management doc? I'm thinking you'd do better on a long acting pain med with the short acting for break thro pain. Addiction is a whole other thing, its when we take the med in too high a dose, to get high, regardless of the consequences.
DzooBaby
8 Oct 2012
No, no, no, anyone who takes opioids like oxycodone will feel withdrawals if they have been on the drug for more than a few weeks. This doesnt mean that you are addicted. Your body might be dependent but dependence doesnt equal addiction. Addiction is when you are taking them for the "buzz", taking them for reasons other than pain, losing control over them and taking them in spite of harmful effects. Are you losing control over your use? If yes, then you may be developing a problem but that doesnt necessarily mean you need to go off them. It may mean you need to be monitored more closely. It may also just indicate you need a higher dose to control your pain. If he raises your dose and you still over use them, then you might be developing a problem. If raising the dose stops your over use then it just means either your pain is getting worse or that you are becoming tolerant to the medication.
Sometimes, with tolerance, it is good to rotate to a different pain med like, perhaps, morphine, fentanyl, Opana or some other form of opioid. Just because you are tolerant to oxycodone doesnt mean you will be tolerant to the other opioids. Oxycodone is pretty notorious for being one that people develop tolerance to fairly quickly. I didnt, in any way, mean to indicate that you are addicted or have a problem. Almost all people on opioids have had an incident when they ran out early for one reason or another. This doesnt mean you are addicted but it does mean that your Dr needs to do some investigation to see what the problem is.
BRRMARS
9 Oct 2012
This is not an easy thing to do, i have chronic pain, i have RLS, and have had four back surgeries, i was on 8 different medication's at one time for 10yrs, i weaned myself off over a month, the hardest thing i have ever done, but i did it, it took almost two month's after being off the medication to feel somewhat ok, i'll always have pain that is just a fact of life, but i cannot spend my life on medication, i started swimming, walking more, doing more with my daughter, i still cry myself to sleep when i can sleep because of the pain, but i'd rather feel then be numb to life on every pain medication i was on. Unfortunetly we with chronic pain have two options, deal with the pain, or be on medication for the rest of your life, and being on pain medication you will build up a tolerence and have to constently increase your dose, change medication's, it's just HELL.
I personally after over 10 yrs decided NO MORE, i wasn't living life but looking for me next dose. YES i have pain everyday and will for the rest of my life, but it sure beats being numb to the world and waiting for my next pill. I wish you all the luck in the world with whatever you choose, you have to do what you feel is right for you. E-mail me anytime if you need to talk or complain i'm a good listener.
AMBER
Inactive
8 Oct 2012
I totally agree with Amber on this one. You obviously have chronic pain to be on oxycodone. You are going to have a hellish week before you see your doctor. Do they do a urine test at the time of your visit? Most do now if you are getting any type of opiate. If they do, you will have to be honest with your doctor, & tell them you ran out early because the dose you were on just wasn't helping your pain enough. Your doctor may increase your dose or change you to a differnt type of med. Either way, you have to be honest with him/her. I hope they are undestanding about this for you. The pain docs are under so much pressure right now from the DEA about giving out pain meds, they have to be very careful too. You didn't give us much info about your condition, but if it is documented correctly by MRI's & other tests, then you shouldn't have a problem.
All you can do in the meantime is take the week off & pamper yourself to get thru these withdrawals Hot showers or baths may help, & if you get the sweats keep a towel handy to wipe yourself off. Also get some Imodium for the diarrhea you will probably get after day 3. I feel so bad for you right now. Not only are you going to have the withdrawals, but nothing for your pain. You can try using a NSAID like ibuprofen or something similar. Do you have a benzo like xanax at all? They sometimes will help you get through this. Most important is that you tell your doctor that your current dose is not helping your pain. This is nothing abnormal as we tend to build a tolerance to the dose we take for chronic pain, & have to have the dose increased. Wishing you the best...
BRRMARS
8 Oct 2012
molovekayak, i feel for u, i used to run out myself and i know u are going through hell, but u won't die but u will feel like comlete hell. When u do goto ur next appointment talk to ur dr. about your tolerence level going up and he might up ur dose, but try to stay with what ur prescribed so u don't have to go through this again, because unfortunetly we do build up a tolerence and it is important to talk to the dr. so he can adjust it accordinaly and u won't run out. HOT BATHES, lot's of liquids, try and just relax i know it's harder then hell but u can make it, be honest with your dr. tell him it's just not helping maybe he will change ur meds, or increase the dose. i wish u all the best of luck.
mrsshelton
8 Oct 2012
If you were taking the correct dose on the right schedule you should have not run out unless some have been stolen. If you are a week til a refill you will have to wait it out or like posted before go to the ER but i know you cant refill the same meds/ dose early even if you got one from the ER. The ER can give you a lower dose( if they will give you a script) of the same meds but if you are honest with them they will not help you.
Inactive
8 Oct 2012
I am also not going to put you down because I have done the same exact thing that you have done! You are in withdrawal I am sorry to say, but, it sounds like your withdrawal is mild, (I know it may not feel like it, but believe me, it is compared to what it could be!!) If I were you, I would talk to my doctor, be honest, tell him or her what is going on, be honest about the amount of Oxycodone that you are taking. If you are taking more than prescribed because it is not taking care of your pain the way that it used to then you do have a tolerance to it like some of the other posters said and you need to have your medication upped or you need to be changed to a stronger medication. but , and this is a big but because I don't know you, ... but... if you are taking more and running out because you are liking the way that the Oxycodone makes you feel and you are abusing it, then you have a problem that you need to address.
Like I said, i don't know you and I am not going to accuse you of that,and honestly, I am an addict in recovery, and I don't get that vibe from you... besides, I don't think that you would have made this post if you were abusing your meds to get high. i just think that you need to have better communication with your doctor about your pain control. As far as the withdrawal symptoms that you are having now... they shouldn't get any worse than they are now, and you should start feeling better in a day or 2 . I wish you luck! and hope you are feeling better soon! I have chronic back pain also, I know how miserable that can be.
jr33
10 Dec 2014
I am prescribed 10 milligram oxycodone my bottle was stolen its 7 days early until I go back to the doctor can I go to the doctor and have them prescribe me the same medicine but higher milligram
Bostonjohn122
7 Oct 2012
I am not going to put you down we have all be there. Like patti said, we build a tolerance and take more than we should, I've been there plenty of times. Like it was stated opiate withdrawels won't kill you. Hot bath, exercise if you can and stay busy, all will help with withdrawels. Hang in there, it will only get better.
Inactive
7 Oct 2012
Dear Molove, welcome to the site. If you will google Clinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale sheet, or the COWS test, it lists all symptoms of opiate withdrawal. You didn't say how long you have been on the oxycodone, but anytime someone is on opiates regularly for over 6 months, thir tolerance grows and they have to take more and more opiate. You might try to schedule a drs a lot and let them know you did run out a bit early. Many people make a huge mistake and instead tke left over hydrocodone or try to obtain pan meds from friends or family. Hydro WILL test differently and this will go get you in trouble with the dr. Opiate withdrawal will NOT kill you, just make you feel like you have the flu and the stomach flu at the same time. You can try taking some Advil until you can see the dr. The Thomas recipe ( google the Thomas recipe opiate withdrawal) is a list of over the counter meds and supplements that will help. Patti
kaismama
7 Oct 2012
I hope you aren't working with a dr who had you sign a contract, because you obviously just broke it if you did. How many more a day were you taking then was prescribed? You are in withdrawals, and since you are out totally I have no idea what to tell you to do. You could go to the er and ask for help. Maybe the others who are well versed in this will have more to offer.
coweyes62
23 Feb 2015
I don't understand how insurance companies can determine the amount of pain a person is experiencing. I have PAD and jumped out of my brothers truck. Big mistake, plus it is extremely cold herr which makes it worse. My doctor writes the script but i have too fight with the insurance to fill it! Tired of insurance playing doctor.
Related topics
pain, back pain, hot flashes, oxycodone, tremor
Further information
- Oxycodone uses and safety info
- Oxycodone prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Oxycodone (detailed)
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