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Posted 3/5/2014 1:00 PM (GMT 0)
Hello all. I have been prescribed Percocet 5/325 6 perday for 10 years. Back pain was the cause.
As many of you know, that dose isnt enough for long..so I got up to 10-12 per day at my worst.
Here is the dilemma,, I decided on my own that im done. i cant live with constantly running out, chasing down friends that have scripts, etc..so here i am for the 1st time in 10 years, withdrawing. Im about 36 hours in, and this is awful. im so sick that i cant function, i have no support from my hubby because he blames me for the addiction in the firrst place. i am utterly alone and scared to death. I have watery eyes yawning..tickle in throat that makes me gag, awful taste in mouth, chills and sweats..shaking..restless legs...but worst of all?? creepy crawly skin. I cant sleep or eat...constantly in the bathroom with diarhea or puking...ugh...i didnt slow down or taper..i just stopped . was an aha! moment and i didnt want to go back on it. i cant seem to flush rest of pills..its almost a comfort knowing they are there. i went to hospital lASt night cuz i thought i might die..and i layed in hospital bed for 7 hours and all thry did was give me Zofran for nausea..i cried and puked all night anyway..i left before being discharged. i dont even know why im here, but a lot of your stories have touched me so im here.
i really dont think i can make it..this is terrible..not like flu AT ALL..more like dying...ugh..
ive never before had suicidal thoughts until last night..is that normal?

thanks for all ur posts..they have occupied my mind during these horrible sleepless nights. Am i almost done??
Posted 3/5/2014 3:31 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, Daria29,

It was the "creepy, crawly skin" that made me reply. In the 80s, I became addicted to Darvon. Of course, I didn't realize this until the prescription ran out. Along with most of the symptoms of withdrawal you described, my skin crawled and tingled and I could "feel my teeth" if that makes any sense. Breathing through my mouth actually "hurt" the surface of my teeth. I had to be hospitalized to get through that episode.

Do you have a primary care physician? If so, I would schedule an appointment and tell him that you want to be weaned off Percocet and that you've tried on your own but that it's too much at once. Any decent physician worth his salt would be willing to help you through this (although there are some strange ones out there). If you don't have a primary care physician, you might consider calling around and seeing who is taking new patients or even visiting a walk-in clinic (some clinics can actually do referrals).

I'm so sorry your husband isn't more supportive. Even if he blames you for the addiction, the vows are "in sickness and in health" and he either meant them or he didn't. I'm sorry he's not more compassionate. It doesn't matter whose fault it is; taking a "blame" attitude is a little like closing the barn door after the cow has run off. Where's the sense in that? (Sorry, this part of your issue just ticks me off.)

I still, to this day, remember how horrible cold turkey is and I'm so sorry you're going through this.

confused
Posted 3/5/2014 4:56 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Daria and welcome to HW. Unfortunately saying withdraw is like having the flu is like calling the Vietnam war an arguement!!

One its dangerous to go cold turkey off opiates after 10 years. Many things can happen to endanger your health. Electric lyte imbalance from the vomiting and diarrhea,potassium being the worst of these causing cardiac arrythmias. Suicidal thoughts and tendencyas you experiencd. Increase in blood pressure and the list goes on.

You need to get in to your Dr,the one who prescribed for you and let him know you've had enough and wish to attempt to go off to re-evaluate your pain and hopefully allow your pain receptors to reset.

There are several ways he can go. Tapering,using one of the mods designed to assist with going off such as subutex or butrans as well as clonidine patches. All these things will aide in assuring you have a safe and successful ending.

This can go for weeks everyone'ssystem rids their mods at differing rates.

Your going to need to seek help. If you have mods then don't want to call or see your Dr I would give them to someone who will give dole them out say 3 a day and next week only 2. The slower your taper the more comfortably its done.
Posted 3/6/2014 12:20 AM (GMT 0)
Ty two so much for your posts and ur kind words. Just hit 48 hours into this hell on earth. Still alive, but sure dont know how. At what point do i start seeing improvement? Its still getting worse not better at this point. My stomach cramps and crawling skin are more than i can bear..im losing it....
Posted 3/6/2014 12:58 AM (GMT 0)
Daria, I'm so sorry you feel so badly. I agree with calling your doctor. Also, hot showers and immodium should help. Immodium is an opiate itself but it doesn't cross the pain receptors in your brain the same way percocet does. Yourbody will feel like its getting some type of opiate so that will reduce the withdrawal some and will at least help with the diarrhea. Please be careful... I hope this passes soon.
Posted 3/6/2014 9:30 PM (GMT 0)
Daria,

As Vickie mentioned, for your health and safety, the wise thing to do is to contact your doctor and do a slow taper as opposed to cold turkey. Have you called your doctor and asked for this help? What did they say? Do you have an appointment?




M.
Posted 3/6/2014 10:10 PM (GMT 0)
Daria,

I saw the topic of your thread and thought I would stop in to say hello and good luck.

10 years is a fairly long time to be on this med and I agree you should not go cold-turkey as that may be dangerous for you.

I am going to post a link to a site you may find helpful.  And please do not feel I am saying your addicted to anything. Many years ago in 2004 I had trouble with Vicodin that I was taking for a disc herniation so I decided I wanted to wean off of it.  I did it at home as I did not want anyone to know and it was truly tough.

Check out this link:

http://addictionblog.org/

Type " How to withdraw from Percocet?" in the top right hand side search box.

I hope you continue to do well and remember a slow wean is wise. You will get the job done so know I am keeping you in my prayers.

Sincerely,

Kitt

Posted 3/7/2014 3:54 PM (GMT 0)
I cannot urge you enough to get help in getting off a 10 year percocet run, its dangerous and could be life threatning, please get to a doctor or hospital. withdrawal takes sometimes up to a month or more and even then it will take you a long time to regain your strength.

Please get some help asap.

Kathy
Posted 3/7/2014 6:38 PM (GMT 0)
Please check in so we know you are ok.
Posted 3/7/2014 7:52 PM (GMT 0)
I am on minimum pain meds now. You should seek out a cutting edge pain management program, even if you have to travel hundreds of miles! It should be a program that has an integrated holistic program. Also, you don't mention exactly what is your source of chronic back pain. Mine is exacerbated by inflamed intestines pushing on my spine where I had an epidural, so effective treatment of pain for me meant identifying the exact cause (on a genetic level) of my gastric/other neurological symptoms, that way, there is less pressure on my spine, and less pain control needed. Sounds like you have experienced the worst our medical system has to offer, and I totally understand the "unsupportive spouse" syndrome (they really see your problems as an inconvenience in their lives), that became unacceptable for me! I'm still in chronic pain (underlying cause found on an exhaustive 3 year search...porphyria, DNA confirmed), but understanding the best management practices enables me to have many good days, with minimal pain medication.
Posted 3/7/2014 7:54 PM (GMT 0)
OMG! Daria please do check in and PLEASE consult medical professionals about getting off these meds. You are putting your health in grave danger by stopping a drug to which you have dependence. There is absolutely no shame in having dependence and I am confident that you can taper, substitute, or do whatever. . .it requires much less will power than cold turkey. I bet 99% of the folks on here are dependent on anything from neurontin to morphine. . .that is the way the body works.

I have literally been carried away after collapsing at a pharmacy counter trying to refill a script that I cut cold turkey. Please reconsider.
Posted 3/8/2014 8:10 AM (GMT 0)
Chiming in too.....

Daria, I do hope you post again, and let us know how you're doing.

You've got a bunch of folks here who care, are concerned and reaching out to make sure you're okay. I'm hoping you reach back with us!



M.
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