Oxycodone withdrawl

I have been taking 30 mg oxycodone prescribed by my pain mgmt dr. for 2yrs from the result of a car accident. This past sunday, I was celebrating my daughters 1st birthday and I looked at myself in the mirror and said to myself that I need to get off these pills now. My wife, who is the most supportive person in my life, didnt even know I was still on the meds. I finally came clean to her as well as my parents that evening and by Monday morn, was experiencing the worst withdrawl I could ever imagined. I decided to go cold turkey. The Dr. who put me on the meds, in my opinion is no better than a drug dealer, guaranteeing that I will be back every month for a new prescription of 90. My visits to him last no more than 5 minutes in which he makes small talk and fills out an insurance billing form. My wife wants

I finally realized that he had me in a drug induced fog for 2 years and I am so glad for myself and my family that I finally came to my senses.

It has been about 5 days and I am feeling better but have about 10% of my energy level. Just typing this is forcing me to lay down. I have had about 8 hours sleep all week and am afraid that I wont be able to sleep tonight. I know the worst is over but How do I get my energy back?

If anyone has experienced this, please respond!!

Please realize that these meds are extremely dangerous and make sure you really need them before you take them. I would have been better off doing more exercise and stretching for the pain.

yea, i've been there plenty of times.... read my thread titles "withdrawals...awefull experiences" just a few posts down..

i've been on opiates for years and years now and someitmes i run out early and it's hell!!!!!!!

i've asked teh same questions in my thread and didn't really get too much except for the fact that you ahve to taper down gradually. My symptoms get really bad though..from vomiting to leg convulsions and cold sweats... no sleep as well

I have no clue how to make it easy...even at the end of the month when i'm taking less than normal to make up for days that i had to take extra there's feelings of tingling limbs and irritability.

If you find a way to make it through please share your method.. i'm not trying to quit as i would be useless and unable to work without pain medications. At least untill i can find nother remedy for the pain ( i'm contemplating the eidural shots and trying to NOT have the surgery they want to do to me)

i've heard also that you can use sleeping pills to help sleep, valium helps me a little with the mental parts of it but i haven't found any way to deal with the physical aspects except for keeping a small amount of opiate in my system to stave off the really horrible effects.

things that do help me as well are putting in my favorite movies and laying down and watching something that's metnally pleasing. and just having time to myself alone peacefully..classical music is very soothing to me and seems to help as well with the mental symptoms ( but i've always been a HUGE classical music fan)

best of luck to you, i knwo what it feels like to not want to be tied to a script the rest of your life, but some of us would truely live worse off without some form of remedy for our true pains (not the withdrawal pain)

I guess I took the easy way out and went to rehab for two week.  Detoxed for one day and then used suboxone and various other drugs to help with withdrawls.  I was comming off of diluaudid.  It was two weeks away from home but I was cmfortable the entiretime.  I feel really bad for you.  I'm worried.  Keep me updated.  By the way I do take other drugs now abut have not become dependant on them like the dilaudid.  It can be done.  Good luck

The only way you can get off oxy's without going out of your mind or being very sick for a long time is methadone. And it works VERY well. Once you get stable on methadone and take the same dose over a period of time - and not take any other opiate meds - you can cut back on the methadone and not even feel withdraw. It really works wonders. I've done it and many of my friends. I can give you more information if you wish.

Jimi

I had been taking oxycontin for more than 2 years, and one day had the same epiphany as you did-I knew that I had to get off the drug because it was controlling my life and my personality was changing-it was directly tied to the drug. If I missed my dose for any time over 6 hrs. I would experience a total body ache, sweats, and depression.

I came off oxycontin by myself by lowering my dose gradually from 180 mg/day to 10mg/day and then stopping. This process took months (Oct.-Jan.) and my body still reacted with dramatic effects. For a 2 week period I even became allergic to the cold (cold-induced urtecaria) which was a bad allergy for a Canadian hockey coach in winter-my exposed skin would turn red and blotchy, with hives that were incredibly itchy. My bones and muscles ached continuously, I experienced cold and hot flashes, sweats and cold shivers, I had migraine-like headaches, and was an emotional wreck. I still can't believe that I worked as a teacher through the entire experience (minus the 2 week Christmas break which I spent in bed with migraine-level headaches). This all occurred along with the sciatic pain for which I had been taking the drug.

When I told my new doctor that I'd come off the drug by myself he reacted by asking: "How did you do it, and can you teach a course?"

Believe me when I tell you-five days is not long enough to be rid of the drug's effects! (Unless you have a much stronger constitution than I have.)

Anyone who is beginning to take this drug, please be advised of its power. I'd suggest finding some alternate drug. Another drug may not be as strong, but it probably won't control your life like oxycontin will! 

Thanks Gramps..I understand-
So it doesn't build up in your body..you don't get a reserve so to speak to use if you don't take it by a certain time. How sad, you just want to get on with your life, have less pain to worry about but you end up clock watching to make sure you don't suffer more..

I feel for you all, I hope someday you find a med that can provide the pain relief you need...

Aggie