withdrawal symptoms - help!!!

[jonjenbear]

I'm obviously new here, and I am sure this topic has been dealt with already, but I just don't have the patience to go looking - please forgive me!

I recently started coming off of oxycontin - I was taking 100mgs/day, in doses of 40mg/morning - 20mgs/afternoon - 40mgs at night. I got myself down to 10/10/10 over a few weeks, taking it down 10mgs per week.

I decided enough was enough - I want this stuff out of my system for good - so I took my last 10mg pill on Tuesday morning at 9am - by 0230hrs on Wednesday morning - I hadn't slept and the withdrawal was getting really unbearable, so I took an oxycocet HCI (5mgs oxycodone/325mgs acetaminaphen) and it helped enough that I got about 3hrs sleep. I took another oxycocet around 10am Wednesday (this morning) and haven't taken anything else since. I am now starting to get bad withdrawal symptoms again.

I have a taken a lot of different painkillers over the last few years, and have been on increasing doses of oxycontin for the last 2 years - due to severe degenerative disc disease/chronic pain. I am from Canada, so lucky me, my doctor is now trying medical marijuana (it's legal in Canada if you are approved by the government and get excempted from legal prosecution), and the marijuana really does work - it doesn't get rid of the pain, exactly - it more like masks it - and it relaxes you really well . You don't smoke enough to get high - just 3 or 4 drags and it gives great pain relief.

Now to my real question for all you experts out there - how long does the withdrawal last? I'm shaky, jittery, tense, can't sit still (which causes more pain due to needing to walk around - I use canes), nauseaus, etc. I know everyone goes through withdrawal differently, but I am hoping someone out there can help me and give me some ideas on how to make it more bearable!!!!

Desperately seeking sanity!!!!
:eek:

[BrokenBladder]

I haven't been through withdrawl symptoms but I googled it for you and found out that it last about 7 days. I know that sounds like forever, but you can do it!! Some of the things I read were to keep your mind occupied such as movies or reading, taking Pepto Bismol for the nausea and dirreaha. As far as the jitters go I would think your medical marajuana will help take the edge off that. I'll keep you in my prayers and hopefully this will pass soon. Oh and don't forget to drink plenty of water to flush out your system.

[Pharmacist.steve]

Anxiety & depression & pain are a self feeding cycle. It may be more anxiety from the pain than withdrawing from the opiates. if you are down to 5mg-10mg per day after working your way down... stopping them should not be a problem... typically the 5mg tabs usually only last 4-6hr... I would think that withdrawal symptom would have happened a lot sooner.

Pharmacist Steve
www.chronicpainresourcecenter.com

[Trudi]

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[Tbackpain1]

If you truly have concerns about this, it would be best to contact admin., rather than blasting it over the forums.

When the site came back up, there were a couple of folks posting on the SD forums that were claiming they were physicans. After speaking with admin, the issue was resolved pleasantly, without being blasted all over the forums, and all of my questions were answered. As long as someone is not giving medical treatment advice, then there's no problem.

From what I've seen, pharmacist.steve has done nothing but be helpful and his website has some very useful information. Let's not start fights and arguments where they don't need to be...please?

[mcdan]

I just went through the withdrawals 2 weeks ago.. I was taking the same amount only I had to CT through it.. after 5 or 6 days you should be fine .. Sleep comes a little easier as time passes.The only issue at this time is handling the pain that origionally started me on the Oxycontin....;)

[Matuboo]

It's interesting how everyone reacts differently to drugs, I tried using Marijuana after I quit taking my pain meds and it backfired on me, causing increased anxiety, depression and doing nothing for my pain. I think in most cases though, it can be helpful, pot has just never agreed with me.

Hope things are calming down a bit, I know withdrawal from opioids can be an extremely unpleasant experience, to put it mildy. Best of luck!!:)

[Diandra]

Hi,
I got off 120mg daily oxycontin a few years back and my doctor gave me clonidine for the withdrawal symptoms and it helped alot. It is actually a prescription med for high blood pressure but, helped with the sweating and jitteriness immensely. Also, some xanax just to get over this week or so may help.

Also, drink as much water as possible and exercise if the pain is not too great. I know most folks here cannot do that but, if you can, try to. I know you said you use a cane but, even just some leg lifts from a chair or arm raises.

I am also surprised you have not felt withdrawals until this point but, do consider yourself lucky if that is the case. What you have accomplished so far is great....getting down to 10mg from 100mg deserves a pat on the back. I know it is not easy. I really struggled as I withdrew but, you will make....I think you have done the hardest part. I also took alot of hot bathes...for some reason the hot water was soothing and the sweating helped to get it out of my system.

Best of luck....you have done a great job so far.

All my best,
Diandra

[jonjenbear]

Thanks to everyone who replied to my thread - you guys have given me some great advice and made me feel much better about the whole thing - I spoke with my doctor this morning, after another sleepless night, and she thinks I am trying to do this too quickly. I spoke with an addiction centre also, who advised the same thing. So I am going to take the oxy again, but only two 10mg tabs/24hrs, and then go down to 5mgs, etc. In Toronto at the pain clinics they usually put oxy users onto methadone to get off of it, then slowly weed down the meth - but I don't want to substitute one habitual drug for another if I can help it.......sigh.......sigh.....

This is a great website, thanks again to all who replied! You have given me hope!!

7 days???? sigh...sigh....sniff

[lobelsteve]

Withdrawal is a funny thing- unless YOU are going through it. Some people get withdrawal symptoms from a 10% drop in their dose. I have seen several people get no withdrawal from MSContin 100mg 3x daily to nothing, or 100mcg Duragesic to nothing. The leading authors on opioids report that the dose can be cut back to 25% of the prior dose without experiencing withdrawal symptoms. Probably a big reason most docs cut back to much too soon. Most withdrawal symptoms resolve in 3-4 days, unless the person was on chronic methadone, than it usually lasts 7 days, but can last upto 14 days.

Clonidine and Klonopin are very useful in helping people through withdrawal symptoms. Clonidine TTS 0.1mg/hr patch (1 patch lasts a week) and Klonopin 0.5mg twice daily for 7 days as needed.:cool: