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Am I facing oxycodone withdrawal?

Last year I developed a synovial cyst in my lumbar spine that caused significant pain and required surgery (posterior instrumented lumbar fusion).  I just had the surgery on November 29.  

I was on oxycodone 10 to 20mg/day for about 2 months before the surgery for pain (taking at night to let me sleep).  After surgery I went home on 80mg/day -- 10mg OxyContin 2x/day and 10mg oxycodone every 4 hours.

After 2 weeks I started reducing the dosage.  I got down to about 30mg/day (the OxyContin 2x/day and 10mg oxycodone - 5mg at bedtime and another 5mg in the middle of the night when I would wake up).  I was feeling pretty good that I had avoided any addiction until I ran out of the OxyContin three days ago.  The pain from the surgery is pretty much over so I decided I would stick to Tylenol and only take the oxycodone at night to help me sleep.  I decided to take just 10mg/day (5mg at bedtime and 5mg in the middle of the night).

I noticed that during the day on Christmas Eve I was feeling pretty crappy.  Low energy and general malaise.  I went to bed with 10mg of oxy (and took 5mg more during the night).

On Christmas day I was OK until about 11AM.  I had removed my back brace and was going to lay down on the couch to rest when I became incredibly dizzy and felt faint.  It took a while for the dizziness to pass but I found it difficult to get up without feeling very light-headed.  That continued for the rest of Christmas day.  

I went to bed w/o taking any meds at around 9.  I found I couldn't sleep and still felt dizzy even lying down.  At 10PM I took 5mg of oxy and quickly fell asleep for about 3 hours.  I woke around 1AM and took 5mg more.  Again I quickly fell asleep for about 3 hours.  I woke at 4AM and lay awake until around 6AM (when I got up).  I was still a little dizzy but better than the day before.

Thinking I might be experiencing withdrawal, I cut a 5mg pill in half and took it.  I did start to feel better.  I cut more pills, this time into quarters, and have been taking them every 3 hours today.  I am still dizzy but it is much more manageable.

So my question is... am I actually now addicted to oxycodone, or are my symptoms caused by something unrelated and the oxy just makes me feel better?  If I am addicted, can I wean myself off with 1.25mg every three hours and avoid the really bad symptoms or am I just delaying the inevitable?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Tim

I am trying to wean myself off the oxycodone.
2 Responses
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Avatar universal
With being down to 10 mg that is great ! The dizziness I'm not sure of but the walking would be great ! Do you have a walker our a cane ? Heating pads would help then even a heated blanket since you can not take a bath, They also sell those heated wraps for about any body part. I do not think you will get restless lg but if you do bananas are good for the potassium our they sell a product Hylands restful leg it would help, Calming teas for the anxiety. Your emotions will be all over This is normal ! Imodium if needed. lastly keeping a positive attitude will make it that mush easier. I'm Happy for you that you stopped this now as many continue till their life spirals out of control 1 of the differences between a addict vs dependent. You can do this.. keep reaching for support . lesa
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Avatar universal
Hi TimInColo. Welcome to the forum.. I would not say you are addicted to the opiates but your body has become dependent.. Yes you are experiencing wd. It should not be as bad as some you read here as this is your first ? A lot of us have gone thru this many times and the more you do it the worse it gets.. Yes tapering will help although we are not allowed to give taper advice I can say The idea of a taper is to cut back slowly lowering the amount you are taking every few days. reduce get used to effects reduce again. This is one way although you are in minor wd the whole time it makes the end a lil better This way also takes longer. To stop ct (cold turkey) it would take 3 to 5 day to get over the worst of the physical symptoms.. Then another couple of weeks for the emotional since you are not a addict but dependent the mental aspect should not be as bad. There are things you can do to help the pain Hot baths our showers will help, walking helps with the restlessness and helps your brain to produce feel good endorphin but with your surgery I do not know what you can do. Eat clean not fast food our boxed times A good multi vitamin would help Also make sure you are drinking a lot of water being dehydrated makes everything worse. as for sleep this is the last to come back but you should not have to many sleepless nights as your use has not been terrible long. You will pick up more tips on how to get thru this. If you have any questions just ask ! Congrats on getting off the meds I wish you well. lesa
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
Hi Lesa, and thank you for the response.  Yes, this is the first time I have dealt with any opiates.  I am relieved that I'm likely dependent vs. addicted (I definitely don't "crave" the drug so I suspect you are right).  The withdrawal is still more difficult than I expected.  Unfortunately I am restricted from any exercise besides walking for another 2 months and I can't take any baths for another 4 weeks (both because of the fusion surgery).  Walking is even hard because of the dizziness.

I am down to 10mg/day now.  I need to return to work a week from tomorrow so I'm thinking I will need to go cold turkey after another day or two on the reduced dosage.  I'm not looking forward to it but do find the advice here to be helpful.

Tim
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