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.