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Long Term Effects After Percocet

Hi....

I've been here briefly before when I was addicted to Percocet. I did finally kick them aftr 3 years use. I have been off them for several months now. Most of the craving has gone away. I do not feel good tho.
I used the Percs illegally for energy and a crutch to get thru busy and stressful days that no normal human being could tolerate.
So now I have new problems. I do have some depresssion. The oddest thing tho is that I can't stand for anyone to touch me. I do all i can to get away from my kids when they want to hang on me. I've totally written off any physical contact with my boyfirend. The thought of sex makes me actually sick to my stomach.
I have a mild continual all-over muscle ache that does contribute to my not wanting to be touched, and I am really jumpy and nervous and always fearful of being accidntly hit by something, I think way more than a normal person would be. I take an anti-anxiety pill, which I have done for years anyway due to panic attacks, but it doesnt seem to help this siutaion much.
Anyone eperience this non-touching thing? Will it go away? Its been several months since I've stopped using and it's not going away or lessening any.
Thanks...
Carol
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Avatar universal
Just wanted to say hang in there - it will eventually get better if you refrain from taking any and all opiate narcotics.  I kicked a 3 year, 15 a day, percocet addiction 12 years ago.  It takes a long time for your body to adjust and feel normal again.  I had a difficult time for about a year.  I know that sounds like a LONG time, but you have to do the one-day-at-a-time approach.  Some days are better than others, and getting through one of the bad days is much easier than relapsing and having to start all over.  I could not have done it without a 12-step support program (even though my addiction was to narcotics, I went to AA).  It really does help to meet others, share experiences, and ask questions.

Stay away from the vicodin, it just prolongs the withdrawal and slows down the process of your brain producing normal levels of endorphins.  Good luck and hang in there - you can do it and it will get better!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Yep...I am totally not happy at all either. I kicked the percs finally last fall and have slipped a couple of times with Vicodin...but I just dont like it as well...I just try it once in awhile to see if I can get happy again...and it really doesnt do the trick.
I get up in the morning on the weekends and just stand there cuz I really dont know what to do next. Nothing seems like a good idea. I like going to work cuz nobody tries to touch me or talk to me much there.
I watch that VH1 Addiction show...and a guy on there said he had to start using antidepressants after he quit using narcotics cuz his receptors werent working well and he was pretty depressed.
I kicked a methadone/heroine habit like 28 yrs ago and i felt bad for like a year afterward. I always ached and was nervous. i took an antipsychotic for 3 months and finally got better.
Then after 20 some years I pick up a perc habit. Nice.
I guess I'm going to try and stimulate some endorphins thru a little exercise and maybe antidepressants and see if that kick-starts things. i think we did disable endorphin production or their receptors and that needs to be fixed.
I know the brain can heal itself...but it might take awhile...but I think the endorphin thing is the key.
Just tired of everything being so weird and crappy...no wonder people relapse all the time.
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Avatar universal
i feel the exact same after stopping methadone---its been about 6 mos.with a couple of slips but i am depressed all of the time-and i know what u mean about the touching thing-sometimes i think it will never get better--idk----nothing interests me or makes me happy anymore--i think ive burnt up my endorphin receptors and developed endorphin deficiency syndrome
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hmmm...maybe I dont have my endorphins back to a reasonable level yet. That could explain alot.
I might try suffering thru some Paxil for a bit and see if that gets things going for me again so I dont feel so weird all the time. I just want to be left alone mostly now.
Sorry bout the anxiety stuff...if you dont have anything like Klonopin or Xanax available for that...my neighbor tellls me she uses Benadryl...the allergy medicine...to calm down and get rid of some of nervousness and helps her sleep. I havnt tried it tho.
I NEED SOME ENDORPHINS!  :)
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I feel that way rightnow but am only on day 4.  I always like to be touched b/4 the pills but while i was tkaing them if it'd been a while between them i was edgy and didn't wann be touched.  but while they were in my system i felt very affectionate.  it's probably just taking awhile for the endorphins to get back in your system, do you exercise?  I just got a  massage hoping that would hlep wiht the w/d's but NO  i feel so agitated and irritable, so i think I need to wait for any contact--I'm sorry you're feeling that way, i'm sure others will be on to comment as well, take care
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Avatar universal
Hi...

It could. I m seeing a therapist to work on my anxiety and depression.
I won't take the anti-depressant I've been prescribed as they make me hypo-manic sometimes. The psychiatrists change at my clinic so often that it's difficult to get a handle on what type of meds I should take...I always have to start over with each new dr.

Helpful - 0
222369 tn?1274474635
Addiction is a mental disease with physical symptoms. You've taken care of the physical to a point, but the mental takes some work. For many, AA and NA meetings are enough. For others, work with a  therapist is crucial to get to the root of the problem. Many addictions have roots in things that happened way in the past. Do you think anything could be contributing to the feelings you're having from the past?
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Avatar universal
Thanks Michele...
I figured I would have some wierd effects after I quit, but I thought the wierdest ones would be gone by now.
Oddly enuff, I was more touchy-feely whan I was using Percs. I just got this way after I stopped.
I'll check back later and see if anyone is as strange as I am :)
At least I'm off the stuff anyway...LOL
Carol
Helpful - 0
699217 tn?1323438700
hi Carol.  I don't have that problem, and I am sorry that you are having it.  If anything, I am touching way more than I used to and Im a very affectionate, touchy feely kind of person.  The sex has gotten way better too.  I am sure someone who has gone through this will post.  Just hang in there, its Saturday and maybe others here are doing things and busy right now.

Sorry to hear of this problem with you :(
Michele
Helpful - 0
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