Oxycontin

[Lynn]

Can Oxycontin be detected using the standard drugs of abuse laboratory test?

[spook]

You still sound like you are doing very well,I would like to point out that I have used/abused Opioids for over 20 years,I have had breaks greater than 12 months and never used daily for more that about 2 years.I have cravings for about a month or so at most after I get sick of the High,then I completely forget the drug.Have you ever fallen in love and had your heart broken,well to me it is like that,the craving goes,I hope you are like me and can get over the cravings.Although I am a bit strange in that I do not resent my Opioid use and have no plans on giving up using them anymore than I plan on not falling in love again.But we are all different and I do not want to set a bad example,like they are illegal and the more you use the more chance their may be some unforseen problem,Like I overdosed on Heroin about 3 months ago and was immediated revived,but if I had been alone I would be DEAD now.I have Hep C too from IV use and no liver damage,but that could change,I get fatigue from the C virus,I don`t know will I ever learn?.Maybe I do not have as much to lose as you, being a Single White male on a planet with 6 billion people,like who will miss me?Actually my parents may, so I will try to stop my intermittent use of Opioids.I have not used anything for about 10 days and have NO problem,NO craving nothing,so maybe I just try to finish writing my Book.
goodbye and good luck.

[Bonnie]

Thank you for your comforting comment J.B.
I am aware of the fact I am an addict but I am not sure I am ready to admit that to my doctor.I am so petrified of the road I am going to have to face someday soon.I am not a strong person and I'm not sure if withdrawl will put me over the edge.I know you all know whati'm feeling and have or are where i am.When do you know when its time to stop and get help?What do you do for the still existing pain that got you in this hell to begin with??I am so scared!!My husband thinks I can just stop taking it and be done with it.He doesnt believe in toxics being put in our bodies.I am alone here and fear of not being able to succeed.I will continue reading all your comments though it does give me some since of not feeling all alone in this battle.Thanx for listening again.
           Bonnie

[Claire]

I guess I wasn't exactly forthright in my first post.  I did have a problem with prescription drugs.  Throughout my teen/adult life I have craved drugs.  As a teen, I drank like there was no tomorrow as well as smoking pot.  I even dropped acid once and smoked angel dust (elephant tranquilizer).  Then I became pregnant at the ripe ol' age of 18.  This caused me to settle down and realize the error of my ways.  I can't say that my new found resolution lasted because I met my husband at a party at his house.  Obviously I was drinking again.  We married (my son was only 9 months old), had twin girls, became active in the church, etc.  We are a respectable middle class family.  No one would ever know the demons that exist in my closet.  I've spent almost 22 years masking the insecurities within me with pain medication.  That's the way "respectable" people get high.  My drug of choice used to be Tylenol #3, but soon graduated to vicodin.  Every time I was prescribed these drugs I would ALWAYS take them more and longer than prescribed.  I too know the game of how to get drugs from a doctor.  It's easy because I don't look like a drug addict. About three years ago, all the emotions I've tried to suppress came to the surface in the form of TMJD which led to Myofacial Pain Syndrome.  For the first time in my life I really was in horrible pain.  The ear aches were the worse.  After many tests and at least 10 different doctors I was sent to a pain clinic.  This is where the oxycontin/percocet odyssey began.  I was started on 10mg 3X a day.  That did nothing so the drug was increased to 20mg 3X a day.  That was fine, but after a few months and new very stressful job, I started having break through pain.  That is when percocet was introduced.  2 5/500 pills 2X a day in addition to the oxycontin.  As of November of last year, my tolerance built up to percocet and 40mg of oxycontin 3X a day.  My marriage was in shambles because I was such a ***** to everyone.  My husband and I had not had sex in almost a year.  But if you were to ask me, I was a perfectly functioning person.  My life took a turn when I realized in January that the ridges in my mouth were gone (these are due to my constant chewing at night).  I realized how much I hated being on pain medication and decided to go cold turkey with the help of my general doctor who prescribed ativan and catpress (sp?).  To make a long story a little shorter, I've been on both sides of the coin.  I've had the mental addiction (the cravings will be something I need to deal with for the rest of my life) and the physical addiction.  The key to my recovery is learning to not be such a high strung person so I don't grind my teeth as much which should stop the muscle spasms.  Mind you, I am far from being pain free, but I'm dealing with it on my own terms.  As for my marriage, it's like we've fallen in love all over again.  And the sex has never been better.
-Claire

[spook]

You have shown a strong tendency to not become addicted to the emotional pleasure Pain killers produce,you should be back to normal in a few months,I hope the pain killers were of some benefit while you were taking them,sometimes the withdrawals make it seem not a fair trade off,maybe your pain is not chronic anymore,maybe it is not as intense,but for many they NEED them and do become addicted also.
But for you things are looking much better,you are an excellent example of the paradox of so called addictive drugs.

[Claire]

Firstly, I am new to this site.  I stumbled across it while searching for answers to my inner most questions.  I have been off of oxycontin and percocet for 4 1/2 weeks.  I still have very little energy which is my biggest complaint.  It has been very refreshing to read some of these posts.  I now know that I am not alone and most of what I feel is "normal."  

In response to one person's post regarding the oxycontin.  They said that the mental withdrawal is much harder than the physical.  I then say to them, you must not have been taking it very long.  The physical withdrawal was the worse experience I have every had.  I journaled the whole experience so that I would NEVER forget and take them again.  My writing is scrawled like a child.  I couldn't spell either.  I've only looked back upon those pages once.  The painful memories they evoked were too much for me.  

My advice to all... avoid pain medication like the plague!  Even though I began my odyssey as a chronic pain suffer, I can tell you that it wasn't worth it.  I am actually handling my pain now with simple things like hot baths and heating pads, as well as meditation and learning to be a less stressed person.

Thanks for taking the time to read this...
Sincerely,
Claire

[J.B. to Brian and Vicky]

No, nothing you have said is senseless or taking up space.  I understand fully what you are going through and will help you in some way.  Don't just get the feeling that your concerns are unworthy of our attention here.  Yes, Oxy does make you feel better whether you are in pain or not.  Why not join the rest of us here who are in the same boat and admit that you have a problem with drugs?  This long journey starts with "step number one". Be advised that you will be in good company from now on. J.B.