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Percoset withdrawal doable but what next?
Hi,
I'm in my late 40's. I have autoimmune disorders, one of them thyroid. I also have spinal cervical stenosis with cord impingement. I was given 15 mg. oxycontin straight 3x a day for a long time, then reduced my dose and changed my narcotic to percoset 7.5 3x a day. I have high blood pressure but am on clonidine for this. I am healthy, my labs are all normal. I figured this was as good a time as any to withdraw because there are months when I run out early due to pain of my autoimmune. I began to believe that my pain is WORSE on these and noticed withdrawals at night to the point where I couldn't sleep. I am going through menopause so the hot flashes are worse now too. I can't help but feel these stupid pills have something to do with it, so I am day one cold turkey, 18 hours into withdrawal. I'm taking ibuprofen, an extra half of my clonidine in the morning (Take one at night), to keep my anxiety and blood pressure down. I have zofran for nausea, drink a ton of water. My legs HURT something fierce and this has always been the reason I have gone back on, but this time I am determined. I am very frightened but am thinking that a lot of this in your head, with regards to the anxiety. I'm doing breathing exercises, but while I'm not terrible right now, I know the worst is yet to come. I have been through this a couple of times before so i'm not stranger to it. I don't know what else to do but to ride this out. Does anyone have any advice or experiences to share in what helped you emotionally/mentally get through this? Does attitude really help? I guess I'm angry enough to make this process stop. I don't like the feeling of something having control over me.
Also any sharing about how clonidine worked for you would be great. I also have lorazepam, but that's my sleep med and i'm grateful right now, to have it!
Thank you
I'm in my late 40's. I have autoimmune disorders, one of them thyroid. I also have spinal cervical stenosis with cord impingement. I was given 15 mg. oxycontin straight 3x a day for a long time, then reduced my dose and changed my narcotic to percoset 7.5 3x a day. I have high blood pressure but am on clonidine for this. I am healthy, my labs are all normal. I figured this was as good a time as any to withdraw because there are months when I run out early due to pain of my autoimmune. I began to believe that my pain is WORSE on these and noticed withdrawals at night to the point where I couldn't sleep. I am going through menopause so the hot flashes are worse now too. I can't help but feel these stupid pills have something to do with it, so I am day one cold turkey, 18 hours into withdrawal. I'm taking ibuprofen, an extra half of my clonidine in the morning (Take one at night), to keep my anxiety and blood pressure down. I have zofran for nausea, drink a ton of water. My legs HURT something fierce and this has always been the reason I have gone back on, but this time I am determined. I am very frightened but am thinking that a lot of this in your head, with regards to the anxiety. I'm doing breathing exercises, but while I'm not terrible right now, I know the worst is yet to come. I have been through this a couple of times before so i'm not stranger to it. I don't know what else to do but to ride this out. Does anyone have any advice or experiences to share in what helped you emotionally/mentally get through this? Does attitude really help? I guess I'm angry enough to make this process stop. I don't like the feeling of something having control over me.
Also any sharing about how clonidine worked for you would be great. I also have lorazepam, but that's my sleep med and i'm grateful right now, to have it!
Thank you
Weaver,
I have been on antidepressants in the past. They didn't do a thing for me except give me a ton of uncomfortable side effects. I'm very sensitive to side effects of medications. The St. John's Wort, I have heard about for years, but never tried as it can have interactions with some of the meds I've taken in the past. This has worked to elevate mood for you? How much is required?
I have been on antidepressants in the past. They didn't do a thing for me except give me a ton of uncomfortable side effects. I'm very sensitive to side effects of medications. The St. John's Wort, I have heard about for years, but never tried as it can have interactions with some of the meds I've taken in the past. This has worked to elevate mood for you? How much is required?
NICE! I have to take a trip to the store and to the pharm anyway. I'm going to assume one doesn't need to go to a health food store to get these?
I have to try. I've heard of Valerian Root, as well as Black Cohosh for hot flashes. Thanks so much.
I have to try. I've heard of Valerian Root, as well as Black Cohosh for hot flashes. Thanks so much.
I found the herb St. John's Wart to help with my anxiety. Valerian nor Kava did much for me, but I think it depends on what your body is missing. Great info above, I totally agree.
"Are these remedies expensive?"
Not really, no.
Valerian root $6.19
Lemon Balm $2.50
Kava (Tea) $3.19
Magnesium $6.99
B6 $10.80
the whole thing will run about $30.00
Not really, no.
Valerian root $6.19
Lemon Balm $2.50
Kava (Tea) $3.19
Magnesium $6.99
B6 $10.80
the whole thing will run about $30.00
I appreciate your post so much! Thank you for sharing all the info with me. Are these remedies expensive? I know herbals can be while everything from my doc is covered by insurance. Go figure.
I'm determined. I have 'detoxed' from much worse. I HATE having anything to control me like this. Or anyone for that matter.
Being an abuse survivor as well as having kicked alcohol, makes this seem in the same ball park. I quit my ex and my alcohol at the same time.
This time feels different because of pain. I didn't the physical pain with the other two and that's where I get stalled.
I noticed with my first withdrawal that I had pain, but it wasn't as bad by six days out.
This time, I need to stick to it. I have access and am refusing to get more.
Thank you so much!
I'm determined. I have 'detoxed' from much worse. I HATE having anything to control me like this. Or anyone for that matter.
Being an abuse survivor as well as having kicked alcohol, makes this seem in the same ball park. I quit my ex and my alcohol at the same time.
This time feels different because of pain. I didn't the physical pain with the other two and that's where I get stalled.
I noticed with my first withdrawal that I had pain, but it wasn't as bad by six days out.
This time, I need to stick to it. I have access and am refusing to get more.
Thank you so much!
"Does anyone have any advice or experiences to share in what helped you emotionally/mentally get through this?"
I know a lot of people take the sleep aids and anxiety medications when detoxing. I tried it when detoxing before....it helped. The best results I got the last time I detoxed off opiates was with herbs. I posted this list on another thread but Ill do it again for you. Maybe its helpful...maybe not.
The herb Valerian root (Valeriana officinalis) is used as a sedative on the nervous system and a relaxant for the muscles (Reader's Digest, 2009, Pp128). It also helps with headaches, which can sometimes be a result of an anxiety attack. According to Mosby's the recommended dosage of Valerian extract is 400-900mg, before bedtime (2010, Pp592). It is recommended that Valerian not take with MAOIs.
The herb Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis L.) is used as a sedative and it has mood-enhancing abilities(Reader's Digest, 2009, Pp73). The leaves are the part of the plant that is used and can come in an extract. According to Mosby's the recommended dosage is 80mg of Lemon Balm extract combinewith120mg Valerian root extract, tid (three times a day) (2010, Pp390).
The herb Kava (Piper methysticum) has a sedative and it is an anxiolytic (Skidmore-Roth, 2010, Pp.369). Anxiolytic is defined, by the Mirriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, as a drug that relieves anxiety. It acts directly on the limbic system, which is the parts of the brain that are concerned with emotion and motivation. According to Mosby's the recommended dosage of Kava extract is 45-70mg tid (2010, Pp370). Take it with a meal for increased absorption. It is also recommended that it not be given to children under 12 (Skidmore-Roth, 2010, Pp370).
The mineral Magnesium works as a muscle relaxant, which can be helpful to someone suffering from anxiety issues. The stress of anxiety can take it's toll on the shoulder muscles and the neck muscles. According to the Encyclopedia of Nutritional Supplements the recommended daily intake of Magnesium is 280mg (Murray, 1996, Pp161).
Although all of the B vitamins can aid in the calming of anxiety issues, vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) seems to be the most important because it helps to form chemical transmitters in the nervous system (Murray, 1996, Pp100). According to the Encyclopedia of Nutritional Supplements the recommended daily intake of vitamin B6 is 2mg (Murray, 1996, Pp101).
"Does attitude really help? "
Of course. Its all about attitude. I mean yeah, detoxing hurts in many ways but your attitude towards it makes the world of difference. Its that whole glass half full/half empty thing. You have a poor attitude and miss getting high and look for reasons to continue using, rationalizing with yourself and co-signing your own BS....or, you can look to the future and how it will be to be free from the bonds of Perc use. Life is much greener on this side. Ive been on both many but have been on the greener side for some time now and it sure is beautiful.
Good luck
I know a lot of people take the sleep aids and anxiety medications when detoxing. I tried it when detoxing before....it helped. The best results I got the last time I detoxed off opiates was with herbs. I posted this list on another thread but Ill do it again for you. Maybe its helpful...maybe not.
The herb Valerian root (Valeriana officinalis) is used as a sedative on the nervous system and a relaxant for the muscles (Reader's Digest, 2009, Pp128). It also helps with headaches, which can sometimes be a result of an anxiety attack. According to Mosby's the recommended dosage of Valerian extract is 400-900mg, before bedtime (2010, Pp592). It is recommended that Valerian not take with MAOIs.
The herb Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis L.) is used as a sedative and it has mood-enhancing abilities(Reader's Digest, 2009, Pp73). The leaves are the part of the plant that is used and can come in an extract. According to Mosby's the recommended dosage is 80mg of Lemon Balm extract combinewith120mg Valerian root extract, tid (three times a day) (2010, Pp390).
The herb Kava (Piper methysticum) has a sedative and it is an anxiolytic (Skidmore-Roth, 2010, Pp.369). Anxiolytic is defined, by the Mirriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, as a drug that relieves anxiety. It acts directly on the limbic system, which is the parts of the brain that are concerned with emotion and motivation. According to Mosby's the recommended dosage of Kava extract is 45-70mg tid (2010, Pp370). Take it with a meal for increased absorption. It is also recommended that it not be given to children under 12 (Skidmore-Roth, 2010, Pp370).
The mineral Magnesium works as a muscle relaxant, which can be helpful to someone suffering from anxiety issues. The stress of anxiety can take it's toll on the shoulder muscles and the neck muscles. According to the Encyclopedia of Nutritional Supplements the recommended daily intake of Magnesium is 280mg (Murray, 1996, Pp161).
Although all of the B vitamins can aid in the calming of anxiety issues, vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) seems to be the most important because it helps to form chemical transmitters in the nervous system (Murray, 1996, Pp100). According to the Encyclopedia of Nutritional Supplements the recommended daily intake of vitamin B6 is 2mg (Murray, 1996, Pp101).
"Does attitude really help? "
Of course. Its all about attitude. I mean yeah, detoxing hurts in many ways but your attitude towards it makes the world of difference. Its that whole glass half full/half empty thing. You have a poor attitude and miss getting high and look for reasons to continue using, rationalizing with yourself and co-signing your own BS....or, you can look to the future and how it will be to be free from the bonds of Perc use. Life is much greener on this side. Ive been on both many but have been on the greener side for some time now and it sure is beautiful.
Good luck
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