Proper weaning procedure from oxycodone

[celebration]

Long story short last year we found avascular necrosis in my right hip. First surgery, core decompression, did not help so I had a right total hip arthroplasty. I have been on 30mg of oxycodone 5 times a day. I am so thankful because all of my pain is gone, with the exception of the surgical pain which will last about 3 more weeks, sometimes I feel like someone has sat my hip on fire, literaly.
I am worried about the physical withdrawal, as is everyone else. I am so thankful I will no longer need these. My pain seems to be getting  better every day.
My doctor assures me he will taper me off, but I am extreme anxiety over the whole thing because I have ran out of meds before and I would rather die than go through that again.
Any suggestions on what has worked for others? without having to many side effects?
Any input is very much appreciated, i have realized we are all in this together and if there is something i can help someone with please let me know.?

[Ray420]

You will experience pretty severe withdrawal symptoms, I'm sorry to inform you. The guy above only thought you said you were doing 30mg oxy but you said 5 times daily right. That is quite a large dosage and by only taking 75 instead of 150 you will experience heavy symptoms of withdrawal. I'm not going to give you any advice but sometimes you need counselling and any help to get you through it, whatever you do don't get down on yourself if you slip or realise you have an addiction, just deal with it and get help any way you can with confidence and knowing that if you do have a problem you're not the only one. I'm going to rehab june 30th tried quiting many times last 4 months been waiting rehab for over a month. got many wd's over 14 days clean once didnt work without counselling etc..proper care so im going to myfree community rehab in my city thanks I hope you do well and good luck with kicking the narc

[celebration]

thanks for all of your input. It so wondeful we have the technology today to be able to assist one another in forums on the internet! I can't tell you how much better I am feeling today, it almost doesn't seem real, this whole mess will be over soon. Another forum I joined a while back was a "avascular necrosis" forum. There are people who actually have AVN in bilateral hips and bilateral knees. I just cannot express how much relief I feel and thank God for everything. As for the others I keep them in my prayers every day because this is a disease that effects our activities, our mobility and when that happens we start feeling helpless and feeling sorry for ourselves. Don't mean to ramble on but another quick question.
Would halving my dosage, say every two weeks, and continuing to do that be an effective tapering technique? I'm sure my Dr. knows what he is doing, I just like to be well informed. He is an awesome orthopod.
Thanks again, have a great day.

[Twist1285]

30 mgs/day is not going to be that bad. I mean it's not going to be fun, but what you should stay away from is the length of time. Get off of the pills as soon as you can. This is why it may not be a good idea to taper very slowly, because you will be just adding length. I had to deal with coming off 8-9 Oxycontin 80mg pills a day, and I am still here. It's not going to kill you. You may lose 2 or 3 nights of sleep and that'll be it, maybe some aches and pains for a week or so. It's not like ou are going to be SICK SICK for a month ya know? I know it's not the most pleasant feeling trust me, but what you are taking should be a cake walk compared to what others on here have done. I completly understand the anxiety, but you need to just tell yourself there is nothnig to worry about, if in fact it proves to be too much to deal with then the doctor will help you out, if you were buying them off the street and doing alot more then you could be worried. Also for you, or any of us for that matter the worrying is not going to help anything at all, if anything it makes it worse because you will be sitting at your house telling yourself, "I know I'm going to get sick, how bad is it going to be, do I feel sick right now?" and all of those things are going to beat you up. Just ask your doctor for a "chill" pill as mention klonodine works well, and maybe a xanax or 2, that may be alittle much, but at least you wouldn't be freaking yourself out. Good luck

[mimi1313]

You're lucky that your doctor will help you taper. I'm sure he will give you meds to help with the physical withdrawal as well. Clonidine helps with the blood pressure and sometiems an anti anxiety med is given. If you taper withdrawal is not that bad, I tapered and I think it was so much easier.

Also look in the health pages at the amino acids. There are alot of things that will help there. Be careful if you are on on anti depressants though, there are some you have to watch. I would start taking vitamins and aminos as soon as you start to taper. it will help.

Good luck,

Melissa