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UPDATE Help get off oxycodone
So I had my dr apt today..... Was completly honest and upfront with my doctor.... He said that he was dropping me off too quickly thats why the w/ds here so hard. So we spent some time talking and he thought it would be a good idea to help me manage the withdrawls by tapering me off slower, since I was already down to 2 vicodin a day but miserable he decided to have me try 3 oxycodone per day, then next week we will bump it down to 2 and so on. He also is putting me on antidepressants to help with the depression and anxiety. So any input on this??? Am I doing the right thing?? Part of me wants to just rip up the perscription for the oxy and throw it away, yet another part of me doesnt want to be sick..... I know this stems back alot further and alot deeper than just the pain issues I have been having. My dad died of a heroin overdose when I was 3. So I know its in my genes. I have gone all this time being completly against drugs and never trying them because I was so scared of turning into him. So here I am 23 years old addicted to pain killers... dumping my heart out to complete strangers.... Who would have know!
good to hear. somehow i got the feeling i didn't have the whole story.
i can just tell you that w/d from oxy is worse (IMHO) than from hydro, and a doctor 'moving you up' the opiate chain when you've told him you have a problem with a lesser opiate just sounded very strange. but now i understand.
weekly visits are a great idea. most doctors don't do this. plus, it can be costly either in co-pays or serious $ if you don't have insurance. the doctor sounds like he is taking you seriously and is 'actively involved' in HELPING YOU get off opiates.
you may have misunderstood my comment about 'more Vicodin' as opposed to 'moving up' to oxy. oxy has a much higher potential for addiction and is 1.5x stronger than hydro (Vicodin) which is why i didn't understand why he would move you 'up' the addiction ladder when you were already having trouble with a less-addictive, less-strong opiate - not that you would take more or less Vicodin, if prescribed.
if you can't get more pills, you could try cold turkey (*shivers*) or ask your Doc to step you down to Tramadol or Darvocet. he seems relatively responsive to you. just remember, your desire is to get OFF pills! ; )
best of luck,
e1
i can just tell you that w/d from oxy is worse (IMHO) than from hydro, and a doctor 'moving you up' the opiate chain when you've told him you have a problem with a lesser opiate just sounded very strange. but now i understand.
weekly visits are a great idea. most doctors don't do this. plus, it can be costly either in co-pays or serious $ if you don't have insurance. the doctor sounds like he is taking you seriously and is 'actively involved' in HELPING YOU get off opiates.
you may have misunderstood my comment about 'more Vicodin' as opposed to 'moving up' to oxy. oxy has a much higher potential for addiction and is 1.5x stronger than hydro (Vicodin) which is why i didn't understand why he would move you 'up' the addiction ladder when you were already having trouble with a less-addictive, less-strong opiate - not that you would take more or less Vicodin, if prescribed.
if you can't get more pills, you could try cold turkey (*shivers*) or ask your Doc to step you down to Tramadol or Darvocet. he seems relatively responsive to you. just remember, your desire is to get OFF pills! ; )
best of luck,
e1
LoL okay first of all hun, the reson he switched me was vicodins give me headaches. And he gabe me an Rx for 14 percs, that I have to make last 1 week. He is seeing me every week until I can get off of this stuff. I definitly appreciate all of your concern and Im definitly not using my father H addiction as an excuse, just a fear. I have never done H nor do plan too. All I was saying is an opiate is an optiate right?? If I dont get this undercontrol and cant get any more pills what do you think the next step could be?? I actually didnt take that oxy suprising enough and I feel pretty darn good for not taking it! That was a huge step for me! Maybe your right though, if I switch to a higher dose of the vicodin, then maybe I would be less likely to take them.
why is moving to a stronger opiate the right thing? why wouldn't he just give her an extra Vic or two per day and then wean her down slowly from there? i've been through both w/d and would take the Vic w/d any day. plus, in the end Vic's couldn't even touch oxy's. people couldn't even give Vic's to me. might as well have been aspirin. not surprisingly, the same thing happened with oxy. hmmm. after chasing the high for a year or more, i completely exhausted all the money i had (plus credit) and had to choose between 'normal' or 'junkie'. i chose 'normal' - whatever that means.
i also notice that people have different opinions on Sub. some people claim it's a miracle pill and others despise it. all i can tell you is that it helped me immeasurably. i do not work in the medical community or run a 'Sub Shop' - ha! : )
if her doc brings her back down to hydros and tapers off slowly, it could work. but like i said, when you walk out of that pharmacy with a full bottle of pills... : (
i also notice that people have different opinions on Sub. some people claim it's a miracle pill and others despise it. all i can tell you is that it helped me immeasurably. i do not work in the medical community or run a 'Sub Shop' - ha! : )
if her doc brings her back down to hydros and tapers off slowly, it could work. but like i said, when you walk out of that pharmacy with a full bottle of pills... : (
Dont even think of picking up a sub for your situation............
You are doing the right thing - both telling the Doc all and doing the oxy.......your Doc actually has things together - - he kept you on the same number of pills and went to the next level up - - - wouldnt be surprised if you do the roxy for awhile and then go back to the vicodin to finish your taper after you get as low as possible with the roxy - - - - you want to escape as much w/d as possible so that you may continue to care for your family ............its all sounding oretty good - Have a great holiday! And stay in touch if you have any other questions or just to vent/relax ............................eagle
1. it is NOT in your genes. you fell into a trap like everyone here. you're using that as an excuse and casting blame elsewhere. you weren't shooting H (right)? i have news for you: EVERYBODY likes opiates! : )
2. if you have that pill, you WILL take it. you will torture yourself until you finally give in and take it. and then you will hate yourself for it. seriously, get rid of it. you don't need it, so flushing it will make the 'wrong' decision impossible. it may be sad watching it swirl around the bowl, but think about how sad it is that YOU are SAD because you are flushing a PILL down the toilet! if it was your 10-year old goldfish, most people would understand, but seriously - think about that. if you don't get rid of it, you will start making deals with yourself (ok, just enough not to feel sick, maybe just a little more, ah - screw it, i already had half! etc, etc.) been there. done that.
3. your doctor is putting you on a STRONGER opiate (oxy) instead of upping your WEAKER opiate? just take 3 Vicodins instead of 2 and just stay away from oxy. it's not worth it - especially in your position. if you are 'getting by' on 2 Vics a day then you have a very small habit (not lecturing, just educating and offering perspective) and if I were you, I would lock myself in a room for a week, go crazy, cry, whatever. and then you'll be done. tapers don't work in my opinion. however, some people are able to do it. most can't. unless you have someone to hold your pills and give them to you at the correct time, etc., i don't have a lot of faith in the taper method. you will be CLAWING at your bf and looking for the pills when possible.
i just can't believe that you would tell your doc that you have a problem and he's going to let you walk out of there with a rx for 90 oxy/percs - after you've been on Vicodin???!!! why not give a wino a bottle of Scotch and just tell him to take little sips every once in a while? ridiculous, IMHO. the potential for abuse/addiction with oxy is much higher than with hydro (Vics) and i would much rather w/d from hydro than oxy ANY DAY. that's a no-brainer. you think Vic w/d's are bad... haha... just wait.
4. if you could get your hands on ONE Suboxone (2mg or 8mg) you'd be fine. you would need such tiny pieces to keep you well and you could taper (which is much easier with Suboxone since you don't really get *high*) over a week or two with minimal (if any) w/d symptoms.
5. Tramadol is a also good taper-off-er-er. you can buy it online w/o a prescription (although not at the drugstore). it has effects that 'tickle' some of the same receptors as opiates. technically, it is NOT an opiate, but does act on some opiate receptors (as well as Serotonin receptors which will lift your mood a tiny bit.)
6. Vigorous exercise - even though you don't want to do it - will really help. it's the last thing in the world you want to do, but at least get out and take a walk for starters.
7. you could *try* the antiD's, but i wouldn't. they take a little while to work and you'll likely be over this before you notice anything (if you even *notice* anything). i would let your body reach its 'natural' state before starting something else. i am skeptical of SSRI claims myself, and i've been on them, too. let your body reach equilibrium. it WILL happen. THAT'S in your genes. ; )
Just don't get yourself in deeper. The downward spiral is long, and climbing back up is even longer (and 100x as hard). Make sure you find something to do with your time because after the opiate lift (isn't cleaning the house FUN?!!! YES!) you are going to be extremely bored by everything. this too, shall pass. ; )
hang in there and best of luck!
e1
p.s. keep in mind, i don't know your whole situation, so... there ya go. ; )
2. if you have that pill, you WILL take it. you will torture yourself until you finally give in and take it. and then you will hate yourself for it. seriously, get rid of it. you don't need it, so flushing it will make the 'wrong' decision impossible. it may be sad watching it swirl around the bowl, but think about how sad it is that YOU are SAD because you are flushing a PILL down the toilet! if it was your 10-year old goldfish, most people would understand, but seriously - think about that. if you don't get rid of it, you will start making deals with yourself (ok, just enough not to feel sick, maybe just a little more, ah - screw it, i already had half! etc, etc.) been there. done that.
3. your doctor is putting you on a STRONGER opiate (oxy) instead of upping your WEAKER opiate? just take 3 Vicodins instead of 2 and just stay away from oxy. it's not worth it - especially in your position. if you are 'getting by' on 2 Vics a day then you have a very small habit (not lecturing, just educating and offering perspective) and if I were you, I would lock myself in a room for a week, go crazy, cry, whatever. and then you'll be done. tapers don't work in my opinion. however, some people are able to do it. most can't. unless you have someone to hold your pills and give them to you at the correct time, etc., i don't have a lot of faith in the taper method. you will be CLAWING at your bf and looking for the pills when possible.
i just can't believe that you would tell your doc that you have a problem and he's going to let you walk out of there with a rx for 90 oxy/percs - after you've been on Vicodin???!!! why not give a wino a bottle of Scotch and just tell him to take little sips every once in a while? ridiculous, IMHO. the potential for abuse/addiction with oxy is much higher than with hydro (Vics) and i would much rather w/d from hydro than oxy ANY DAY. that's a no-brainer. you think Vic w/d's are bad... haha... just wait.
4. if you could get your hands on ONE Suboxone (2mg or 8mg) you'd be fine. you would need such tiny pieces to keep you well and you could taper (which is much easier with Suboxone since you don't really get *high*) over a week or two with minimal (if any) w/d symptoms.
5. Tramadol is a also good taper-off-er-er. you can buy it online w/o a prescription (although not at the drugstore). it has effects that 'tickle' some of the same receptors as opiates. technically, it is NOT an opiate, but does act on some opiate receptors (as well as Serotonin receptors which will lift your mood a tiny bit.)
6. Vigorous exercise - even though you don't want to do it - will really help. it's the last thing in the world you want to do, but at least get out and take a walk for starters.
7. you could *try* the antiD's, but i wouldn't. they take a little while to work and you'll likely be over this before you notice anything (if you even *notice* anything). i would let your body reach its 'natural' state before starting something else. i am skeptical of SSRI claims myself, and i've been on them, too. let your body reach equilibrium. it WILL happen. THAT'S in your genes. ; )
Just don't get yourself in deeper. The downward spiral is long, and climbing back up is even longer (and 100x as hard). Make sure you find something to do with your time because after the opiate lift (isn't cleaning the house FUN?!!! YES!) you are going to be extremely bored by everything. this too, shall pass. ; )
hang in there and best of luck!
e1
p.s. keep in mind, i don't know your whole situation, so... there ya go. ; )
u need to make sure u dont have access to them so u can stick to ur taper....ur boyfriend needs to hold them or count them so u r accountable for them as strong a person as one may be we are total weaklings when it comes to those dern pills...if u find urself cheating/which i did terribly while tapering/then it is time to flush and let go...letting go is a hard thing to do..almost like a break up or sumpin...letting them go mentally and moving on.....keep us posted....and remeber to stick to ur taper....or ct if u do not
Oh its really hard let me tell you! I have had to give my fiance my RX's so he will make sure I dont take more..... I dont want my kids to go through what I did growing up.... I NEVER thought when all of my pain issues started this would be the outcome or I would have never taken any of them. My FORMER Dr. kept telling me if I was only taking them when I was in pain I would never become dependent. Needless to say I must emphasis on him being my FORMER DR. I just hope I am able to get through this and get on with my life. But today the future seems far away, but minute by minute im getting there. Doing good so far! Its 2:43pm and I have an oxy in the medicine cabnit and I have gone all day without taking it! Its torture though I would be a liar if I said I havnt thought about it I have even gone in there twice and put it back.
I think so..ur doctor is helping and u r being honest with him...as long as u stick to the taper and continue being honest..u will lick this...u sound determined..and that is always a good sign..anyone who would tell their doctor and participate in a taper plan with their doctor is dead serious about quitting i would think...i would be proud if i were u..keep posting
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