Opioids Can I take withdrawal drugs while tapering Oxycodone?

[kayaker318]

Which withdrawal drugs to take while tapering Oxycodone?

Hi all,
I just started my Oxycodone taper today. I've been on 45mg/a day and am decreasing approximately 30% every 2 days. Today I reduced to 30mg. Then will do 20 and so on.

Does it matter when I start taking my withdrawal drugs i.e. can I start taking them now or do I need to wait until I'm off the oxycodone? I think I know the answer but wanted confirmation please.

I have Loperamide, Gabapentin, Vistaril/Hydroxyzine, Clonodine, Clonazepam (Klonopin) and Baclofen. I just took .25mg of clonazepam to take the edge off. Am wondering how soon to start others -- mainly loperamide and clonodine. I'm feeling a little anxious and hope to be proactive in fending off the RLS, jumpiness, etc. 8) Thank you!

 

[Leegrow]

The lope you definitely want to take the day of your last dose, it takes a while to build up in the body.

The rest are all take as needed.

edit: you're right @The Doc it doesn't take too long to hit you, about 5 hours, but if I'm not mistaken it builds up in your body like SSRIs?

 

[The Doc.]

Yes you can take drugs such as clonadine to help with the taper especially doing one as fast as you are. In the local detox during a Suboxone/methadone taper, patients can be given clonadine or ibuprofen and/or acetaminophen/muscle relaxers as needed. Sleep drugs such as seroquel, trazadone or in extreme cases chloral hydrate are used at night time too if the patient cannot sleep.

Nurses usually access the patient's symptoms and when the patient's symptoms get high enough on the C.O.W.S scale near the end of the taper they will give them withdrawl drugs as needed otherwise they can't sleep well or their anxiety is terrible.
It can help dramatically but Be careful with benzos as its not a good mix but you probably understand that and the chance of overdose is very low while tapering your opiates and being in moderate withdrawal. But patients are usually not given benzos until after they are off opiates completely just to be on the safe side.

Lopermide can help but I recommend keeping it for when your bowels are really loose which will probably be at its worst after your off oxycodone completely. It doesn't take very long to build up so I wouldn't worry about that too much. I wouldn't overdo the lope otherwise you'll have to withdrawal from it and taper that stuff then youll be in the same situation. Some people actually get addicted to lopermide so just keep it for when you have the runs.

 

[itsonlyme123]

It's called a symptomatic detox. Just take what you need as and when, or on a constant regimen until you have finished your taper.

 

[kayaker318]

Thanks Leegrow and TheDoc ^^ Yes waiting on loperamide for jumping off oxy is when I will take it. Totally aware of the benzo warnings - I've had clonazepam for years now and only take a very small dose. The last time I did a cold turkey detox from oxycodone and tried using clonazepam (again low dose) which did not help at all with restless legs, jumping out of skin, etc. I think it's good during this initial stage just for some anxiety relief.

I know this seems like a fast taper. . .my Dr actually told me to cut down 50% on day one -- take 1/2 of all my pills instead of whole. That seemed really extreme to me and so I compromised at 30% which, I think, is still pushing it. I don't want to drag the tapering out -- especially with short acting drugs, however, I don't want to put myself in the same situation as cold turkey side effects by doing it too quickly.

I just purchased some Kratom so hopefully that will help with my chronic pain during the withdrawal process. The pain issue still needs to be addressed now that I'm removing Oxycodone from the equation. Otherwise I'm setting myself up for a relapse.

 

[Smoky]

Good advice above…
and I would wait on the lope indeed, and the benzos perhaps.. Just start some Clonidine/Gabapentin now. ime.
I did a rapid taper and began initiating withdrawal meds prior, most of what you have above, just a little different.

I would also buy some otc regimens, Vit C, B6, and amino acids, as well as begin to drink more fluids like coconut water and Gatoraid.
I'm so glad I tapered, it made the physical symptoms much more bearable after my last dose. It was difficult to do but if you are dedicated, it's a better withdrawal process, and healthier for the system overall… than going CT.
Best of luck,
Smoky

 

[kayaker318]

Good advice above…
and I would wait on the lope indeed, and the benzos perhaps.. Just start some Clonidine/Gabapentin now. ime.
I did a rapid taper and began initiating withdrawal meds prior, most of what you have above, just a little different.

I would also buy some otc regimens, Vit C, B6, and amino acids, as well as begin to drink more fluids like coconut water and Gatoraid.
I'm so glad I tapered, it made the physical symptoms much more bearable after my last dose. It was difficult to do but if you are dedicated, it's a better withdrawal process, and healthier for the system overall… than going CT.
Best of luck,
Smoky

Hey thanks Smoky. I forgot I had the gabapentin. I think I will do that rather than the klonopin. And good idea on the vitamins too. I also have Vitamin Water which I like. Dehydration is a huge issue when detoxing. Must keep the fluids and vitamins going. When I previously did cold turkey I ended up in the ER on day 5 - dehydrated and totally weak. Anything is better than cold turkey no matter how painful tapering can be. The key really is being prepared. Thanks so much for the support.