Opioids Need to get off oxycodone

[Em123]

Hi All

I am brand new & have no idea where to even post but i desperately need help! I am addicted to at least 250 mg oxycodone per day. I have to get off while working FT. I have no idea what to do because i never went through withdrawal before. Well that is not exactly true..i tried to just stop & that was a learning experience, within 12 hours i started getting nervous then sweat, then get the chills while i was sweating so i know i can't just stop.

Can someone help me navigate this site..tell me where to go for information & where the best place to post is to get help?

What options do i have?
Do i need any other medicines to help?

I am also older, 53 years old, female (hence the name lol) Got addicted due to chronic pain

Thanks Everyone

 

[TooOldForThis]

Welcome! I am fairly new here also, but check out The Dark Side. I also am older, as my name suggests.

 

[twotoomany]

You can try cutting your dose a little each day. It won't be pleasant or comfortable, but it will be much better than jumping off at 250 mg a day. You could also look into suboxone as an opiate replacement option. It's a long lasting partial agonist opiate that is used for maintanence.

 

[BlueHues]

If you poke around on this site you'll find a lor of helpful info for opiate withdrawal...There's a recovery forum, but there's also several threads devoted to this topic. If you type "Oxycodone Withdrawal" or "Oxycodone WD" into the search engine, I'm sure something will come up...

There's several ways to go about this. If you're planning on working full time and getting off the oxy at the same time, cold turkey would probably be a bad idea. There's other opioids that are used to help you taper down from the more commonly abused ones. They're just as addictive but can be easier to use for a taper than something like oxycodone. They're addictive as well, but much longer acting than oxycodone and not as euphoric. You can use these for as long as you need to and slowly move downward on your dose. The two most commonly used drugs for this purpose are Suboxone(buprenorphine) and methadone. A lot of people ask questions similar to the one you're asking on BL and in some cases I wouldn't recommend something like Suboxone or methadone because the OP hasn't been using opiates long enough or in high enough amounts that it really makes sense....240 mgs of Oxy is definitely enough of a habit that I'd personally recommend Suboxone.

Suboxone is prescribed in the US outpatient by a doctor who has special qualification to do so...You make an appointment to get on suboxone, and the doctor generally gives you your first dose of it in the doctor's office so that they can monitor how you react to the medication. After that, you're written a script for anywhere from 2 weeks to 30 days worth of the medication. It relieves all withdrawals, blocks other opiates and helps with cravings. You can slowly detox from it at your own pace. Although, at the end, the WDs from the suboxone itself can be pretty bad and could make it difficult to work full time, but that's not a guarantee. If this is your first time going through a major opiate detox, it probably won be that bad. Be warned, the appointments and medication can be pretty expensive, especially if you have a doctor that insists on frequent visits to monitor your progress...Insurance may cover some of it, it varies a lot....I used to pay a 10 dollar copay and 20 percent of the medication...Currently I have no insurance and I pay $107 every 2 months for the visit and 100 percent for the meds....I'm on a relatively low dose...If you do go on the suboxone, chances are that the doctor will try to prescribe you a lot more than you need to stay comfortable throughout the day...They're relatively clueless in that department...buprenorphine is not the type of drug that any "high" you experience increases after a certain dose. There's a ceiling effect. Keep that in mind if you go that route, because taking more than you need will just make it more difficult to taper off the Suboxone in the long run....There's threads galore on Suboxone on this site. you should check those out.

Another option is methadone...It's the same idea as Suboxone but it's a different drug. It's more tightly controlled and usually have to go to a clinic daily to get it. After remaining drug free and giving clean urines for awhile, the clinic will give you "take-home" doses for a certain number of days. It usually takes 2 months or so to even get 2 takehomes a week. You can eventually get up to 4 days of takehome methadone, but it usually takes 18 months to 2 years to get that much, and if you get caught with a dirty urine even once, they'll take them all away. at any rate, you'll be going to the clinic quite a bit for a long time if you go that route. Methadone is also notoriousy hard to get off and can have very severe WD symptoms that are much worse than oxycodone, especially if you don't taper down. On the upside, it's probably cheaper than suboxone and it does give you more of a "high" feeling....I wouldn't recommend methadone unless you want to stay on opiates but can't habdle the pain management stuff anymore. Methadone works for a lot of people with chronic pain.

There's also other meds you could be prescribed that aren't opiates that help with the WD symptoms...you'll definitely wanna get your hands on some of them no matter what. these include:

clonidine: a medication that lowers blood pressure and helps with WDs
Ibuprofen
Hydoxyzine, an antihistamine that helps with a few different aspects of WDs
A benzo: clonazepam, alprazolam or lorazepam(klonopin, Xanax Ativan)
Loperamide: It can be taken for the diarrhea you get from WD or taken in higher doses it even helps with other symptoms...it's an opioid that doesn't cross the Blood brain barrier...

Anyway, those are just a few suggestions you should look into...good luck!

Another option is methadone

 

[Seni]

Hello,
i would really recommend to search for professional help for example go to the next hospital and tell your story, they don't allow to say anything and maybe they can you give a substitute. But its a bit late and maybe they said you only get medicine if you stay or something, don't know, but you can try it.

Did you ever tried other opioid which are less harmful or tried at least once normal/legal analgetics or have they no impact even in high doses?

And if you want to tell, for how long do you take Oxycodone? And when was the last significant increase in dose?



EDIT: I just found a interesting table, http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opioide#Eckdaten_gebr.C3.A4uchlicher_Opioide. It's in german I know but, the names should be the same and the second column stand for relative potency and the third one for min. effect length, but be careful, there are different ways in which this opioid work so maybe you make it even worse. Therefore I advice you to ask a doctor, maybe he can tell you at least, which is the best one in this case, and you can get it on your own...
And read about this substances before you take one, less relative potency don't means automatically it's less harmful or safer or something.

 

[Mr.Scagnattie]

Check out this thread, Opioid Withdrawal Megathread. It outlines many of the ways to get off of opiates. It's up to you to decide which one is right given your own personal circumstances.

If you insist on having to keep working full time (you really should take time off to do this as it's a serious task and will be much easier if you can be home/in a facility) then cold turkey is pretty much out. You wont be able to function. You can either taper, taking less and less everyday until you stop, to which the withdrawals will be a lot less severe, or get on some kind of maintenance like bupe or methadone. I recommend bupe over methadone.

 

[Blind Melon]

Two words for the OP: Methadone Clinic

You are on an extremely high dose of OC, which is even harder to kick than Heroin. You can't do this on your own while maintaining a FT job. It is would be damn near impossible, and it would be Hell on Earth for sure.

If you weren't a chronic pain patient I would recommend a Suboxone detox, but the problem you have is that as you lower your OC dose your pain is going to come back with a fucking vengeance. That's where the Methadone clinic comes in. The Methadone will provide you with the pain management you need, while giving you access to councilors and therapy sessions that you will need.

Good luck!

 

[Mr.Scagnattie]

Two words for the OP: Methadone Clinic

You are on an extremely high dose of OC, which is even harder to kick than Heroin. You can't do this on your own while maintaining a FT job. It is would be damn near impossible, and it would be Hell on Earth for sure.

If you weren't a chronic pain patient I would recommend a Suboxone detox, but the problem you have is that as you lower your OC dose your pain is going to come back with a fucking vengeance. That's where the Methadone clinic comes in. The Methadone will provide you with the pain management you need, while giving you access to councilors and therapy sessions that you will need.

Good luck!

I wouldn't consider 250mg's of oxy a day to be that high.. certainly not high enough to go on methadone instead of bupe. There are many people who are on 500mg's +. And as far as a 250mg a day oxy habit being harder to kick than heroin? I don't think so.

 

[RTrain]

^Not only would suboxone/subutex(aka bupe) be fine for 250 mg a day oxycodone habit, but you wouldn't need to even take that much. maybe 4 mg a day for a few days and then 2-3 and its easy to titrate down.

Do not try using methadone for opiate replacement therapy. Honestly in my life between work in health care and going to a suboxone Dr I see plenty of people on both these meds. The people on methadone are zombies. You are not necessarily sober on bupe either, but you won't get anywhere near as drugged up in appearance or feel as with methadone. Not to mention methadone will require daily trips to a shady clinic with people outside liable to stab or do even worse things to you. You get suboxone at a dr's office with a prescription and fill it at the pharmacy of choice. At most you go to the dr. once a week and less as you grow a good rapport.

There are people who should use methadone over bupe, you are not one of them. Those people either constantly relapse even while maintained on bupe or they have huge habits, at lest twice of what you have.

 

[BlueHues]

^I agree, but as @Blindmelon said, as a long term option for chronic pain, methadone is superior. I'd definitely try the bupe first, that's for sure.

 

[bennyZA]

The people on methadone are zombies. You are not necessarily sober on bupe either, but you won't get anywhere near as drugged up in appearance or feel as with methadone

So damn true. I was always high on methadone, but it wasn't fun. Like Rtrain said, you just feel/act like a zombie. I was really glad when I switched to subs, you do get kinda high the first few times, but after that it makes you feel weird, but sober.

I also feel as though subs are a better way to finally get clean, both from a pharmacological stand point and a psychological one.

 

[Mr.Scagnattie]

Yeah combating a 250mg a day oxy habit with methadone is like using an entire power plant to power just one light bulb.. You're most likely going to end up 10x more fucked up and strung out on the methadone than you ever were on oxy.

 

[Em123]

I want to thank all of you for taking time to help me learn about options! I don't have time to answer each of you but i will try to cover some things.

I have been on oxy for 3 years now, started in 2010 after to high a dose of hydro. Doctor said this is better (LIAR)! I was actually taking 320 mg per day & tapered down to 240, this week 220. Did a big drop (60mg) & felt w/d, no surprise i guess, so i have been reducing less (20mg) at a time.

There is no way i can go to rehab for any length of time. I am alone, have a mortgage & bills to pay & 2 dogs to care for. My job would "replace" me if i took more than 2 weeks off at a time, it is small practice & no rules apply. No job & i will be totally screwed. I can either call in sick for a week or so at the end or plan my "vacation" for 2 weeks only (i get 4 weeks a year).

At this point i have no idea what my real pain level is. I have read that when you stop even if you don't have pain issues that your back hurts like hell as the drugs leave the body. The truth is i used as emotional comfort after all my kids moved out. I was alone for the first time in 30 years & didn't know what to do since i always took care of people. I always had "medications" but until the kids moved i really only used on occasion when pain was very bad.

I am going to spend some time reading around this site & hopefully with new things in place i will be more "sober" then i am now. Sub is what i was thinking of doing but wasn't sure i could go from my dose to sub.

Have also read about getting addicted to sub. I was thinking of no more than 3 months at a low dose as stated above & tapering down, would that length of time have me addicted?. I need a good plan though & will be asking for advice from those of you that have been there & done that.

Recently got an addiction therapist & meeting with a new doctor who prescribes suboxone. No one will write subutex in my state (or at least within 50 miles of where i live) saying it can be abused.

Even though i have been tapering for 6 weeks now I found out 7/21 that NYS has a new law starting August 1, 2013 where all doctors who write a scheduled drug has to log onto a government web site to basically get permission to write a script for their patient. It is designed to stop doctor shopping etc but I have lots of issues with that. I don't doctor shop but i don't like the fact that the government will know my medical history & take away yet another right. I grew up with the warnings of "big brother" and it is coming true...scary & sad. This is just another reason for me to take action & get my life back.

I have heard people say sub has helped them get their life's back & they are more awake or clear & thats what i want & need!

Thanks again everyone. I will keep you updated on my progress & decision.

 

[Em123]

Hello,
i would really recommend to search for professional help for example go to the next hospital and tell your story, they don't allow to say anything and maybe they can you give a substitute. But its a bit late and maybe they said you only get medicine if you stay or something, don't know, but you can try it.

Did you ever tried other opioid which are less harmful or tried at least once normal/legal analgetics or have they no impact even in high doses?

And if you want to tell, for how long do you take Oxycodone? And when was the last significant increase in dose?



EDIT: I just found a interesting table, http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opioide#Eckdaten_gebr.C3.A4uchlicher_Opioide. It's in german I know but, the names should be the same and the second column stand for relative potency and the third one for min. effect length, but be careful, there are different ways in which this opioid work so maybe you make it even worse. Therefore I advice you to ask a doctor, maybe he can tell you at least, which is the best one in this case, and you can get it on your own...
And read about this substances before you take one, less relative potency don't means automatically it's less harmful or safer or something.

I answered below but i have been on oxy for 3 years & have not increased. I have been tapering for almost 2 months. I went to the link you gave me & was able to translate to english. Thank you so much!

 

[Leezy]

I was a big oxy user for the longest time. At my highest I was around your dosage. When I quit, they put me on subuxone. It helped for the five days while I was on it. However, when they pulled me from that I experienced subuxone WD. Currently, I'm on no opiates. I haven't touched Oxys in almost six months and have a new profound respect for the power of oxycodone. There are many options. You aren't bad or weird that u have developed an addiction. It just happened. Life without having to be dependent on pills is def better. I would avoid the hospital, search "rehab doctors" in whatever city u live in. Schedule an appt and talk to them. They will be very understanding. However, you DO NOT want to go to e Emergency Room and say your in opiate withdrawal. Chances are they will send you to a state run detox facility (which is a nightmare) or worse to the mental ward (where they'll medicate the bajeezus outta you and you can't leave no matter what. Sort of like jail for crazy people with a plethora of benzos and anti psychotics.lol) Lastly, you can try to taper down ur use which in comparison to cold turkey would be a walk in the park. Cut back 20-30% mg intake every 3 days til you get down to ten mgs.

 

[mrflowers00]

you may want to look into finding a doctor that can prescribe subutex/suboxone it makes the withdrawals much easier and withdrawaling from that is a lot less painful that oxycodone withdrawals

 

[missmeyet?]

Hey there, 2 more questions....is it a necessity to get off the oxys right now or do you have the options to wait until you can request and be off of work for a week or 2? And

Do you have access to the oxys still at this time? I mean, how many do you have to work with?

 

[Em123]

I was a big oxy user for the longest time. At my highest I was around your dosage. When I quit, they put me on subuxone. It helped for the five days while I was on it. However, when they pulled me from that I experienced subuxone WD. Currently, I'm on no opiates. I haven't touched Oxys in almost six months and have a new profound respect for the power of oxycodone. There are many options. You aren't bad or weird that u have developed an addiction. It just happened. Life without having to be dependent on pills is def better. I would avoid the hospital, search "rehab doctors" in whatever city u live in. Schedule an appt and talk to them. They will be very understanding. However, you DO NOT want to go to e Emergency Room and say your in opiate withdrawal. Chances are they will send you to a state run detox facility (which is a nightmare) or worse to the mental ward (where they'll medicate the bajeezus outta you and you can't leave no matter what. Sort of like jail for crazy people with a plethora of benzos and anti psychotics.lol) Lastly, you can try to taper down ur use which in comparison to cold turkey would be a walk in the park. Cut back 20-30% mg intake every 3 days til you get down to ten mgs.

Thank you so much for saying that. I get myself so depressed thinking i am a complete idiot, should have known better, am crazy..you name it & i beat myself up about it!

Congrats on being clean of opiates! That is my goal, probably a necessity with the new laws in NY. Were you an inpatient when you were put on sub? How have you gotten clean?

I am cutting 20 mg about every 10 days. Some cuts are worse than others which is weird. Just have to keep moving forward.

Please Keep in touch...let me know how you have stayed off for 6 months & what happened when you stopped sub. After only 5 days on sub you had w/d's?

 

[Em123]

Update: I met with a doctor who is a regular MD(not a shrink) & two days a week has a separate practice where he writes suboxone. He switched me to 80 mg oxycontin twice a day with oxycodone 20mg twice a day for a total of 200 mg per day. I couldn't get a straight (no pun intended lol) answer out of him about just going on sub instead of what he is doing. I do feel better - i guess with a steady level of med in me through out the day i don't have the ups & downs. I used to get very anxious.

Is this worse???? Long acting opiates are harder to get off right? That's what i have read. When i asked about sub he just said lets try this for a while & taper down. He did give me clondidine & xanax but i honestly am so stupid i don't know when i should take the clondidine. I already take BP meds & he said to take the clondidne anyway. I am afraid to do that unless i get really hyper/anxious etc.

Should i do this? When i called to make an appointment he called me back because i told the receptionist all the other crap i was on & my age & he said he could help me...is he helping me???

Should i find another doctor that only prescribes sub?

Should i stop the new medication before I get more addicted to the oxycontin? This med scares me!

I am so confused....

 

[BlueHues]

He's a doctor and obviously has some sort of plan for you....If he knows all the meds you're on and he's telling you to take the clonidine, I wouldn't worry about it....Although, for me, I rapidly get a tolerance to clonidine when I use it for opiate WD, so I wouldn't take unless I was really having symptoms....He may not want to switch you to Suboxone for a lot of reasons....For one, he may think he can taper you off without having to resort to Suboxone...He could also be worried about your pain issues and he's afraid the Suboxone won't be effective in that department, which for some people it is....Buprenorphine is also used to treat pain...I would express your concerns to him and tell him your goal...If you want to be on Suboxone maintenance, I would just tell him that....How many years have you been on Oxycodone...If you've been on it only a year or so, you may be able to taper off of it and not have it be that bad...