Percocet Tolerance/Addiction Questions

[badger91]

Hello,

I'll try to keep this short....
I have some very weird tumor growth in my mouth that is pretty big and very painful. I have surgery scheduled on July 12th (trying to get it earlier) but I can't really get it earlier because there are a bunch more tests to run and stuff.

The pain is increasing daily but I have been prescribed some 5/325 percocets to help deal with the pain.
Since the 19th I have been taking 15-20mg a day (except for 1 day where the pain wasn't as bad).

I was wondering how fast my tolerance will build up if I continue to take about 20mg every day/every other day?

Also, how bad will the withdrawals/my addiction be if I continue to take the medication until my surgery?

Maybe I am just paranoid because of all the addiction stories I've heard... or are my concerns real? I'd like some insight. Thanks

 

[BabyGurl3171]

I was taking upwards of 30-40 mg at a time, sometimes twice a day there for awhile. I quit taking them for almost a week b/c I ran out. The withdrawal wasn't anything BUT I was going through benzo withdrawal at the time and that sucked. So that could've over took any Percocet withdrawal.

I got my script refilled yesterday and it seems my tolerance dropped. I'm back at 20 mg and feeling good. I'm surprised it dropped so fast but it did

If you're really worried about it, try tapering down a bit slowly and then if you don't get anymore after surgery you won't have such a bad time not having them.

Good luck with the Percocets and your surgery!

 

[pallidamors]

If you're taking 20 mg a day, your tolerance will probably increase noticeably after a month or two, and you'll probably be physically dependent after about a 2-4 weeks of daily use.

However, your withdrawals (if you even end up getting them, you may dodge the bullet), will be really mild. I'd compare it to having a cold or a weak flu for a few days. You could taper down if you want, but at such small doses I don't even think a taper would be necessary, you could cold turkey it and be just fine...especially if you are ONLY taking them as directed and not to get high, since you won't have the psychological urge to keep using.

 

[forensic91]

Thanks for the help guys.

I just had one more question.
If I continue taking 20mg a day to help with the pain, will this dose continue to be effective until the date of the surgery or will I probably build a tolerance and have to up my dosage to help reduce the pain?
Thanks

 

[edgewise1]

When it is all said and done, you will be on percocet for about 1 month, assuming post-op pain is not long and drawn out. This is from 6/19 until 7/12 with another week of post-op paim meds tacked on.

At you rate of comsumption, every other day 20mg, you will have used these for 15 days, give or take.

I would think your tolerance would increase, but only a little, a very little at that.

Any wd's would be slight and short. But to minimize those, going to 15mg, or even 10mg, for about 8 or 10 days prior to being off the meds about the 19th of July, would minimize those withdrawals.

Good luck with the surgery, and I hope a fast recovery!

 

[John_Burrows]

Here's a little trick I found that helps the effectiveness of percs and, for whatever reason, only seems to work with percs - aerobic workouts!

Quite by accident I learned that a few hours after you've taken the drugs and you think they've stopped working, a little bit of physical activity kick-starts the effects and brings them back on line.

You don't have to do much - I'd get out of bed and do maybe a minute or two of deep knee bends, squat thrusts, anything that gets the circulation going - and soon after I definitely felt the percs kick back In again.

I'm sure the results vary from person to person, but it ALWAYS worked for me and, strangely, it only works with percs - not vikes or dilaudid or opana, nothing. I'd just assume that opiates are all the same, but obviously not!

Give it a whirl, if it works for you it might allow you to lower your intake.

 

[MgmtBlue]

Here's a little trick I found that helps the effectiveness of percs and, for whatever reason, only seems to work with percs - aerobic workouts!

Quite by accident I learned that a few hours after you've taken the drugs and you think they've stopped working, a little bit of physical activity kick-starts the effects and brings them back on line.

You don't have to do much - I'd get out of bed and do maybe a minute or two of deep knee bends, squat thrusts, anything that gets the circulation going - and soon after I definitely felt the percs kick back In again.

I'm sure the results vary from person to person, but it ALWAYS worked for me and, strangely, it only works with percs - not vikes or dilaudid or opana, nothing. I'd just assume that opiates are all the same, but obviously not!

Give it a whirl, if it works for you it might allow you to lower your intake.

Wow, I thought it was just me but I've found this to be effective as well. Interesting!

 

[BabyGurl3171]

^^^ Same here. I thought it was a mind over matter thing to be honest, but I guess not.

 

[artaxerxes]

^^^^ Me too. I've found it to work with any opiate I've used. Always assumed it had to do with just getting the body absorbing things faster, processing faster, and maybe some natural endorphin production on top of it. I also like the way that exercise will kick off an opiate high in an energized way that will last for a while. I'm one who prefers the energized aspect of almost any opiate high.

 

[BabyGurl3171]

I'm one who prefers the energized aspect of almost any opiate high.

Me too! I love it! Usually, with the cocktail my psych has me on, I'm just down a lot and have no energy. I pop a few opiates and I'm ready to live life and I feel damn good too!

When I first started opiates, I enjoyed the nod. But since that's hard to come by anymore I'm enjoying the energizing feeling I get and I get stuff done which makes me feel accomplished!