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 Specific Neurological Conditions (M - Z) [all categories]
 Spinal Disorders 3
 Tapering from Oxy: going to immediate release meds ain't fun! Any ideas?
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| Author | Topic: Tapering from Oxy: going to immediate release meds ain't fun! Any ideas? |
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mmglobal Member Posts: 2963 |
posted 10-21-2002 06:02 PM
  
Saturday night, I went from Oxy 10, 3x to Vicodin. I started with a 7/750 for the Saturday night dose and another when I woke up. Things were going so well, I switched to 5/500's. I loaded my organizer with 5/day. Going to IR drugs from SR makes me remember why I went to timed-release meds in the first place. Big ups and downs!!! I feel like I've hit the wall and found the place where I'm cutting back a little fast. Some back pain and moderate withdrawals. I can live with both. I don't want to step back, it's not that bad, but I'm thinking that there may be a better way to taper? Any suggestions about tapering from Oxy down to Vicodin and off completely. Thanks, Mark ------------------ 2/25/00 Microdiscectomy/laminotomy L4-5, 10x15x7 mm left paracentral protrusion 9/23/00 CANCELED L4-S1 360 fusion CANCELED 9/15/01 emergency microdiscectomy L5-S1, 14x13x10 mm left paracentral protrusion Both discectomies resolved hip/leg/foot symptoms, but left the underlying back pain. Residual left foot pain and numbness. Lost axial reflex (left ankle). Researching artificial disc options. ProDisc vs. SB Charite III looks like a toss-up, but you can see which one won. *** The AlphaKlinik was wonderful. My expectations were high, but the clinic, it's staff, and Dr. Zeegers far exceeded them!!! *** L4-5 and L5-S1 Disc Replacement (SB Charite III) 9/20/02 by Dr. Zeegers, AlphaKlinik, Munich, Germany *** IP: Logged |
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Topmech Member Posts: 573 |
posted 10-21-2002 07:03 PM
For me taking half as much twice as often keeps me off the roller coaster. IP: Logged |
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Conch 11 Member Posts: 798 |
posted 10-21-2002 07:35 PM
There was another drug, think it started with an R, that dr. put you on when you are going off the oxy ten-this is the hardest cause your body is screaming for the Oxy. Your doc maybe should have you on this "R" drug, plus the Vicodin, then in a week you drop the R drug. Also, when I started going off the patch, they put me on a pill to lower my blood pressure. If I didn't take it, I would go from a sound sleep to ready to run the Boston Marathon at 2 am. Your heart really hurts. WIthdrawals s*ck. Good luck......... L, IP: Logged |
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Jim S Member Posts: 7109 |
posted 10-21-2002 07:40 PM
Perhaps you mean Roxicodone? 5mg of pure oxycodone? That is the logical way to taper once you've reached 10mg Oxycontin, since it's the same drug. OxyIR is the same thing. Good luck Mark! Jim ------------------ IP: Logged |
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dougpd Member Posts: 3995 |
posted 10-21-2002 08:28 PM
Hi Mark, I switched from OxyContin, 160mg a day to Methadone, 90mg a day without any noticable effects. However, Methadone simulates being time-released by storing itself in the liver(not toxix like Tylenol BTW), so it's not truely a switch from Oxy to another drug, but worth looking into... hugs, IP: Logged |
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littlemama Member Posts: 10046 |
posted 10-21-2002 08:31 PM
Mark, Did you jump from 30 to 10 mg....That may be TOOOO much of a jump if thats what you did.I am no dr. but it seems like alot to me.Maybe too much for your system to deal with... Wish you the best with this tapering stuff.Not fun I know. Hugs,D.Ann IP: Logged |
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DesertWoman Member Posts: 2946 |
posted 10-21-2002 08:51 PM
Dear Mark, For me, Oxycontin was an awful drug to go off of. It shocked me to experience such intense withdrawals even though I wasn't on that much. It's amazing how your body can become so reliant on Oxycontin! I found switching over to roxicodone to be SO SO SO much easier. Why put yourself through a rough time??? As you well know, even with my 20mg of oxycontin I had major w/d's. It sucks big time! I say - go to the addiction forum and get a reasonable taper schedule from Fred using roxicodone. You can tell him you want an aggressive one I hate to see you push yourself just because you are in a rush. Give your body a break! xxoo, Karen P.S. ask yourself what difference it will REALLY make to be on narcotics for an extra few weeks? in the big picture a couple of extra weeks won't make that big of a difference, IMHO. ------------------ [This message has been edited by DesertWoman (edited 10-21-2002).] IP: Logged |
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littlemama Member Posts: 10046 |
posted 10-21-2002 08:59 PM
I agree with Desert Woman big time,you are trying to rush yourself too much dear!In the long run you are gonna get sicker,by jumping ahead like this I think...You are rushing this taper to fast. Don't take offense at what we say,we do care... HUGS,D.Ann IP: Logged |
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lildarln1 Member Posts: 771 |
posted 10-21-2002 09:50 PM
Mark, I take percocet 10/375. Thats oxycodone 10 and 375 tylenol. Im glad you brought this up because I get confused when someone says Oxy. Is this the med your speaking of, or is it another form of oxy. also i have lortab 7.5 when my pain is not too severe. so I do alternate. Can you help me on that one? is oxy? the same thing as percocet/oxycodone? thanks, Lildarln@-}- IP: Logged |
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mmglobal Member Posts: 2963 |
posted 10-21-2002 10:18 PM
lildarlin: I'm not the right guy to ask about this. Vicodin, Rixicodone, Norco are all Hydrocodone. Oxycontin is Oxycodone. I thought the equivilance was 5mg Hydrocodone = 4mg Oxycodone. Based on that assumption, 5 x 5mg = 20mg Hydrocodone = 16mg Oxycodone. That's the problem... I need at least another 5mg in there. That would make the jump from 30 to 20mg instead of 16mg. I know I'm going fast, but I feel like I have full control. I trade fewer meds for more pain and withdrawals. I don't have to let it get bad - ever. If it gets too bad, I can always take another Vicodin. I don't want to use the 7.5's or the 10's (Norco) because the higher doses will put me on a steeper roller coaster. As Topmech said, more frequent, smaller doses is the way to go. I don't have any problems with my liver, so I don't mind the Tylenol. I won't bother trying to get Rixicodone. Thanks so much for all the suggestions. Mark IP: Logged |
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BigJoeV Member Posts: 562 |
posted 10-21-2002 11:18 PM
Actually the hydrocodone is not as strong as that. You have decreased your doseage much more than you think. There is no way you will switch from oxycontin to vicodin that easily. It may have been better to switch to percodan and then to cut the perc's in half and then to none. The vicoden are quite a bit weaker than that and are probably not going to give you enough to get through. Whatever, you are making an effort. It will be hard for the next few days but if you continue, you will be fine after you get over the withdrawals. You have decreased a LOT and it will affect you. Good luck. Have a Great Day! Joe IP: Logged |
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Joanne Member Posts: 2732 |
posted 10-22-2002 12:33 AM
Mark, You need to start looking at oxy in a different way. Cutting down from say 160 mg to say 60mg is far easier on the body with less w/d than say cutting from 30 or 20mg to nothing. My PM doc explained it well, something about cutting the actual percentage of the drug ...I forgot the exact forumula, but it was great and made sense. Anywho, get yourself back on 30 mg every 8 hours. Slowly start spacing out the dosage until you can get by with 2 a day. Finally you'll be down to 10 (assuming you have 10). The last 10-20mg will be the absolute hardest and you might be on that schedule for a week or two. No doubt you are having major w/d with your dosing, but you'll be fine if you up it again and decrease more slowly. I know you have your reasons, but I think you will find your taper much easier by staying with the oxy all the way and not involving the Vicodin. Good luck, and glad to hear the pain levels are staying down. [This message has been edited by Joanne (edited 10-22-2002).] IP: Logged |
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Conch 11 Member Posts: 798 |
posted 10-22-2002 09:17 AM
Thanks Jim-that was it. I think my memory is going......LOL L, IP: Logged |
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nowiambionic New Member Posts: 29 |
posted 10-25-2002 03:50 AM
mark: we talked on the phone the other nite, remember me?? gary here....anyways, i was never on Oxy-but was on heavy doses of vikodinES,2every 4hrs for pain, even after my 2level-ADR,about a month after surgery,and tired of eating50prunes daily to try and keep regular(just kidding,but alot of prunes)i asked to be put on a less invasive pain killer,the doctor recommended i go on Ultram-50mgs...this i used for the incision pain, and sleeping and it didn't seem to screw up my body as much as VikodinES. This week i have completely weened myself off of all pain meds i'm happy to report.I have both Ultam&vikodin in case i have a set back, but don't think i will need any of them anymore......as far as muscle spasms, have you tried a TENS unit?? it works wonders and also has helped me ween myself off of the meds...... IP: Logged |
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. Or the other option is to design your own gentle taper schedule, but using roxicodone also.
