![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 15 of 15. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by deezy on September 11, 2003, at 15:40:43
I have been using opiates for about a year but until 4 months ago wasn't using daily. I then began a daily regimen between 150-300 mg oxycodone or a few mg of fentanyl here and there(yes mg, not mcg I know the difference :)). I tried cold turkey a couple times and became suicidal, couldn't eat, sleep vomiting etc etc. I am down to 40 mg oxycodone a day and am waiting for some buprenorphine to come in the mail. I am also starting lexapro today to help with the depression that I have always had and have treated so far with various drugs, the most recent being opiates. I am wondering where I should go from here, i.e. lowering my oxy dose, or keeping it steady until the bupre gets here, or if I can quit cold turkey from the current 40 mg daily dose. just looking for a little advice, am new to the board and am glad I found it. Thanks, Deezy
Posted by Sebastian on September 11, 2003, at 19:53:18
In reply to trying to quit OXYCONTIN, posted by deezy on September 11, 2003, at 15:40:43
I have no experiance with the drug, but would guess the best thing to do is lower the dose, not cold turky, not too much either. You don't want to relapese.
Sebastian
Posted by Festus on September 11, 2003, at 22:32:57
In reply to Re: trying to quit OXYCONTIN » deezy, posted by Sebastian on September 11, 2003, at 19:53:18
If you have managed to lower your own doses of Oxy from 300mg down to 40mg a day,that,in itself,is a testimony of some mighty strong will-power!How long did it take for you to get from 300 to 40mg,Deez? Festus
Posted by judy1 on September 12, 2003, at 10:17:19
In reply to trying to quit OXYCONTIN, posted by deezy on September 11, 2003, at 15:40:43
I would definitely not go cold turkey, unless there is some pressing reason why you need to get off it quickly, then I would wait until your bupe kicks in (that stuff never worked for me, I've used klonopin in the past- but I realize that can cause another dependency problem for you and I know many others have benefitted from bupe). I honestly can't remember if the tabs of oxy are scored, but there's a 10%/ every 3-4 day reduction rule, so you might want to go down to 35mg until you feel comfortable and then another 5 and so on. That's what worked for me, I don't like being uncomfortable. Congrats on going down from 300mg- did you do that out-patient?
take care and good luck- judy
Posted by Phil on September 12, 2003, at 12:45:39
In reply to trying to quit OXYCONTIN, posted by deezy on September 11, 2003, at 15:40:43
http://www.drugabuse.com/boards/thd1x3367.shtml
The board above has a recipe for withdrawal. It may be worth it to check it out.
Good luck to you.
Posted by deezy on September 12, 2003, at 16:52:36
In reply to Re: trying to quit OXYCONTIN, posted by Festus on September 11, 2003, at 22:32:57
only 1 month but a month ago I quit cold turkey for 5 days, lost my marbles physically and mentally, did about 100 mg then quit for another 4 days. the phsyical symptoms had subsided considerablly by then but I was sooooooo depressed. I did a little every day, had a couple relapses where I did up to 150mg again and then decided I was going to try to do 40 a day just to keep the sickness/depression away. I'm so close to being off but so far away at the same time. Thanks for your help everyone-opiates are no ****ing joke I've come to realize, heh.
> If you have managed to lower your own doses of Oxy from 300mg down to 40mg a day,that,in itself,is a testimony of some mighty strong will-power!How long did it take for you to get from 300 to 40mg,Deez? Festus
Posted by matthhhh on September 12, 2003, at 19:42:15
In reply to Re: trying to quit OXYCONTIN » deezy, posted by Phil on September 12, 2003, at 12:45:39
Does anyone know the difference between ultram and oxycontin. Are they both detrimental to your health?
Posted by MysticalMeds on September 13, 2003, at 9:35:07
In reply to trying to quit OXYCONTIN, posted by deezy on September 11, 2003, at 15:40:43
the buprenorphine should help a lot! i'm glad you were able to find a supply of that. its so much easier to taper since it stays in your system for longer. i'd switch as soon as possible, to a dose that feels comfortable. just be sure its not mixed with nalaxone (subutex or buprenex or others, not suboxone (cause that can give you really bad withdraw symptoms immediately))
also i'd taper it as gradually as possible (like 2% per week, or as much as you feel comfortable with) anything you can do to minimize the intensity of the withdraw and stay balanced.
good luck!
Posted by judy1 on September 13, 2003, at 10:39:51
In reply to Ultram vs oxycontin, posted by matthhhh on September 12, 2003, at 19:42:15
As far as I know (which isn't much:-), neither is 'detrimental' to your health. You can't get a 'buzz' from ultram, so that's why a lot of docs prefer prescribing it over the opiates.
take care, judy
Posted by judy1 on September 13, 2003, at 10:46:24
In reply to Re: trying to quit OXYCONTIN » deezy, posted by Phil on September 12, 2003, at 12:45:39
I loved the 'Thomas' method- essentially it's exactly what I've done in the past minus the vitamin supplements. The only time I 've had to go cold turkey is when I've run out of prescription meds and after 2 times- that will NEVER happen again.
thanks for posting the site- judy
Posted by deezy on September 15, 2003, at 22:01:44
In reply to Re: trying to quit OXYCONTIN » Phil, posted by judy1 on September 13, 2003, at 10:46:24
was wondering if anyone knows a buprenorphine to oxycodone, if there has been one established. even approx would help :)
Posted by Caleb462 on September 19, 2003, at 13:24:54
In reply to Re: Ultram vs oxycontin » matthhhh, posted by judy1 on September 13, 2003, at 10:39:51
> As far as I know (which isn't much:-), neither is 'detrimental' to your health. You can't get a 'buzz' from ultram, so that's why a lot of docs prefer prescribing it over the opiates.
> take care, judyYou must definitely CAN get a buzz from Ultram. While ultram itself is a weak opioid, a metabolite of ultram has fairly strong affinity for the mu-opiod receptor.
It is quite easy for someone with litte or no tolerance to opiates/opioids to get a buzz from Ultram.
And matt... just because something is addictive doesn't mean it is "detrimental to your health". The majority of opiates and opioids are quite harmless to the physical body, except in overdose - which can cause fatal respiratory depression (or in the case of Ultram, seizures).
Posted by MOTHERNEEDHELP on November 10, 2003, at 0:14:24
In reply to Re: Ultram vs oxycontin, posted by Caleb462 on September 19, 2003, at 13:24:54
MY HUSBAND IS DOWN TO TAKING ONLY ULTRASET, HE USE TO TAKE ABOUT 20 PILLS OF 10.5 LORATAB A DAY, IS THIS OK? DO YOU THINK NOW HE COULD STOP COMPLETLEY? I DO HAVE TO SAY WHEN MY HUSBAND HURT HIS BACK AND WENT TO THE DOC. ABOUT IT THEY PUT HIM ON THESE PILLS- OUR MARRAGE REALLY CHANGED, AND I MEAN FOR THE BETTER!! HE DID SO MUCH MORE WITH ME AND WITH KIDS, HE WORKED HARDER AND WORKED LONGER HOURS SO, HE MADE MORE MONEY, BUT NOW THAT HE HAS A HARD TIME KEEPING THEM HE IS NOT THE SAME ANYMORE. HE HAS BEGED ME TO BUY THESE PILLS OFF THE STREET WHEN WE REALLY DID NOT HAVE THE MONEY FOR THEM. HE WOULD SAY THAT HE JUST COULD NOT BE WITHOUT THEM. I USED TO GET MAD AT HIM AND THINK HE WAS JUST NO GOOD AND THAT HE HAD JUST GAVE UP ON TRING FOR US TO HAVE A GOOD LIFE, BUT NOW I KNOW HE DONT WANT THIS NO MORE THEN I DO, AND I SUPORT HIM AND I JUST HOPE WE GET THREW IT.
Posted by Festus on November 17, 2003, at 21:41:46
In reply to Re: Ultram vs oxycontin, posted by MOTHERNEEDHELP on November 10, 2003, at 0:14:24
Why does,nt the Dr.give him anymore pain meds if it was helping him so much?Was he abusing the pills?Taking more than he was supposed to?If that was the case,maybe he could talk to his Dr. and get a referal to a Pain Mgmt.Dr.They specialize in treating chronic pain.That would be a good thing to try,then he could have relief legally!
Festus
Posted by MOTHERNEEDHELP on November 18, 2003, at 10:20:53
In reply to Re: Ultram vs oxycontin, posted by Festus on November 17, 2003, at 21:41:46
yes, he was abusing them. They helped him but made him high too and he liked that. He said thay they made the pain go away and made him feel like doing more. But, that's not the reason the doctor stoped, the reason is; first he lost his job which means he lost his insurance so we started paying out of pocket, second the doctor he was seeing left the practice and they did not replace him with another doctor that specialized in the back.He got the family doctor to see him for a awile but he would only give him ultram which he could manage with if he had about 400 a month. The doctor would only give him 60 so it was not enough. He also has this girl that would let him take her to the dentist and she would give him the prescripion and he would give her $20 but that's not always relyable and she would only get about 20 loratabs that would only last a couple days if not one day.So where do I find one of these pain managemant doctors? And do you have this problem too?
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Substance Use | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.