Can you really quit cold turkey

needsadvice
Posts: 2
 Joined: 2008-05-06

I have been taking percocets now for 2years. To some of you prob not long huh? Well as you prob know I did the wrong thing and misused them. Now I find myself every month running out of my 150 a month and my max a day is 5..yeah right. I talk sometimes 10 or better. I am always out weeks ahead of time. Can anyone out there give me just one bit of advice that may help me not take so many? I take them when Im not happy, I take them if I feel stressed all b/c they give me that happy feeling. Now I have myself worrying sick as to where the next few weeks are going to come from. I want to just go through d/t's but what will I experience? How long will it take? Can I do it alone?

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Submitted by needsadvice on May 6, 2008 - 11:24am. login or register to post comments

Flyer1976
Posts: 52
 Joined: 2008-03-24
Sounds like you are pretty tolerant

It sounds like you need to see a doctor and explain what is going on. First thing I would say to him is, "I am coming to you with a problem and I am trusting you, but I dont want you to change how you feel or think about me as a person ....etc..." Or something similar. Its ok to be honest with your doctor but not being honest about how you are taking them for other reasons isn't. Defintaly get a support group, like here for example, is good. Being that you are taking so many so fast and for other reasons, isn't good for you and you need help fast. Try to check out a rehab programs soon. If you post here, someone will give you good advice and support and help you along. Going cold turkey can be very harmful to you also, so please, get some help at a rehab instead and quickly. They handle this issue hundreds of time so believe that they will help you with the withdrawals.

Good Luck and God Bless.



May 6, 2008 - 1:33pm login or register to post comments

Jccj300
Jccj300's picture
Posts: 47
 Joined: 2007-11-07
what I do is

I usta have the same problem. I have my wife keep my pain medication (and hidden very well from me) I told her to give me my meds a days worth at a time. so I never run out.

good luck to you

withdrawls every two weeks suck!!!



May 6, 2008 - 6:09pm login or register to post comments

OptionB
Posts: 21
 Joined: 2008-03-31
Go see a doctor that

Go see a doctor that specializes with suboxone treatment. Suboxone is a medication used for the treatment of opioid addiction. I did it to come off  5-8 pills per day of 30mg roxicodone. I am now completely free from the grasp that pain medication once had on my life. It was the best decision of my life.

Go to www.suboxone.com to read more about it & to find a doctor in your area that has the special certification to prescribe it. 

Good luck! 



May 6, 2008 - 6:18pm login or register to post comments

ilovemegadeth
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Posts: 24
 Joined: 2006-12-13
i firmly do NOT

i firmly do NOT believe in quitting cold turkey. i have seen people try it with many things and it has never worked. i am a firm believer that people, especially addicts require some kind of help. i do not know your pain situation, but being a chronic pain sufferer myself, i think that you should definitely speak to a doctor about this and see what all methods are available for you. if you have insurance, ask them about programs if you don't feel comfortable speaking with a doctor. it will just bring you down if you attempt to quit cold turkey, b/c once your refill is due i am almost certain that you will NOT pass it up, and then you will be right back to where you are now. addicts need help, and there is nothing wrong with reaching out to get it. methodone is a great long lasting pain medication, which is rarely abused. i do not know your history, so like i said, you should definitely seek help with a specialist.

good luck! please keep us posted.



May 6, 2008 - 10:37pm login or register to post comments

mdonia
Posts: 71
 Joined: 2008-03-26
cold turkey

i agree with megadeth (I also like megadeth btw)  that trying to quit cold turkey does not work, i can tell u this from experience...many years of it!! since you  havent been using for a long time, and you are just taking percs, i would say look into suboxone, and get some help for your head, like NA or get an addiction therapist or something.  i would not go to methadone...i just wrote a long post in the 'painkillers and depression medds' thread about the stereotype about methadone clinics etc actually.  since methadone is a heavier drug, you dont want to use it to quit, thats why i suggest suboxone.  i think it would work good for you. there is no shame in getting help.  trust me its a lot better than going cold turkey!  i used to do the same exact thing. id get my script of 15mg roxis 120 of them for the month (i have 2 herniated discs and degenerative disc disease) and i would eat them in less than a week, and then be out for 3 weeks, forcing me to buy whatever i could, or be sick if i had no money.  i know how it is, believe me.  Anyways i say go for the subs, thats probably your best bet, as long as u have insurance that will cover it, or if not u are a rich dude and can pay for it with cash.


May 7, 2008 - 8:46am login or register to post comments

gcdylan
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Posts: 273
 Joined: 2007-05-03
Alhough quiting cold turkey

Alhough quiting cold turkey is not advisable is certainly is very possible to be done. As a one time social worker I have seen it time and time again although I cannot confirm that it has worked without other needed programs. I have seen it done mostly with people with addictions that do not have heath insurance ( Don't want to get started on that one). Depending on other health problems I certainly do not advise it and without another plan once the med's are out of your system it is very very hard. Of course the younger you are the easier it might be on your system Just my 2 cents


May 7, 2008 - 2:37pm login or register to post comments

kennyrh
Posts: 93
 Joined: 2007-12-16
Not sure if thats counts so

Not sure if thats counts so tell me if this counts as quitting cold turkey.

 I do have very good health insurance. There as been some occasions where I have foolishly ran out of my narc pain meds early of a refill. Sometimes after running out after a pain episode has passed I have gone a month maybe even two months without needing to refill my pain meds. I of course got back on them when the pain has surfaced once again but during the time of no pain I did not crave my medications or have any withdrawals. The medications I used during these times are Oxycodone (roxi25mg) and MS Contin(60mg)  I weighed 119 during these times.  

 



May 7, 2008 - 11:42pm login or register to post comments

mdonia
Posts: 71
 Joined: 2008-03-26
kenny..

kenny i dont think that counts as quitting cold turkey, because it sounds like you were clearly using your meds as prescribed for pain, so how did u run out?  if u arent taking more than is prescribed to get a buzz, and are using them for what they are to be used for, then you probably wouldnt have any w/ds  so in the time in between u said u had no cravings or anything, that means you were using them wisely and not getting addicted to them for the high.  once u want them for the high it changes your brain and you crave them more.  also there was probably not that much in your system, so u didnt have any w/ds.  BUT im still wondering if you were infact using them as rxed, how did u run out early?? and also the roxi u said u used, if im not mistaken they dont make in 25mg tablets.  just 5, 15 and 30mgs from what ive seen and used.  quitting cold turkey is more a term used for addicts. it actually originated from addicts from the goosebumps they getwhen they are freezing cold.  kicking the habit also originated from addicts who are in bed quitting cold turkey, and when u do this your legs tend to go crazy kicking, which is just part of the w/d symptoms.  i know first hand!


May 8, 2008 - 7:59am login or register to post comments

gcdylan
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Posts: 273
 Joined: 2007-05-03
Much has not been said in

Much has not been said in your post but to me this certainly does not seem to be addiction at all,   it might be a dependence on these narcotics. I myself take the same narcotics (Oxycodone ER and Oxy IR) but in different dose level's and IMO I could have never had it that easy, which is a good thing for you. Most in here  know that every person might  have many different reaction's to narcotic's I know that my dependence level is 19 day's on the same amount of med's. It has been many years sense I have not had my med's for my chronic pain in my back and neck. and only one time when I had forgotton to bring my med's with me on a road trip which I had to go back 300 miles, I thought I had little choice. Your level's of withdrawls seem very tame to ME and ME only. I am glad that you have  easier withdrawls than many other's if you even have withdrawl'sFoot in mouth


May 8, 2008 - 11:31am login or register to post comments

Dr. Lois
Posts: 783
 Joined: 2007-04-12
"I take them when Im not

"I take them when Im not happy, I take them if I feel stressed all b/c they give me that happy feeling."

This is a behavior that is very common in addiction.  Even if the poster is not yet exihibiting the other characteristics of addiction, they probably have latent addiction, and given time will start exhibiting other addictive behaviors.



May 8, 2008 - 12:01pm login or register to post comments