Percocet and headaches..is this withdrawal? - Pain Management Message Board

FUNKYHEADGIRL · 12-25-2006, 12:49 PM

I've been taking prescription percocet for about 6 months now. My script is for 3 per day as needed (10's). Sometimes I need 3, sometimes I don't. I am noticing though that if I don't take one a few hours after I wake, I have terrible headaches. And of course, the headache goes away after I take one for my back. I'm getting concerned that I could end up having a problem here. Is this the beginning of tolerance and withdrawal? Any thoughts?

FUNKYHEADGIRL · 12-26-2006, 12:53 AM

Zol, Thanks for the reply. Thing is, I already mentioned this to my PM Dr. and she didn't seem concerned. I even suggested going back to Lortabs even though the Percs do work a little better. Seems like we're kinda doomed either way - deal with pain or deal with tolerance/addition/withdrawal!

zach016 · 12-26-2006, 08:02 AM

HI FHG,

I don't know what kind of pain you are talking about. Is it something that is going to heal on it's own or with surgery or is it a problem you are going to have for the rest of your life?

How severe are the headaches that you get? Are they migraines or how bad are they on a scale of 1-10?

It sounds exactly like 'rebound' headaches or MIH. If they are rebound headaches and you want them to stop, a h/a specialist would have to stop taking any analgesic med. for 12-16 weeks. The 'rule of thumb' for someone taking pain meds. for headache (and to avoid getting rebound h/a) is to limit their analgesic use to 2 - 3 days a week.

If you take any type of opioid, or other meds., on a daily basis your body is going to become accommodated to them and if you stop you will have symptoms of withdrawal. It doesn't sound like you are abusing the medication and if you need to take it every day maybe your Dr. can put you a longer lasting pain medication. Going from taking them 'as needed' to a daily schedule is a big decision.

It doesn't sound like you have any 'addiction' if you are taking them as Rx by your Dr.. Addiction is a bad thing while being 'dependant' is something you have to accept if you are going to treat your pain on a daily basis.

Zach016