Doc is making me go through withdraws - Pain Management Message Board

Karine · 08-23-2003, 10:48 AM

New to this board and am very lucky to have found it. Have been looking for something like this sense 1999 when I was released from work due to work related injury, tendonitous in right arm started in 96 and left kicked in in 98. Now have neck and shoulder related problems that can not be fixed. Live with cronic pain from 1996 to Feb. 2003 when I found my wonderful doc. She has been treating me for my cronic pain and wanted me to try this pm doctor.

Nice new p.m. doc put me on the 75 patch works and only roxicodone 15mg 2 x a day for break through. Drove 75 miles yesterday to talk to him and see if he would change the rox but all he would say is I need to go through withdraws so the patch will work all on its own and I do not need extra pain meds. for breakthrough. He goes on vacation and my next app. with him is not til the 2nd next month. I am going through withdraws from the oxcodone I was on but still have alot of breakthrough when I try to do anything like type this or laundry ect.
Anyone do you have advice for me on what to do next? I would love to hear about it.

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Have a good day.
Kari

Autumn Angel · 08-23-2003, 01:20 PM

Hi Kari...when does he go on vacation??? I will tell you he is wrong in his thinking. If he is taking you off BT meds he should have upped the strength of the patch a bit or put you on a taper from the Roxicodone.
What he is doing is not only going to cause you unnesassary withdrawls but its going to increase your pain level its just what withdrawls do.
If he isnt on vacation yet I would call him and ask for the roxicodone either a lesser strength than what you had or get him to give you a taper schedule along with another script for it.
He shouldnt just be expecting you to go cold turkey yet some doctors are like that and expect you to.
Now if he is already gone on vacation I would call my family doctor and tell him what happend and maybe he can fix you up on a taper or give them back to you.
Let us know what happens best of luck and God bless.
Autumn.

Karine · 08-24-2003, 09:04 AM

I am going to call my doc on monday to get into see her this week and let her know what is going on. I did not like the way he just told me I need to get off the pain meds that is what is causing more pain. I asked him about the breakthrough and he said my resistance is low because of the meds I was on. He said the 75 patch and rox 15 mg will take care of the pain and to trust him and the pain meds. I have been off oxy sense the 11th of this month. My family doc had me on 100mg oxy a day time released and hydrocodone 10 4x for break through. I am hoping she will change my break through rox to something different.
Thanks for letting me vent. What a great board.
Kari

Disavowed · 08-24-2003, 09:16 AM

Well, the only thing I know about withdrawal from meds is the experience that I had with my father in 88 from his meds...there were certain meds that he needed to go off of due to the way it was affecting him...he was not taking the meds right, and his family told him, it was time to do something....my father had a terminal illness, but we still did not want him to fall or hurt himself in anyway due to overuse of meds....

What I saw was terrible...he spent a week in the hospital....and he went through shaking, sweats, chills...and what appeared to be physical pain....I hope I never have to go through that again with anyone...or myself...my goal is to get myself off of ultram for a chronic muscle pain I have...but when I do, I am going to ask how to do this humanely....and it does not sound like your dr is being very humane when he tells you to do it cold turkey....I always thought that it could be dangerous to just let someone go through that without a tapering effect with another med....they had my father on a different kind of med to curb the withdrawal, but he still had symptoms...I can imagine what it would have been like without the help from the other med...

I believe that some dr's just don't have common sense or use that approach to dealing with patients....I would talk to any other medical professional that you can about this and get some help with this....no need in this century for anyone to suffer needlessly....It sounds like it is time for you to take charge of this situation, and assert your rights...I assume all patients have some...or at least they should..good luck

NeedANewHead · 08-24-2003, 09:45 AM

The patch and the Roxi's are at least equal or stronger to the OxyC and the Hydro's you were taking.
That doesnt mean you wont have WD's due to them being different meds. Perhaps your other doc could give you a small script of both of your old meds to taper down while you are getting used to your new meds. However if you signed a pain contract with the PM doc, that would be going against that.
A lot of people get GREAT relief with the patch....I sure hope it works for you. And the roxi's are supposed to be the best BT med on the market. They are stronger than hydrocodone and without the tylenol. They are the same med as what was in your oxycontin.
Good luck.
I wouldnt assume you will have WD's...but you may. That is the point I was trying to make. Alot of people switch narcs all the time and dont go thru any WD's. I myself have done it three times and have never gone thru any. I will pray that you dont.