Has questions about percocet withdrawl timing!? Please could someone read this!!

[bishop357x]

I started out taking Vicatin ES for about 3 months and then they moved me to percocet 10mg 4 times a day, along with valium 10mg 3 times a day, I have been on the Percs for almost 4 months now, I know a bit about pain killers, but my best friend died from Oxys over a year ago, so I tried to steer clear of that area, I was always into speed based drugs, but my question is I am being prescribed those drugs for severe pain and muscle spasms, but lately about a couple of weeks ago, I noticed that within 4 hours of not taking my dose of Percocet my nose started running, and I started get hot and cold, and I thought these were withdrawl symptoms that occurred around 24 hours after not taking them, so why is it that this is happening after only around 4 hours??!!! Second quick question is, what are the more common withdrawl symptoms from Percocet, just in case Im missing something! Thank you to whoever helps me here, or can at least send me out some input here, cuz Im confused! Im not abusing them in any way, and just taking them as prescribed, so I dont get it!
Thanks again!
Bish

[Dawn in NH]

Hi and welcome to the board!

Are you sure you don't have a cold or something? It is a rather low dose do get hooked so quickly. Although now that I'm thinking about it, 4 months could be long enough that your body has become accustomed to the oxycodone being around.

Ya know, you should not, and I emphasize not be afraid of oxycontin. This is why they made the drug in the first place. Since it's time released, it doesn't wear off quickly, and it does not in most cases give you a "buzz". You're taking 10 mgs 4x a day. You could take one 20 mg time released, and two 10mg percs throughout the day for breakthrough pain. Or you could just take one 40 mg. oxy and see if that covers it for you.

I suggest this because you said you do not abuse your meds. Your friend most likely was grinding up his oxy's and snorting them or just grinding and swallowing. This is what people who abuse oxy do.

Also, to prevent abuse in the future, the manufacturer (Purdue/Fredrick I think) is changing the formulation so that if it is ground up, split, crushed, or in any way modified from it's time released coating, it will make you very ill. You will feel nauseous and get the screaming sh*ts. Truley - look it up at oxycontin's website if you don't believe me.

I said all that to say this - we're all different. Is your condition temporary, or is it a chronic pain condition like most of us here on the board? If you're gonna be taking pain meds for a long time, consider a time released med. If you're really to intimidated by oxy's, try MS contin (time released morphine) or the Duregesic patch. Again, this is only for chronic pain, not temporary conditions like a broken arm.

If you really think you're addicted after only 4 months, you best wean yourself down starting now if this is a temporary condition.

Good luck - Dawn

[This message has been edited by Dawn in NH (edited 03-18-2003).]

[This message has been edited by Dawn in NH (edited 03-18-2003).]

[GinaLee]

Okay maybe this will make you feel better...or worse?

I was on Perocet 10/650 early last year for about 2-3 months. I took 2 of them at least every four hours for pain. I was never relieved of pain at all. I did get "some" mercy out of it all... it helped me sleep through some of the misery. I had ruptured disk, L5, S1 and permanent nerve damage, two surgeries and lovely case of Vasculitis. Before, during, and after I was on so many meds at all different times of the day it was rediculous:
(Copied from the Merck-Medco Prescription web site, My prescription history)

Percocet 10/650
Sulfamethoxazole/tmp Ds 800MG
Furosemide 20MG
Hydrocodone Bit/apap 7.5/750
Neurontin 300MG (6 a day)
Keflex Caps 500MG (gave me serious case of Vasculitis! VERY PAINFUL and deadly!)
Prednisone 10MG
Hydroxyzine Hcl 25MG
Ambien 10MG
Percocet 5/325MG
Oxycontin 20MG
Hydrocodone Bit/apap 5/500MG
Lorazepam 1MG
Cyclobenzaprine Hcl 10MG
Prednisone 20MG
Methylprednisolone 21's 4MG
Ibuprofen 800MG
Diazepam 5MG
Duragesic Patch 50MCG

All of the above were refilled many times from January to August. I don't EVEN know what half of the above are either! In August I said NO to anymore painkillers and was put on Neurontin. I eventually just stopped taking the Neurontin after about 5 months of 1800 to 2700 MGs a day realizing it was doing me no good...no relief...just a bunch of pill popping.
Even with all of the above I still took my "normal" meds:
Adderall Xr 30MG
Paxil 30MG
Alprazolam 0.5MG

And much to my shame I drank HEAVILY through it all. 2-3-4 cases of beer every week. Am I really still breathing?

The point is, if you are taking your meds as prescribed and not taking more than you should be; you should be okay. I was told to take the Percocet 10/650's every four hours for pain... Screw that, I was taking them every two hours and still in screaming agony. Painkillers just don't seem to want to help me much.

The runny nose could be symptomatic of the drug...but not necessarily a withdrawal reaction. I drank through the entire regiment (except for the hospital stays of course), so if i did suffer any withdrawal symptoms... I wouldn't have noticed.

Have you tried getting a steroid epidural? I had one in December and it did offer some changes but I'm back now to the way it always was before. Just because it didn't help me doesn't mean it won't do you some good? I hated taking those pills, I'll just deal with the pain. LOL, I'm getting ready to begin a serious vitamin and mineral regiment (to help get me off alcohol) and I'll be taking doses throughout the day of up to 60 or so pills! (for detox) But you know what? I can handle THAT!!!

Talk to your doctor; tell him your fears... drug addiction is so not a cool thing for anyone. Oh and one more thing before I REALLY put you to sleep; I'm hoping that this vitamin thing will ultimately get me off the Paxil, Adderall and Xanax (Alprazolam).

Good luck darlin'


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Gina

[This message has been edited by GinaLee (edited 03-18-2003).]

[StacyVictor]

Dear Bishop: I can say almost without a doubt that you are going through withdrawal. I was on pain killers for 4 years and my least favorite was Percocet because you build a tolerance up so fast and I always went into withdrawal faster on the Percocet than I did with Vicoden, I guess I never really understood why. Unlike yourself, I never took these pills for pain, just to get a buzz. It wasn't before too long, and I mean within a week, my body was hooked and if I didn't have them I got deathly ill! Because of these pills, I have spent the last 4 years in hell. I spent all my money on the pills, sometimes $300 a week, just to keep from getting sick. I have a really good job and I am also a single mom, It was impossible for me to be sick for a week or two. Recently, I started taking Suboxome for the withdrawal and it has changed my life! Please don't be fooled by these pain meds. Although they are prescribed for legitimate pain, they are still highly addictive! You must talk to your doctor, tell him the problems you are having with the withdrawal and work with him/her to correct this problem! I wish you the best of luck!

[Dawn in NH]

I agree with Stacy, but I have to say one thing. She took them for recreation, and you're taking them for pain. When a person is feeling intense pain, they are far less likely to feel the buzz associated with popping percs for fun. That's why I suggested a long acting med. However, after I re-read your post, it appears your condition will most likely be short term, therefore negating the need for long term pain management.

So, if you think you're having withdrawal and addiction problems this early in the game, I suggest you get off the pain meds immediately if not sooner. Doing it cold turkey is the least successful method, so you should look into what Stacy did. Sounds like she went the right way. I only wish somebody had given me this advice 10 years ago!

Good Luck - Dawn