Please help with advice ~ want to get off meds soooooon!!

wrenegade · 05-07-2006, 08:55 PM

Hi Everyone,

I have been on oxycodone (short-acting), Soma, and Klonopin for a couple of years now. I really want to get off of them all, but I don't know where to start. I talked to my doctor about it and he wants me to switch to ambien instead of Klonopin and wants to add Lyrica as he thinks it will be easier to wean off of it (switch from oxycodone to Lyrica and then wean off of the Lyrica). He switched the Soma to Skelaxin. I stopped the Soma and the Klonopin and went on ambien. The ambien didn't work as well and I started having w/d from the Klonopin/Soma.

Anyway, I just recently got insurance and it seems to me like he just wants to put me on a bunch of expensive drugs. My rx bill would have jumped from $30.00 a month to $130.

I didn't even get the Lyrica and Skelaxin filled. So, I am on the same regimen as I have been for several years which is 10 mg of oxyIR 3 or 4 times a day, and one Soma and 1/2 to 1 mg Klonopin at night for sleep. I know it is not much compared to what some people are on and I haven't abused it, but I do want to try to go back to managing my pain naturally. I don't know if I'll be able to get off of the sleep med because I have always had trouble sleeping, but I sure would like to try. I am soooooooooo tired all day. This is my main complaint.

I am sorry this is so long, but the bottom line is:
1. In what order would you suggest cutting out these meds?
2. I have tried to taper down on the oxycodone, but didn't do well with that and I thought I might do better going cold.
3. How long does it take to get through it and what can I expect?

I have read some of the posts on here, so I have gotten some good ideas, but would really like some more input on my particular situation.

I am a teacher's aide and have a couple of months off coming up soon and I am anxious to try to do this.

Thanks for listening and thanks for any advice that you may have!!

mpvt · 05-08-2006, 09:20 AM

You need to get off the benzo first.Klonopin and opiates are a very bad mix and leave you more impaired then you likely realize.Start with the klonopin first then go with the opiate......Dave

wrenegade · 05-08-2006, 06:53 PM

Thank you, Dave, for your advice. Can you tell me what I might expect in way of w/d~like the length of time it will be to get through it?

I am wondering how I am going to be able to sleep. The reason I started taking the Soma/Klonopin combination was to be able to get to sleep. I have tried every herbal aid and OTC that I can think of, but still had bad insomnia.

Do you think I should stop the Soma at the same time?

What about the ambien that the doctor prescribed? Isn't it just as bad?

Sorry for all the questions, but I am really looking for answers.

Thank you,
wren

benzogirl · 05-08-2006, 10:14 PM

klonopin is a very addictive benzodiazepene. 1mg. of klonopin is equal to 20mg valium! soma is a remake of a tranquiliser from the late 50's called 'miltown'. if you've ever heard the song 'mothers little helper' by the rolling stones, this is what they were talking about. so basically you are taking two highly addictive benzos. i have come off of vicodin before-it's a walk in the park compared to benzo withdrawal. you should never stop taking a benzo cold turkey. i found an excellent tapering method developed by professor heather ashton in the u.k. klonopin in particular is dangerous to come off of without a drs. advice because it is also an anti-seizure med. going cold turkey from this can cause seizures. you definitely need to do some research on this. i am currently tapering off of 120mg. oxazepam, which is equal to 60mg. valium. i am tapering slowly. i went cold turkey for five days. went into convulsions, visual and audio hallucinations-pure torture! i had to reinstate and taper. i never again want to go through that. sorry for the long post. i'm just concerned about you.

wrenegade · 05-09-2006, 06:31 AM

Thank you so much for caring and you show yourself to be a very sincere individual who want to do the right thing by following the rules. You are to be commended for that! It's okay to give general information like you did and I will be able to search. I didn't realize how bad Klonopin was. I understand now why my doctor dislikes it so much. (I was on it from another doctor before I starting seeing my current doctor.) It's just been such a blessing to be able to sleep at night, but I am worried about long-term effects down the road. What about Ambien?