how do I finalize oxy taper?

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I also think a twice a day regimen is probably the better course of action as being in a constant state of withdrawal can be so debilitating.

Perhps as you decrease to the lowest dose and begin the transition into the final withdrawal, or even at this point, you can find a specialist with the certification to prescribe suboxone which, and from what I've read here it can be an extraordinary blessing.

As to the depression, I have experienced none because I'm finally on the right corabination of antidepressants. If the Paxil isn't doing the job, I gently recommend you speak with your psychiatrist about a switch to another one. For a good psychiatrist, often knowing what *doesn't* work is a clue to what might work. Your depression may be caused by a different neurotransmitter than the one on which Paxil works.

If he/she who is treating your depression is not a psychiatrist, you might consider seeing one instead of whoever is prescribing Paxil, as you may have a complex brain chemistry challenge that only a specialist can treat. Many physicians prescribing antidepressants today are not psychiatrists, and in simple cases they can do an adequate job, but for the more challenging cases, IMHO, a psychiatrist with psychopharmacological orientation is in order.

Do keep us all updated.
 
Oops! I wrote that to the wrong post last night. I must have clicked the wrong one. Sorry!!!!
 
Hey. Ive been tapering off oxycontin since February...done well, am down to 10mg 1xa day...still after 5-6 weeks of 1 per day have 12 yucky hours.
seems my body never adjusts --will it? how do I get off that last 10mgs?? I feel so depressed, nauseus, hot cold, sweaty, anxious now for the 12 hrs that I dont take one pill....
and its been WEEKS!
shouldn't my body be used to that pattern by now? Im afraid to give up the 12 hours that I feel and act sane...
Im also looking for a job and desperately depressed. Am taking Prozac but that doesn't seem to help.

my doc has given me clonidine and says to take it 2ice a day. but honestly I never took it that often when I went from 40mg to 20mg or 20mg to 10mg...should I take it now that often? Is that last 10mg the worst?
is there no 5mg?
when does my body adjust to this? how long does it take.

thanks for any input and advice
 
Thank you all for your imput. its helpful. I have been extraordinarily lucky with my doctor. He actually encouraged the very slow taper and told me a few times not to go so fast(since I was an emotional disaster area) I did not realize HOW LUCKY I was or am.
I have stayed ahead of what he has recommended, which is why I dropped to on pill every 12 hours..tho now that is what he suggested and perscribed the Clonidine. in the past I didn't take it as perscribed, now I am. 3x's a day--every 8 hours.
In fact I decided to go hang out at 12step meetings last Thursday, then yesterday I decided to skip the one pill I do still take and just hang out all day in the meetings...thought it would keep my mind off how lousy I felt.
It worked so far! I was lucky enough to find a place with a couch and tv and food! Like my own free treatment center!
I did need 1/2 a valium but thats pretty good!
I got home at about 10:30 pm, took a hydroxizine and my laptop to bed and slept till 5am, then took another clonidine..
Im going to physical therapy today, then back to those meetings. I hope I get through today, then I think one more day and I will be ok.
 
Wow! You're doing great and I hope you can continue it. The Clonidine is suppose to help with the withdrawals. Just remeraber to taper off of the Clonidine when it's time to get off of it as well. So long as you can manage to watch TV, get food and make it to bed, you have half of the battle won. :-) Continue to work with your doctor on your tapering if it is working for you and good luck. Let us know how it is going.
 
Antelyn, welcome to the board. Is that the taper schedule recommended by your doctor? My understanding is that Oxycontin is an extended-release drug that lasts 12 hours; hence, the normal dose is twice per day. It doesn't sound like taking it once per day will work.

In my experience, my pain management doctor didn't understand how slowly I needed to taper. He recommended I go from 4 to 3 to 2 to 1 pill to 0 in a four-week timeframe. He also prescribed clonidine, but it made me a zorabie. It seems like some of the doctors are way too casual about what's involved in the taper process.
 
Hello Antelyn - yes there are 5mg Oxycontin time-release tablets. I suggest you talk to your physician about possibly switching to oxycodone to continue your tapering. Oxycontin is time release and you cannot split the tablets down to lower doses and going cold turkey from 5 mg oxycontin/day I believe would cause fairly harsh withdrawals. If your doctor prescribes oxycodone (same drug in oxycontin, but not time release), you can take the pills twice a day to better control your side effects and you can also cut the pills into lower the dose, so that you can taper more effectively.

Unfortunately, I don't believe you have seen the worse yet, but tapering off of the oxycodone will be much easier. I tapered from 60 mg/day to 10 mg/day (with withdrawals) in about 6 weeks and then from 10 mg/day to cold turkey (again with worse withdrawals) in about the same time period. If I was going to do it again, I would have tapered much more slowly, especially towarRAB the end. You seem to have the ability to taper slowly since you have been already doing it since February. Good luck to you and let us know what you decide and how you are doing. We're here to help.
 
I was hoping to see a post from you today saying that you decided to kick the Tramadol and work towarRAB being free of it. I'm keeping my fingers crossed!! We're here to help you along the way if you want the help.
 
Hey people. thanks for listening and for the support. I stopped taking the pills althogheter and felt so crummy I just couldn't even log in here!
Im doing better. On Day 15 of NO Oxycontin!! I was pretty green around the edges for about 5 days, took clonidine, tried some tylenol 3 to go to physical therapy (I still go twice a week)..
but Im still feeling nauseated and 'antsy' not as bad as last week,
but just wondering how long this does last?
Origionally I thought 72hrs I'd be home free...wrong!
then 5 days....was better but not 100 %
and still I feel a sort of general Malaise...of body and also of spirt..or energy.
I dont seem to enjoy things so much as before my surgery which was last Noveraber..Im attributing it now to the Rx rather than the pain and restricted movement..
whad'a yall think?
anyone with worRAB of wisdom or experience..
how long does this take?
anything in particular help?
 
It varies from person to person, but usually after 7-10 days you should start feeling better. It will still take a long time for your body to fully recover and start making endorphines on its own, plus you may go through a craving session or two over the next few weeks. The best thing to do it to stay busy. PT and exercise will help and doing things that make you feel good inside. Eating healthy and getting your vitamin intake everyday is essential. Glad you made it this far. You deserve a big pat on the back and a Well Done!! Going through opiate withdrawals are no fun! Been there - done that - don't want to do it again!! Keep us informed how you are doing and if you have questions or notice anything unusual. Cravings are no fun and they usually show up when you least expect them. Good Luck!!
 
OK, I edited my post below....didn't realize you can't break those time-released tabs....sorry.
 
I'm starting an Oxycontin taper but I'm not nearly as close to finishing as you are, but I do actually have experience in this from years ago. Switching to Oxycodone or Percocet/Endocet would probably help, because you can break it up and get down to a tiny bit more easily. It IS harder at the end, for some reason. You're undergoing a huge and difficult thing and it's no wonder you're depressed. Especially while looking for a job. If you're able, I'd go as easy on yourself during this time as you can.

The Clonidine sounRAB okay, because it's not something that you're going to have to struggle to get off of when you're done with this. Use all the help you can get. There are herbal supplements that may help calm you as well. I remeraber having a Clonidine patch and stocking up on every calming herbal stuff I could find. But then again, I did it in one huge cold turkey go. Ick! Still, it may help you a little during this time.

But yeah, it definitely sounRAB like switching to something that can go to lower doses would help you the most right now. It sounRAB like your doctor is very reasonable, having let you go so slowly for so long. Let us know how it goes. I'd love to know, especially, just starting a huge taper myself.
 
Thanks Denon!
Im much better today..last night was the first night I didn't have nightmares!

Two nights ago i took the blood pressure Rx that was origionally perscribed,
and last night took small amount of hydroxizine that was also perscribed for anxiety during the taper and it helped with the nausea..
I dont think its 'anxiety' it is nausea and comes on strong after eating and the RX helped.

also, I've decided to not expect to feel 100% for at least 30 days.

Went to a 12 step program and talked to some others who also said it does take awhile. and encouraged me that it is ok to take whatever Rx's the dr gave me to help the w/drawal.


It is hell getting off this stuff..but today both my knees feel better so I guess its been worth it.

HOpefully I will never be in so much pain again or need to take anything, but I wonder if I will get 'hooked' even quicker in the future? or need even more since I now have a tolerance built up?
I hope not.
 
Actually, I think you may have a less likely chance since you went through the withdrawals first hand. I know it is the last thing I want to go through ever again. I'm posting a new post today to update my condition and you'll see what I mean. I'm glad that you are doing better. The 12 step program will help and, of course, we're always here to help out. :-)
 
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