Addiction to Percocet

[nyc...@gmail.com]

Hi,

I have been addicted to opiates for 3 years now. First it was vicodin,
for very bad muscle cramps they were prescribed from my dr who
diagnosed me with fibromyalgia. Then my dr. prescribed me percocet. It
did not take me long to get physically addicted to the pills, as i go
through physical withdrawal everyday that i wake up in the morning. I
cant do much of anything. I am up to approx 30 mg per day. I have
tried to wean myself off of the pills but I feel so ill that its
soooooo hard for me. I wake up drenched in sweat, cold sweats, hot,
feverish, pain all over my body especially my back and my legs. My
eyes are watery when going through withdrawal, my nose is runny while
going through withdrawal. I have tried to find an addiction
psychiatrist to taper me off properly, however they run very expensive
here in new york and do not take insurance.

I really need help and i dont know how to get outpatient help without
getting on a substitute drug. I dont know what will be the best way to
do this.... I know its out of your system after 72 hours, but its very
hard to go cold turkey. I get extremely irritated and feel very itchy,
and am just feeling like loosing my mind when in the withdrawal phase.
It takes me about two hours to feel somewhat better when i wake up in
the morning and take my first pill.

Innevitably my life has been ruined from this medication. I just want
to be free of this addiction. I am not thinking clearly anymore, and
have no motivation to do anything, feel really achy all over for most
of the day. I only feel somewhat normal at night, and i will stay
awake as long as possible to avoid going to sleep because i know the
next day i will be going through withdrawal when i wake up. It is an
absolute nightmare/ hell that i am living in. I cant work. I cant do
much of anything. I am stuck home most of the time as a result of this
drug. I had no idea that this would happen when i first started taking
this medication. I am also nauseated a lot, and have stomach problems
while going through withdrawal.

Someone invited me to stay at their house and detox there for 3
days... i may do it as im afraid to do it alone in the house. Am very
afraid i would not be able to tollerate it and would end up very ill
and in the hospital if i do this myself. However, if i dont get off
this medication i will never have a normal life. It is an absolute
nightmare. I just wish i was never prescribed this medication.

If anyone has any information as to how to get off this medication i
would appreciate any help....

Thank you

[gcat333]

Hi NYCLINA. Well first of all, I'm so sorry that you have been going
through this. I'm trying to figure out why you are going through
withdrawals when you are taking your medication. You mentioned 30mg's
of Percocet a day which is actually a moderately low dose. This is not
to say that it is low for YOU because everyone has their tolerances
but I think that you need to be easy on yourself about your dose
considering the fact that you have one of the most painful diseases
known to man! You may actually need the pain killers if you do have a
lot of pain. Have you tried visiting with a pain specialist? I'm not
suggesting that you use more narcotics and it sounds a bit ironic
coming from me but if you are truly in so much pain, that pain needs
to be managed first and foremost. You can also consider Suboxone since
it is a very powerful painkiller and also helps people get off of
narcotics however it is very expensive so that might not be an option
for you.

In any case, I think it's imperative that you find a way to somehow
manage your pain and not feel guilty about it; no one should go
through life in pan if they don't have to you know?