percocet withdrawal symptoms

I have been taking about 4-5 pills (10/325) a day for a little over two years due to back pain from a car accident. In the last two years I have not gone a single day without taking at least three of them until last week. my car was stolen along with all my pills which were in there in a bag and even though my doctor wrote me a new script (after showing him a police report proving they were stolen) my insurance won't cover a new refill until next week.

So for the first time in two years I have gone days without taking a single pill (almost a week now) and I can tell you that I have had no problems at all except for the extremem back pain the pills are supposed to help with. No insomnia, no stomach problems, no sweating or irritability... nothing at all.

I guess everyone is different and even though I believe the pills can become addictive I think their benefit can outweight the drawbacks for most people.

On a different note, a friend has offered me some vicodin to help with my pain until I can get my percocets refilled. Should I take them?

I had a chance to interview a woman recently about her Percocet addiction. Here's the intro -- follow the link to the whole story of her recovery: Amanda Clements spent much of her life with horses, the animals she loved and trained. But in an odd way, that love led her indirectly into her long fight with addictive painkillers.

“I injured my neck in a riding accident when I was sixteen years old,” she said. “I was okay for a while but then something triggered it twelve years ago when I was 28. I began to suffer pain all the time. My doctor prescribed Percocet and Vicodin for the pain but never explained the potential for addiction.”

Years went by as Amanda took the pills just as prescribed. “I didn’t like taking them but when I tried to get off them on my own, pains showed up all over my body. When I told my doctor about it, he bumped up my prescription to a higher dosage.”

As the dosages increased, Amanda was becoming addicted to the painkillers without ever realizing it. When her tolerance for the drug increased more, she began to go from doctor to doctor to get enough of the pills to enable her to feel normal and function in her daily life. “I even forged prescriptions to get enough of the drugs,” she explained. “No one knew I was taking so much and no one around me realized I had an addiction. And I had no concept myself of how bad it had gotten, even when I was taking more than 40 Percocets throughout the day.”

Finally, Amanda was arrested for the prescription fraud. “What was awful was the prosecutors counted up all the times I had forged prescriptions. It turned out to be more than 600 times. I had so lost sight of my life and the problems the painkillers were causing that I never knew it was that out of control.”

I have been taking percocet for about a year and a half. I am addicted to it and take up to 15 to 20 per day. Stopped cold turkey 1 week ago, how long do the withdrawal symptoms last. Is back pain a symptom of withdrawal. I am in the medical field so cannot confide in anyone, I feel very alone and distressed. Please give me some advice.

I've taking them of course by means of prescription for the passed 8 years, and believe me if i run out of it before my next visit to the doc i GO CRAZY AND SICK. i am now stuck with them although i take them for serious issues, the pain gets worse so you take more so it becomes a vicious sickle because you get to the point where you don't fell the effect of it because you've taken them for too long or too often, well what happens then? YOU desperatly need them and you need more this time arround because you ran out the last time, listen it's just crazy i went to a pain clinic for this and they did not warn me about these problems that would come up later. i am addicted to them because the doc gave them, doctor gave them because of my pain so before you walk down my path take my advise try everything else, like natural stuff, massages anything try it. i wish i did.

I am fighting the same battle of withdrawl, my back pain is throbbing. Before I started my dark addiction of Percocets, I didn't have a pain in my body. I am in day three of withdrawl, I am suffering from pain, flu like symptoms and scary depression. The depression is almost taking my body over, I am starting to get scared. :-( I wish the best luck for anyone in my same boat.

Percs arent that bad unless abused. Be smart and ween off occasionally.

I have sever lower back pain and neck pain from previous injuries as an adult and child. Tried everything from chiropractic care to seeing doc for pain. I was put on Percocet for the pain. Yes, percs have side effects. Know what they are and have a game plan for success when you rely on them for pain relief. Some of the side effects are actually quite good; like the feeling of euphoria or happiness. Other side effects can be bad, such as reliance and withdrawal symptoms. I've had both and the idea is to find your own personal comfort level. The drugs very existence is to help improves ones life who without the pain medication would be in an otherwise very painful state, all the time.

I have been on this pain killer for about 4 years, and counting. I recommend it and am happy it is available.

Each month, my doseage is renewed and most months I run out about half way thru the month. I have never asked my doctor to up the prescription, knowing that 15 days on and 15 days off was a good trade off. I doubled my doseage and have had a very "good" 15 days while on it, dealt with "slight" two day mild withdrawel symptoms, then back to normal (with normal pain) for remaining days until doc visit and all over again. With all ups, there will be downs.. that is life. Get used to your bodies tolerance and choose how you will come down.. The idea is to come down and get used to coming down so you make it less painful.

Most people talk about being an addict. If chronic pain sufferers are able to create an atmosphere where they can enjoy life and deal with the pitfalls of addiction with will power and trade offs, I think that is what this drug is intended for. As for me, being on 7.5/500 6 per day for 15 days and off for fifteen days works, then all the better, right? ABSOLUTELY! Of course the pain will be there the end fifteen days, but in the long run, you will be happier and if you didn't have the drug, you can still live a normal life, just in the pain you would normally have anyway. So, In the end, I think it is more of a mind over matter thing...

Remember, to be an addict, you must create a daily dependence on something. Some people are addicts to food, sleep, sex, drugs, you name it. Be serious about your health and be responsible about your habits. The key is moderation and self control.

Well let me tell you , i have been taking percs for 3 years , I have back pain from my job, and depression from my job and things that happen in my life , that these pills set me right , it gives me that boost in the morning, i can get things done around the house , i can do alot of things ...but without it ...OMG>>>what i did was i got suboxdone and took that for 2 months bypassing the withdrawl ...well i thought i was home free by being from oxycodone for months ..well when i when off of that the withdrawl was pure hell and i had to go to work like that for two weeks , i just could not take it anymore, the weakness , cold, skin hurts, sneezing all the time, can bearley move...i have to wake up at 4:30am and i have a very hard job , alot of benting and lifting, and driving.....so i had to get some percs to get me right again, i am going back on suboxdone this week ..........the only way off is to be in bed for a month going cold turkey, who can do that ......i can't ......i went two weeks with nothing and that withdrawl was still there...you get a break when you sleep that's it .........your brain has to shift back to normal you are looking at a month or two depending on the person and how much you took ............good luck and god help us all

i am on my 2nd day of no percs and these have been the worst two days of my life. Have had my colon removed and going back in on wed for another surgery. was not sure why i was feeling like this, so i went to see my doc today and he told me i was going through withdrawals. i would never wish this pain on anyone, and it makes me feel so bad for some people. i hope tomorrow is better> any suggestions in feeling better

I have been prescribed morphine 30 mg 120 a month,percocet 480 a month, valium 180 a month and ambien 30 a month to help sleep for almost 5 years now. I injured my back in the Army and was retired and my Dr. just kept giving me more.I never took the morphine because I was so scared that it would get me addicted so would flush it down the toilot but I thought the percocet was ok because it had tylenol in it.I started with like 120 pills a month and my tolerance off them had me neeeding more.I wish to God I never took 1 it is so hard to get off.I have decided to do it finally for my family they deserve a mother and a wife but its so hard.The withdrawls are so bad and I just don't no how long they will last that I have cut down from 20 or more a day to 2 and it was hell.The sweating and flu feeling is awful you do feel like your going to die or you wish you will thats how bad it is. I want to no when does it get better.I am teriffied and am ashamed and mad that my Dr. went along too all this time.I didn't call in for my monthly refills this month because I no if I have it I will take it.I do have valium but like the morphine I never took was to scared.Will it really help with the withdraws? Anything for the rebound headaches? Anyone that has sucessfully quit please tell me how and how long the symptoms last please.
Thank you.

i got a story for you. Perc.- 10/325 for 2 years. I to suffer from bi-polar and anxiety disorders galore. my doctor actually prescribed Percocet for DEPRESSION! At first,...as my psychofarm doctor, he was able to give me about a 5-10mg dose a day for my back pain, (in conjuction with klonipin, prozac and lamictal for my 'brain pain'.) After (not very long), i said to him "hey, y'know, these things work great on pain,..AND DEPRESSION; he told me he could give me 60mg a day if it would help with 'that too",(the depression). Why did he do it???!! I already have mental problems!!! Needless to say,..i finished the bottle way early, then, after time, i was buying oxymorphone and oxy-80's from a kid with cancer...(WOW). Finally i had a nervous breakdown (i'm only 30) and went to the mental hospital for rehab/suicide watch or some c**p.

Cut ahead 4 months. Same doctor, same prescription, same cycle begins. I'm up to about 80-90 mg of endocet (10/325), and i'm totally screwed again. I have to stop taking them again now, (although at least this time its 'controlled withdrawal". Strike two!! I'll be damned if i ever touch that c**p again. It ruined my life for almost 4 damn years!!! I have enough problems as it is! THESE SYNTHETIC OPIATE MEDS WILL EFF YOU UP UNDER ABUSE. Nothing is worse than withdrawal. Don't ever take them--even for pain---IF YOU ARE MENTALLY ILL. YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO STOP TAKING THEM.

Much like most of the other posters in this thread, I was prescribed percocet for a legitimate reason. I was in a car accident and ruptured 2 of my discs. My doctor prescribed me 40 5/325mg percocets per month. Fortunately I had a doctor that was VERY strict about dispensing this drug. He would give me 40 pills at the beginning of each month, and not a pill more. The pills would last about 20 days, and I would then go through 10 days of feeling slightly uncomfortable. Then I would get my script refilled......rinse and repeat. When I finally had my back surgery, which was successful, I could no longer get the medicine. It was tough for about a week, but then it disappeared completely. That was about 6 months ago. Recently I met a guy at work who occasionally offers to sell me a couple. Of course, I bought some. You all know how it is. I told myself I would take no more than 3 a day, and no longer than 1 week consecutively. Surprisingly it has been easy to control. I am sticking to the plan, and the weeks of not taking them are not painful at all. In fact, it makes taking them all the more enjoyable because you have a clean system. I would DEFINITELY not recommend this to anyone who does not have an extremely strong mind, but it can be done. Percocet is a VERY powerful drug that carries a HUGE risk of addiction. I STRONGLY recommend not taking this drug unless it is absolutely necessary.

I am desperate. These pills have taken over my life, I feel like a heroin addict! I have Lupus, have both hips and one knee replaced, need the other knee done. Pain is a daily companion, it keeps me awake 3-4 nights a week. I take Norco (3 years now?)10/325...i take 2 on being woke up by shaking, heart pounding, nausea, and thoughts of "I wish I could just die"..i take another pill about 46 hours later, another at 6 and two more at 9. I get the withdrawl symptoms something fierce. I have pain anyways, I would rather be clean and sane. PLEASE someone help me! My doc says"taper" ..ok...what does that entail?? I am afraid of doing something rash while going thru withdrawl. I am so scared...I am crying now...I really wish I could just disappear...but I have a family who needs me. Am I alone? please..there has to be a way I cxan survive withdrawl without death thoughts (oh..trhey are fun...they are constant too)

Ok...rant over

d

No your not alone at all. there is alot of us out here going through hell. the fast is that going through wihdrawls does really suck. But there is a few things I find that help depending at what point you are at. Getting off the pills is great. But sometimes we need them. What did with my Urologist when I was having problems and he didn't see why I was having problems all the tests were coming out back negative...but I was rushed to the ER every week with pain. I was sent to a Psychiatris. Don't be afraid of them. They really really know alot about diffrent drugs. And some drugs that they use for people with depression will work on people in pain with low Dosage. That's what I had mine do with me and it helped me alot till I had my kidney takin out finally.

I've been taking percocet for a year for back injury. I've started a functional restoration program that is teaching me how to control the pain without meds. After my 1st two weeks, my dr. cut my prescription (4 to 5 10mg day) in half and gave me a prescription for clonapin patch and it does help. My back pain starts hurting in the evening, so I just lay down or go to bed. Otherwise would need at least 3 percs a day. Believe it or not, but deep breathing and telling my body/muscles to relax also helps. I can't wait to get off this. My friends tell me my personality has changed and I'm loopy.

Before I started the program I tried to stop by myself, but by the 5th/6th hour the withdrawal pain was just as bad as a back pain. When laying down it was worse. My muscles and joints hurt so much. Also became feverish and body temp rise.

For those who are thinking about stopping cold turkey. Don't! it can be very dangerous and depending on the dosage and the duration taken, you could end up in the hospital or maybe something worse. Work with your dr and they can give you something to help with the withdrawals and slowly ween off of them.

If you haven't heard of it, Tramadol is a non addictive pain reliever. They didn't work for me, but others have told me it has worked for them.

I puptured a disk in my lower back. took percocet for 3 weeks waiting for surgery. They made me ichy, but feel great. After Surgery gave me 6-8 weeks to justify taking more. I did of coarse. That was a year ago. I stopped them then found a lady who had bottles full of vocoden 5mg pill for $2 each. I'd get 25 and make them last 2 weeks. I can still get them if I want them.
I have nerve pain down my leg, my big toe is numb from the ruptured disk and will continue to be. I work hard on my job doing lots of bending working in manholes pulling huge pipe wrenches causing more pain at night when I sleep. the pill help but I love them. \I ruptured my disk 14 months ago and go through these cycles with these pills. each time I get off them I'm sick to my stomach for 4-7 days but get back on them.
i don't even take to many of them.
This BIG problem is....I cause more pain to myself by taking those stupid pills. The high is great and like I said, I don't take to many. only 1 10mg pill aday or I break in in half and take a half a pill a day.
i read that some of you guys are taking 6, 10 , or 20 a day. WOW. I go through hell on my little dose. I'd die if I had to come off that high of a dose.