Weaning off pain meds
 

Hi. I am a poster on the PN forum but think this may be the right place for my questions.

I had back surgery 2 months ago and I was prescribed Oxycodone/Acetaminophen 10-325MG TB 1-2 tablets every 6 hours as needed.

The 1st 2 days I took 1 pill 3 times a day and on the 3rd day I dropped to only 1 pill before bed. For the past 2 months the one pill worked great allowing me to sleep all night and without much of a hangover the next morning. It even took away my chronic cough that I was afraid might effect my fusion because it can become somewhat violent.

I have started weaning off the drug because my pain doesn't warrant it. I went from 1 pill to 2/3's for a few days with interrupted sleep but not terrible. Last night I dropped to 1/2 a pill and I could not sleep. I had sweats and chills and feel basically awful today.

I have zero experience with pain meds. My thoughts about the oxy was it was more important to get a good nights sleep for my back to recover. Now I'm realizing that I have a new thing to deal with and I don't know the best method or even if I should wait one more month until my fusion is supposed to be accomplished. If any of you have experience or knowledge about the best way to get off this stuff or any thoughts please respond. Thank you. carol

carol,
best way to tell if it is withdrawal and not something else, like surgery issues, is go back up to 1 pill for a night or two and if all those issues go away, it is probably withdrawal.

If they do go away, there is 7.5 mg version of the pill you could ask your doctor for. However, if you only have a set amount of pills you are trying to wean from, stay at the 2/3's dose for longer, maybe a week or two before going down to 1/2 a pill for a week or so and then 1/4 pill.

Also, if it is a good nights sleep you need, and you are now pain free, maybe ask your doc for something for sleep for a week or two...or the over the counter other option is a Benadryl will make you sleep like you took an Ambien.

I have not had back surgery but, I agree, it seems healing and getting a goods night sleep is important. I do take that med, along with others for pain control and have gotten off them twice and I tapered slowly over 3-4 weeks.

Good luck.
D.

Tapering often depends on how far post surgery you are, if weaning of your own volition please speak with your doctor. Withdrawal & it's symptoms can be a long drawn out process and can unwittingly cause problems with the fusion due to muscle spasm.

Thanks Diandra. I went back up to 1 pill and all issues magically disappeared. So I will go much slower this time. Thanks for sharing that you have had success tapering off this medication. It gives me hope :)
QUOTE=Diandra;1226194]carol,
best way to tell if it is withdrawal and not something else, like surgery issues, is go back up to 1 pill for a night or two and if all those issues go away, it is probably withdrawal.

If they do go away, there is 7.5 mg version of the pill you could ask your doctor for. However, if you only have a set amount of pills you are trying to wean from, stay at the 2/3's dose for longer, maybe a week or two before going down to 1/2 a pill for a week or so and then 1/4 pill.

Also, if it is a good nights sleep you need, and you are now pain free, maybe ask your doc for something for sleep for a week or two...or the over the counter other option is a Benadryl will make you sleep like you took an Ambien.

I have not had back surgery but, I agree, it seems healing and getting a goods night sleep is important. I do take that med, along with others for pain control and have gotten off them twice and I tapered slowly over 3-4 weeks.

Good luck.
D.[/QUOTE]