Expert: Crystal - 10/4/2007

Question
My husband has been on Percocet for the last 7 months for chronic groin pain. He recently (as in two days ago) had surgery to correct the torn ligaments/muscles and compressed nerves and should make full recovery in 6 to 8 weeks. We started to taper his dosage of medication ourselves over the last two months. He has gone from 8 10/325 pills a day to 4 10/325 a day. He has been experiencing migraines, so badly that I have to take him to the clinic for a pain shot. Is this a side effect of tapering his dosage? What is the best way to ween him off of these pills? He is very against talking to the doctor about it, he hates to admit he is addicted to them in the first place let alone talk to a professional about it. 7 months is a long time. What should I expect him to be like during this detox period? Being his wife I have to deal with him day in - day out and I want to make sure I know what we are getting into before "all hell breaks loose". Any help at all would be appreciated so so much!

Answer
Julie,

Maybe don't detox so fast, migraines are a side effect of the detox and it happens when the blood pressure fluctuates during detox. You need to be really careful with this kind of thing and take it easy. He will experience agitation,mood swings,sensitivity to pain more easily,nausea,possible vomiting as he gets closer to not being on them and some confusion and energy loss.