Expert: Crystal - 5/11/2007

Question
QUESTION: I was hospitalized in mid march for a painful infection. I was on very heavy antibiotics for five weeks. I am still "draining", so still not physically well. The problem, I've been on percocet the whole time and I know I'm addicted or dependent. I have the withdrawal symptoms if i don't take it. Last year, I went through a medical out-patient detox off the same stuff, was hooked for about 9 months coming off a surgery.  How did I get so hooked again? I'm very upset about this and can't go through the medical regime again, I'm just starting to get back to work. I want to know if it is possible to taper off the pills myself? I am now taking 2 10/325 about every 3  hours. (I tried cold turkey- couldn't do it) Last time I was up to about 20 a day. I'm terrified about this. Can you help?
ANSWER: Jude,
I cannot stress the dangers of self detox to you enough. If you are taking 2 every three hours, does this mean you taking at least 15 a day or are you waking up to take more during the night? The reason you are feeling the detox again is because you are on a consistent dose and have been taking them for about two months now. Once your body becomes dependent on something it will ALWAYS be dependent on it no matter how much abstinence you have in between using. It sucks because when you truly need them it is harder then hell to get off of them.
How was your detox last time? Did you experience seizures at all or tremors? This will tell me where you are now and whether or not you should try the oupatient detox again. I understand that you have just began working again and believe me I know how hard this is for you but you have to take care of yourself the best way that you can and if you need to do that then I would suggest it. You asked me if you could titrate off, yes you could but I am not advising you to do so. I do know that if you talk to the doctor who gives them to you they can assist you in properly titrating off. It takes awhile because you have to do so slowly, and you have to have A LOT  of patience. You have to start by dropping by one pill per day or even one whole dose per day and then you have to do the same dose everyday at the same time and stay on that regimen for however long it takes for you to feel comfortable to drop again. I am not suggesting this and I recommend that you take extreme precautions. You have to train you body how to live and function without it. It is not easy and I would highly suggest that if you need to be on something again that you ask for a lower class narcotic or even a non-narcotic pain management.
I feel for you because I have seen so many struggle with this and it is hard. Don't beat yourself up though because they were given to you for a legitimate reason. Do you understand that?
It has always terrified me to hear or see patients and clients taking that much a day because you really are not aware of anything that is affecting your body in a negative way and it is so dangerous for your liver and kidneys. Please think about going to NA for support as well and you don't have to share your whole story if you don't want. Don't do it so that someone can tell you how to get off of it either, ONLY do it for SUPPORT because you are going to need it.
If you have any other questions, please don't hesitate to ask. If I have not fully answered your questions please let me know. I will do my best to assist you in the best way that I can but remember I am not a doctor.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you so much for answering so quickly. I've just come back from seeing my perscribing doc and told him the problem I'm having. It's been such such a releif to talk to you and now confide to my doc, i was feeling like such a stupid foolish woman for doing this to myself - again. My doc is a surgeon and not an addiction doc, but he suggests I go down to one 10/325 every four hours, keeping track of my times. I was not doing that very carefully at all.  Fortunately, this time I haven't been waking at night for pain meds - I plan to start when I wake up, I have to deal with a large wound packing each moring and I need the meds to kick in before I can manage it. I will see him in two more weeks - I was going to try to go down faster, but I get the impression from you that that is a mistake. I've been thinking about going to NA - maybe you're right. I didn't realize that once dependent I would become dependent even after a short use of the drug. I was on morfine and dilaudid for two weeks before the percocet.
Last time I detoxed, I did not have tremours or seizures - I hope that's a good sign.
Do you think that dropping to one 10/325 every four hours will be tolerable? I don't want to set mysefl up to fail, like I felt when I couldn't just stop.
Thank you again for your help and support - it means a great deal to me to have someone to talk to.

Answer
Jude,

I am so glad that you felt like you could talk to your doctor and if you want to try dropping by 1 every fours hours then go for it. I am relieved that you didn't experience seizures or tremors and yes that is a good sign. It means that you have a better chance for success without the bad stuff that could come with it. Good for you. If you find that dropping every four hours is too hard then take it slower. Let me know how it goes.

You are so welcome. Take care.

Crystal