Am I addicted 2 Percocet?

[lyssa]

Ok... I'm brand new to this board and am so lost. This is my situation: I broke my leg recently in three places... my tibia, fibula and also 2 bones in my ankle. I had surgery, but in the mean time I was given a script for percocet to manage pain until my surgery. Then AFTER my surgery was also given percocet for pain as that's the only drug I can take that doesn't irritate my stomach. I've been taking an average of 7 pills a day of the 5/325 pills since 11/18 of this year. could I be addicted? My symptoms are only showing at night, and I don't even really know if they're symptoms. I can't sleep because my arms are achy. That's the only way to describe it... ACHY. Not muscle spasms, but they just ache. I've been struggling because I don't know if the reason for that is because I've been laying on my back for the past month and almost a half without using those muscles, then when i use my crutches during the day, it seems to worsen at night. The more activity in the day on my crutches means more achiness at night. I'm scared that I may be addicted nevertheless... PLEASE! Any insight would be much appreciated! Lyssa

[cdmiracle]

Welcome to SR. Percocet (Oxycodone) is a highly addictive drug. Having taken up to 7 doses daily for 32 days now could present a problem. Try cutting them back slowly, 5, 4, 3 and then finally stop taking them. Dont try to suddenly stop because at this point your system may go into detox. Talk to your Dr. ASAP and express your concerns. Have you ever been addicted to a substance?

[lyssa]

No, I've never been addicted to anything but alcohol. I quit drinking (which I did quite heavily for emotional reasons for about a year and a half) and smoking in September of this year. I called my doctor and he hasn't returned my call. The last time I took a dose however, was Saturday night. I only feel like I need it at night. Is this my body being conditioned to taking it at night? During the past 30 days, i would only take a couple during the day, but then at night, I would take 2 in one dose and wake up a few hours later in pain and take 2 more... I'm wondering if my body is looking for the oxycodone at night...

[cdmiracle]

Sorry, I misunderstood, I thought you were consistently taking 7 each day. Honestly I cannot say, I can say however that my addiction would never have allowed me to take only 2 in a day, I mean, hey with 5mg Perc's I would have probably eaten a minimum of 15 each day. Go with your gut feeling, if you feel like you might be getting addicted, THEN STOP taking the Perc's...continue to try and reach your doctor and express your concerns to him...He may have an alternative solution.

[cdmiracle]

Keep coming back.

[angelgirl]

Hi lyssa,,

Nice to meet you, nice to have you here.. My DOC is Percocet. They were my favorite drug. I too started my long addiction to them with a legit reason, a surgery.
I found though, that they kept all of my pain away, and when I went back to work, 6 or 8 weeks later, I then needed then to physically go on with the shifts I was working, and the life I was leading at home.

You may very well be right, your body has probably adjusted to the amount of the drug that you were taking, and now requires more. That is the way they work. When our body adjusts, it screams for more. That is probably your arms aching.. But, no matter what, the best thing that you can do for yourself at this point is to GO talk to you DOCTOR,, right away.. Let him know what is going on. Be sure you tell him exactly what you have told us. Oh, I just read you called your doctor. Good..

Especially if you have been addicted to alcohol in the past. I might want to tell the doctor that as well, but that is up to you. But at times doctors don't always take addiction seriously. But, tell him, and see what he says. They need too change your meds. I don't know how long ago you broke your leg, but they don't normally keep you on such strong meds for real long. Maybe it's time to slowly switch over to Advil.

Doctors are just negligent sometimes when it comes to prescribing these types of meds. It is my feeling, that at times, ( not all the time, but alot of the time) the doctors over prescribe pain killers, when Advil should be used,, and people just become dependant on them.

I hope you stick around and keep us posted,, I hope you get a grip on this right away, and don';t let it get anymore out of hand than it has. Believe me, it can get so much worse. I am sure you know, if you have dealt with alcohol addiction.. I have battled opiate addiction for years, in and out of recovery..

Wishing you the best..

Love,
Becky

[lyssa]

I know that part of recovery is admitting that you have a problem... and thank heavens I'm able to see mine in this early stage. I talked to my doctor and he's prescribing vicodin (UGHHHH... don't really wanna take that either) but is instructing me to go the full 6 hr dosing then gradually going to one every 8hrs and so on and so on, over about 7 days to wein myself off of the oxycodone. Then he says if I have problems sleeping to just take some benadryl. He says that should help. I love the internet. Thank you guys so much for helping. I was really scared. I used to work in a strip club and have seen what certain drugs can do. Matter of fact my old boss' girlfriend used to BEG me to go to the doctor to get her PERCOCET... How ironic is that?? She had BACK SURGERY due to an accident and has been hooked on them ever since. Of course I didn't get them for her, but I felt for her so bad. I know being an alcoholic what it feels like just to crave alcohol and the emotional high that I felt just with that. I feel good though, because I haven't started drinking (probably would if I was able to walk or drive, but my husband says he won't drive me anywhere or get me any alcohol because he won't be an enabler) so at least I haven't replaced my addiction. Hopefully I can pull myself outta this, but what's best is that I know I have your support. THANK YOU SO MUCH and MERRY CHRISTMAS and may GOD bles syou every second! Lyssa

[angelgirl]

Lyssa,,

Hey, good for you.. Might be a good idea to check into some NA meetings as well, while you are tapering down, if you can get out and do that. You still might have
some illness, and the meetings would help you deal. It is really easy to just "take one extra" to help you feel a little better, "just once" and those "just once" soon add up..
Just a warning.. It happens to us addicts. Funny he didn't put you on something like Tramadol ( even though they can also be addicting, but they are not an opiate, at last that is my understanding, I am sure someone will straighten me out if I am wrong). to taper you down? Hmm.

Well good luck, I hope you stick around here, and keep us posted..
We will always be here for you..

Love,
Becky