Beware of percocet dangers

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rdrake0
rdrake0 Member Posts: 180
edited June 2014 in IDC (Invasive Ductal Carcinoma)

Percocet is addictive.  This probably isn't where this thread belongs, but seriously, check this out: 

http://www.recoveryconnection.org/drug_index/percocet.php

and this one

http://www.addictionsearch.com/treatment_articles/article/percocet-addiction-effects-and-treatment_45.html

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  • lisaelder1972
    lisaelder1972 Member Posts: 171
    edited February 2009

     I have been taking Oxycontin and Roxicodone since my diagnosis almost 3 years ago.They allow me to actually have a life.Without them,cooking,cleaning basically any housework is impossible.I don't worry about addiction because I don't abuse them.You are 100% right,it is a dangerous drug WHEN abused or crushed.Thank you for posting the links.Take care.

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  • rdrake0
    rdrake0 Member Posts: 180
    edited February 2009

    Is it for pain from chemo?  Wow.  I'm so sorry it is still in your life!  Hugs.

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  • Dejaboo
    Dejaboo Member Posts: 2,916
    edited February 2009

    All Narcotics are addictive.  But when needed - they should be used.  So if you need them for pain take them.

    My PS was so worried I was going to get addicted to Oxycodin after my BLM. (he had me thinking I was going to get addicted to them)   I only took them for 2.5 weeks.  I needed them much longer then that!  Although they really never helped the pain...Why because he told me to take less then I really should have been taking.

    Pam

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  • QueenK
    QueenK Member Posts: 220
    edited February 2009

    WHOAH!! What is the point of this post, may I ask???

    I am sure you are aware, as you have been here a while that you are posting to breast cancer patients.I am no ay saying anyone is immune to addiction and breast cancer patients could indeed become addiction.

    In my opinion, this is in the wrong place and on the wrong board. Most woman take these drugs post surgery.I know I did! And no I didn't become addicted to them.

    Many, many many woman need to take painkillers of a narcotic origin on a long term basis.It is called chronic pain.

    I don't think posting a web site that screams DETOX is the way to go.

    Maybe people would want some additional info on other things they can do along with medication.

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  • hipchik47
    hipchik47 Member Posts: 268
    edited February 2009

    rdrake0, did u read the web site u posted???????? It says some people take 20-40 pills a day.  That is addiction.  This is a cancer site.  It hurts to have surgery and all the side effects that are painful.  If u r afraid u will get addicted, take a tylanol. 

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  • jancie
    jancie Member Posts: 2,631
    edited February 2009

    Percoset, Vicodin, Lortab - they can all be addictive based on how you are using them (crushing and snorting) or popping them in your mouth.

    The main issue with these pain meds is that for some people like me with a zero pain tolerance level, I need them to be able to function and not moan and groan in bed in a ball for days on end because I hurt so bad - crying the entire time!

    I have had 6 surgeries to date.  I learned after my first introduction of Vicodin is to not quit it cold turkey.  Once your body no longer requires it for pain - go ahead and take 1/2 pill 3 times day for a couple of days and then take 1/2 pill only twice a day, then down to once a day.  YOU must wean yourself off these meds very slowly so are you taking them for pain reasons?  No, you are taking them to decrease withdrawal symptoms of having taken them for 7 to 10 days straight popping them every 4 hours.

    The withdrawal symptons are total insomnia for one - can't go to sleep at night.  You are anxious, nervous to some extent, etc.  Coming off of them cold turnkey will make your body feel so bad and that is why people go back to taking them - they don't like how their body feels when they withdraw from them all at once.  My own doctor in Dallas told me after I complained about the withdrawal symptoms and insomnia that from now on I need to slowly wean myself off of them.

    I have helped many friends by sharing this information in the past and it works.

    Like any addictive drug most people will fail if they try it cold turkey - it is too much for their body and their mind to handle and it can create complications.

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  • jancie
    jancie Member Posts: 2,631
    edited February 2009

    Dejaboo - Doctors all over the US are being audited for prescribing Oxycontin because there are doctors that prescribe it uneccessarily for money under the table.  Oxycontin also has a very high resale value at the local middle and high schools no matter where you live and I can't even count the number of drugs stores here in Salt Lake City that have been robbed for oxycontin.

    When abused - again this is a drug the kids like to crush up and snort - it gives them a major high and also they tend to hallucinate from it.

    I would ask your doctor that if he is leary of prescribing oxycontin in the amount that you really need then ask him to switch you over to LorTab or Vicodin in the 7.5mg dose.  There is a 5.0mg dosage and a 7.5 mg dose.  I like the higher dose cause you get as many pills but when the pain is not like a knife sticking you in the back you can just take 1/2 of a pill at that time and then you have an extra pill for later if needed.

    No doubt I will have more than enough pain pills and anti-anxiety pills to make it through this BC stuff but I have always kept 5 or  6 aside for those late nights when a horse dumps me really hard and the only thing open is the ER, last time I just had a horse kick the crapola out of me and ended up in the ER testing my heart - that one really HURT.  Tried to go to one of the small clinics and they sent me to the ER since my heart was doing all sorts of funny things and they were concerned that something would get out of wack and they would have to do a Code Blue on me and they didn't have the proper testing equipment.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited February 2009

    Good thing this wasn't posted on the Mets board.  Pain meds are the only way we can barely function or on some days, get out of bed.

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  • Dejaboo
    Dejaboo Member Posts: 2,916
    edited February 2009

    Thanks Jancie.

    That was my old PS that was worried I would become addicted.  I no longer have him as a Dr.

    My old PCP was fine with prescribing anything I needed- except she left my Clinic now & is no longer a Available.

    I did quit cold turkey.  But I had only been on the Oxycodin for 2.5 weeks.   I was having Severe SE & thought it was because I was becoming addicted to the pain pills...Actually all the SE were from the Plavix my Heart Dr put me on the same day as my Pain meds.  

    Which I eventually stopped taking & 7 days after being off Plavix all my SE were gone.

    Pam

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  • Robyn66
    Robyn66 Member Posts: 169
    edited February 2009

    My PS was the same way about the Oxycodone I was on after surgery.  My primary care doc was good about prescribing meds when I needed them.  I find I ask for more than I actually use because I am so afraid of being in pain and not having them.  I am one of those people who usually never uses all of their prescriptions up so when I needed (what I considered) a lot of Oxycodone post surgery I kind of freaked out.  But one time trying to tough out the pain taught me enough not to fool around!  I would much rather have them and not need them than need them and not have them!!

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  • QueenK
    QueenK Member Posts: 220
    edited February 2009

    I think it is AWESOME we can have a dialogue in this, bravo!

    What I don't think is right is someone coming along with BLARING websites proclaiming the evils of percocet.

    You will find a lot more woman ON something than not.Like my Dr said "You take it because you NEED it, if you are not in pain and taking it there is a problem"

    It just sounded like a lecture OP and that is not warrented.

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  • QueenK
    QueenK Member Posts: 220
    edited February 2009

    BTW, as well.I am 6 months post surgery and about 3 months post rads.I have pain every day of my life.I am 33 years old and feel like I am 80.

    I really, really think if I was 60 years old and complained about these issues to my doctors I would get some relief.All I get is a pat on the head.

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  • apple
    apple Member Posts: 7,799
    edited February 2009

    well, i'm all for painkillers, but know that i could easily be addicted.. possibly lying to get them even tho i didn't have pain.  I might do that sort of thing.  I do know that oxycontin just about killed my then 14 month old son when he was in the hospital for skin grafts and serious burns.  that was really close.  I do think it important that some of us acknowledge our weaknesses and also know, that if addiction is something we need to discuss with our docs we be able to do that without shame.  I think it important that we know we are dealing with some substances that could ultimately harm us.

    One of the first things i told my onc. was 'NEVER" to  prescribe  steroids for me if i asked for them... that i really loved them..  (i horded 8 and still have them for the great piano performances i might have to pull out of the sky/. like Easter on the organ).

    If i were in pain, i would totally expect to be prescribed some GOOD meds - dang dependency.  I kind of liked the oxycodone.. it must be the codeine.. 

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  • mzmiller99
    mzmiller99 Member Posts: 894
    edited February 2009

    Although I was angry at the time, maybe I'm just as glad I couldn't take the oxy. 

     After surgery, I tried some for pain relief, what I got instead was horrendous intestinal pain, until I was pooping blood.  Yeah, that was fun, on top of the sore boob and underarm. 

    Just hit me over the head and knock me out the next time.

    Susan

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  • desdemona222b
    desdemona222b Member Posts: 776
    edited February 2009

    Some people are more prone to addiction than others and lots of pain pill addicts out there got that way from just being prescribed the pain killers after a medical procedure.  If you're feeling ill after using all your pain pills, tell your doctor and he'll help you wean off of them gradually.  Otherwise, I don't see anything useful in posting something like this on a breast cancer forum.  It's similar to posting diatribes about specific anti-depressants and how dangerous they are.  If you have the need to shame people because they are taking pain pills or anti-depressants, you just don't even belong here, sorry.  Very insensitive. 

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  • QueenK
    QueenK Member Posts: 220
    edited February 2009

    AMEN.I'm sorry but really, really insensitive and wrong.Did I mention wrong? Come on.

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  • Emily2008
    Emily2008 Member Posts: 605
    edited February 2009

    See, vicodin and oxy give me such bad constipation that I don't think I could ever become addicted.

    Having to drink bottles and bottles of prune juice would be enough to cure me of wanting those pills, LOL!

    But yes, when I need them post-operatively, I take them and thank God for them!

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  • Mazy1959
    Mazy1959 Member Posts: 1,431
    edited March 2009

    Is it not common knowledge that narcotics can be addictive? Like we have never heard this before? Some people need these drugs. These drugs were not invented for drug addicts in general, they were invented for those of us who can have no quality of life without them. To relieve unbearable pain.  I personally would not be able to walk without them or anything else that required movement from the waist down. I am on 4 different drugs for pain and I still have problems. Addiction is the least of my concerns.....

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  • mzmiller99
    mzmiller99 Member Posts: 894
    edited February 2009

    mazy1959 - You are absolutely right!  If you need them, thankfully those drugs are available!!  Most of us don't need them, but I remember when my grandfather was dying (at home) of brain cancer, and the doctor wouldn't give him any morphine for the pain, as he didn't want my gramps to become addicted.  What an ass. What a horrible way to die. 

    Thank God, there are doctors who have a better understanding of drugs and QOL issues.

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  • EWB
    EWB Member Posts: 2,927
    edited February 2009

    Each person reacts differently to pain and has different needs regarding pain management. It is not for anyone of us to judge for another what their needs are. This is between doctor and patient.

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