Had surgery and am taking Percocet but now want to.....?

Question

I had surgery on the 16th of March, female stuff but included a partial hysterectomy. I have been taking Percocet 5 mg 2 pills every 4 since surgery. I want to stop taking it but when I go to long I feel fluish and kinda weird. Can I take Motrin for those symptoms until they go away??? Or tylenol? I know it has only been a week on the Percocet but I just do not want to get addicted to that type of med.

also........I am still having pain, I just do not want to take these past this weekend........incase SOMEONE thought I did not have pain when I didn't take them....the problem is when I wait to long to take them the pain is bad, and it was a MAJOR surgery not just involving the Hysterectomy.

Oh and to the PHARMACIST...my doctor prescribed that many and the nurses at the hospital (one of the best in U.S.) said all the patients who have this extensive surgery that that many....so you are a pharmacist, they are a doctor.

Answer 1

I had a full hyster w/ AP repair, I was on them for 5 days and I understand the symptoms. I started to wean myself off, I took 1 every 8 hours but only took 2 every 24 hours, I took 2 extra strength Tylenol every 4-6 hours to help with the pain. I was feeling better about 9 days after the surgery... but still had the sharp pains that stopped me in my tracks! Plus, have they taken the staples out??? That will help a lot! I would walk some too, if it's warm out where you live, I would go out and be in the sunshine, it helps detox your body too.
Good Luck! And congrats on the surgery!!!

Answer 2

If you're still needing them for pain, take them. Keep your doctor in the loop and tell him of your concerns of becoming addicted. When you're past the worst of the pain you can begin to taper off.
But trying to stop now, after a major surgery and when you are still in a lot of pain doesn't make sense. In fact, it could make it harder for you. You might prolong taking the meds because you're trying not to use them but might end up taking them anyway when the pain becomes unbearable. And where does that get you?
If you are really concerned though you should ask your doctor if you can take the Percocet, then tylenol 4 hours later, then the Percocet (if needed) then the tylenol etc.

Answer 3

This is oxycodone - 10mg every 4 hours seems a lot for that type of surgery unless you have been on similar painkillers before - you dont say you feel pain when you stop taking them - and that is what they are for - so it sounds like you dont need them for pain at the moment and you may have developed some tolerance to them in this time.

I would definately cut them down - try taking only one every 4 hours, then one every six hours and gradually cut them out if the symptoms are bothering you. Meanwhile you can use acetaminophen/paracetamol (tylenol) in place of the percocet - but remember that percocet contains tylenol - so only 4 grams of tylenol per day in total or you could risk liver damage

Answer 4

Good for you. It's SO easy to get addicted and so VERY hard to quit when that happens.

Even 2 pills every 4 hours for a week may make you feel a little bad, so I suggest weening yourself off of them slowly. Don't just stop. It won't hurt you to just stop, but you may feel like crap. Try 1 pill every 6-8 hours for a while and go down from there.

Answer 5

WAY WAY too much! you do not need 10mg of oxy every 4 hours. You can take it down to 1 tablet every 4 then the next day every 6 then three times a day then twice then once. these drugs are immediate release drugs so after you've weened you can take one at onset of pain thereafter. Do not under any circumstances cocntinue to take this many.

Answer 6

its your bodies reaction to not having the pain pill in your system. Its what a druggy feels like coming off their high. for me it feels like a hangover. headache nausea body feels sore. ask your dr 1st before just stopping it they can give you clonidine to help with side effects from coming off percocet. Just be glad your not on this opoid patch for pain that I am on. percocet is an aspirin compared to this stuff. Duragesic fentanyl.50 mcg patch change every 3 days. talk about memory loss. whoa this stuff causes what I say " Time Travel" you go someplace and say how'd I get here. not a good feeling but the pain is gone..

Answer 7

try getting off the percocet with some ibuprofin. heres the deal, if you wait until the pain is unbearable its going to be soooo much harder to control. once you start feeling a little pain take some ibuprofin. you might go through a little withdrawl. nothing serious. gradually cut them down. if you cut them out completely you will feel real sick. talk to the doctor or pharmasist if you have anymore concerns.

Answer 8

I agree with bmac...Definitely go slowly. And ask your doc about which particular over the counter pain med to take, because some may have other benefits or side effects that will help/hinder your recovery.