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What Can I Do About Withdrawal Symptoms From Percocet When Prescriptions Are Not Being Renewed?
Question: I have had 3 major surgeries in the last 3 years. I have been on and off of Percocet 5-325. My Dr. I s new to me and refused to help me . Currently I have had monthly prescription's for 60 per month averging 2 per day. I am now going through withdrawal symptoms. Do you have any suggestions? Thank you. Sherrie
Brief Answer:
Information
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX
Yikes, it is not a good idea to take someone off of Percocet cold turkey after 3 years. A nurse practitioner is NOT a doctor and they do not have adequate medical training to be playing doctor in this way, although legally, in most states, they can do so.
You need to be on a pain management program and the best way for this is to see a pain management specialist. I recommend you get a referral for (if needed by your insurance) and make an appointment with a pain management specialist right away. In the meantime, see a physician as there are some prescriptions meds that can be tried such as Tramadol, which some physicians are willing to prescribe in place of Percocets. Gapapentin can help block some nerve pain, and is not an opiate, and muscle relaxants such as Flexeril can help if you are having muscle spasms. These are all by prescription. For acute withdrawal symptoms though, you will probably need a step down in opiates though, and the best people for guiding that are pain specialists. But if you can't get in to see one pronto, then see a physician (and request that you need a physician and not an NP or PA) at an urgent care clinic or ER.
If you are having muscle and joint aches, runny nose and eyes, agitation, nausea, diarrhea or abdominal cramping, these are signs of acute opiate withdrawal and for this go to the ER. Methadone or buprenorphine can help. Benzodiazepines (such as lorazepam) can be helpful too.
For pain right now, you can use Tylenol 650 mg and/or ibuprofen up to 600 mg three times a day, but make sure you have food in your stomach before taking an NSAID like ibuprofen.
I hope these recommendations help. Please let me know if I can provide further information.
Information
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX
Yikes, it is not a good idea to take someone off of Percocet cold turkey after 3 years. A nurse practitioner is NOT a doctor and they do not have adequate medical training to be playing doctor in this way, although legally, in most states, they can do so.
You need to be on a pain management program and the best way for this is to see a pain management specialist. I recommend you get a referral for (if needed by your insurance) and make an appointment with a pain management specialist right away. In the meantime, see a physician as there are some prescriptions meds that can be tried such as Tramadol, which some physicians are willing to prescribe in place of Percocets. Gapapentin can help block some nerve pain, and is not an opiate, and muscle relaxants such as Flexeril can help if you are having muscle spasms. These are all by prescription. For acute withdrawal symptoms though, you will probably need a step down in opiates though, and the best people for guiding that are pain specialists. But if you can't get in to see one pronto, then see a physician (and request that you need a physician and not an NP or PA) at an urgent care clinic or ER.
If you are having muscle and joint aches, runny nose and eyes, agitation, nausea, diarrhea or abdominal cramping, these are signs of acute opiate withdrawal and for this go to the ER. Methadone or buprenorphine can help. Benzodiazepines (such as lorazepam) can be helpful too.
For pain right now, you can use Tylenol 650 mg and/or ibuprofen up to 600 mg three times a day, but make sure you have food in your stomach before taking an NSAID like ibuprofen.
I hope these recommendations help. Please let me know if I can provide further information.
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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