How much percoset/oxycodone to get hooked??

[babygrant]

I know this sounds stupid, but I'm afraid to take pain pills that are perscribed to me because I'm afraid of getting hooked.

Past 2 weeks I've had bad pain from gallstones and an enlarged liver. Waiting for a consult with a specialist and surgeon. I've been taking one 50 mg tablet of gravol for the nausea and so far I've been just dealing with the pain. Acetaminophen and ibuprophen don't even touch the pain. So it's been a very miserable horrible two weeks. Today I took 1/2 tablet of percoset/oxycodone and OMG the relief in pain was incredible. Felt better than I have in two weeks. Hubby gets so upset with me when I won't take anything for the pain, but I'm afraid of getting hooked to them. Maybe I've watched too much TV...I don't know.

I've tried castor oil packs, massage, acetaminophen, ibuprophen, and I'm going to go do some accupuncture as soon as payday comes.

But could someone get hooked on percoset from taking 1/2 tablet a day?

[Fuamami]

My dh hurt his back and was prescribed percoset, his bottle said not to take them for more than a week, so I assume that was kind of the window in which you could start to become addicted? Can you call your pharmacist and ask their opinion?

[happysmileylady]

Originally Posted by babygrant

I know this sounds stupid, but I'm afraid to take pain pills that are perscribed to me because I'm afraid of getting hooked.

Past 2 weeks I've had bad pain from gallstones and an enlarged liver. Waiting for a consult with a specialist and surgeon. I've been taking one 50 mg tablet of gravol for the nausea and so far I've been just dealing with the pain. Acetaminophen and ibuprophen don't even touch the pain. So it's been a very miserable horrible two weeks. Today I took 1/2 tablet of percoset/oxycodone and OMG the relief in pain was incredible. Felt better than I have in two weeks. Hubby gets so upset with me when I won't take anything for the pain, but I'm afraid of getting hooked to them. Maybe I've watched too much TV...I don't know.

I've tried castor oil packs, massage, acetaminophen, ibuprophen, and I'm going to go do some accupuncture as soon as payday comes.

But could someone get hooked on percoset from taking 1/2 tablet a day?

I think it just depends on the person, their personality and the drug. Physically speaking, I think it's a lot harder to get hooked on most perscription drugs than most people think. I could take vicoden like candy, I have had so much of it due to dental issues. It rarely works for me anymore at the most commonly perscribed doses because I have had so much of it. But I have also never had any type of withdrawl symptoms from stopping it at the end of each cycle either.

It's the mental addictions that are personality basied. For the most part, I think that unless you have a history of addictions or a family tendancies to addictions, you aren't likely to develop a mental addiction if you are that concerned about it in the first place. The caution you use when taking the perscribed doses is what will help to keep you from the addiction.

ETA: it has been my experience that most doctors write their perscriptions cautiously. Meaning that they take your size into account, but also if you have ever had the med before, how you have reacted in the past to it or a similar med and so on. Most docs do not want an addicted patient, and they are going to perscribe at the lowest possible effective dose. You say you are only taking half a tab a day, unless the tabs are like 3000mg or something, that's probably a pretty small dose.

[katelove]

This is a really common concern but, despite what you see on TV , addiction to painkillers is very rare amongst people taking them *as prescribed* for *acute* pain. I can't remember the actual figures but it is only a couple of percent.

I would take them. Apart from the pleasure of having less/no pain, if your pain prevents you from moving around and/or breathing normally then you are increasing your risk of DVT or pneumonia, both of which occur much more frequently than addiction.

All the best, I hope you feel better soon.

[greenmansions]

I have the same fear of addiction you do, and have no clue how quickly a person might become addicted. My DH took oxycontin after his appendix surgery, and I am glad his prescription was not refillable. He would have filled it and kept going, after his week's worth was used up. I am 100% sure of it. So I would think the "line" is less than a week, probably depending on the person.

You are in Canada, have you tried acetaminophen with codeine? That is supposedly less addictive than other opiates which is why they allow it over the counter there. Maybe that used with care would help your pain.

I hope your doctor's appointment is soon and wish you the best.

[KMK_Mama]

Originally Posted by happysmileylady

I think it just depends on the person, their personality and the drug.

It's the mental addictions that are personality based. For the most part, I think that unless you have a history of addictions or a family tendencies to addictions, you aren't likely to develop a mental addiction if you are that concerned about it in the first place.

I agree with this.

I was put on vicoden after my near fatal accident a few years ago. I was on them for a few months and my BODY did get addicted which made it hard to get off of them symptom wise, but mentally I am not an addict so I was able to be weaned off of them. It was hard with all the side affects I encountered but weaning slowly made all the difference. For a few weeks I felt like I had spiders crawling under my skin and I spent a few nights crying in the closet, LOL, but I got off of them by cutting them smaller and smaller every day. If you are in pain, take them. you'll be fine.

[babygrant]

Originally Posted by happysmileylady

You say you are only taking half a tab a day, unless the tabs are like 3000mg or something, that's probably a pretty small dose.

My bottle actually says I can take 1-2 tablets every 4 hours but I find that 1/2 tablet takes the pain away for the most part AND allows me to stay awake. If I take a full dose like I did in the hospital I am higher than a kite.

[academama]

All of the literature on this agrees that patients in serious pain rarely get addicted. But it is a concern, albeit a small one, and if you're not comfortable with it, you could ask your doc about trying Ultram, which is an opioid but not as addictive as the others.

I had to click this thread because I have always had this concern too but I have had a number of kidney stones, and I can't function in that kind of pain. I think the fact that you're concerned and watching out for it means that you're likely to be just fine.

[amyjeans]

I have taken Percocet 2x in my life.
The first time and from my own experience- I will admit I never wanted to stop taking it. It creates a whole new perspective of pain and I found that after about a week of taking a whole tablet every 4-6 hours, the effect seemed to me to wear off sooner than I had liked. So I wanted more and looked foward to the next dosage.
I never thought to cut the pills in half, looking back it would have made them last longer and that probably would have been bad for me.
I begged for a 2nd prescription and was cut off by my doctor. Thankfully.
The 2nd time, I knew I was going to have to be strong and understand that "I" will get addicted and needed to be in control and stop when the bottle was empty. I was able to. Going foward, if I needed it again, the pain would need to be overwhelmingly uncontrolable.
I don't know if this helps, but I admit to the addiction as it was so easy for me to slip into it. But that is me, and like others said, perhaps not everyone would experience what I did.
I hope you feel better very soon!

All my best~

[meg-momto2]

i have the same concerns. i turned down pain meds a few years ago after a fall but i really wish i hadn't. i'm in a lot of pain again, most likely from that fall, and plan on asking for something next week when i see my doctor. i'm waking from the pain and that's not something i can live with for long. tylenol and ibuprofen don't help anymore. if you're worried see if they can cancel any refills so you're not tempted to get more.

[babygrant]

I wasn't actually given any refills. They do NOT offer refills on narcotics here. You have to go back to the doctor each and every time. I was perscribed 20 pills about four weeks ago and I've used 4 now. So I've had to take it 8 times since I cut my pills in half. I expressed my concerns to DH and I feel better. I've never been one who enjoys taking medications so it'll be ok!

[greenmansions]

babygrant, Please make sure it is OK to cut your pills in half. Many of those are extended release and cutting them puts more into your system faster. Yours may be fine, or low enough dose that it doesn't matter, but not all pain meds are.

Good luck with it all. I hope you feel better soon.

[babygrant]

Originally Posted by greenmansions

babygrant, Please make sure it is OK to cut your pills in half. Many of those are extended release and cutting them puts more into your system faster. Yours may be fine, or low enough dose that it doesn't matter, but not all pain meds are.

Good luck with it all. I hope you feel better soon.

ACK! I never realized that. Thank you, I will call the pharmacy!


ETA: I called the pharmacist and he said it was not a problem. Better to only take 1/2 if it works.