Cope with Oxycodone Withdrawal

It can be very difficult to stop taking Oxycodone. You may feel alone and helpless. You may experience painful physical withdrawal symptoms and mental symptoms that are hard to deal with. But you can overcome your addiction and deal with the withdrawal. To cope with Oxycodone withdrawal, decide if you want to go to a treatment facility, promote a healthy body with nutritious eating and exercise, and find a support system.

Steps

Recognizing the Symptoms of Oxycodone Withdrawal

1. Notice digestive problems. Oxycodone withdrawal can cause your stomach to be upset. You may feel nauseous and vomit after stopping the medication. You may also experience diarrhea. These symptoms may start to occur within a few hours of stopping Oxycodone.
2. Monitor for mood changes. During withdrawal, you may start to feel anxious and overly nervous. You make start to shake and experience an increased heart rate. You may also feel depressed.
3. Check for flu-like symptoms. If you have only a slight dependence on Oxycodone, you may find that your symptoms are similar to the flu. You may have muscle aches, and find yourself coughing and sweating. You may also have a runny nose and your eyes may tear up.
   • You may also experience fatigue and lethargy.
4. Expect symptoms to occur within the first 24 hours. You may experience symptoms between six to twenty four hours after your last dose of Oxycodone. You will probably experience the worst symptoms during the first few days. By the end of the week, most physical symptoms will subside.
   • If you have used Oxycodone for a very long time, you may experience psychological and physical symptoms for a few weeks or even a few years.

Seeking Medical Help

1. Determine your level of tolerance. Your level of withdrawal symptoms will be influenced by the amount of Oxycodone you have taken in the past. Think about the length of time you have taken Oxycodone. If you have taken Oxycodone for a long time, you probably have developed a tolerance to the drug. This means that you will more than likely experience worse symptoms.
   • If you haven’t taken the drug for very long, your withdrawal symptoms won’t be as bad.
   • The dosage of Oxycodone you have been taking will also determine how bad your withdrawal symptoms will be.
2. Go through a medically managed detox. Withdrawal symptoms can wear you down. A medically managed detox can help lessen the severity of the withdrawal symptoms. You will go through this with a doctor. They will slowly taper the drug so the withdrawal symptoms will not be as difficult for you to cope with. The medications they prescribe will help you deal with the withdrawal effects by helping the brain think it is getting the oxycodone, which relieves some of the symptoms.
   • During the detoxification process, you will be given lower doses of Oxycodone over a period of time, along with drugs to help with the withdrawal. This may take awhile and usually occurs along with therapy and counseling. Drugs used for this include clonidine, suboxone, and naltrexone.
   • Possible side effects of detox drugs include headaches, sweating, nausea, problems sleeping, constipation, dizziness, and possible allergic reactions.
3. Consider an inpatient rehab facility for severe addictions. You may need a little extra help getting over your oxycodone addiction. This is okay. If you are suffering from a moderate to severe addiction, you may find that going to an inpatient rehab facility will help you cope with withdrawal symptoms. The first week of withdrawal is the hardest physically, while the weeks after that may be difficult mentally and emotionally. An inpatient facility can help you deal with the mental withdrawal symptoms.
   • For example, you can get counseling and therapy in a stress-free environment that will help you learn how to manage the mentally difficult withdrawal symptoms that may lead to a relapse. Your sessions may include talk therapy, group therapy, cognitive behavior therapy, or family counseling.
   • Inpatient rehab programs generally are for 30, 60, or 90 days.
   • Your doctor may refer you to a rehab facility, or you may find one on your own. You may need to talk to the local hospital or look online for a treatment center that specifically treats oxycodone addiction.
   • Some insurance companies may pay for inpatient rehab. You will have to call your insurance company to find out what your plan covers. You can also talk to the treatment center about financial options.
4. Try an outpatient program for mild addictions. Even if you have a mild addiction, you may need some extra support. Unfortunately, you may still suffer from physical and mental withdrawal symptoms that are difficult to deal with. You may benefit from outpatient treatment programs.
   • Outpatient programs can provide you with accountability as you recover from your addition and deal with the withdrawal symptoms. They also can offer support for you during difficult times.
   • These programs also provide you with individual and talk therapy.
5. Be careful with your dosage during a relapse. Sometimes, relapses happen even though you are trying not to go back to oxycodone. If you happen to relapse, you need to watch how much you take very carefully. You are at a high risk of overdosing during a relapse. Your body cannot handle the same amount of Oxycodone it could before the detox period. That means you cannot take the same amount you used to.
   • If you take Oxycodone during a relapse, make sure to take a significant less amount since your body has adjusted while you weren’t taking it.

Promoting Good Health

1. Eat Eat-Healthy. Treating your body well can make you feel even better during the detox period. Making sure that you get a healthy diet during the withdrawal period can help your body detox and better deal with the withdrawal symptoms. Nutritious food can help you keep your immune system strong, which can help with some of the flu-like symptoms. Make sure to increase your intake of vegetables, fruit, nuts, and lean meat.
   • You can eat meals with lean meats like chicken breast or salmon, two to three helpings of vegetables, such as spinach, kale, broccoli, carrots, or green beans, and a healthy grain, like quinoa or brown rice.
   • If you are nauseous, you may find that fruit smoothies are easier to eat. Try mixing different kinds of fresh fruit with almond milk.
   • Snack on almond butter and apples, mixed nuts, or Greek yogurt.
2. Stay physically active. Though you may not feel like it, moving around can clear the fog from your head and give you some energy. Being physically active can help you cope with your withdrawal symptoms. Light physical activity may help with fatigue, anxiety, and depression. Exercise releases endorphins, which help you feel good. That can help you with some of your symptoms. Try some light activity during your withdrawal.
   • Try some walking, swimming, or cycling.
3. Do meditation and Do-Yoga. Overcoming an addiction to oxycodone is difficult. You may need to find ways to clear your mind and deal with stress. Meditation and yoga can help you as you go through the withdrawal process. During meditation and yoga, you can focus your mind as you deal with the difficult physical and mental symptoms.
   • With meditation and yoga, you can work on Do-Breathing-Exercises, which can help relax you.

Finding Support

1. Go to Narcotics Anonymous. Narcotics Anonymous is a 12-step support group that can help you as you work through your addiction and go through withdrawal symptoms. During withdrawal, you are at a greater risk for relapse. This program may be helpful if you are worried about relapsing.
   • Narcotics Anonymous provides support in a group setting, which can help you cope with the mental withdrawal symptoms. If your addiction and withdrawal has affected your family, they can also go to meetings with you.
2. Find a support group. Having a support system is important as you go through withdrawal and recovery. Try to find a support group that you can rely on to help you through the physical and mental symptoms.
   • If you are in a treatment program through a recovery center, you will probably have access to a support group.
   • Talk to your doctor or your local hospital about local narcotics support groups that you can attend.
3. Ask family and friends for help. Coping with withdrawal symptoms can be difficult. If you have family or friends who can help you, it can make the process easier. You may feel guilty or ashamed because of your Oxycodone dependence, but don’t let that keep you from getting support from the people in your life.
   • Tell your family or friends, “I have decided to stop taking Oxycodone. Since I have been taking it for awhile, I am going to go through withdrawal. It will be difficult, so I was hoping you could help me through this time.”
4. Be patient. Going through withdrawal can be very difficult. However, the withdrawal will end and you can get through it. Unfortunately, you will experience some symptoms, but they will end, even if it takes you a few weeks. Just remember that you will not be on Oxycodone when you get through it, so try to stay strong.

Sources and Citations

See also

• Help a Drug Addict
• Help a Friend Quit Doing Drugs
• Withdraw from Methadone
• Help Someone Overcome Marijuana Addiction
• Deal With a Drug Addicted Family Member or Loved One
• Stop Smoking Pot/Weed
• Overcome a Meth Addiction
• Quit Using Heroin
• Help Someone Overcome a Heroin Addiction
• Deal With HPPD

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