Question
My husband has been on high doses of duragesic (100mg every other day) plus 4 10mg percocets along with that to try to deal with chronic pain from an undiagnosed problem--we have really tried to find and answer but the search has been fruitless so far.  Anyhow, he wanted to get off them because they were not affecting the pain.  He was put on a fast taper for the duragesic by a doctor and is not wearing a patch anymore but is still requesting half a percocet each day.  he says the withdrawal symptoms are really the most pressing problem right now.  How long does the body take to get narcotics really out of it?  Are there any ways to make this transition easier?
We have heard of Subutex and suboxone, but I am wary of trying another medication to try to get him off of medications.

I appreciate your advice in advance.
Thabks,
Ami

Answer
Hi Amy and thanks for writing,

Percocet is simply Oxycontin & Tylenol, as you may know. I agree that using another drug to get off one is not the best approach (except for serious Heroin addictions). I woulod suggest you try a simple antiinflammatory like Ibuprophen for pain relief as your husband weans off the Percocet, here is some info i heop is helpful from a detox site:

OxyContin detox is accomplished similarly to other drug detoxification. The individual is stepped down slowly off their dose of OxyContin until they no longer physically need to take it. Without this process, the withdrawal symptoms from OxyContin may be so severe that OxyContin detox may seem impossible to the individual.


OxyContin detox not only helps in easing the withdrawal symptoms experienced by the individual, but it also helps in the path of OxyContin addiction recovery. Detox from OxyContin is invaluable to recovery because it helps in diminishing cravings for OxyContin as well as ridding the body of harmful toxins deposited during OxyContin use.

Wishing you both all the best,

Margot