 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 3,552 | Minnie makes a very good point. I choked on everything for quite a while. If salivary function is to return, it can take 18 months or longer.
My specific withdrawal plan was to reduce the Duragesic patches from 75 to 25 mg, in the normal 72 hour timeframes then to go from 6 vicodin a day to nothing omitting one pill per day. So it was a total 12 day plan. I had the sweats and felt pretty shaky and irritable but it was only uncomfortable for about 3 days. A MAJOR benefit is the almost immediate elimination of all of the constipation issues.
Contraindications for an inadequate narcotics withdrawal plan can include seizures and convulsions in the worst case scenario. Anti-anxiety meds, such as Zanax are also addictive.
Gary Allsebrook
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Dx 11/22/02, SCC, 6 x 3 cm Polypoid tumor, rt tonsil, Stage III/IVA, T3N0M0 G1/2
Tx 1/28/03 - 3/19/03, Cisplatin ct x2, IMRT, bilateral, with boost, x35(69.96Gy)
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"You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" (James 4:14 NIV)
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