Brief Answer:
Explained below.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome to Healthcare Magic!
You have been on opioid analgesics for a long time.
Oxycontin and OxyNeo contain the same opioid oxycontin. Percocet also contains
oxycodone in addition to
paracetamol. You are also using
fentanyl patches which is another opioid. You have not mentioned why your doctor decided to stop these medicines, but I guess that he either suspected you of abusing these medicines or maybe for some reasons, he had issues in prescribing these medicines which are strictly controlled by the government.
Since you have by now become dependent on opioids, it is difficult for you to function without them. Withdrawal from opioids can last for a few weeks and is characterized by pain, insomnia, loose motions, yawning,
sneezing, pupillary dilatation,
rhinorrhoea, lacrimation etc. In order to counter these, the second doctor prescribed you Ralivia, which is another opioid called
tramadol, though weaker than the ones you were taking. It is supposed to ease your withdrawal from the stronger opioids and later you can taper off Ralivia as well, which will be easier to quit than the other opioids.
I hope you now understand what is happening. Please feel free to ask if you need any clarifications or have any other queries.
Best wishes.
Dr Preeti Parakh
MD Psychiatry
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