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What Causes Sleeplessness After Abrupt Withdrawal Of Pain Medication?

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Posted on Thu, 2 Apr 2015
Question: just came off longtec medication for pain relief after bowel cancer removal ....stop taking it yesterday monday morning but im feeling irritiable cant sleep anxious depressed how long will these symptoms last thanks XXXXXXX XXXXXX
doctor
Answered by Dr. Sabiha Banu (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
taper the pain management drugs

Detailed Answer:
hi

thanks for using HCM

i can understand your problem & been concerned about you

As such, longtec or pharmacological oxycodone belongs to opiod group of drugs, which you are not supposed to stop immediately without tapering the dose.

it has many side-effects on sudden withdrawal, like irritability, insomnia, restlessness, pain reversal,craving,anxiety,leading to depression, which you are already presenting with.

as your medical condition (bowel cancer-post surgical status) remains painful for a prolonged period ,
i would kindly suggest you to discuss with your treating doctor and pain specialist to either taper your longtec doses on daily to alternate day basis.

or add naloxone (anti-dote for opiods) to your regular doses to avoid the withdrawal effects

regarding the symptoms,what you have right now, these take at least 72 hours to one week for the oxycodone metabolites to get excreted from the body.

hoping for your speedy recovery & pain relief as early as possible.

any doubts you can please be free to review

all the best
take care

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Pradeep Vitta
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Sabiha Banu

Pain Medicine & Palliative Care Specialist

Practicing since :2000

Answered : 749 Questions

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What Causes Sleeplessness After Abrupt Withdrawal Of Pain Medication?

Brief Answer: taper the pain management drugs Detailed Answer: hi thanks for using HCM i can understand your problem & been concerned about you As such, longtec or pharmacological oxycodone belongs to opiod group of drugs, which you are not supposed to stop immediately without tapering the dose. it has many side-effects on sudden withdrawal, like irritability, insomnia, restlessness, pain reversal,craving,anxiety,leading to depression, which you are already presenting with. as your medical condition (bowel cancer-post surgical status) remains painful for a prolonged period , i would kindly suggest you to discuss with your treating doctor and pain specialist to either taper your longtec doses on daily to alternate day basis. or add naloxone (anti-dote for opiods) to your regular doses to avoid the withdrawal effects regarding the symptoms,what you have right now, these take at least 72 hours to one week for the oxycodone metabolites to get excreted from the body. hoping for your speedy recovery & pain relief as early as possible. any doubts you can please be free to review all the best take care