Rebound from Oxy

[SleeplessinOR]

I’m taking oxycodone for my RLS, it works well although it wears off fast. The main issue I have with it is that I get rebound symptoms as it wears off and they are worse than my usual symptoms. Does anyone else experience this?

[Madlegs1]

Which form of oxycodone are you taking?

If it's a shortacting form such as Oxynorm, the it only lasts about 5 or 6 hours. It kicks in in 15 mins. It should only be used as a quick fix for major pain incidents.

There are long acting forms such as Oxycontin which is supposed to last 12 hours, but many people get only 8 or 9 hrs. ( Major class action on this)

What you are experiencing is quite normal withdrawal symptoms from the oxycodone .

You need to talk to your doctor about getting a form of opioid that gives full 24 hr protection.

Good luck.

[SleeplessinOR in reply to Madlegs1]

The current form I’m taking is Percocet. I metabolize very fast so I only get about 3-4 hours of relief. My doctor has been great and gives me both Percocet and Tramadol (both regular release and extended release) but refuses to give me OxyContin. The Tramadol works but I reach tolerance every couple of months and then switch off to the Percocet. I get the best relief from the regular release Tramadol as the ER form doesn’t seem to work as well for me. I am aware that augmentation is a possibility on Tramadol so rather than upping the dose I switch off to the Percocet for a month and then the Tramadol works well again. I much prefer the Tramadol as the Percocet gives me headaches and doesn’t last as long for me as the Tramadol does. I read others say that they get full night relief from Percocet but I definitely don’t get that kind of relief from either medication and my doctor won’t give me any other opioid.

[Madlegs1 in reply to SleeplessinOR]

That's very comprehensive.

The only other advice I can give is to consider using Acetominophen as a strengthener for the opioids

I take 250mg very occasionally if I feel my opioid dose is weakening--- usually as a result of taking triggers, such as high salt food, sulphites, processed meats etc.

That usually gets me over the "hump"

Hope you get relief.

[SleeplessinOR in reply to Madlegs1]

Thank you, I’ll give that a try.

[Joolsg]

Yes. I was on Oxycontin, the extended release version. It's supposed to last 12 hours. It doesn't. So I would get breakthrough, rebound RLS. I switched to Buprenorphine. It's half life is 24 hours. Zero RLS.

[SleeplessinOR in reply to Joolsg]

I wish my Neurologist would consider this. I have asked but he said you need a special license to prescribe Buprenorphine and that he doesn’t have one. I knew then that he had gone as far as he was comfortable with the two medications he had given me. At some point I’ll likely have to travel to see one of the specialists.

[Joolsg in reply to SleeplessinOR]

Join rls.org or ask on here for a neurologist near you. Where are you again? Oregon? Dr Buchfuhrer is in S. California, Dr Berkowski Ohio and Florida. Both do tele consultations but I don't know if they can prescribe in other states.Similar problem here in the UK. Some areas don't allow GPs to prescribe Buprenorphine.

[SleeplessinOR in reply to Joolsg]

Yes, I’m in Oregon. I am already a member of rls.org. I was going to see Dr. Buchfuhrer but have been told that he can no longer prescribe via telemedicine appointments and I’d have to go see him every 3 months. I could have managed the initial appointment but since the protocol for follow up prescriptions has changed I haven’t called for an appointment. I’ll have to check with some of the others to see what their protocols are for refilling meds after the initial appointment.

[Marlayna]

yes. I’m in the midst of experiencing this now. Waking up at 5 am with RLS in my wrists. I plan on talking to Dr. B. About this at my next appointment.

[Hazuki]

You could try adding some gabapentin as it is supposed to increase the effectiveness of the oxy, I take both and I also think it extends the duration of the oxy effectiveness...

I take 100mg of gabapentin per 5mg of oxy.

5mg at 8am and 100mg gaba

5mg at 6pm and 100mg gaba

15mg at 11.30pm and 300mg gaba

This leaves me with no RLS, however before I added in the gabapentin I would get rebound each time the oxy wore off, especially bad at about 5am.

This is a bit of a faff but it might help while you get a better setup worked out

[SleeplessinOR in reply to Hazuki]

Thank you. I tried Gabapentin once and it made me very dizzy. Does that eventually pass?

[Hazuki in reply to SleeplessinOR]

I'm not sure but someone with knowledge of pregabalin might suggest that instead as they do the same thing but often people tolerate one better than the other, I don't get any side effects from gabapentin until I get up to about 1200mg in one dose and that causes me headaches and nausea

[SueJohnson in reply to SleeplessinOR]

Yes it often does or it lessens. You need to give it several months.