Does weaning off of Norco/Vicodin work??

[tired5]

I am new to all of this, I took Vicodin for a while for knee surgeries.  4 in 3 years.  I am completely fine now, I mean that I have no pain.  However, I do have a 10-12 pill a day Norco habit.  I have convinced myself many times that I can wean myself off of the meds.  Does this work.  I am thinking about getting some more to try and wean myself off.  I had 4 Vicodin this morning @ 730 and I have had nothing else all day except Motrin.  It is now 450am and I have been awake since 2am.  I feel restless as hell, I can not relax.  I am scared.  I don't know if I can do this.  Can I wean myself, does cold turkey work better.  I have children to take care of, I go to school part time, I need to be available during the day.  Please help I am feeling so helpless and tired.  I am also on Wellbutrin for adult ADD.  However, it is not helping with the quitting of the painkillers.  Thank you for any help that you can offer.

[allaboutmary]

You can taper off , but it takes alot of self control. There should be others that will reply with some good taper plans.  I am a cold turkey girl.  If you decide to go cold turkey. You will feel like you have a very bad flu for about 5 days. Keep reading and posting on this forum. We all have the same problem so you are not alone. We will be here to help you thorugh this.   Mary

[GoingToMakeIt]

Welcome! Tapering is possible if you have the self control to do it.
May I suggest you post this over on the Substance Abuse Forum.
This forum is much slower than the other one and is for general discussions. Near the top there is a link in blue.

[1eagle]

I think that ct is the best route to take - but you are in a different situation. IF you have to be as resposible as you indicate you might want to investigate sub - I dont think much of the methadone route.

[mr.lucky66]

It usually doesn't work but it can. Once someone responsible doled me out weening doses of hydro pills and from what I remember it worked. The person has to be a good strong character and it was my mother.

[MIKI23]

I have been taking one to two norco/day since July for a rotator cuff tear. I went cold turkey back in October for four days, got a little sick, but nothing too intense (of course, I take an extremely low dose). This time I have tapered down to 1 per day and was contemplating cannibus. My brother said it worked wonders for him after he was hooked on Vics after shoulder surgery. Does anyone else have any thoughts or experiences on this?

[NautyOne]

I did a long taper, and looking back I wish I had just gone cold turkey.......it was a slow painful journey......got sick.  lost a lot of weight.  Tapering can be done, but like I said..in my experience, it just lessens the withdrawal, but it was miserable.  I wish now I had just suffered the week or so, rather than dragging in out for months.......It worked, but I wouldn't do it again.

Just depends on how bad you want it.

luv,
nauty.................

[hunta1420]

Ive been taking 40-60 miligrams of vicoden for about 6 months now and need to quit soon.  It costs too much and i dont get the same buzz as before.  I have 8 500's left and was going to take 2 a day for 4 days, will this lessen the withdrawl?

[me556]

does tramadol help with the norco withdrawl...I have heard it can but not sure

[joov80]

I've been taking atleast 100 mgs of hydro every single day for over a year now. Today is the first day of cold turkey n so far its not going too well. I want so bad to just go get my usual 50 mg dose. The only thing stopping me is the proverbial intervention I faced yesterday with my fiance and my younger brother. The really put it all in perspective for me as I didn't realise how my habit was effecting my loved ones. Someone once told me"don't get started on those vicodins ur gonna regret it". He was right. If ur gonna quit then cold turkey is clearly the only way. Atleast for anyway...tapering never workd as I always wanted to get high instead of just getting my sick off. Good luck to all as I I know its hard but we can do this.

[GoingToMakeIt]

I would stay away from Tramadol. There are way too many members here that were addicted to that as well. Also, it seems to be far worse to get off of.

[GoingToMakeIt]

I would highly encourage you to post on the Substance Abuse Addiction Community.
http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Addiction/wwwboard.html
You will get the answers needed over there. This side is for social things and less addict questions.

[alostsould]

I am completely addicted to pain killers   i dont have the slightest idea what to do  1-20 a day is what i take.

[helpless6969]

I've been taking norcol for 10 years I take 10 to 12 per any suggestions on getting off these demons

[kittymom66]

Wow - me too - I was taking vicodin (norco) for years but went cold turkey 19 days ago today.  It took about 7 days to start feeling normal  restless leggs lasted about 4 to 5 days.  I took the thomas recipe - look it up and it helped trememdously.  The worst was the anxiety in my chest and the lack of sleep - sleep comes last - I am just now feeling I can sleep without anxiety.  I wish I could tell you it was easy - it is not - but it is worth it once you start feeling your new kind of normal.....the first few days all I could think of is how I was going to enjoy anything without the pills when in fact I was not enjoying anything with taking the pills - swtressing about where my next bottle would come from and feeling sicker and sicker between doses - I could not even sleep through the nite cause it was toolong between doses and I would wake up sick at about 3 AM and takes some.....long story short - there is light at the end of the tunnel if you just tell yourself you most likely won't die from ct but you might wish you would and it ends - it is not forever and you are much better off - have more money - have less stress - and happier in the long run - take care and good luck on your ct - let me know how you are doing.
Kitty Mom

[eyehatedrugs]

I have stopped and relapsed several times.  That being said, stopping is something that I know how to do, at least for myself.  These are the steps that you have to commit to.  If you cant commit to them all, then you are not ready to quit.
1.  Resign yourself to the fact that life ***** without drugs, at least it does at first.  But it does get better with time.
2.  Commit yourself to the idea that you will never take another pill to get high again, just to relieve your symptoms.  THATS ALL!!!!!
3.  Be preparred for a long, gradual weening period.  Set a schedule and take the meds at exact intervals.
4.  Find a physically demanding hobby.  Running works for me because it naturally kicks in your opiod receptors.  Also, hot showers, immodium, tylenol(regular kind), water.
5.  Once you get down to 10-15 mgs a day, the side effects are minimal.  Be preparred for a few restless nights, but once you get down that low, it doesnt really matter to take them any more.
6.  See #s 1 and 2 again.

It basically comes down to self control, and a set schedule of reduction.  But trust me, everything gets better with time, and before you know it, you will be rid of it and looking back and saying "he was right"

[court617]

This is my 6th day detoxing from vicodin, and let me say it isn't easy. I was taking 8-20 pills a day for the last 8 years. But I stopped cold turkey except there were two days in the mix where I took 1 pill one day and a half the other. This did help it was almost like cold turkey but with a tiny bit of help and it worked. I actually slept last night and I'm feeling a lot better today. I still have RLS and some anxiety but its all extremely better. I've also taken vitamin c, d, and e and immodium, plus tylenol and in conjunction with each other has made it better also. But honestly anyway that you choose to do it, it is hard and you will be sick but just keep faith cause it is only about 6-8 days before you are completely back to normal and you can get your life back. Good luck to all of you getting off this horrible addictive drug.

[kbd549]

only thing i'm scared about is the legitimate pain i do feel in my back. how do you deal with stenosis, that hurts? I want off, i want my normal life back!. its only been a little more than a year. i have the up to 20 per day habit. but i want off i have a 13 year old and although i'm only 50, stenosis and mild scoliosis runs in family.

[jmag222]

Havent read anyones post asking if alcohol (Beer) or marijuana would help with withdrawals symptoms.  I have both.....been taking two and a half vicodins (750 MG) for 5 years...It all started with surgury and when the doctor wouldnt prescribe more i ended up buying them from a sister in law who has a never ending prescription of 80 a month and cant take them so I have been buying them from her every month. 100.00.    I just bought 80 from here and now ive decided to get off these devils and find i cant.....havent slept for 3 days and havent eaten a bite for two days. ffeel like killing myself.....I am so ashamed I am now an addict.....never in my wildest dreams would i ever figure these pill would have such a grip on me....its crazy...what about the beer and weed....quit drinking 10 years ago but im so ready to start again if it will help me sleep.....tried unisom and nuquil but they dont help....can someone help me out with the beer and weed thing.....thanx in advance      Jimmy

[JoAnne1957]

I know it has been a long time since you posted this but I have been reading it and see this as being my route to stop.  I have never been addicted as much as I thought I would be.  I go with go without on and off but certainly don't need this crap anymore.  
I am going to do exactly what you said also, a physically demanding hobby.  Mine will be Martial Arts.  Focus is my focus!.
Thanks for this, I am making my schedule now!

a4jojo

[businesslady100]

i have been taking approximately 13 10/325 norcos a day for almost 3 years now, and until this last month i have never been without, before my last refill i ran out for 48 hours and it was hell!!!!! well here i am again though much further than two days before my refill, sun mon and today is tuesday, i have allowed myself two per day, 1/2 per time, along with sleeping pills, larazapan, flu medicine, hot baths with salts and eucaliptus, lavander, ect.....tomaro will be the last of my pills two.... am i looking at a full cold turky kick

[sd_comedian]

0-I have been taking Norco or Percocet 10-325 for about 4 years now. I have tried to detox twice a nd didnt  give myself the time to do so the right way. Just took the detox meds unti they ran out and then...went  wight back. Now,  am doing it agai. Just took my last norco  today at 2:00 pm. Here is the deal though, I am afraid I am killing myself because it was never enough. I have been taking 20 10-325  tabs at a time 4 times a day...sometimes 5times a day. Ya, 100 per day. I was only getting 200 a month from my Dr but was also Dr shopping and buying them off the street for $4.00 to $5.00 each. Ya, got VERY expensive. I have just hadenough. I am married and my wife is a 3rd  grade teacher. I feel like I am letting her down because we struggle and she didnt know what I was spending on them. I also have a 4 year old and 12 year old daughter and feel I am  letting  them down too. My wife has never even seen a drug (even pot) let alone deal with someone who has an addiction.
I guess I am here because it would ne  nice to talk to someone else who knows what I am going through and maybe we can help each other along.   my email is sdcomedian   at   yahoo..yes, I am a comedian. I always  get askedthat when I give that address. ANYWAY, I hope to hear from someone and you all have a great night. This is my new beginning and its gonna be hard as  am starting again as I write this.  Goodnight

[littlebit667]

Start a new thread by going up to the top and click on the orange post a question ICON!  Copy and paste your post and it will begin a NEW thread to let everyone know you are here and need help!  I promise you will get it!!

[sd_comedian]

Hello  everyone! I am now about  2 weks clean and feelimg better. I still need to shower like 6 times a day  a nd have bad muscle cramps but hey...I AM CLEAN! It is getting easier everyday but my lower legs and still KILLING me and I still have ZERO energy. I live 2 blocks from the beach here in San Diego  ans walk there ans back everyday for the past 4 days or so. When I get back, I dont want to move! I just feel like a Boa is squeezing me legs  so damn tight. More good news though is I am still having NO cravings, I dont want to even see them.
Question...does anyone know of anything I can eat or drink besides poweraid,etc..that will keep   me from being do damn drained all day or do I just need to work this out?

[sd_comedian]

I was taking norco or percocet 10-325 for about 4 years. I tried to detox twice and NOPE! than  said what you are saying...I will just ween myself off. LEt me ask you this? when you say that do you say I will start weening next time, then that turns into next time, etc..etc..YA, I know man I did it too. I have been clean for only 2 weeks now but I an CLEAN ang happy to be geting my life back,  was WAY worse than you. I was taking 20 at a time 4 to 5 times a day. I was getting them from my DR plus  I was doctor shopping and the street. Spending about $3500 per month not including the 240 I got from mky Dr. Botom line man, YOU need to want to quit. I have a 4 and 12 tear old. What I did was tape their picture to the top of my hand ans said I need to live for them. Good  luck  and if you  have ant questions just ask