Weaning myself off of loratabs

[StartingOver09]

Today is the first day I have gone in over 7 months without taking a Loratab 10mg I have a headache my whole body is achey I feel depressed and all I want to do is sleep. I just don't think I can do this. I started out taking them because of my back pain and then it got to where I had to have them even if my back didn't hurt. The pain I am feeling today from not taking one is way worse than the back pain.

So my question is

What are some of the symptoms of WD and how long do they last? Is there anything over the counter I can take to help me through the process?  Today is day 1 and so far I'm doing horrible!

[StartingOver09]

Well it's day 2

Yesterday was pretty bad my cravings came and I was able to keep my mind off of it by taking a hot bath,folding some laundry,smoking a cig. I was ok until about 9-10 it got really bad and I got emotional/angry etc. So I took a trazadone so it would calm me down and hopefully make me sleep. I went to bed around 12 and didn't take 1 loratab all day!

Today has been pretty rough I'm really achey all over and I just feel like death so I have basically been in bed all day. Which hasn't helped my back. I had to get up early to take my child to school and came home and slept unitl it was time to pick her up but now I am depressed because I slept all day. Gosh it's like a lose lose situation here!

I went and got all those thing's for the thompson recipe except valium of course which I can't get so I am wondering if I can use my trazadone's instead?

I go to the pain specialist on the 9th for my back. I had surgery in 2006 and afterwards I only took loratabs as perscribed until about 7 months ago then I was taking them just to get messed up and in order to even function. So when I go in on the 9th we are going to discuss other options besides medication he mentioned something about epedural injections so I need to do some research on that. My doctor doesn't know I am addicted I just told him I wanted to discuss other options besides pain meds. So hopefully it will go well.

Usually around 6 is when I start to get the most cravings so I need to find something to do to keep my mind off of the pills once that time rolls around cause it's usually down hill from there with my emotions etc.

[StartingOver09]

Thank you guys!

[swandive222]

PS: I am on day 9 of using no Lortabs, you can do it too!!

[swandive222]

You can totally do this and yes it is normal to be emotional right now!!  Go back to the main substance abuse page and read the thread titled "Forced Vicodin Withdrawal."  I have written a lot in that thread and I know some of that advice will help you with the w/d's.  Good luck and keep posting!!!

-J

[cathy5841]

it is so normal to have all the emotions go haywire...i think i cried every day for a week or more.  right now you need to take it one hour or minute at a time...you do not have to use..it is your choice.  so chose this hour not to use...or this minute.  think positive, you can do it...if i can you can for sure...cry screan into your pillow.  just dont use.  when it gets hard post, thats why we are here...with so many ppl in w/ds that cant sleep its usually 24 hours a day.  YOU CAN DO THIS.

[HelpinUtah]

Hi StartingOver:

I was also addicted to Lortab.  I felt sick and very emotional for a couple weeks.  Some people it's only about a week that you feel like you have the worse flu in your life.  You CAN do this!  I know you can.  Follow the advice in the health pages down on the lower left of the page.  Definitely take walks, hot baths, take vitamins, and possibly take Melatonin to help you sleep!  We're here for you!!!

Congratulations on taking this step!  

Hugs,
Janet

[StartingOver09]

Hi cathy

Thank you for the advice, Is it normal to be a crazy emotional mess? I feel like crying one minute screaming the next etc. This is so much harder than I thought. I slowly started weaning myself off but today is the first day I haven't taken one at all. It's almost 7pm so bedtime isn't too far away hopefully I can do this!

[cathy5841]

hi welcome to the forum.  there are a couple things you can try.  look in the health pages to the right of this page and get the stuff for the thomas recipe...eat bananas and take baths with epsome salt.  and get some kind of exercise.  the more the better...i know you think i am crazy but the sooner the better...that helped me more than anything...i know it is hard, but it well worth it...do it one minute at a time...you can do it.