I finally admit it, I need help. Re: Opiate Withdrawal

[MedicineMax]

What should I do for Norco/Hydrocodone withdrawal?

I have a very import question and situation that I desperately could use help with resolving. I have been on strong narcotic pain relievers for some time (Norco 10/325 last several months, over the past 2 years from Oxy, to hydromorphone to good ol' Tramadol) and my doctor unexpectedly quit refilling my prescription today without notice or reason. I am okay with that, but what makes it so devastating and urgent is that neither he or his nurse contacted me about this decision, and he did not sit down with me in order to make a plan to get off of this strong medication. I found out through the pharmacist. She is concerned too. I was taking no less than 70mg of NORCO per day, which is significant. I don't feel addicted to the pills, but my body does feel dependent. (this might be total bull ****, I'm' trying to figure it out.. I've never taken a pill not prescribed to me as I've had 3 surgeries over 2 years.)

Here is my situation. I  will be quitting this medicine cold turkey as I have no pills left being prescribed from the doctor, and what I do have I took it all at once so there wouldn't be any more lying around and that I'll fall asleep on them in hopes of not enjoying the large amount-7 at once. I am certain that cold turkey is not the way to go about this and feel that it is extremely dangerous. What would you advise me to do? Should I try to get Suboxone? Where do I go? The hospital ER? Are there clinics for addicts? Well the withdrawal require hospitalization? Will they treat me there? Or, where do I go to help me wean off of the medication with lower dosages on other medications, etc.? Hospital? I'm afraid that it will take too much time to get into a pain management clinic. As in, by the time things are most intense, the pain management will still be on a wait list. Are there emergency clinics? I feel my situation is extremely urgent because the detox has just began and the withdrawal is extremely dangerous and worrisome. I do not want to end up in the hospital which is most likely what will happen if untreated. It had been a long term use. The doctors at Methodist in August kept me on Suboxone whilst in the ward. Since the doctor and his nurse have abandoned me with no reason whatsoever (I never abused my medications, used them more than prescribed, etc.) I will be requesting a copy of my medical record immediately so that I can hopefully figure out what he was thinking. But, that is the least of my worries right now.

Treatment is most important.

Thank you for your help anyone!

And, like I said in AA many years ago (still sober)

My name is Max, and I am an addict.

[worried878]

ur right...the klonopin at 3 mgs a day will help///if u have been on this dose for yrs//then it will not help as u r used to this dose of benzos each day/not a drug u can taper like the narcs/and a very high dose of klonopin for anyone to be on/but as stated/u need it for other issues..and this is not the problem u r here seeking help for/dont even attempt to CT from 3 mgs of klonopin a day/that would be deadly as it is a high dose of benzos that can not be CT-d
U* asked if it was dangerous to CT off the 70- mg narc dose...well u did not ask but u seemed concerned/and yes..i realize u can go shop around and find another Dr to RX narcs to u..anybody can til they get caught
I am siorry u took my post so defensively..I have been on this forum for years..only to help..I call it how i c it..and I am sure lots of times I am wrong...i called what I felt..I felt/read/u were in deep doo doo cos ur dr cut u off...doesnt mean u can not Dr shop cos u can...u chose not to and u r ready to quit??? u r afraid of physical wds from a relatively low dose of narcotics in the scheme of things...you basically pointed out the fact that ur Dr cut u off....u emphasized the fact that u r very afraid od physical wds....and most r...but that is not the whole hard part of this cruddola/being addiction..u be safe..i will be careful not to post again on one of ur posts..I am often to "black and white" for many...dont do the grey well...we all need different types of feedback

u be safe tho...and always move forward

[MedicineMax]

I suppose I can understand being misunderstood and you not following me, but I'm sure there's a tone of assholeness and "not part of the club" to your post. You should give people the benefit of the doubt before assuming the worst. A lot of people hate being sober, might be you. Might not be.

As per your questions: I am choosing to quit (I could easily go to another doctor and get pills, I have a hospital release to pain management and all the documentation to convince a doc in one sitting to put me on something and I chose Norco over Oxy bc I am in AA and wanted to be on the weakest effective amount), because the doctor didn't refill my script I have no choice but to use the cold turkey method, that makes me a bit nervous (I do have darvons and tramadols, but those are going to be tossed right now in the trash). Yes, of course I'm in a bind, aren't we all? And, that is why I'm reaching out. I have no problem whatsoever never taking an opiate again in my life as I have been getting concerned that I might have an addiction since it's so many pills and for years now, but I do have a problem with a withdrawal that is harder than it has to be.

I do take 3mg total of Klonopin per day, but that is part of my psychiatric medication regimen and I will not be quitting that, I do not see it as a problem, nor do my doctors or family. My pdoc will probably be calling in stuff to get me off the opiates. Maybe the klonopin itself will help with the withdrawal? That would be a godsend.

[worried878]

Ur being forced to quit?  this was not ur decision//Ur in a bind so u r reaching out?

answer those 3 questions?

U r right...ur dose is easily quit CT/dangerous?  NO///not unless u r 95 years old with heart problems...if not CT from 70 mgs of narcs is not in anyway life threatening//if we were talking benzos it would be different...but we r talking bout a 70 mg hydro habit?  right?

positive thing i c here is ur dose is not high at all...an easy CT dose to quit if u can go thru 3-4 days of feeling flu-like..I was at 100 mgs a day and day 4 i felt pretty good////day 5 back at work...but i was sick and tired of being sick and tired..it was my decision..u r being cut off...so u were not really "in the mood" to quit..or maybe u are..i dont "feel" it by reading ur post
So u wanna know how to quit comfortably cos u have to do it due to lack of supply?  there is no easy way out..read the thomas recipe in the health pages as it will help u with wds...as u will have physical wds probably...if the mental part follows/then come back here and let us know...doesnt sound like u r "over it"...so u have a bit of aftermath following u..ur supply is gone...but ur addiction  is not gone just cos ur supply is gone...u will find another supply..u will not just "STOP"  but this forum is always here....may be awhile/or it may be now//physical wds r so very easy compared to the mental aspect..if u look elsewhere for pills...then post promptly..lots of support here

[MedicineMax]

Wow.. thanks a lot man. I feel the support and appreciate it. Yes, we can do this together.

My only problem is is that I still have the chronic pain (head injury), but I don't want to be on pills, drink or smoke pot anymore. Yet, I honestly think something is still needed.

Can Suboxone take care of both? If so, where do I go to get started on it? I've only taken it in the psych ward in August.

Thanks for the words of support.. means the world. Please stay in touch, I'm brand new to this and am still figuring out how it works.

Cheers.

[twolve]

Hey buddy, the forum is really slow this time at night so you will get a lot of posts tomorrow, but I wanted to let you know that you will honestly be ok. The amount of pills you have been taking is not as high as you think compared to most people on here..You will experience w/ds and they will not be fun, but you are not in any serious danger I promise you that..Going to the ER is not necessary unless you are dealing with a condition that you have had before the pills..Many people have quit cold turkey off of a much higher dose than you are currently on..Suboxone and Methodone are both tools to help people get off opiates but at the same time they open up a whole new bag of worms that you don't need..Read about the thomas recipe on the lower right side of the page to help ease withdrawals..it involves vitamins and amino acids..I will be here for you with any questions you have, you can send me a personal message or just post here and i will respond..I went cold turkey off oxys last summer and I am essentially doing the same thing again now as I had a relapse that lasted a few months..we can kinda do it together..i promise you will be ok my friend..