I need some direction

[scared2Bwithout_my_Vees]

I have been taking Vicodin ES for about 7 years. I want to taper down and then quit but am very afraid of withdrawal. I was taking it as presribed for an injury for the first few years but then went to 10 a day and have been taking 20-25 a day for the past few months. Does anyone know a schedule I can use to taper down & then quit entirely?  I can't go to a doctor because my husband is a dr in town & it would be horribly embarrassing.  Also I'm not working but staying at home with my 1 & 3 year old children.  Will I be able to care for them while I do this?  I've only taken 3 pills today and don't feel so bad but I know it's only the 1st day of trying to cut back. When do withdrawal symptoms start and how long do they continue?

[worried878]

You are doing so well...really...And I think you just hit the point where it is virtually impossible to keep getting as many as you need..then it isnt even fun anymore cos no matter how many u take it is hard to get that feeling anymore.....I mean like would we eventually get to 100 pills a day?  NOT FUNNY  and the part about being unable to get pain relief..happened to my last July after surgery...they gave me 30 pills for a week..that is nothing for me...I could get little pain relief at home...my doc kinda knew as well after the procedure as it took so much to knock me out...he is a friend and I lied..I have since found out my doc for that surgery is a recovered addict...he picked up on it quickly......I also just found out my pain mgt doc is a recovered addict...now I know why he is so funny about prescribing any narcs...I am like WOW...does this kinda **** happen to everyone?  I know it does not but it is amazing how many that it does happen to...stay focused and stick to your plan

[cathy5841]

it will take a very long time for you to return to your predrug state of mind.  but it is so worth the wait.  it will progressively get better.  good luck to you.
cathy

[scared2Bwithout_my_Vees]

does long term excessive use of vicodin PERMANENTLY change my brain?  Will I be messed up for a while because of it?  Will I always have tolerance?

[beddow]

I was taking vicodin everyday for a year. I did the taper thing and maybe its me, but it took me quite awhile. Once I got past the cold chills/sweats I then started having the sore muscles, that lasted a few weeks then finally went away. I am still dealing with anxiety now. It can cause that. Sometimes feels like a weight is on my chest. I would say the taper thing took me a good month. Good luck! see if you can get something for the anxiety.

[scared2Bwithout_my_Vees]

Before I started to taper I would look at people & think there is NO WAY I could get through life without vicodin.  I did it before but now I can't imagine doing it again.  I'm going to HAVE TO learn to do it again.  can anyone relate to this?

[scared2Bwithout_my_Vees]

also it may encourage you to taper a lot because if you have a c section (& I did) you will want the pain relief they give you to work.   I didn't cut down enough & when the anesthesia wore off i was in BIG TIME pain because I still had such high tolerance.  I don't mean to scare you- they will give you more pain meds when they see it's not working but they will know you are not drug naive and I felt like a scumbag.  The dr thought I was a drug seeker & drug tested the babies!  They showed a tiny amount of opiates.  I was crushed.  They had to give me demerol to cover my pain & then a morphine pump.  They wouldn't let me breat feed till I was off that & when I did breast feed with just the percs in me my supply was way too low.  I don't know if this is bc I was taking the pills or that I started late.  Does anyone know that?