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?

[scared2Bwithout_my_Vees]

About when I was pregnant- runt316 asked.  At that point I was honest with my dr and wasn't taking the amount I am now so it was easier to taper down to the presribed dose. He switched me from vicoprofen to regular vicodin.  When you are pregnant you can't take ibuprofen.  So, I took the vicodin.  Then I was on STRICT bedrest and didn't leve the house except with someone else who drove me to my appointments & home.  Since o one knew, all I could do was take the prescribed amount.  No time for illegal activities to acquire the rest of my stash.  

[scared2Bwithout_my_Vees]

thank you suppdawg.  I'm trying to wean myself starting today.  I pm'd someone with every last ------- pill I had & they gave me a tapering schedule I'm trying.  The first day was yesterday and it was just really hard to have time creep by so slowly. I wanted to throw 6 down at once to stop the craving but I didn't.  It wasn't samples.  I don't think they sample pills.  They do sample cough syrup with it in it though.

[scared2Bwithout_my_Vees]

thank you suppdawg.  I'm trying to wean myself starting today.  I pm'd someone with every last ------- pill I had & they gave me a tapering schedule I'm trying.  The first day was yesterday and it was just really hard to have time creep by so slowly. I wanted to throw 6 down at once to stop the craving but I didn't.  It wasn't samples.  I don't think they sample pills.  They do sample cough syrup with it in it though.

[suppdawg]

I would go to your prescribing doc and just say that you want to get off of these meds. Don't talk about the excess amounts because even as prescribed you will have with drawals.  So what I would do is begin to taper over perhaps 2 weeks. You will fell like **** but should be able to function while still taking the meds. Once you are making progress ask your doc for help getting off the amount he prescribed to you. Tell him you read of anxiety , and insomnia .  He will gladly give you meds for these issues over more narcotics. If he asks you why just tell him that you hate being physically dependent on any medication.

[suppdawg]

Samples??

[scared2Bwithout_my_Vees]

I don't dr shop in my town.  I'm really not proud of how I got the vast amounts of pills I would count & count again.  Constantly terrified of running out. I really don't want to say how I did it.  It was dangerous and I had terrible guilt.  That's part of why I have to stop.