Pain killer withdrawal..how long?

[studiogirl]

I know this question has been asked a million times before but I just need to hear it again, especially when I explain exactly what I was taking and how Im withdrawing.  I have been taking 10 my lortab for close to ten years but in the past year I have started taking up to twenty a day.  Then, I moved onto percocets.  I finished off 150 - 10mg percs in four days.  I cant believe how insane my tolerance has become.  And now I need to quit.  I just cant go on ethis way.  Im worried Im going to get arrested for doctor shopping.  Has that ever happened to anyone before? Anywa, I digress.  So, Im done with the percs. I have a couple diazepams and 30 - 5mg lortab to get throug hthe withdrawal.  I cant do it cold turkey because I cant get any time off of work and life to deal with this. It totally suck.  I literally JUST got promoted so it would be beyond bad to take time off.  So, with what I have I intend to detox.  Any tips to help wit hthe symptoms besides tapering down and warm baths?  Any diet tips that you can think of to help speed the process up.  Thank you so much for helping me

[flmagi]

Let me know if you have any questions about the Suboxone. I'd be happy to help.  Good luck.

[studiogirl]

Thank you everyone for yuor support.  I just woke up and it was awful.  I wanted to stay in bed and dream some more.  I had the most perfect dream where I was in this beautiful house with an indoor pool and everyone was laughing and smiling and all i wanted to do was stay at the house and never wake up.  And then I woke up to this nightmare and all I wanted was for it to be a dream.  I think I need to do this in a clinic.  I cannot face dealing with work today.  Iwish i was dead rather than facing it.  I will check on the suboxone, thank you all.

[PaulMor909]

Narcotic withdrawl is over quite quickly (if you ever actually quit).  It lasts about a week.  The physical symptoms will pass, but the psycological part and the cravings will require support for some time to come (NA meetings, counselor, spiritual advisor, etc).  But as long as your still using, you wont get anywhere.  I have tried detoxing myself a thousand times.  It's a waste of time and all that tylenol etc is going to cause liver failure eventually.  Anything over 2000 milligrams a day on a regular basis is damaging your liver.  Quitting is the first step and you will only do that when your really ready.  For some people it takes years, some never until it kills them.  Try NA meetings or a detox center, and QUIT!  Than recovery can truly begin!  

[cocobeanlisa]

Hey I just want to share my experiance with you.  I know about the tolerance level, at my end i was taking 21 10mg norcoa at a time, twice a day and some in between..
I was scared to detox, I tried to c/t at first but got into some trouble.  I went to a Doctor that did detox with suboxone.  He started me at 8mg's a day for a week maybe 2, than dropped me down, every week or every other week.. Finally at the end I was taking 0.5mg's every other day.  I had very little w/d's and it allowed me time to get a program of recovery together.  I was at a very high level of drugs at the end and worried every day that the police would come to my door and arrest me for Doctor shopping and ordering online...That still has not happened so I am hoping that it wont.

If you can and you have to work please go to a Doctor to detox, look into suboxone.  Aske the DR will he do a suboxone taper, do they offer group therapy and other support and last ask how long he has been doing the suboxne taper...I was advised to do this and it was the best thing I did for myself.. I have been clean over 11months now..

cocobean

[lonelyinCA]

It may be a little rough.  The first time I had w/d's, I was only on 6 - 10mg pills/day for the first 30 days of use. I didn't know what would happen (didn't even think about it) when I stopped taking them. I remember those next 4-5 days very well. I was as sick as I had every been in my life.  But... I continued with a new RX about a week later.

It's been about a year and 1/2 for me and I have to go through w/d's just about every month. I guess I told myself, "If it has to be done, I need to learn how to do it right".  So.. I've learned to taper down. However, there's no real receipe. I've been on up to 20 pills/day and tapered quick (20, 15, 12, 9, 8, 6, done) and have not felt any withdrawls. However, my taper just two days ago was less aggressive and I feel terrible for the last 30 hours.

Here's the only thing I've found that helps:  

Two of my w/d sessions were done, once when I had to move.  I had 3 pills on moving day (with some help - but we didn't finish) and then spent the next 4 days moving solo. I lived up on the third floor and had to move everything up/down 40 stairs (I climbed over 5000 stairs in those 4 days).  That level of activity and the fact that I HAD to do it - kept me from feeling sick. I didn't have GREAT energy - but the drive and need to finish helped me push through and kept me from feeling the normal w/d's.

The other time I was on a trip.  I had to be active and see the city we were visiting; site-see; go to an expo; etc.

That's really the only advice I have. Staying active can do wonders.  My worst w/d's are when I'm home and feeling lonely, sick, depressed, etc.  It's when I'm forced to be out and moving around that I end up feeling best.

I wish you great success.  I've only been on this site for the last 30 hours - but it's a big help to read that I'm/you are not alone.

[s10sittnondubs]

Yes that is a lot of percs (oxycodone) in a day.  Your brain will be able to tell the difference in strength of the pill not the type that is all in your head.  I pray that you get through the roughest days which are behind you now that you have decided to quit and do it.  I've found a new love in popcorn lol, its soooooo goood.  All food is good I love being able to taste things and smell them again as I felt as if I used to be blind and smellless and touchless becuase I was numb.  I will hope and pray for the best...

[ladyboop]

I wish you all the best...  I have been tapering myself, yesterday was really rough.. But it did not kill me..  That's allot of pills in four days!! I hope the LT's help. But with what you were taking, I am afraid you may just prolong the w/d's.. But I could be wrong..
I was taking 80 to 90mgs a day of perc's. and ran out. 2 days for my rx. had been tapering. I tried to use those 5mgs LT's.. They did not work very well.. Having said all that. I was also kicking methadone 15 to 20 mgs. But it had been almost 4 wk's since I had any of it...
It's about 4 or 5 days of the flu.. to me the worse is the legs..RLS, pain in the bones.. You may not get that.. not everyone does..
Keep posting, take vitamins. lots of water. and eat!! food will help you. as an addict we dend to not eat well. Always looking for that buzz... Eat soup and light things, you may not feel like eating, but push.. I was told, salty food, and protien really helps..
I use that box chicken soup, just as it's done, bring back to boil, drop an beaten egg in..
you get both that way.. helps little, easier to keep down..

   good luck....

[joann1975]

Good luck! You can do this and it's a great place to come and help you get started! There is a lot of info and support here!

[Sarah231]

P.S.
Good Luck!!!

Post here often. It helps so much.

[Sarah231]

Your situation sounds VERY similar to mine.
START today because that would put the worst days over the weekend.

BUT, I also COULD NOT miss work.
But I did.

I had to call off 2 days. It worked out fine.
I had a horrible "flu"...lol.

I'm on day 34, I think.
I feel pretty good.

It is soooo great not to live my life around the pills.
Will I get my refill?
Will my supply last until I do?
Do I have enough hidden in case I run out?
Did I put enough in my purse to get thru the day?

You know the life....it suucks, doesn't it?

Time:??

Bad w/d: for me about a week.
Shaky for a while and sleep and RLS lasts the longest,

BUT, you'll be done with the pills.
And, you'll lose that promotion anyway when it is discovered what you are doing.

[flmagi]

The Loratabs are an opiate just like the Percs, your brain doesn't know the difference except for the strength. So use those loratabs to taper. Anyway you do this, you're still gonna go thru withdrawels, but it needs to be done. If you find this impossible to do, concider Suboxone. Go to Suboxone.com and read about it and find a doctor near you. You'll only need about 16 hours of withdrawels and shouldn't need to miss work except for the doctors appointment.
Which ever way you do this, good luck. Keep posting for support.