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Please help - dependency on Lortab

I have been taking Lortab for Shingles pain for a year now.  Until about a month ago, I was taking it in moderation (about 40 7.5's in a month).  However, on 10/10 I received a script for 90 (advised to take 3xday for pain as needed), and have had to increase the dosage to 1 1/2 tablets for the pain.  Now I'm at a crossroads, and I'm a little freaked out.  I actually had the thought to call my mother to borrow some from her until 11/10 when my refill will be available.  Then I further freaked myself out, by thinking that I need to find a way off this medicine but I can deal with a decreased dose later, if I can just take care of the pain at this strength right now.  Like, I can come off this ok, I know I can, just I'll deal with it later.  I'm feeling like I'm at a crossroads right now: I have realized two distinct behaviors that are trademarks of people who become addicted to this medicine.  #1, seeking more from another source behind my doctor's and pharmacist's backs, and #2, thinking I can come off this easy-peasy, I'll just deal with it later.  My daughter is in nursing school, and I think this is what I should do:  I think I should share that I am feeling an increased dependence on this med for pain with her, my husband, my mother, and my pharmacist.  Then first thing tomorrow, I should get an appt with my dr and take my daughter with me.  Whatever he says I should do, whether it is weaning off them or going off cold-turkey, she can police my dosages.  I fell like the best thing to do is be as open as possible with those around me before this becomes more serious.  I don't know what my dr will suggest for the pain from here on out, and I'm truly afraid of withdrawals from this medicine.  But whatever I need to go through, I need to do it RIGHT NOW bc this is scaring me.  I have taken only one yesterday morning, and one this morning (it is 10:00 am on a Sunday right now), and am ok.  But when do withdrawals start to happen?  What might my doctor do to help me come off this?  Will he suggest something else for the pain (hopefully non-narcotic) and decrease my dose gradually, with my daughter's help?  I've got so many questions and want to approach this in the best way for my health.

I feel like the best thing I can do for myself is to tell my husband, my daughter, my mom, my pharmacist, and my dr exactly what is going on.  I just hope that someone here can tell me what to expect will happen.  Will he put me on something for withdrawal?  Can I get through the next few weeks and work without having awful side effects?  Will he think I am a druggie, or will he see a sincerity in my openness and see that I'm actually trying NOT to go there?  What will he think?  What will those around me think?  Am I on the right track?  B/c it seems like to me that I see stories all the time that get out of hand, and the family doesn't even know it's been going on.  And always, I see the addict saying they can handle it, they can come off it by themselves.  But it's never that easy.

I am not to a point that I see so many tragic stories, like 30 a day, or anything, but I am truly feeling myself to be at a crossroads right now, and how I handle this may make or break my circumstances.  I can help myself by trusting those around me and being open about it.  But please, someone here, tell me what to expect to happen from my doctor?  What is the best thing he can do?  Is there a medicine to combat side effects when coming off?  Is it best to come off cold turkey (I really need to be able to function through this period; I have heavy work load), or gradually come off by having my daughter police my dose for me?

Thank you in advance for reading this and if any of you have been through this, please give me advice.  I'm a little frightened right now.  I hope my story doesn't seem trivial because I'm not taking as much as may addicts do.  I am truly feeling like I'm at a crossroads where I can get help, and my fear is just as strong as if I were further along (taking more) and asking for help.
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Avatar universal
I do have a business and have grown up in this community, and don't want it to get around that I'm struggling with this.
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Avatar universal
And thanks killer for all the advice including being leary of going to the pharmacist with this. It might be wise to keep my circle to my immediate fam and my doc.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I think my main questions are regarding what to expect on the coming days and weeks as far as withdrawal symptoms, given how much I'm taking and my history (basically 2 weeks at this strength).
Helpful - 0
6541568 tn?1382412751
I have actually had 2 complete breakouts of shingles in my life.  The first was when I was only 32 years old...started as a patch under my arm and radiated to my chest and back in about a 4 inch strip.  The doctor gave me Valtrex and told me he would only advise me to take Tylenol alternated with ibuprofen every 2 hours to take care of the pain.  Plz do not take that as a recommendation...I am NOT a doctor...just what I did the first time.  The second break out..believe it or not...occurred in the top palette of my mouth.  All my teeth were hurting...I had this weird bumpiness to the roof of my mouth so I went to my dentist and she said I had shingles.  I again received Valtrex and a limited supply of vicodin.  I did have to get one refill because the pain became so bad I couldn't eat.  Once it subsided I had the dentist keep an eye on things and then went off the vicodin.  There has to be a non-opiate fix to your pain.
I also want to point out that when I was actively taking any damn opiate I could get....I thought my body was always in pain...and it was.  I was poisoning it by heaping these meds on it and expecting it to deal.  When I finally got off all the opiates...I went on suboxone....which I do NOT recommend....but I did realize that a lot of my pain was imagined, created and false.  I felt better not getting high/medicated than I did at my worst of my addiction.  One thing I would say....I don't know the legalities of patient/doctor privilege involved with a pharmacist and the technicians that work there.  Telling your doctor - yes!  Telling your family you need to  quit and you need help - Hell Yes!  Telling your pharmacist  - maybe no.  I'm just saying...telling you pharmacist isn't a stop gap because you could always just go to another pharmacy if you were planning on some deceitful plan.....which I'm definitely not saying you are....I'm just saying limit your exposure to folks that can directly help.  There is still a lot of people that may hurt you personally/professionally if they found out your illness.  Not all look on this disease correctly.
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Avatar universal
Thank you for the comments, I'm anxiously watching this thread.  Yes, in the beginning I tried Lyrica but the side effects were awful and my mom had had a terrible experience with it so advised me not to become dependent on it.  So I began taking Lortab as needed, which was at that time a script for 10 days (30), which at first lasted me about 20 days because I would go for a stretch of 3 or 4 days not needing it, then 3 days of needing it.  So it has just been as needed.  That has been the way of it all throughout the last year, up until 10/10 when I asked him for a 30 day script instead, just to decrease the hassle of refilling scripts.  After that happened, I don't know, there came a time when the pain was so bad that I took 1 1/2 instead of one.  Then, I don't know if it was because I had this giant bottle and the supply seemed more limitless or what, but I started taking 1 1/2 every time because I was hurting and the 7.5 didn't ease the pain anymore.  That is my first red flag: that in the past two weeks or so, my body is needing more of it to ease the pain.  

As far as the shingles goes, the rash only presents itself occasionally if I'm super stressed, and at those times the pain is greater.  When the rash is gone, the pain is a dull ache on my right hip and radiating down my leg.  From educating myself about shingles, I have come to the conclusion that mine was a mild case compared to many.  My rash is on my right hip, along my belt line, and when it first appeared it was about half the size of my palm.  Recurrences of the rash have only been a tiny fraction of that, and are rare.  My dr says he doesn't have an answer as far as how long the pain will be there, or even if it will ever subside completely.
Helpful - 0
5347058 tn?1381188426
Sounds like you have an excellent plan in place. Telling your secret, making yourself accountable to trusted loved ones is so important. Otherwise we use behind our secrets. Also involving your dr is key. Cut those sources. You are on a relatively small dose right now. I think quitting now before things spiral out of control is a great idea. Check with your doctor and see what they recommend as far as taper vs. cold turkey. They may be able to prescribe some comfort meds for you and also something non opiate for your shingles pain. Stick around and keep posting. This is a great place to get support and advice. We will be here cheering you on every step of the way. Take care of yourself and keep your head up!
Helpful - 0
271792 tn?1334979657
Do you still have shingles? If so, have you talked to your doctor about alternative pain treatment? The reason I ask is that I see so many people go off of the medication before finding something to help with legitimate pain and they end up back on the pills. If you truly want off, and I hope you do, you need to find an alternative. Getting off the pills is the easy part. Staying off will require work and those pills will be calling your name if you have constant pain.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi Need, welcome to the form. Yes by all means tell everyone close to you and the pharmacist. But do not, DO NOT, let the dr prescribe Lyrica !!! It can be BAD news. I've had shingles and yes they are VERY painful. I got through them by uses gels and patches. Shingles is a lot less painfull than coming off the meds. Since you are not taking in high numbers, it shouldn't be near as bad. The sooner you quit the easier it will be. Just don't replace one med with another.
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Avatar universal
I didn't make it clear the amount I'm taking right now.  To clarify, I calculated how many I have left, and am taking 5.3 a day (7.5 strength).
Helpful - 0
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