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.