4th time withdrawing from vicodin

[bmc1976]

This is my 4th time withdrawing from vicodin. I injured my back about 4 years ago and was prescribed vicodin for my pain. The first few years the pain would come and go. It starting bothering me again about 4 months ago. I know how difficult it is to get off of them. I've went thru the horrible withdrawals 3 times before. The last time I was taking around 12 a day and went cold turkey. I know all about the flu like symptons, not being able to sleep, being short tempered, hot flashes, cold flashes, and the horrible shaky leg thing where you constantly twitch your toes. About 2 months ago the doc prescribed gabapentin. It's a medicine that supposedly helps with nerve pain. ( I have siatica). It didn't help with the pain at all. My pain subsided about 3 days ago and I stopped taking the vic's. I read about gabapentin on the internet and found out it is also used for siezures, bi polar, convulsions, and nerve pain. It can also help with withdrawals tho it is not usually prescribed for that. I started taking it 3 days ago and the withdrawals have not been bad at all !!! Trust me, I've been on the forums the last 3 times I have went thru this for help and it has been a life saver. I just wanted to let everyone know about this. I haven't had a vic  since monday and I'm doing ok. The gabapentin has helped big time. I can sleep at night and I don't have the shaky leg thing. This time I was taking over 25 a day and went cold turkey. I remember the last time I was on the forums I wondered how anyone could take that many. I ended up finding out on my own. So far the gabapentin has been a life saver. I know I'm only on day 3 but if I remember right, day three was the hardest. After that it was all down hill and day 5 I was feeling great. Maybe it will take me a little longer because I was taking twice as many. I am still in need of support because I know I am not in the clear yet. If anyone needs any advice I am hear to help. If you can get a script for gabapentin, I would try. I can't believe how much it has helped! I know it can be addicting too and you can have the same symptons coming off of it, but I plan on only using it for a week. I will keep posting to let you know my progress. And any words of encouragement is greatly appreciated. Thanks for listening and if anyone is in need of advice please ask. Best of luck to everyone!
Brian

[tammy2711]

I have been  on hydros for about 4 years off but mosly on.The last few months my script has been running out like 5 days before I can renew it, today is a  bad withdrawal day but I have some gapapentin will take some of the withdrawals away b/c I cant take it anymore im nit sure what to do

[bmc1976]

The only thing I noticed is being a bit cold and anxious. Other than that, nothing. The other 20 withdrawal symptons were no where to be found! Yes, be sure to let me know how you are feeling. I hope it works great for ya!

[jdahn]

I think its helping...I don't wanna speak too soon though.
I'll keep in touch.

[bmc1976]

Yes, please let us know if it works. I know it is working for me and I'm just anxious to know if it works for others. I sure hope it works for you like it has for me!

[bmc1976]

Just tell the doc you did some research on it and tell him it's suppose to help nerve pain. I'm positive he will give you a script for it. It is a non narcotic and I'm sure the doc would rather have you on that. Hopefully it will help with your pain. It didn't help mine though but everyone is different. The only side effect for me is a fuzzy head, a tiny headache, and it makes me tired. I like the tired part because it actually helps me sleep at night! Not restless legs either. Please fill us in on whether it works for you or not. I don't think doctors know how well it helps with withdrawals because I don't think it's been approved for that yet. But hopefully it will be soon. I know for a fact it has worked for me!

[againnot]

Well...you've certainly got us all excited to try the gabapentin!  Hopefully I will get a script for that tomarrow and let all of you know if it works for me too.  I also have nerve pain from back problem and keep avoiding having the fusion the doctors think I should have.  

[jdahn]

I never would have thought of using the Gabapentin. I will try and let you know. Thanks!

[bmc1976]

It has helped tremendously with just about everything! I do have a bit of the chills but not nearly as bad as before. I don't have any of the sweats. I've been taking 1 in the morning, 1 in the afternoon, and 2 at night. I heard you can have some withdrawal effects from gabapentin so I only plan on using them for a week. I am on day 4 on going cold turkey and was taking over 25 vicodin a day. I have not suffered hardly any withdrawals at all. I can actually sleep at not and am not suffering from any flu like symptons, restless legs, or really anything else. I have a little bit of anxiety but nothing I can't handle. If you have them, give them a try. Let me know if they work for you. The only side effect I have is that I'm a little fuzzy headed. Best of luck to you!
Brian

[jdahn]

I do have a prescription for gabapentin and its just sitting under my counter. I have been taking hydros for about a year. about 5 a day. my withdrawls are cold chills/sweats/goosebumps. Do you know if the Gabapentin will help with chills/sweats..?

[bmc1976]

Trust me, without the gabapentin I would be going nuts. I am still in shock on how well it has worked. I've never abused the vicodin this bad in the past. I'm just worried my siatic pain will come back and I'll be back on them. I guess I'll cross that bridge when I get there. Thanks for the kind words!
Brian

[againnot]

You were taking 25 vic's a day?  wow.  To be on day 4 with none is fantastic!  kudos!

[bmc1976]

Hopefully it will work for your pain. It didn't seem to help mine but I was probably just mad because they wouldn't give me hydro! I am now glad they tried it. I only used it for a week and then they gave me vicodin. It does make you really sleepy which is great for the withdrawals. I have not had one sleepless night and I'm on day 4 with no vicodin. I was taking over 25 a day also. I wasn't completely withdrawal free but close to it. I just had a little anxiety and have just been a little cold. It has been 90% better than the other times I went through withdrawals. It has made them completely bareable. I can just see myself getting back on the vic's because it has been so easy coming off of them with gabapentin. That is one thing I worry about. I just have to get it set in my mind that I"m done! My problem is I have reoccuring siatica issues where I need something to control my pain and vicodin seems to be the only thing that will work. I've tried many other non narcotic pain meds and they do nothing. Hopefully this is the last time I have to deal with the pain. Best of luck to you!

[againnot]

That's very encouraging.  I'm going to the pain dr. tomarrow and was actually going to ask for some Neurotin for nerve pain, but, if it helps with the w/d from vicodin, what an added bonus that would be!  
I've taken that before, and all I remember is that it made me really sleepy.  

[bmc1976]

It is funny how drugs effect different people different ways. The only effect it had on me is that I'm just fuzzy headed. I guess it has many different uses. It is used for siezeres, bi polar, pain, depression, withdrawals, and a few others I can't remember. It just makes me really tired also which is great at night! I do get a small headache too but not bad at all.

[broknbck]

i'm glad the gabapentin worked for you. I also have siatica and my doctor gave it to me for pain. i had a totally bad reaction. went psyco!! i was so mad every day for nothing and even broke up with my boyfriend.
i only lasted 1 week on them. i stopped taking them and calmed down. i rarely get mad at anything.
funny how drugs hit everyone so differently

[bmc1976]

Thanks for the encouragement! I'm feeling really good right now!

[dogneedshelp]

Wow that is great news... 80-90% is impressive. I think you are right about it being so easy to go c/t that the next time you might not think so long and hard before starting the pills. I hope this is the last time for you. We all deserve a better life than this damn pill has to offer. Keep up the good fight!!!

[bmc1976]

I's have to say it has been 80 to 90% easier so far. I tried the detox kit last time and it didn't seem to help. I know I'm not in the clear yet as it has only been 3 days. I remember getting mad at the doc for prescribing gabapentin because I was ready for a refill of vicodin. They told me to try it for a week and let them know if it helped. It honestly didn't help the pain but I am glad they prescribed it. The only thing that worries me is that they gave me 180 of them and the way they work for withdrawals I can see myself getting back on the vic's. It is amazing how well it has helped so far. No shaky legs, no flu like symptons, I am able to sleep. I'm a little on edge, but nothing and i mean nothing like before.
If you can make it past day 3 you can do it. It gets much easier after that. Once day 5 hits, it's all mental.I went for long walks at night before and it really helped. I know it's hard to get up the energy to do it, but man you feel much better. Hang in there and tell yourself you can do it. Five days of hell, that's no time at all. But trust me, I know what you're going thru. Best of luck and I know you can do it.

[dogneedshelp]

If you had to estimate, how much better this time are the wd's than before? 40%, 50%, more maybe? That is a new one I had not heard of before. Thanks for the tip. I'll look into it.

And WOW!!! 25 a day to c/t. I'm impressed by your positive outlook especially having gone through it before. This is hell on wheels for me.

[GoingToMakeIt]

This is interesting info. There are some that have bought a detox kit at the supplement store and they have had very good results too.
     AKA Neurontin. Another name for Gabapentin.