norco withdrawals what to do?

[delightdee]

I was put on Norco 10/325 4 to 6 times a day in Feb when I had a very complicated gallbladder removal.  I have had 8 surgeries so far the last one being in June to fix the damage done to my common bile duct.  I have sufferred from such severe stomach pain and liver failure that no amount of pills could have helped.  The only thing at many points was an IV put in the hospital and put on a PCA pump with dilated.  Anyways, over the past month its become a real problem. I have been taking in excess of 12 Norcos a day.  Double of whats prescribed.  Monday I quit cold turkey and man oh man I had no idea that this could do this to my body.  I have had night sweats so bad that I had to change clothes several times in the night, insomnia, barely sleeping 4 hours, diarreha, aches and pains all over like the flu, nervousness, over emotional, and a general feeling of total depression.  I have lurked on the site for over a month now but decided to post finally.  Its kind of my way of finally healing.  However, I did read on here the different detox methods and the cold turkey way for me was like stabbing my eyes with hot coals.  I was afraid since the physical symptoms at the 48hr mark were so severe.  I have decided to only take two a day for the next 5 days then cut it down to half a pill two times a day for 5 more days, then down to only 1/2 1x per day for 5 more, then none.  Has this method been successful in the past?  I have 3 children and this is controlling my life.  Especially now while withdrawing.  Also, I have an upcoming surgery at the end of the month, I will be sent home with meds, should I take them or ask for something different.  Any and all suggestions are welcome.

God Bless,
Dee

[lilmommafairy]

I am a 31 year old house wife. I wish I could take back what I have done. I know if I have a problem. at first I took the meds like I was pose to. now I am taking 2 pills about 3 or 4 times a day. I hope you have found your cure.

[ScaredStraightForever]

I have severe Crohn's Disease and have been taking Norco daily for 6 years.  Although it makes it possible for me to hold down a job and live a somewhat normal life I feel like it has taken control of my life.  I have to think about my medication every day, fight myself over how much I take, run low when it's not time for a refill yet. I'm a slave to the pills & it's ruining my life.  I have two pills left for tomorrow & then NONE until Wednesday. I did this on purpose to see if I can handle the withdrawals or if I'll just curl up in a ball & die.  I'm very scared of withdrawls but I'm determined not to cheat myself out of this chance of getting this monkey off my back by asking family & friends to share their meds with me. I have RLS even with the Norco. Please anyone with advice on dealing with the CT method please share what you can.  This will be rough for me. My first goal is to see if I can do this & stick with it for five days. If I CAN do it & I'm not in too much pain, then I won't pick up my refill. What a miracle & new lease on life that would get me!  Any & all advice welcome. I am scared to death about going thru withdrawls since I've not been without 6-12 pills a day for 6 years straight.  I have BAD night sweats & day sweats too. I'd love a way to deal with that if anyone has advice about that. Please do write even if it's the smallest bit of advice. It's welcome. I'm doing this alone without support of family & friends who don't understand why I need to stop since I do have a painful disease & the medication does work for me.  The problem is that the medicine is never enough which means taking more than the 8 a day I'm allowed & thats abusing my liver. Not a good idea if you want to live a long time.

[delightdee]

62 hours and I feel so much better!!!!!!!!!  Drank a whole protein shake....a big glass of water and a big glass of homemade sweet tea.  A little back pain and shakes but other than that I think these WDs are going bye bye.  I want to thank this group.  I'm so blessed to have this site.  It opened my eyes that I had a problem and its helped me get through this thing.  Thank you IB for giving me the realization to pull the band aid off FAST!!  I am very worried still about my upcoming surgery where I will be pumped with dilaudid for a day and then sent home with meds.  Is there anything else out there that I can take?  I cannot take any NSAIDS due to having gastric bypass.  Any insights?

[delightdee]

It was a rough night,  I didn't sleep continously at all....Slept from 9ish to 12am....then up...then down at 1am up at 3am...down at 3 till 5am.....feel better as far as aches and pains...tummy is hurting today.  I swear the diarreha is the pits....will it ever stop?  56 hrs guys!!!!!!!!!  I think I can I think I can.....I know I can....I know I can.....thank you for listening to me ramble on....

[delightdee]

So I've made it thru the day!!!  YAY!!!  About to go crazy this afternoon when I swear all I heard was the tick tock of the clock.  But its now like 45 hours med free!!  Guess what I think its getting better.  I think I can do this.  I went and bought Hylands Stress Tonic and it helps take the edge off the anxiety.  I also bought some Melatonin for night time.  How does it work for everyone?  Benadryl worked wonders last night.  Was also thinking of Tyelonol PM?  Dreading night time.  

[delightdee]

Im so going crazy today....my heart feels like its going to beat out of my chest....ohhh please say this goes away SOON!!!!!!!!!  

[IBKleen]

So you pulled the band aid off and you are letting the boo boo heal...good for you!!

You really sound great (even though you said you don't feel it) and I have to tell you that your attitude is more than half the battle. If you can stay positive and keep going forward you will be through this in no time.

Hang in there.

[delightdee]

So I elected not to do the taper method since I was sick either way....might as well just pull the band aid off fast and just get this dreadful pain over with.  I did have a GREAT night.  Slept till 1am a whole 5 hours then went back to sleep with the help of Hylands Leg Rest around 2am till 5:30am.  So I feel rested at least.  I did take benadryl last night to help sleep though.  I cannot function with this insomnia.  So I'm 36hrs pill free!!  My body aches bad today.  Hylands helps my back and legs but my arms feel like they are in a vice grip.  I have horrid diarreha but the depression is much better.  I just keep telling myself this is mind fixing itself.  I plan to keep busy.  That helped tremendously yesterday.  I'm going to clean around the house still...get out of the house....run some errands....and walk this am.  The walk really helped me.  So when is this rocky road over?  I know I'm impatient.  I just want to know at what point do I feel better.  I was on this crap for 6 months and heavy use the past month.  Sorry I am having a crappy day and am having to vent.  Thank you guys.

[delightdee]

What is HTP pills??

[slippedup]

I have been off of pain meds for almost a year and a half but i find that taking 5htp stills seems to help with depression. You may want to try this.If you are on other antidepressants you need to make sure there won't be any interaction.Its not a miracle drug but it seemed to take the edge off. Good luck and know that others care.

[delightdee]

Thank you IB for being real about it.  I think I've figured it out that its going to hurt either way.  So I might as well just go CT again.  It was pretty awful but just about the same today taking 1 pill.  I will be going to the store to get Hylands to help.  I took the fish oil today and the calcium, meaning I added that to my normal suppliments.  I had Gastric Bypass over a year ago so I am vitamin dependent forever due to the malabsorbtion that the surgery causes.  

Ourdukes I appreciate you talking with me.  Just cause I had surgery didn't make me take more than I was allowed to take.  I appreciate everyones input in this.  As I never expected to be in this place like we all are sitting here thinking.  

Frivolous thank you and I know that having access can be hard.  First off I only have 20 pills left and no refills, and my husband who I have admitted this problem to has taken them out of the home for me.  He only brings home 1 pill from the office for me.   He's pretty stern so I know I could never get anymore out of him then what has been discussed in our detox plan.  But I think I'm headed to the CT way anyways.

Love you all and thanks for helping me through this...
I did go on a long brisk walk and the exercise totally helped cure the RLS...just worried about sleeping tonight.  I know I can get through this though.  

[Frivolousz21]

If you have access to more pills..tapering will be very very hard.

[IBKleen]

Hi,

I always ask when people talk about tapering--Do you want pull the band aid off quick or slow? To be honest, I have done both many times and I never saw much of a difference and combined with the fact that it is near impossible to stick to the plan, ct was always my best way.

You already know what you are in for so expect that to last for the first 5 days. The rls will probably be the worst of your symptoms because it makes it near impossible to sleep. I recommend hot baths, a heating pad on your calves and a product called Hylands Restless Leg.

You will just have to give this time for your body to adjust and heal. Please stay with it and keep talking, it does help.

[Ourdukes4ever]

Man oh man. I wasn't going to post because I don't have surgeries and stuff. But I just wanted you to know that I was taking Norco 10/325 - six for the past four years and then the last three months I was taking 3 per day.  Then I weaned off - taking 1/2 a pill lower every three days until I got off. That was 3 weeks ago.  I am feeling SO much better. You are doing the right thing with the vitamins.  Immodium I have heard helps so much - I didn't try that.  The depression is horrid but it lifts after a little time.  Just tell yourself "it's the detox" nothing else.  I am so much better today, right now, then any other day so far and I've had some really good days. Some rough, but some really good. So it gets better you just have to go through the days going by. Exercise helps if you can do it. For me, weaning was the best way. Good luck.

[delightdee]

Ok...so this tapering thing....seems like the WD are same as before just a little less....I was over 48hrs CT but couldn't handle the pain.  Concerned about my health and stopping CT since I took 12 10mg/325 Norco daily for the past month. Thinking going back to CT...no more pills.  Whats the point if I'm going to hurt either way.  Is there anything that helps with my RLS....its killing me...the depression is awful....worried about the upcoming surgery...will definately ask for nothing to go home with.  I am taking a multi vitamin...B12...Calcium...Vit D...Omega Fish oil...Vitamin C...is there anything else?  

[janet19]

tapering is best as far as the withdrawals, I have tried it both ways. But I usually end up going cold turkey since I cant keep my hands off the pills. Flu and flue and more flu, I think I have the flu continuously

you have come to the right place for support, you get a lot of that on here. I am not using suboxone trying to get clean. Its easy to pop a pill and take away the withdrawals, but there are also withdrawals from the suboxone when I come off it. I am hopeing I can kick the  habit with it though.

Good luck you can do this.