Vicodin Addiction Withdrawal, How Long? Does It Ever End?

[BenMyer]

Hi all, I would just like to say that I have been lurking on this site for awhile now before finally deciding to kick my habit. I have been addicted to Vicodin on and off for around 2 1/2 years. I recently decided it was time to stop after having taken it for 3 months straight. I just did not like what I was becoming, and what this drug was doing to my life in general. I always told myself that the habit I had (I never called it an addiction even though it was) was under control, and I could stop at any time, well I was wrong for 2 years. No reason existed for me to take it other than the relaxation the drug gave me. My dosage would be roughly around 2 to 3 pills in the evening just to relax, and help me sleep. I never went over 2 to 3 pills thankfully.

I decided to stop cold turkey 6 days ago due to the fact that it was having an impact on my work, my social life, and my time with my child. It is something I am not proud of having done, so I had to stop. I have stopped before as I stated, but this time I was determined. The withdrawals were miserable, something I never expected, but only heard about. It started with a very very strong craving for the drug the first 2 days, and constant muscle aches, along with sleepless nights. All along this time the urge to swallow some pills was always on my mind. I was dizzy sometimes, had hot flashes, and was cold all the time. To try to combat the sleepless nights, I used Advil, which didn't help. The mental said of the withdrawal is much worse than the physical pains. After 6 days now, I think I am starting to return back to my normal self. I feel more alert, sharper, and overall a different person. Today I have only thought about the drug maybe a few times, but without the horrible cravings I had during the mid-week. I know that this is just the tip of the iceberg on what to expect on my long road to being clean.

The questions I have are, how long will the urge to take a pill or two last? Does it ever really go away?

Thank you,
Ben

[construction]

im glad your here and taking the right steps towards your recovery, i was taking 25-35 lorcet and soma a day for a long time. i tried suboxone and was abusing them, Ive been here for support since march 1st and met so many friends that have truly helped me. i had 28 days and slipped, and was honest and posted it and got alot of help, i dont know if the mental ever completly goes away but the longer clean time you get you find more ways to keep those thoughts from comming back. Im glad to know you now. your friend Clay TX

[EJ100]

You are almost over the worst part, so hang in there!  Just remember, if you go back you have to do this all over again.  You asked when the urge would go away, and you were right-it never does.  It will lessen over time until you hardly ever think about it, but then you let your guard down and if you are not prepared bad things can happen.  A few months from now, when pills seem so far behind you, you might think that just one will be ok.  One is too many and a thousand is never enough.  Ever.  The best thing you can do is go to a Narcotics Anonymous or Pills Anonymous meeting.  Even if you don't think you're an addict, you can get support there from people who have been through it.  There is only one requirement to go to these meetings:  the desire to stop using drugs (or pills).  Good luck.

[soul_searching]

I am on my first day without a vic. I just recently admitted to myself that I was addicted. The hard thing about my addiction is that I don't look for them. they just kinda fall into my lap. So that makes it 10 times harder to say no. I had 2 days without any so I went searching for them. The minute I spent money on them I knew I was an addict. I just took the last one of those yesterday morning and boy! do I feel like ****! I have 2 small children and the worst part of it all is that I feel like they know something is wrong with mommy. I know I need help but I have no insurance. So I guess it's cold turkey for me. Even worse still is I know more will be coming soon...oh god give me the strength.  I give my congrats to those who are kicking the habit and pray that I will have the same will power. Good Luck to all!

[brandieb1978]

I am new on here, and I'm not sure how much I will be able to post for awhile.  I'm on hour 52 of kicking my vicodin addiction cold turkey.  I decided to count hours and try to play a mind trick on myself, trying to make it sound like more than what it is and to tell myself that it will be over soon.  The way I'm feeling right now, I don't think it's ever going to end.  I'm not sure really what made me decide to write about it.  I guess it's because on here I know someone else is going through it or has already and that gives me strength to keep pushing on.  I try to talk to my bf about it, but he don't know what I'm really going through, and I'm not in the best of moods and it just turns into a fight.  I can't help myself.  Sorry for the ramblings, I guess I'm just trying to keep myself busy.  Good luck to everyone that is kicking this with me.  I feel for all of you.

[helios17]

I've posted elsewhere but seem not to be getting any answer.

I am 6 days mow. crawlies are gone, insomnia is persistant and my body aches like the dickens.  Especially my legs...not only ache but real weakness.  I am eating the best I can and supplimenting it with ensure.

Is this normal?  When can I expect this body pain and lack of motivation to end.

Thanks

[leeisgettingclean]

lack of motovation takes a while to end, just make yourself do as much as you can...push yourself, thats the only way you are gona get anything done! pains, you just gotta take otc pain relivers and deal with it. The pain depends, if you are in real pain then you have to find another way to deal, if you are in w/d pain they should get better in 5-7 days