Vicodin Withdrawals

[ItstheSky]

My Vicodin addiction is fairly new and I've been highly aware of it since it has started, but it is getting progressively worse. It's been almost a year since I've been prescribed Vicodin for back pain and I've taken it on and off; however lately I've been taking 3-4 per day (which is a lot for me, considering I used to be fine only taking a half of one as needed). I want to stop and there's no way I want to let it get worse. I'm anxious and anticipating it though and wanted to know- How long do the withdrawal symptoms last? I have definitely felt them and they are so bad that I cave and just take one to make it go away. I get extremely fatigued and tired (no matter how much sleep I get)...and the hardest part is the terrible muscle aches and dizziness. All of this of course, leads to moodiness. How long does this madness go on for? Please help! I need a realistic picture and lots of encouragement because I'm at a complete stand still.

[ItstheSky]

I'm so excited about it there's no doubt about that! I'm anxious to see if the cause of so many mysterious health problems (stomach issues, depression, insomnia, over-sleeping, moodiness, lack of energy/extreme fatigue) have everything or at least a lot to do with my Vicodin habit.
It would be ironic to learn all of this for me because I've viewed Vicodin as this energy source that makes me incredibly happy and carefree and anything that makes you feel that good couldn't possibly be bad, right? lol...that's how I've felt about it the whole time.
Still got some stocking up to do on the things I'll need for detox. I'm going to try to do small projects and light exercise during that week to hopefully help overthinking the withdrawals, like you said. I'm really good at making everything feel worse/heavier than it should feel. I think that's what i'm more afraid of than anything.
Thanks again for the support.

[Mintyfresh79]

Yeah I hear about wasting a whole year part. I kinda did the same thing but I guess wasting a year is better than wasting two right? You're still young and have lots of years ahead of you so it's good that you are taking care of this now.

It's ok to cry and be emotional during all this. When I was detoxing I would just break down for no reason at all and that's usually not me. It will pass trust me. Don't worry about the day you won't have anymore pills, that day will come. I know the dread that you feel but you have to remind yourself that vicodin is not your friend. Remember you wasted a whole year of your life being absent because of it. It's all a lie trying to keep you trapped.

Good move telling your doctor, that takes a lot of courage to do. Don't pysch yourself out of the game before it even starts. Don't worry about Sunday. It will come. Just worry about your goal for the day and your taper plan. Stick to your plan and things will take care of themselves. The WD's will still be there but not as bad if you stick to your taper plan. One last thing sometimes we actually make the WD's seem so much worse in our heads then they really are. It makes a difference how you go into it. Try not to dread it. I know it's hard but try to be excited about it. Excited to get your life back and be totally present this year and achieve some goals that you may not have achieved last year. Anyways I'm here if you need anything or wanna talk.

[ItstheSky]

For the most part I am really positive about this whole thing because I'm so excited and anxious to get my life back on track already. I feel like I was absent for a year of my life and there's not a worse feeling because I can never get that year back.
Don't get me wrong, I randomly will cry and have major panic attacks over this. It's usually the worst when it's been a few hours since I've had Vicodin and I know I can't take anymore for a long while. That's when it really sets in. I'm absolutely dreading Sunday, because that's when the Vicodin is OUT.
Annnd I told my doctor that I'm kicking Vicodin to the curb because I'm addicted so now I know she won't prescribe me anymore =/
Super anxious about that!

[Mintyfresh79]

That's good to hear, you sound really positive and motivated.. that can only help you in quitting :)

[ItstheSky]

Thanks, I appreciate it! The taper has been super hard and I originally was going to have someone hold on to them for me but I ended up keeping them. I was good at first but then on one of the nights I cheated majorly! But I'm back on track and started recording it on here so the guilt kicked in. Thanks again!

[Mintyfresh79]

Hi, just wanted to offer any support or encouragement you need. The good thing is that you weren't taking alot but like tooth said the WD's will still be there. All the usual stuff will help like tooth said such as the baths with epsom salt(really really helps), immodium, and liquid meal replacement drinks. Everyone is different but I'd say by the 3rd or 4th day things should start to pick up for you. Doing a taper will help you lessen the WD's which is good too.

I would also suggest if you have someone that can help you with the taper and hold the pills for you. I know myself I could never stick to a taper as it was just so tempting for me to cheat. That might help as well. Anyways good luck on the taper/quit and keep posting!

[ItstheSky]

Ok thanks =) I decided to ask you because it keeps popping up on the right side of the page that you are on the list of "top answerers" for the "addiction community". thanks again!

[toothfairie]

sorry, it actually says "post a question"

[toothfairie]

hi again...to answer your question you posted to me, you can hit the "ask a question at the top of the page and you can post how far along you are and other people will respond as well...it puts your question/statement at the top and other people can see it...it really doesn't have to be a question....you are doing great!  keep up the good work!  :)

[ItstheSky]

Thanks so much...It's good to know you were still able to function at work. That's a big problem for me. The times I've kicked Vicodin for a couple of days, I was a complete grump at work and with customers. Even with friends and family. It got so irritating that I just decided to take it again to stop the madness.
Unfortunately I'm almost out of my Vicodin so my taper has to be really fast and I'm done by Saturday. So I will officially be Vicodin-free on Sunday, and probably start posting on this site a million times a day!

[BlondeChick10]

I know the energy, euphoric, social feelings but those come to an end unless of course you increase as many people do; and then darkness sets in.. Please trust I have been there and I did not think I would function without it.. Good news I am and those past few years of a facade are soo gone.. I thought I was at the top of the world at work in a Vic and actually nothing changed at work I still produce at high levels only now during a business meeting or business luncheon imam not high on a Vic.. Or Perc.  Personally I found tapering effective and I reduced every 4-5 days over 3 weeks I did not want to prolong the inevitable but I needed to function at work with out a major attitude.. My 3rd day of being completely off I had a business luncheon and I was perfectly fine.  Evenings were a struggle for me.  They still are I am home alone a lot during the week as my husband is always on a business trip.. YOU can do it. Keep the faith in yourself and stay mentally strong.  

[ItstheSky]

I'm happy to hear you feel even better today than yesterday! Congrats- I bet it is so invigorating!  
tapering/weaning is definitely hard and I find myself constantly battling with my own mind to not take more than I had already planned (because i set out my tapering plan at the beginning of the week) I already cheated and had to readjust the tapering today for the rest of the week because, ready or not, i am COMPLETELY out of pills by saturday and have to begin facing the discomfort on Sunday.
That's when I will probably be posting really frequently.

[ItstheSky]

Trying tapering slower....switch to change the dosage every 2 weeks instead of 5 days. 5 days is a bit fast for your body to adjust...I'm also tapering from Effexor and my doctor recommended changing the dosage every 2 weeks.
Also try reading up about the prescription you are taking and what the expected withdrawals are. A lot of times you will gain more knowledge and also run into other similar stories from people that may offer tips on coping.
That's how I found this website and I'm so glad that I did because the support really helps and it's comforting to know I'm not the only one going through it.
YOU CAN DO IT!

[invu4uraQT]

And for a reference. I did 40-100m l /day for 2 yrs. I kicked at 40m l methadone/day. Took 4 days of insainly uncomfortable withdraw then leveled for 2 days then today there is improvement.

Hope that gives hope.

[invu4uraQT]

I found I could only go so far weaning. Sonner or later it gets to to low of a dose. And you just start cheating. That's where you gotta bite the bullet and kick.

Reserch a lil more to help the withdraw symptoms and pick a day.
I'm on day 7. I promise you it gets better. I'm actually feeling a lot better today!

Good luck

[HookLineandSinker68]

Please put me in this post for support. I'm weaning from a 75 80 mg a day habit over a year and few months. On clonidine and tapering but can't seem to get under 4 (40mg) a day without horrid anxiety and feeling no light at the end of the tunnel. I suffer from anxiety for 20 years so mine is quadruple. I've posted help but my support stopped, maybe because I'm whining to much. But this is by far the most awful experience I've had.  On 40 mg per day up at 230 AM looking for some CONTINUED support. Tried ct, not happening. Methadone was by far the worst on it for 8 days and had a reaction. Im just looking for support and know this is normal? Is it normal to feel this bad tapering? I'm tapering 10 mg every 5 days(my story not giving tapering advice) but this last drop to three ... Not happening so on four still and hanging on for life. What's happening? My doc said weaning would be wd free if I do it his way and I am. I could not imagine when my pills are down to 5 left what I will be thinking..sounds like an addict huh!!! I thought weaning would make wd much easier.

[ItstheSky]

is there a forum/message board where we could update how we are doing and how far along we are in the taper/withdraw process? I guess kind of like a support group? It really helps to hear how other people are doing and other stories that are similar to mine.

[ItstheSky]

It's alright I appreciate any responses even if it's 3 different posts. :)
It's good to hear that someone else can relate and it gives me hope that you ended up seeing the light at the end of the tunnel without opiates in your life. I can't see it yet but I'm hoping it will be totally worth it in the end. I'm already getting withdrawal symptoms from the taper because my body is used to so much more than I'm taking now, and I know when I stop completely it will be so much worse. I can't even imagine it =/ My journey away from Vicodin officially starts this Sunday! So nervous and anxious!

[invu4uraQT]

Sorry I can't collect all my thoughts in one post. But I wanted to say I to could not even imagine how regular old life could b better then the energy,painless,happy go lucky feeling I got from opiates either but I do see it vaugely now 6 days in. And you will too.

[invu4uraQT]

Prepare your self as much as you can. Its gonna be really hard. This last few days have been hell for me but I told myself that no matter how hard/depressing it gets I'm gonna see it through till the end. I think we just have to suffer through unfortunatly. I'm so happy to see it actually happening now.

[invu4uraQT]

If it helps. I'm 6 days in and I know how you feel. I could never get thruogh the withdraw either. By day 3 I'd give up. Not this time.

On day 6 I'm starting to feel a lil better. Well better then day 5.
it is worth the short period of pain to get back the control of your life and love who you are again! Well that's why I did it. And what keeps me going.

I'm trying to remember this is temporary and just "push" through till it is past.
Good luck!

[ItstheSky]

Thanks for the insight- it helps to hear other people's stories, especially knowing that they overcame it! I just can't imagine life feeling better without Vicodin because it gives me energy when I take it and almost gives me this euphoric, happy feeling. So I just can't imagine things being better after I cut it out, but I'm hoping that's not the case.

[BlondeChick10]

No you are not a baby!  I had to taper from 2 (750) 1 (10 mg) OC and for me the worst part was the fear of the unknown .. Once I finally took the plunge there is nooo looking back.. I won't tell you that it was perfect but I think the emotional/ mental part was worse than any of the physical.  Once I decided to end this facade I cried too at anything and everything... But trust me life is much better on the side!  Check out the Thomas Recipe it is listed on the Health Page there is a link on this site (bottom of page).. I didn't use the L Tyrosine because it gave me a nervous feeling but it may benefit you.  Also, everyone seems to lose weight during this process I did not ; unfortunately my appetite remained intact and I may have gained a few lbs.. Good luck you can and will get through!

[ItstheSky]

Thanks so much for the encouraging words and responses! I'm working towards tapering right now and Saturday will be my last day, which means Sunday will officially be the first day of being Vicodin-free. It's giving me such anxiety, it's hard to sleep, I randomly cry over it, and I have no motivation to do anything. I kind of feel like I'm "babying" my addiction by tapering off instead of going cold turkey- am I in the wrong? I'm hyper-sensitive to medication side effects, as well as withdrawal symptoms. After Vicodin I have to conquer getting off of Effexor (super excited). My mom is on the same drug and has the same withdrawals but says they aren't as bad as mine sound. I guess it just depends on the person.

THANKS for the tips of what I should be stocking up on! Unfortunately I don't have a bath, but I will be sure to take hot showers to relax the muscles.