Hydrocodone withdrawl

[pancake]

I want to withdraw from Hydrocodone. I've been on pain meds steadily for 2 years. A year and a half ago, I came off cold turkey from Percocet which I had been using for 6 weeks. It was the worst experience of my life.  Physical symptoms were horrible, but the depression was worst.  I have always struggled with depression and take effexor. I have used the drugs to self-medicate. Lately i've been taking Vicodin ES.  It no longer gives me that HAPPY feeling just keeps me going.  I am a married mother of two school age children.  Is there an alternative to  a detox center?  I still have the viocdin, could I gradually wean off of them if I enlisted some outside help.  I would rather die than face that debilitating depression again. My husband is aware of my problem and has been supportive. What about Clonodine; i've heard things about the patch.  Last time I withdrew I was up and around again on the fourth day.  I know that wouldn't be the case this time.  I know that I will need help to stay clean, but for now, I'm simply worried about the withdrawl and my children.  Please help if you can.
Thank you.

[Schlub]

It's possible but realistically probably unlikely that you'll be able to wean yourself off the Hydrocodone by tapering. That kind of will power is just not common in addiction.

A better option would  be to try to taper to as low a dose of hydrocodone as you can over a week's time, then quit entirely with the aid of clonodine or even better, buprenex. A doctor can prescribe buprenex, and it will enable you to withdraw almost completely painlessly.

[skipper]

Pancake:
welcome to the forum! there is always room for one more addict, so come on in out ot the cold!

to start with don't start making assumptions about what your withdrawl will be like. you'll find out soon enough. second yes clonidine can help, especially in the patch form. there are a number of other meds your doc can give you. klonipin for panic attacks (these are a hallmark of any opiate withdrawl i've ever been thru). also valium for sleep, and a muscle relaxer.

i'm sure someone will post Thomas's detox. i'm not sure of the easy board site address though. among a lot of good comon sense advice, a regiment of vitamens and an amino acid called L-ty- rosine. This vitamen/amino acid stuff really has worked wonders for me. just remember opiate withdrawl might make you wish you were dead, but it won't kill you!

hey eveyone else:
day 3 no oxy. i feel retty good except for this horriable feeling
of restlesness. i was actually able to go out to breakfast with
my wife this morning!

in the 7 months i've been coming to this cyber place i can not
describe how much beter my life has become. the board adminis-
trator, "Cindy & Phil" desereve a good deal of this gratitude.
see i don't want to be just another junky that shootsup, burnsup,
and generally wreaks a wide swath of destuction in my path. i'll
probably be on oxycontin for some time, (or so my doctor says) i
guess more than anything this forum has let me find out that one
can live a productive life, while taking opiate pain meds. these
little vacations from dope i take serve several purposes, one of
which is for me to find out the level of pain i'm going to have
to live with without my oxycontin!

anyhow keep an angel on your shoulder
kip

[stomcat4]

Just admitting that the hyrdocodone only makes you feel normal now and taking the first steps in wanting to wean off and eventually stop is A HUGE FIRST STEP. Give yourself alot of credit for acknowledging and realizing that. If you need mre help and feeling anxious than please get in touch with an addictionist doctor. If you live on the East Coast, check out www.doctordeluca.com  He has a listing of doctors who specialize in outpatient detox. Last Spring Doctor Deluca helped me wean off a major percocet habit, weaning me off with Darvocet to stifle the Opiate withdrawl, Clonidine to help with withdrawl pains and Valium for the Anxiety and restlessness. You can do this at your pace. I was fine until tearing my knee up in September and going through Reconstructive Knee Surgery. As you can imagine, I had no problem asking my docs for Oxycontin and Percocet. The good news is that, like you, I realized it was controlling my life again and getting pretty ugly. I haven't used since 1/18 and still hurt a little but I AM GETTING BETTER. I picked up some LYOSINE 500 mg. They are Amino Acids that restore you and help regain some of the brain chemistry that dimmed when we were medicating. I still take an Ambien at nite for sleep and an occasional Ativan for the Anxiety. For all the resources and wisdom I used to get the drugs, the trick now is to remember THIS PAIN OF WITHRDRAWL and stay clean at all costs. I rationalized my drug use for 25 years(I'm 41) and I truly want to stop beating the **** out of myself. If I can beat this Oxycontin addiction than you can sure kick the Vicodin. Don't ever be afraid to reach out and ask for help. It's heartwarming when you find out just how many people will basically come out of the woodwork to help you. You just got to want it. The best of luck to you.YOU CAN DO IT!!!!  Tommy

[Rose1]

sWEET PERSON, i AM GLAD YOU ARE FHERE. yOU ALREADY MADE ONE OF THE DECISIONS AND THAT IS THAT YOU ARE AWARE YOU NEED TO DETOX. iT TAKES COURAGE ANS STRENGHTH AND YOU MY DEAR, HAVE IT. i WOULD LIKE TO OFFER YOU SOME MORE SUGGESTIONS THAT MADE ME FIVE DAY DETOX A BREEZE. iT WILL TAKE A DOC. WHO REALLY UDERSTANS ADDICTION AND SOMEONE TO GUIDE YOU IN THE VITAMIN DEPARTMENT. i STARTED WITH THE "RECIPE" BUT CONTINUED ON THAT AFTER THE FIVE DAYS WERE UP. i AM STILL TAKING VALIUM AND TRAZADONE AT NIGHT, BUT DON'T SLEEP. i just talk on the phone or read, or listen to my music. Also, Don't beat yourself up. No need. It takes what it takes to be in that mind set to prepare for that not so frightening day. Please,pleas e-mail me at: ***@**** and I will respond. You take caqre and get as many questions answeres before you rush into it. I DON'T KNOW YOU, BUT i FEEL LIKE I DO.  loVE ANS pEACE rOSE1

[GingerLee]

In addition to all of this great advice, I worked at an herb store for a while. Chamomile tea is a natural muscle relaxant and it is good to get direct sunlight if you can. The sunshine stimulates a gland that will produce a good neurotransmitter. Hot baths and showers helped me too! Do hang in as long as you can and know that you are not alone my friend.

[paulbrian]

Hi everyone, it is past midnite, and though I have taken everything I could think of, being in day two of Vicoprofen withdrawals, sleep is not coming.

I am wondering.  Ihave been on about 50mg a day of hydrocodone products, Norco, vicodin, vicoprofen, for over 3 years.  I still have the pain problem, but want a new way of living.
Question:  How long does this misery last?

I can be reached at ***@**** if anyone wants to offer additional advise.

Peace be with all of you.

[J.B. to Brian and Vicky]

I think that everyone who has come to this board has asked that same question...how long does this misery last? This indicates that we want so desperately to be normal again. Some of us don't even know what "normal" is anymore; we just want to feel good for a change. That want can also be the start of ever more relapses and I speak from personal experience here.

Be very careful and patient during the first few weeks. For me, 90 days is the turning point. However, don't fool yourself into thinking you will ever be immune from the call of the drug.

Best of luck to you!

J.B.

[pancake]

Thanks so much everyone who responded to me. Especially Rose1
i cant remember the last time i felt "sweet." I've gotten so used to not being honest with myself or others that my first inclination here is to evade the truth. This is very hard but the truth is, as addicted as i know i am i still am desperate to use to avoid the withdrawl. No, really thats not the truth either, i want to be high or normal,however you want to look at it. I guess i dont want to say everything, cause i dont know maybe i could get arrested or something.  But the fact is I AM GOING TO USE. I'm telling myself I'm going to wean, but really who am i trying to kid? But the fact is my earliest opportunity to abuse myself is tomorrow and even that is not for certain. So mean-time i'm starting to feel pretty yucky. The last time i used was yesterday AM: One Vicodin ES; usually I would take 2 about 4 or 5 times a day, that was the end of the bottle. Im starting the sweats, but mostly I just feel totally unmotivated and depressed.  I'm college educated and most would say i've got a great life, but still i'm stupid enough to keep doing this to myself. No one I know does drugs and the friends I have would be shocked to know the truth about me.  Maybe this isn't the forum for me since i'm obviously not "in recovery." I wouldn't want to adversely effect anyone else. This is just a very lonely business. Thanx for listening.

[hjp]

read this forum as often as you can because some day when your life isn't going so well you'll wake up and see its the drug that compromised you, then you'll have to detox....maybe again and again til you're clean and thinking straight.  Good luck hjp

[J.B. to Brian and Vicky]

I think you are in the right place here. No one is going to flame you for your blunt honesty.  Most of us are or have been in the same boat. The reason I have abused drugs was to get high, plain and simple. But it's a part of my life that I can really do without...addiction that is. Something, somewhere, somehow is going to usher you into a state of recovery and I hope it's gentle with you.  You will get there someday!

J.B.

[pancake]

Just wanted to say thanks for your honesty. I will keep tuning in. I guess its a good sign that i feel drawn to the computer since i found this forum. You're always on my mind. To tell you the truth i'm pretty new to this computer thing. I know how to turn it on, get my e-mail and do a search. My husband dragged me kicking and screaming into the 21st century. Any way, today I have taken 4 50mg of ULTRAM.  Its helping with the withdrawls. It does not seem to give me any high which is a good thing. Gotta go get the kids. Thanks again.

[Rose1]

I was so pleased to hear from you. You are sweet. All druggies are sweet. The drugs have just masked our "true self" for so many years.I detoxed, medically last February 4,2001 after 26 years of darkness. When I hurt my back and spine i felt it was a test. Maybe it was, regardless, it happened and I felt frustrated because of the drugs I had to take to maintain my productivity at work. It took over my life, but in a"quiet"sort of way. Heroin is so obvious, but the pill adiction, although have very similar symtoms, I was able to hide it better. It was something I never dreamed could be as painful and lonely as "H".
Please consider me you friend. I'm always here and struugle daily. I've only been detoxed off the vicodans,and oxy's. I'm still taking the methdadone and valium and Trazadone at night. I don't think I'll ever feel normal, whatever that is. I do believe in God and his words and there are times when he is the only comfort I can find. I'm no holy roller but feel people like us, need something bigger to believe in, other than where we are going to find thr nrext pill or fix. My e-mail ***@**** write it down, use it. I'll help you as much as I can. You are a great person. Anytime... Karen aka Rose1

[stomcat4]

Hang in there man. Today is my 11th day off Oxycontins and Percocets. I had major reconstructive knee surgery last September and just stopped the pills 1/18. Just be careful with Ultram and Ultracet. The doctors are saying their non-addictive, but if you read alot of the posts in this forum, it's just as addictive. Whatever gets you through the major withdrawls initially, God Bless You. I can relate to you with the kids. I have a 5 year old and 18 month old. Both girls. As I was withdrawing, I keep hearing Barney and Elmo over and over in my head. I feel I am getting much closer to my family since the fog has lifted. It does get better  every day. There is alot of support,compassion and wisdom on this board. Hang in there!! Tommy

[alexa]

Ok, I'm totally new, but have really enjoyed reading all the comments and helpful information.  I'm not sure if I'm the right place, but I have been tacking hydrocodone for years for chronic headaches... I did the route of several doctors who were not much help, then a RUDE neurologist who thought I was just searching for drugs.. I got the point where only vicodin worked, then switched to Norco (less tylenol). And before that I had trigger/novocaine I think shots in my occipital muscles in the base of my neck.  Anyway, I'm not taking several Norco's every day.  And I'm worried about my dependence.  Once a month (week after my menstrual cycle) I always get the extremely brutal headache that even a few Norco won't help! I wake up every day with one... Can't remember when I haven't had one.  
But I have noticed if I go too long (w/o a Norco), my body totally is needing it...I get anxious, a little sweaty, etc..
Should I be concerned?  Ultram just tore my stomach up...
My doc just gave me a few Percoset to try....  I just feel like such an addict.... But I still have this pain and they can't fine anything else that works..  At one point, I was ready to go sit in my running car (w/ garage door closed of course), because I just couldn't takke the pain anymore... But now I'm worried that I'm so dependent and my body is needing these drugs.

What do I do? Accupuncture, chiropractor, physical therapy.....
I can't find relief without narcotics... and now I'm just a big narcotic addict.

Well, thanks for listening.. This is embarrassing.... Do I have to go back to the intolerable pain so I'm not stuck dependent on these drugs?   Thank you!!
Alexa

[Wardman]

Hi there... I am on day 5 and feel better today.  I have abused hydrocodone and oxycodone on and off for 8 years, with many drug free periods.  My biggest problem is this God awful depression i get, but i always remember after 2 weeks, I always start to feel much better.

[hjp]

I don't like the sound of your story alexa....if you are taking several norco daily, you're addicted, and it's a tough battle to get off the stuff.  I'm afraid sooner or later you're going to have to detox cause ten a day may be working for you now but it won't be long til you're up to 20,22,25,30.........  you might ask your doctor to send you to a medical center that is also a teaching center for your headache, they will have the most current techniques and medications for treating your headaches.
good luck alexa,   hjp

[Witchywoman]

Hi Alexa,
One thing that might be going of for you is "rebound headaches".
When I took narocitics on a regular basis for back pain, I had constant headaches. I never understood the headaches, since narcotics are supposed to help with pain. But I learned from my doctor that narcotics can and do actually *cause* headaches. As it wears out of your system, you actually get headaches from it leaving your system.

The only way out of the cycle is to stop the narcotic and let your body adjust to being without them. Narcotics are usually not the first line med to give for headaches, as they don't help with the vascular kind, and are not the best way to treat a tension headache.  My Doc at one point gave me nortriptaline, and then later elavil for headaches. They did help some, but made me way too tired.  Eventually I hit upon a nonnarcotic med called maxalt, similar to imitrex, that works very well on my headaches...stops them within 15 minutes. My Doc says it is safe and will not cause rebound headaches.

I recently found out that the intense migraines I tend to get are due to estrogen withdrawal, when I take my week off of the birth control pill.  All this time, I had no idea that was what caused the incapitating migraines! So now I"m on a different pill that is supposed to stop that fast estrogen crash.

Just wanted to let you know though that chronic use of narcotics can actually cause headaches to get worse. Sorry for the bad news! And I do hope you find something to relief the chronic pain. I know all about the hell of chronic pain...am still dealing with chronic back pain, one day at a time, still narcotic free.

love,
WW

[rici]

could someone please post thomas' detox recipe.  this is day one any advice would be helpful.

[lanas]

I came upon this cite this morning as I sit here waiting for a call from my doctor about refilling a vicoprofen prescription.  I've never done anything like this before (a bulletin board).  But I too want to get off this stuff but seem incapable.  I have a job I love but that is very stressful.  I get up at 4:45 am to work out of my home so that when I pick my daughter up from preschool at noon, I can have the day with her, unencumbered my other things (mainly my job).  She is 4 and the joy of my life.  Her father takes her to her preschool.  I am currently taking about 4-5 per day for migraines; it really helps, but I also recognize that I am taking it now because I need it to exist well.  I, like others, have taken Ultram.  It certainly will keep the withdrawal symptoms of hydrocodone away, but only causes its own.  I am just curious for any responses; I want to quit this, but I know if my doctor calls back and I have a prescription, I'll be at the pharmacy within 30 minutes...  I guess this is a cry for help, so Help!

[Telby]

I wanted to be sure to give you the receipe as I have translated from Thomas's. The real deal can be found at http://pub37.ezboard.com/bthenewaddictionmedicineforum.  Anway this is what I am taking for oxycontin withdrawal.  First thing in the morning I take 100mg. of B complex, 4,000mg.L-Tyrosine,2,000mg.vitamin C, a multvitamin, and I'm trying SAMe three times a day. IT is strongly recommended in the receipe to take a benzo such as valium,ativan, zanax, to get the through the first four days. i don't have benzo's so I can't do that I am also lucky that I can sleep. Sleep is often impossible so the more you can knock yourself out(safely) the better.  I have added the large dose of Vitamin C which i think is helping me to detox faster.  5HTP is also being used for depression and anti anxiety. In the past I have found Darvacet N100 helpful for short term withdrawal assistance.  I thought about Ultram but got way to scared after reading this board and seeing addiction potential.  The big thing I am trying to do is not to panic but to try and stay above it mentally. My worst day was the second day and I have felt better since, I still have a ways to go but I am determined.  Thomas does a much better job explaining the receipe so do check out the other board for it, once you get on at the bottom of the page you can follow directions to go right there.  Best of luck to you in this brave struggle.  telby

[Telby]

I went back to check the receip as I don't want to mis translate the important stuff that Thomas includes.  He suggests Vitamin B6 (100mg.x2) and stresses that people who are taking a SSRI anideperessent such as Prozac,Effexor, Paxil should not follow this receipe. The SSRI's already increase brain chemistry and the added amino acids could be too much.  He also suggests that for diahreha (spelled wrong) the only thing that works is Imodium so stock up on that.  IT is also suggested to include magnesium and zinc, I found a mag/zinc/calcium all in one that I take along with the other stuff. The metals can be dangerous in high doses so I only take one as it is also found in my multivitamin.  I am recommending the large dose of Vitamin C since it is the only thing i have changed recently and I have had a noticalbly less intense withdrawal. Nothing makes it painless, pay now or pay later.  The big thing is how you approach it mentally, if your scared and freak out as soon as you get sick it's got you.  again, good luck  telby

[pancake]

I'm obsessing today.....so here's one more question that has been on my mind a lot lately. What are the symptoms of liver problems from too much aceteminophen?  I drink much more than i should along with the addiction to narcotics. I find abstaining from alcohol much easier than going without the narcotics, but still, my drinking is a problem for me.  When I'm using, i'm drinking, bottom line. You needn't remind me of how dangerous this is, i know. Also, one more question if i may.  Is it dangerous to take ULTRAM when taking EFFEXOR; it seems to me i read that somewhere.  Thanx, P.

[Dman]

I started taking Vicodin ES 7.5 750mg two years ago while in the hospital for pancreatits.  I needed the medicine for 7 months.  When I tried to stop taking it...the withdrawals were too much to handle.  I couldn't funtion.  So I found a way to get them whenever I needed them.  How I am getting them is not important.  What is important is that it will land me in jail if ever caught.  I don't want to get caught but I do want to stop NOW.  I tried talking to the doctor that started me on the medicine.  He gave me some clondine (not sure how to spell it) but it didn't help with the severe withdrawls.  How do I find a detox in Houston where I can try and do this out patient?  I have a job and going into a detox for 2 weeks isn't an option.  However, if that is what it is going to take then I will resort to it.  I think with the support of meetings and a medical doctor watching over me daily...I can do it.  I know I need to and I know I want to.  Please someone...Help me so I can help others.  Tell me what my resources are in my city.  I would like to take some medication that will help keep me as comfortable as possible.  I need to sleep at night and funtion at work Monday thru Friday.  If anyone has done this successfully then please respond to my message.  I will be checking it daily.  If you are reading this message then you must be on this website and if your on this website then you must be addicted or know someone that is.  Let's help each other.  It is not our faults but it is our problem.  Let's do it together.  Thank you and god bless.

Dman

[skipper]

Dman:
my imagination runs wild at the thought of supplying oneself with
the poision of our choice. see i used to break into drug stores and doctors offices. i cleaned up my hand and went straight for 17 years. about the time my life looked pretty good, an old injury to my neck came back to haunt me with a vengence. now 2 cervical spine surgerys later the pain doctor tells me my pain is intractable. so i take 40mg. of oxycontin 3 times a day. if now could have been 25 years ago, i'ld be pleased as a pig in the poke. dope just isn't the fun it used to be!

with the exception of the federal narcotics hospital in Houston,
i'm not familure with detox/treatment in your area.

have you given any thought to thomas detox recipe? you will find
the details above in the post from Telby. I periodicaly detox my
self. i like to think of this as a "vacation" from drugs. i won't
go into the reasions i do this, but i do know the detox recipe from Thomas really does work well for me.

anyhow, welcome to the forum. there is always room for one more
addict in here, so come in out of the cold and keep posting!

keep an angel on your shoulder
kip