Cough, sneeze, depression...oh my!

[coldturkey48]

Hi everyone!  This is my first post. About 32 days since I quit Norco cold. I had been prescribed it for pain due to arthritis and then post-surgically because I cannot take NSAIDS and Tramadol makes me sick.  I took 2-3 pills a day of 7.50/325 for about 5 yes, then one day I just did not want to be a fat dumb and happy (?) nonproductive person anymore so I quit.  Thus was had because my husband did not quit and is still taking about the same amount as I was taking.  Well the cough began in a couple of days, along with sneezing, congestion & shortness of breath...also insomnia.  After three weeks I went to the doctor and they checked everything fro CHF to COPD and beyond.  All I had was a little sinus swelling.  So the dic put me on Symbicort inhaler 2 x a day for a month to start and a 15-day course of tapering Prednisone along with some cough syrup (guaifenesin and a little codeine) but only about three days worth of the syrup. None of it is really suppressing this cough.  First couple of days I had a slight amount of blood in the urine from the prednisone.  I guess I was dehydrated...and I do take a diuretic daily.  So I increased my water intake a lot and that helped with the blood but worsened the cough which got more productive.  Then the really deep depression started a week ago...crying, mood swings, worse insomnia. Puffy legs and weight gain, too. Can't be that time of the month because I am past that.  I am taking Melatonin for the sleep...not much help. I don't know if the depression is part of the w/d or a result of the Prednisone.  God willing I am not going back in the Norco...and really my pain is tolerable. Sorry for the long post and I am grateful for any input from your experience.

[Xoxa123]

I've been on Trams for 10 years for no reason what so ever other than to get high but not like a weed kind of high. A opiate I can see clearly now and do **** alot better kind of high especially with a really high stakes,highly stressful job it definitely helped. And I k ow you wanting for it BUT as time has progressed and the intake became larger (Staying awake nights) then the stage I was till 3 days ago just being super tired and just having to sleep so reaching a stage of taking trams to sort.of.keep awake . Anyway 3 days now I've been off and let's face it the only person that knows about it is me not my Miss/Kids/ or anyone else for that matter. As.to be expected I've had RUNNY NOSE,MY LEGS HAVE this constant tingling (RLS) especially when I try to go to sleep, and sleep I've had 4 hrs in 3 days,as.you can imagine I'm trying to keep it from others and also explain why the he'll I'm like this( I am hiding behind "Sun burn ") but I am really hoping to get over the hard stuff in a few days and just try and be as normal as possible,I got the couch and sneeze bit does anyone have any advise. WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP with out any other medication...?

[vicki595]

I think you're on track, as well. Don't let yourself get dehydrated though because it causes other troubles.  Plus, the fluid will help that cough. Many times(not always) a cough is one sign of dehydration. Take care!

[coldturkey48]

Ok, I sure will watch for changes.  Yes, I take guaifenesin (generic Mucinex).  It helps break it up, but if I am dehydrated, not much good.  I have read so many posts now with this same chronic lingering cough, cold, sneezy, flu-like symptoms during opiate withdrawal that I think I am quite on track, but I do not like it, that's for sure.  Still, better than being sidelined by Norco.  Lots of encouragement around here, much appreciated.

[vicki595]

Hi there- It seems okay the way you've described it but I'd get it checked out if it goes on much longer.  Have you ever taken Musinex?  Give it a try. It's OTC and I think it will help. Read the label first!

If that sputum gets pink and frothy...that's a concern. Keep the fluids up!

[coldturkey48]

Hi Vicki595!

Okay, this is yucky, but since you ask, which is really appreciated...the cough is not very productive, but not dry either.  What little it produces is mostly clear, so I thought maybe it was postnasal drip, but there is something about the consistency that is not like postnasal mucous.  It is thicker, gel like and sometimes with a little white foamy bit.  When I have not had water in awhile, the bronchia (I think) seem to get dry patches, that tickles and chokes me.  Then, when I drink a bottle of water, it seems to rehydrate the dry areas and my cough plus its product increase.  After I am all coughed out, I am ok for awhile.  Does this sound like a concern?  All I know is that this cough has not changed much since a week after I quit the Norco, and my ribs hurt from coughing.  Throat is ok though.

[vicki595]

When you say the water intake increased your cough...that's a concern. Are you coughing up frothy looking sputum?

[coldturkey48]

Thank you for your sympathy and encouragement.  I am hanging in there but it ain't easy!

[coldturkey48]

Sorry for the typos...especially "the dic putme on....". Of course I meant "the Doc". And that was 5 "years" on the Norco.

[NeverAgain127]

Poor soul.

I had the cough too.  I stopped oxycodone (daily; prescribed for pain) that I had taken for 8 years, pretty much cold turkey.  The cough started around the 30th day and it was AWFUL.  I coughed constantly, and it freaked me out completely.

I was convinced I was dying of some awful disease.  I had chest xrays, EKG, the works. All normal.

The cough lasted months but it DID GO AWAY.   When you take opiates for a long time, it suppresses your cough reflex.  When you stop, that reflex "wakes up" and dam.n. it takes its own sweet time going away.    

I really sympathize with what you're going through.  Have faith it WILL get better.    

Hugs,
-Robin