fioricet with codeine

[dwhitti777]

Just writing for support and suggestions. I take 6 fioricet with codeine (30 mg) a day and I usually am pretty careful not to run out but sometimes I'm late getting my script from the doctor.  I was prescribed it for migraines 5 years ago. She hasn't objected to my dosage which has been steady for several years but her nurse often holds it up and it seems like every other month I have to jump hoops to get it. For example I called last week for them to have my refill ready tomorrow for it and my blood pressure med. I called today to check on it today and the bp med is ready but the front desk said they'd have to check on why the fioricet isn't. I said I'd call back tomorrow. .but now I'm freaking that it won't be ready and I'll be without until after the holiday and weekend. I'm tired of feeling held hostage to this month after month. I'd try quitting but I can't miss 2 weeks of work right now. I teach and I'll be glad to try stopping in the summer. I've gone 3 days once and it was miserable WD and awful to work during it. Just the anxiety is horrible not to mention the flu symptoms, insomnia, and headaches. I've even considered trying the poppy seed tea if I don't get my script tomorrow but I'm worried about that.

[dwhitti777]

Hi everybody. .. well this was both a good and crappy week. Sorry for the length but it's a catch up post and it was a crazy week.

Except for the last 2 days I felt ok and could stick with 5 pills most days. However my classes (6 classes...3 different subjects/preps) are preparing for midterms and it is stressful and I'm not getting much sleep as I try to do the best by all my students. Hopefully I'll be able to get ahead on prep some this weekend. My students were good overall though.

To top it off I came home to frozen and busted pipes after school Thursday. Our home is by a river and up on pilings.  I had left the outside faucets dripping but evidently not enough. I had to climb under the house and crouch in all this freezing water to check out the situation. I couldn't get the main cutoff to close. Called a plumber who was luckily there in 30 minutes and only charged me 165.  One pipe was still frozen so I had to go all day at work Friday wondering what I would come home to but luckily it was ok.

Let's just say my anxiety and sense of loneliness and loss over my husband were in overdrive. Being an "independent woman" is all well and fine until you have no one to share the crisis of life with. I also put my son back in martial arts this week after a 2 year break. It was good...but a little sad for both of us to restart this family tradition that my husband loved.

I'm coming down with a cold or sinus infection now. ..probably due to spending that time under the house and then in wet cold shoes for 2 hours.

I kept up with the supplements and I think that really helped. I am glad not to have been able not to just rely on the pills as heavily as I would have for the tension headaches.  I guess it just reinforced that this tapering will be slow (as it should be) and I'm grateful I am able to taper and not taking way above my prescription and running out.

LOLARAGDOLL... You may be right about the stress and ear ringing.  It was back and bad the last 2 days as I dealt with the pipe thing.

JPAIN7... I am thinking to ask the doc to leave off the codeine part the next time we do refills and then continue the taper of just the fioricet.  We will see what she recommends.

Ok...well time to check up on some of your posts before heading off to get some work done.

[lolaragdoll28]

Hi
Iv been reading through all your posts and first of all - well done , u have managed to do what I have had too much difficulty doing in the last 5 years hence me going soon into rehab in June. I was going to say, my sister gets the ringing in the ears thing (she doesn't take pills) only when she is VERY stressed to maybe it's not to do wit medication and could be a separate stress thing? I duno just a thought (which may put u less anxious about assuming it could be the pills), same happens to me with the eye twitching thing u mentioned (I get this when stressed. I kno I'm an addict but I think it's a separate stress thing because I'm naturally a very anxious person (I don't show it but I really am). Just a thought :) I'm very proud of ur posts tho and wish you to continue well :) Jeanne

[Jpain7]

I too take Fioricet however, without codeine and I feel it works great for my migraines. I was under the impression that taking it everyday actually causes headaches... do you not have this issue? You do have to be careful there. I used to take the one with codeine but as an addict I thought I would try the one without and I actually prefer the one without. I started taking Maxalt for migraines instead, and I take the fioricet now to try to deffer a bad headache from becoming a migraine. Not sure if this is helpful for you at all but I have been taking it for over 7 years now and found this to be my best regiment. I know you are not supposed to exceed 6 per day but there was a time I was as high as 12  a day on mine. The barbiturates can be a rough quit! You can do it, hang in there with those migraines, the less fioricet you take they may get better, in time.

[dwhitti777]

My prescription is for 6 a day. I dropped just one pill a day and pretty much stayed with that except for the day I fell asleep before taking #5. But after being on my feet for 10 hours with students for the first time since before Christmas and not getting home until 9 after my son's practice I had a killer headache and back spasms but still had work to do... so I added the 6th pill back just for yesterday.  Today is much better.

[Merri123]

Nurse girl is right when I tapered, I would add a hour for each change.  Go slow. It's not a race.

[Merri123]

Nurse girl is right when I tapered, I would add a hour for each change.  Go slow. It's not a race.

[nursegirl6572]

You've got a lot on your plate for sure.

Going up and down like you are with your dose is only going to make you feel a lot worse...the headaches will be worse, along with any other symptoms.

I know it's hard, but you really have to try very very hard to pick a dose and stick with it.  That means taking it consistently, not taking it hours after your normal dose, then taking more the next day.  You're just keeping yourself on a roller coaster that way.

You don't have to drop big amounts, actually a proper taper usually recommends dropping only very small amounts.  Your doc would be able to help you with that.  People start tapering and will drop their dose by 50% and then wonder why they feel so awful.  That's way too extreme.

After you drop your dose, you also have to allow for an adjustment period.  It will probably take about a week for you to adjust to the new dose and start to feel better.  If it's less stressful, stay at that new dose for a few weeks before dropping again.

You're doing well.....you're very motivated, but you're definitely struggling to stay consistent (normal!)  Keep trying, and keep posting!!

[dwhitti777]

Well yesterday was a very long, stressful, overwhelmingly busy, and painful day. I had to go back up to my prescribed amount but didn't do more...so I guess I'm still still below my amount for the last 1.5 weeks. Hopefully today is better. I'm feeling anxious this morning but not too much. I'm ready for the weekend though so I can destress and maybe get ahead of things for work.

[dwhitti777]

Thanks Cricket... I was really tired so I went t sleep and set my alarm to get up early and work. I'm on here for a minute while I wake up...and about to start now. I'm happy to see my kids again after this break. I know I was fussing before but I really do love the teaching part....just not all the crap the feds, state, and admin are putting on us.

[Cricketk92]

SO glad that the first day back at work went OK!!!!  It sure will help to keep busy so work can be a good thing!  Hope you got all your work done and are ready for the kids today!!!  You are doing a great job with this!!!!  Keep hanging on and doing the right thing!!!! :)

[dwhitti777]

Thanks everyone.  It was an okay day. Our meeting was a little stressful.  I swear I don't know how much more they think they can pile on us in education. The first meeting was about MORE testing.  I swear the politicians must be rolling in lobby money from the testing companies. And of course they keep finding more ways to "evaluate" us as teachers. You want scores to improve?  Quit taking up so many days with testing...pretests, benchmarks, post tests and on and on. Sorry....had to vent and no one here to do it with.

Anyway... I went straight from work to pick up my son to take him to martial arts practice. It's his first day back since before his dad passed away. His dad was a black belt. I also used to practice.  It was emotional being back in the Dojang and seeing my husband's pictures there.

So we just got home (9 PM... long day!) and that made me late on my taper dose and supplements. Not too bad but I'm having a headache and upset stomach so I hope my night dose kicks in soon.

The ear ringing is back too...probably the stress and being late on my supplements. I'd almost rather have the upset tummy than this ringing!

Taking a bit of a break but then I have a ton to do to be ready for classes tomorrow. I'd rather sleep.

[nursegirl6572]

So sorry about the loss of your husband.  

Like you said, it's hard to fight that temptation of taking extra, especially when that's been your habit for many years.  If you cannot think of anyone who could help you with holding the pills (if it becomes a problem), then you may have to think of another plan.  For now, you're doing great.  Sticking with the taper is so so so important.  Keeping busy is very helpful also, so it's great that you are working.  

Hang in there!

[Merri123]

You'll do just fine. You have a busy day and it will keep you very occupied. Try not to think about the pills. You don't need them to get through. It's just another day. You're doing really good.

[dwhitti777]

Well I'm sitting at work in my car and getting ready to go in. I'm a little nervous.  I didn't do any work (grading,  planning, etc) over the break like I planned.  I just concentrated on getting this taper going. Luckily there's no students today. Meetings all morning though. I'll have to work like a demon all afternoon to be ready for tomorrow. It's making me anxious... I made sure only to bring what I'm allowed for my taper though...so I'm good there.  Anyway.... wish me luck.

[dwhitti777]

Nursegirl... my huband passed away a year and a half ago... so no I don't have someone to do that for me. So far dividing up in this big pill sorter is a big help. There's a lot less temptation to have "just one extra" than when taking them out of that big bottle of pills. Plus if I start to feel anxious I can look at the sorter and see.... well there is still X number left for the day and know that I can have my next in a few hours at most.

My only issues tonight is that my left eye is twitching some. *lol* I'm awake now because I slept earlier but I plan to go back to sleep for a bit more. It'll be the first day back at work tomorrow since I started the taper. On one hand that will keep me busy...but some of it will be stressful too. We'll see how it goes. Tomorrow my son is also starting back in martial arts for the first time since his dad passed so it's a big day. Our whole family used to practice (yep... once upon a time I could break boards even!) and his dad was a black belt.

The BEST thing is not having any ringing in my left ear the last couple of days. I don't know if that is from tapering down n the fiorocet or because of maybe the supplements....but it is awesome!

[Cricketk92]

Glad to hear that you got through the first hour of your morning without!!!!  Dont try to rush your taper...it sounds like you have a good plan!!!   April will be here before you know it!  But like Merri said you have to listen to your body!  Youre doing great!!!!!

[nursegirl6572]

You're doing a good job.  It seems your mindset is in a good place.  I agree that a taper would be the optimal way to go, but it can be hard to stick to it.  That's just so important.  If you feel you're struggling with that, can you have someone hold your pills and give them out to you at the scheduled times?  

You will most likely find out that the Fioricet was CAUSING more headaches than it was helping.  You're stuck on the rollercoaster right now.  You're getting headaches when your body thinks it needs the medication.  That's very very typical.  Opiates are actually not a good way of treating migraines, other than in acute situations once in a while.

Best of luck to you......keep posting.  There's loads of support and help here!

[Merri123]

Very good news. I also think our mind set has a lot to do with it too. Before we needed the pills. To get out of bed or function for different reasons. Now you don't want them. Don't need them so. For me when I put my mind to it, it was like everything I felt and thought before changed. It was eye opening.

Great job. I progressed on my taper by going with my body. If I was able to go longer between pills and not realize or be affected, I took that as a sign that I was ready to do that.

[dwhitti777]

For the first time since I can't remember when I didn't feel the overwhelmingly need to take the fioricet w/cod as soon as I opened my eyes this morning!!!  I did just finally take one but took it along with my tapering morning supplements.  Normally I would have needed 2 just to get out of bed because of a headache and back spasm. This morning I was up and moving around for an hour first. It's tempting to accelerate my taper but I won't yet as I really believe this slow but steady method is working. ... and I'm becoming VERY convinced that the supplements are helping so much...as is posting here.

Thank you all for being here!

[dwhitti777]

Hey! I just realized that the ringing in my left ear is much, much better! I don't know if it is the tapering, or the supplements.... but it is such a relief!!! It was driving me nuts last night.

[dwhitti777]

Well something threw me into a full blown panic attack which flipped me into a migraine and I took my last 2 pills of the day early. It was already time for #4 anyway. On the good side that doesn't put me over my taper limit for the day as long as I don't take anymore until morning and I can do that. I'm still anxious and my head and neck are tight .. but manageable. Like I said before I'm writing everything to keep honest. I'm sure missing my husband. Although he couldn't do much physically around the house the last few years of his life...just having him to talk to and vent helped and he could do small things on good days.  Now my shoulders carry it all. He was also my cheerleader. I think he'd be proud of how I've handled things at home....with our son... bills....and work...but I so wish I could hear him say it.

[dwhitti777]

Yeah... I really do need to do the cleaning, not to mention planning for next week. I accidentally fell asleep before taking my 5th pill! I woke up feeling bad but not worse than I usually feel on waking before my first dose, which I did take. I'm not going to jump down to 4 as a plan though for at least a few weeks or a month. I'm scared of having a seizure or something if I go too fast off of the barbiturate in fioricet.

[Merri123]

I got the ringing too. It comes and goes. Like tinnitus I guess.

It'll take a couple of days for you to get used to losing that pill. But you can do it. Already through the first day. You'll be ok. Just try to keep busy. Good time for the deep cleaning of the house organizing. Throwing out or giving to charity. School will start Monday so that will keep you occupied most of the day. Makes time fly.

You're doing good. We all whine.

[dwhitti777]

Ugh... I feel like a baby complaining already. So I'm down from 6 pills (sometimes it was 8 but rare) to 5 today. I've had 4 already and I'll take #5 just before bed. I already hate this anxious feeling.  I know it's nothing compared to if I were going cold turkey....just on edge. I also have a ringing in my left ear.  Not sure what that is about or if it has anything to do with it.