how long does it take to get off vicodone & how to?

[psychdegree]

I've been on & off hydrocodone for 2yrs (on more than off..starting bc of two knee surgerys in the past 2ys now can't stop completely) . I've never taken (regularly) more than 3 tens a day. I've been thru withdraws b4 but only made it a couple days bc the leg cramps were unbearable. (That's the worst besides anxiety) & being so fatigued. Plse if any1s been thru this I need help. I also take valium at night so that helps..but other than that idk what to do to get off these & really need to. Ive tapered off as much as I could but I'm gonna be out probably tomorrow. so any advice? More the withdraws & how to keep myself from taking them again..ever. thanks

[psychdegree]

Ahh I kno I just thought hmm ok I can do it 4-5 days I got this. 4th day comes n it seemed like I was dying. I'm just so angry over it all but I'm thinking 1st thing Mon morning I'm going to call my doc & explain this & finally ask for help. I also told another friend today & she is very proud of me stopping & instead of hiding it from her I kno she'll keep check of me bc she has in the past wondered if I had an to them. But I'm trying I'm shocked I made it this far..at least I kno tapering is a good way to go. Thanks again for all the advice & support

[ImDONENoMore]

NG is right.  Starting a taper right now isn't the way to go.  With such a small amount taken, it makes no sense to go back.

And spending any time beating yourself up over this isn't going to help one bit.  You have to move on.  And keep going.  AND get your Dr. on board.  You said you were debating on whether to tell him what's going on, but telling him is a first step.  AND removing your sources.. so important.  Now is the time to do both and begin learning from those before you and get back on track.

Remove your sources - tell your secret - and get a good aftercare plan in place.  This doesn't happen overnight, but it's SO worth it.  You'll see.  Now stop fighting our advice and GET going!!  :)  (not intended to be harsh, just honest!)

[nursegirl6572]

One of the biggest things, especially this early on, is eliminating your sources, AND telling your secret (even if to one or two people).  Without accountability and without freeing yourself as much as possible from temptation (pills being available)...then you're setting yourself up to relapse in those vulnerable moments when the addict mind is screaming.

If you only took a small piece of a pill, no there's no sense in tapering whatsoever.  Just get back on the horse and start making the changes that will help you fight the mental cravings.

I cannot tell you how many people who are resistant to doing those two things end up coming back with this SAME story.  Take it from the people who have relapsed countless times...I swear, they all say the same thing about when they turned the corner...it was when they sought aftercare, and did the two things I mentioned above.

You were on 4+ days right?  Going to a taper plan would be going backwards bigtime...and as far as doing that to give you a "break"?  I disagree...I think it's just a way to rationalize giving yourself a week to use again, or at least esacpe w/ds.  All you would be doing is prolonging the inevitable and probably making it even harder.  Jump RIGHT back into it.  Just my opinion.

Hang in there!!

[limodan73]

Stop beating yourself up. This monster is a tricky little *******. And you're going to have slips in the beginning. Pretty normal. But what's not, is giving up. You CAN DO THIS. I know exactly what you're feeling my friend. And it's that anger you feel over it that lets you know what you did May have been wrong.  But you have to say NO! I am not gonna be a slave to this crap ANY FREAKIN MORE!
And mean it.
Yes, it something that, if possible, you should take a week off.  It's an inch by inch fight for the first 3-4 days.

[limodan73]

Hi. You have been given a lot of great advice already. So I will just say this...
I'm an addict. No qualms or questions about it. Am I happy about? H no. But it is what it is. I have been battling this addiction for over 6 years. And can tell you strait up, deal with this now, or it gets harder and harder. If you would like an example, feel free to scroll through my page.  If you pay attention, you'll see just how clear a picture it paints.  The desperation in my words, the incredible feelings of loss, it's  all there. I know this may possibly be the hardest thing you've ever done.... But that's where you really want to be with this BS... DONE with it. I am on day 5 from a relapse that lasted a whole 4 days..... But it put me back at square one. And I payed for it dearly. I have all kinds of reasons to give up and stay on the crazy train. From pain to a ridiculous home life and everything in between. But I only need 1 to say he11 no!  Life.  

How bout you?

[psychdegree]

I am sooooo mad at myself right now! I couldn't make it thru work today & gave in to the freaking addiction mind! I hate this...came so far & was so proud..yet I only took a tiny bit I still cannot believe it took any opiate! My physical body feels better but my inside, my mind besides being able to think clearer is so mad and guilty. I feel like a failure..no I didn't go on a binge or anything but Im now trying to descide if I should figure a way to taper or just try this again cold turkey? I hope yall don't think horribly of me..i wish my own self didn't know I a piece! yet it was tiny like less then a half. But still shows me im not as strong as I thought..idk what to do with myself. Will the withdrawls come back worse or the same now? I read it was by days like the 4th day day of w.d if you relapse " "this will be the percent you will feel. Like on your 5th day you'll feel 50% of the w.ds again or something. I just cant believe myself. Im debaiting on telling my psych and see what he says. & yes all the other meds are controlled by him..every 3 months for my psych meds. AHH if you only knew how mad I am..i got deprete I guess & now I just wonna kick myself for doing this. & if tapering for a week just to get me thru till im not working anymore may be my best bet..ive waited so long bc of work..so not sure if anything else can be done if I CANNOT do this on my own..bc now that I caved idk what to do. HELP!