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5082295 tn?1371250911

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

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
Best Answer
4810126 tn?1503942735
Hey there psychdegree! Thanks for reaching out.

I couldn't agree more with both ariley13 & kyle505 -- They are covering two different angles of this. You must be prepared to do absolutely everything it takes to get & stay clean. That's simple fact. Nothing else will work. You have to really want it.

What ariley13 is referencing is opiate-induced Hyperalgesia: This might really help you to understand -- a Wiki link explaining it:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opioid-induced_hyperalgesia

You can do this if you want to, my friend! We're pulling for you.

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5093508 tn?1390543931
Hi my friend. I've just read all the comments. Everyone is absolutely right. I'll just add that I agree that YOU CAN DO IT! The One who is in you, is GREATER than the one that is in the world! You have the victory already. You just have to believe it. I know how easy it is to dwell on our pain, on wanting a pill so bad, even just to stop the withdrawals, as 1 pill probably doesn't help ease your pain anymore. You may be wondering why I'm adding my comments here. I just want you to take notice of the nutritional advice. If you're drinking lots of water, which helps flush out the poisons, it also flushes out a lot of vitamin & minerals. For your RLS & cramps, you def need more magnesium, potassium, calcium. Magnesium is for that, also for calming you down. Bananas are rich in all these minerals plus many more. Cucumbers are full of magnesium too. Have u heard the expression "As cool as a cucumber"? It's  bc it has magnesium, which is the calming mineral.  You've done very well. Focus more on getting enough nourishment, protein drinks if u can't eat much, as the brain needs the amino acids 2 help ease withdrawals with all that comes when tapering, the anxiety, depression, what seems like worse pain, & pain all over, the sweats,  nausea, tummy pains, the works! God would want you to look after your body too. Keep your mind on Him. Pray lots, to Jesus, as you've accepted him into you heart. Through Him, if we fully trust & believe, you can do it! He has already given you the victory. He gave you all He is and has when u accepted Him. So it's all in u, meaning YOU'VE GOT IT! Even say "I've got it" over & over.  Do you really want to be free? I've got to ask myself this all the time. It's all or nothing. No half measures! Going thru withdrawals is pure hell but once you really want to do this, (and I know you really do)want, your determination, your faith will get u there. Keep a picture in your mind of how joyful, clean & at peace you'll be. As said up there, you've got to believe in yourself. The road won't be easy, but try not to think on how bad it is or can get, bc it WILL GET BETTER! Your pain will even ease up, as said by others who have been where u are now, the pills end up causing stronger pain, as your tolerance to them has made work opposite now and are not really giving u relief. You've got it in you, to do this. Go thru the pain. It will pass. Don't be so hard on yourself if you fall. Get back up and DON'T GIVE UP!  I'm praying for you my friend. Look after your body, as this will go a long way in aiding your recovery. Walnut & almonds also help with anxiety & depression. Please follow the fantastic advice given. Take Vitamin B complex, especially one with at least 10mg of B1as this is for your nervous system to help u to be less anxious, but u need the whole B Complex for your whole nervous system. I think I've told u, that green tea has amino acids that help balance the neurotransmitters in you brain, and can help them produce the happy hormones. Keep believing YOU CAN DO IT!  And you will! Stop the negative chatter in your head (the devil) telling u it's too hard and saying you can't do this, when deep down inside you, you know you can! Remember you have the Power greater than yourself is in you! It's up to you now. We've been given free choice. Choose freedom , choose life FREE OF ADDICTION!  God bless!
Helpful - 0
5082295 tn?1371250911
Wow..I needed to hear this! It really broke thru..bc I've said for so long ok I just gotta make it thru these event, or this week of work etc. Then ill try. That really is me..or I don't wonna hurt ppl by not talking or hanging out bc I need some rest from this. This is my last week of work..put in my two week notice so regardless that I'm starting it all over again or not I have a little over a month b4 a week beach trip. & gonna make that my reward (u kno how good the token system works..n pps reinforcement works) I feel much better now. Gonna take it day by day..no min by min & pray for strength but still push forward..bc my life is top prioty for actually being alive so gettin control of it should b too!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Im On my way! To work so have to keep it short but yes the lethargic part is one of the hardest for me as I'm a clean freak and the only one that cleans my house and does all the laundry. I have two dogs that need walked and am always in the middle of a craft or re decorating a part of the house. These things were all easy on pills and without them my house has fallen apart, the dogs are anxious cux I can't even bring myself to walk them, and everything has sat the way it was when I started on day 1 except a few loads of laundry and changed bedding. You have to decide that YOU and your health is the top priority. I think so many things, people, and social pressures tell us to put other things at the top of our list to succeed but when you have an addiction I think you have to be willing to let everything else slip away for a month or so and just say f it....I'm more important than ANYTHiNG else. Just be glad you don't have kids? Some ppl on here did this with children..which I cannot imagine doing.

Weekend=pop in your favorite movie and line up about 5 more. Get on Hulu and start new seasons of shows. Paint your nails. Take a bath. Sun bathe outside. Plant something. Etc.

Make it through today,,.make it through this hour. Tommrow is a new day, here goes work for the first time without pills.
Helpful - 0
5082295 tn?1371250911
Oh im sure im in the excuse area right now. & I do see I have an excuse really for it all, but I do need to realize those excuses aren't getting me anywhere. I want to do this, but on the other hand I don't know how I will feel after, will I still feel motivated etc. & all I do is think about that pill! I find myself doing other things yet thinking I wish I had one. But keeping myself busy w work this week has been at great time consumer..but now its the weekend & things have slowed down which worries me. & im so exhausted but I wonna get out & go shopping but it was all I had in me to walk my dog around outside. I keep praying im strong enough to wither the storm, but still have doubts that I cant..
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I also have a degree in psych and work in the health care field. I'm in the same boat as you and on day 5. There are always norco's in my house as a family member has to have them. I made the decision that I was DoNE and that I could beat this addiction. I'm not stronger minded than any other addict, I'm not better than you in any way, I'm in constant pain from sports injuries, and I also work a second night life job that feels impossible to do sober. You have to want this. Through and through. There is no other way. I just read this entire post and while I'm no expert (being only 5 days clean) you seem to be in the excuse area a lot...and beating yourself up for failing. The only thing that has kept me clean for 5 days is knowing what he'll it's been staying that way. I've found pills, heald them in my hand, and thrown them away.

You have to keep your mind busy...go for a walk, garden, get a n hobby out of the house, get a pet, paint your feelings out, pinterest, read support groups on here, shower, bath, play games on your phone, watch seasons of Friends, movies, whatever you have to do to NOT concentrate on the idea of a pill. In your weak moments (like I'm in right now) you get on here, read other peoples stories, and you an always find a comment from at least one person that hits home and makes you stay on track. Log off and get back to being busy.  

I can say that I know I can do it. Can you say the same?
Helpful - 0
5082295 tn?1371250911
I was also wondering..how do you know if you need professional help? Bc it was 5 days & the physical wds weren't too much better (yet I could see a slight change with it not being so so severe) but  "run down" feeling was worse the rest was still pretty darn bad. & it was wearing on me mentally. & of course psychology the "wanting it" feeling didn't go away..got worse (the 1st 2 days I was going strong tho in not wanting it. Do I need like rehab or something...idk what to do. I know im probably overeacting to the small piece I took yesterday but for some reason it makes me feel like im not gonna be able to do this..kinda like I did it once wont I again? In my life I have always done things to the end no matter how hard..but I cant say it wasn't hard but this idk put me in a tail spin of overwhelming doubt that I just cannot do it. I want so badly to prove to really myself that I can but man it feels like its all I ever think about..how it feels, when will it stop, man I need/want one. Yet ive been trying to replace thos thoughts w one day I can look back & see how great that was I did this or not chained to a bottle, or relied on it. Bc that part has really felt good. Ahh so confused I hope these wd.s don't start back to square one. Just want all this to go away, sadly it wont. Thanks again for the support..& who ever answers this question too
Helpful - 0
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