how to get off vicodin

[embarresed83]

i have been taking 4-6 10/500 mg hydrocodones for about a yr now. i want to stop but am terrified of the w/d symptoms. i have a 7 wk old baby and a 3 yr old that i stay at home with, so this makes dealing with wd even harder. i kicked a 8 month herion addiction right before i started taking vicodin and those wd symptoms were unbearable untill i got methadone. i cant find methadone now and im to embarresd to talk to a dr. Any sugesstions

[embarresed83]

I actually took the pills my whole pregnancy. By Gods grace my baby is fine. But I am most scared of the irratability because I dont want to take it out on my kids. I hate having no energy and hurting and aching all over my body. I get very depressed and thats when I just give in and buy more. I cant let my husband know about it because im afraid he'll try and take my kids from me. Thats why I wanted the methadone because when I used it to kick the herion habbit it only took me three pills over a six day period and I didnt have to feel any wds. It just made me feel normal again

[bmdad]

I'm sorry...I said I agree with Vicki when I meant Tramahater!! I read a post a second ago where they both posted so still had that one on my mind.

Listen to Tramahater...She knows what she's talking about.

[bmdad]

I agree with Vicki...Don't go from 4 to 6 vicodin a day to methadone. The vicodin withdrawals will be so much easier. The worst of the vicodin withdrawals will be over with in about 5 days. After that you will still have some lingering effects of anxiety and insomnia. There are people that are 30 days off of methadone and still feeling pretty rough.

Have you considered tapering? I know tapering can be almost impossible for an addict so if you do give it a try you have to have someone you trust hold on to them and dole them out according to your taper plan. Even still it's not going to be easy. Many recommend just going cold turkey and getting it over with. If you taper you will feel mild withdrawals during most of the taper. If you go cold turkey you will feel worse but most of it will be over with in about a week. You just have to decide which route you would rather go.

There are otc supplements that can help. Take a look in the health pages and read about the amino acid protocol. The health pages can be found in the upper right hand side of the page.

I would talk with a doctor if I were you. They can prescribed some meds that can help with withdrawals such as clonodine.

Stick around this forum for support. There are some wonderful people here who will help you through.

Best of luck!


Brian

[LeaAnn807]

Hi!  Have you only been taking the hydro since you had the baby?  If so, then it shouldn't be too hard to stop.  Plus, you aren't on a huge dose.  

Don't be terrified of WDs.  They aren't as scary as drug addiction when it's active!  There are things you can buy OTC to help, but don't be embarrassed to talk with a doctor.  They see this kind of thing alot.  

You don't want to get on methadone for a habit the size of yours.  It will be 20 times harder to stop!  

What symptoms are you most scared of?  There are remedies for just about all of them that we can help you with!!!

Hang in there and keep posting!