Can I avoid Vicodin withdrawal symptoms if I slowly wean off of them?

[Scarface94]

I was taking Vicodin just to get high. I was taking 6 a day and I have tapered down to taking only 3 a day. I have been taking 3 a day for three days now. How should I taper down? Have I been doing a good job doing it?

[VICourageous]

Hello Scarface!!
YOU ASKED THIS QUESTIONS!
You want to know why it is a down hill battle getting high??
I am 58 and started using and drinking off & on for 40yrs. I came clean from Methadone that I snorted with adderral i got on the streets. It was like my old crank days. Then I took a benzo at night..It took me 6 months to go through small changes physical and over 2 yrs for the Brain to flip back.
When we use drugs we knock down all our happy chems like the Serintion, Endorphins,Norepinephrine and Gabba. SO SO many Chems, Receptors, Hormones and Transmitters get thrown out of whack. There are Receptors all over the Body that will get blocked and this makes the Singles though out the Brain all off too..There is so so so much more if you look up addiction or what drugs do what to the brain wiring. The scientific information is good and hot out here these days. We release neurochemicals such as Dopamine into the Brains Pleasure Center. The Dopamine purpose is to encourage survival instincts like eating, drinking or even sex. ADDICTIVE Drugs/Alcohol/Nicotine craves this like there lives depend on it. SO YOU end up living with a Drug brain and not a Real brain!
Also ALL the physical things that has happen to people who have used for so long..Liver, Kidneys, inflammation, stomach issues and like me blocked arteries over my Heart and a small heart attack. Not all comes from drugs, but I put my last penny on most of this.
When they say JAILS< INSTITUTIONS< and DEATH..They know exactly what they are saying when we stay a drug user..NO WAY OUT!!!!!

I sure hope you thank about this and go and try a few meetings like AA/NA and hear some of there stories. Being on drugs is no picnic and we ALWAYS have a price to pay and when you get older it is really Fcked Up!! There is hope so please STOP now so you can live a good life with a great future if you have not yet or even are thinking of it.

PS.. Taper slow and easy and give your brain and body time to adjust to the next drop. THEN when you are done the hard part starts and that is staying clean..Good Luck!!!

Bless

[Krissy_123]

Hey JD,if you go to the top of the page you can post another question to get you some more responses. It sounds like you're going through withdrawls. When when was your last drop in dose? Also the take one day and not the next sounds weird? Did doc tell you to do that? You'd be better off just stop all together then doing that. Sounds like you're just prolonging w/d's doing it that way? I'm not a doc or even close to it though. So that's just my opinion. You doing this with your doc?

[jammie832]

Hi there! I am new to the community and I posted a posted the other day. It was posted but now I can't find it or any answers.
I have been on Methadone, for over 10 years for sever pain in my TMJ'S joints and was on Morphi e two years before that. I have been on 30 mg twice a day. I have been weaning off since October of 2014 and it is now March 2015 and I am down to 1 mg every other day. Is it normal for me to feel very sick and the withdrawals are worse? I have been in the bed the last week with dizziness, nausea, chills, diarrhea. My question is is this normal and how long will I feel like this. Jane

[Junip]

I ultimatley had success by tapering but only when my husband controlled the distribution of the pills. Before he truly understood how I would manipulate him to get what I wanted, I could convince him to give me what was supposed to last a week and they were gone in days.  I also agree with TGD0618, you are almost prolonging your withdrawals but for me that was more manageable than CT. This is just the beginning though, it is SO easy to relapse no matter how strong your desire is to quit so be sure to get support, aftercare, therapy or something to help keep you on track.

[TGD0618]

In my experience of tapering, it is not completely eliminating the withdrawals although it is tolerable now.  The insomnia is the most uncomfortable.  You can do it!

[LookingUp1980]

YES,YES, YES!!  I just did this and am now 20 days clean!!  I weaned SUPER slowly to avoid discomfort.  Every week i cut down by a 1/2 of pill.  When i got down to my smallest doses like 1 pill i took that for at least 2 weeks, then my last dose (1/2 pill) i took for 2 weeks too.  I suggest getting some xanax too to get for sleep when you are entirely off.

[Scarface94]

Why is life on opiates a one way ticket to a horrible life? I'm just curious. Can you list all of the negatives of taking opiates? Both physical and mental/emotional

[CRSeaside]

It's the time to get into a support group. Especially since you were using to feel high. You'll need to replace those feeling and emotions to face the underling cause of pill taking.
I agree. Cut in 1/2. Try to write down when you took 1/2 pill so you know for sure you're going longer and longer between doses.
  In my experience, but I'm older, you'll still have to contend with the physical withdrawls. But tapering is better when you can do it and stick to your plan.

[NeverAgain127]

Everyone is different.   It depends a lot on how long you've been using and your age.  Age is big.  Younger people have an easier time with withdrawals.

I'm over 50, and I weaned myself from 40 mgs of oxy a day to 10.  Then I jumped.  Thought I would have only minimal withdrawals.  I was wrong...it was pretty tough for a few weeks.  BUT it was worth it.  

Life on opiates is a one way ticket to a horrible life.  Get off them NOW while you can...trust an older chic...this is the best decision you could ever make.

Don't get high with opiates...(or coke, or any other of the illicit drugs.)  You'll never end up in a good place.

Hugs,
-Robin

[atthebeach]

Well if you dropped half your dose at once and only had chills
You are doing great.
Slower is better though.

[Krissy_123]

Also we aren't really suppose to give tapering advice on here. So I don't think anyone can really come out and tell you exactly the best way to do it. You'd have to ask your doc.

[Krissy_123]

If they're 10mg I'd start breaking them into 5mg's now. Try stretching your dose an extra hour or so more too. The lower dose you're on when you finally stop the less your withdrawls will be. :))

[Scarface94]

In one day I went from 6 to 3. I've been feeling fine except when i wake up in the morning because I haven't had one in a while. The only symptom i get are these annoying chills

[atthebeach]

You have done well. How long did it take you to taper from 6 to 3?
How did/do you feel during your taper?
If you have felt ok keep doing what you are doing.
Slow and steady wins the race.

[Scarface94]

Oh yeah I'm taking the 10/325 Vicodins. 10mg hydrocodone/325mg acetaminophen