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withdrawel from vicodin
I am an addict to vicodin. I just informed my family and am stopping cold turkey yesturday. I also am starting an outpatient program on Monday. Can anyone tell me if there is anything I can take over the counter of course that will help me get through the withdrawel symptoms. I read that you can raise your seratonin levels and that may help. Please anyone!!!!!
In additon to my comment above. That was for long term addictions only. That is what helped me. It was almost 9 months before I even started to feel like myself again. Trying to quit cold turkey nearly killed me. I should have weaned down. There is one good side to cold turkey though. You will have a whole new understanding to what Hell really is, and a whole new understanding to drug addictions.
From the 10wolf.
I want to help people. I took vicodin daily for almost 15 years without missing a single dose. Then I lost my insurance. I had a choice, buy them on the streets for $3 each and lose my house or quit. I chose to quit. Like an IDIOT I went cold turkey. The withdrawls from the first day were the same three months later. I put a bullet on the table and said to myself "If I need another pain pill, this is the one I am going to take". I almost did take that "pain pill" a couple of times. I thought that the withdrawl **** was never going to go away. I could not do anything. I felt like a complete burden to my family. I was only 35 and healthy, aside from the addiction to vicodin. I searched for answers and help and could not find any. I thought it was just me going through all this pain and suffering. I didn't know what the hell was the matter with me. I thought that the withdrawl would only be a couple of weeks and then I would start feeling better. Boy, was I wrong! Finally after three and a half months I started to feel a little better, listening to music and watching nature out my window helped me get through it. I strongly suggest to people who are addicted like me to wean down from the drug. For example: If you take 4 10mg vics a day, instead of weaning down by taking only three and then two try to do this instead. Snap them in half and only take half. Keep your will power and just take half doses for one or two weeks, then do the same, break that half into half. Finally you will wean down to such a small dose it will not matter wether you are taking them or not. It is either that or you get to go cold turkey and have a dance with the devil for three months or more. Reading The Bible helped me too.
I want to help people. I took vicodin daily for almost 15 years without missing a single dose. Then I lost my insurance. I had a choice, buy them on the streets for $3 each and lose my house or quit. I chose to quit. Like an IDIOT I went cold turkey. The withdrawls from the first day were the same three months later. I put a bullet on the table and said to myself "If I need another pain pill, this is the one I am going to take". I almost did take that "pain pill" a couple of times. I thought that the withdrawl **** was never going to go away. I could not do anything. I felt like a complete burden to my family. I was only 35 and healthy, aside from the addiction to vicodin. I searched for answers and help and could not find any. I thought it was just me going through all this pain and suffering. I didn't know what the hell was the matter with me. I thought that the withdrawl would only be a couple of weeks and then I would start feeling better. Boy, was I wrong! Finally after three and a half months I started to feel a little better, listening to music and watching nature out my window helped me get through it. I strongly suggest to people who are addicted like me to wean down from the drug. For example: If you take 4 10mg vics a day, instead of weaning down by taking only three and then two try to do this instead. Snap them in half and only take half. Keep your will power and just take half doses for one or two weeks, then do the same, break that half into half. Finally you will wean down to such a small dose it will not matter wether you are taking them or not. It is either that or you get to go cold turkey and have a dance with the devil for three months or more. Reading The Bible helped me too.
14 days of cont use will produce dependence, according to a "pain management" lecture I heard several years ago,
Scary, isnt it? (I however, conveniently forgot that factoid several years ago)
5 days off hydro and 2 days off Ultram ER.
I have had a really hard time settling myself down today, I did a guided medidation for anxiety and it helped as much as a hot bath--(I have no vested interest in this but-www.healthjourneys.com)
Good luck and thanks for all you writers!! I am going to do this!!!
Scary, isnt it? (I however, conveniently forgot that factoid several years ago)
5 days off hydro and 2 days off Ultram ER.
I have had a really hard time settling myself down today, I did a guided medidation for anxiety and it helped as much as a hot bath--(I have no vested interest in this but-www.healthjourneys.com)
Good luck and thanks for all you writers!! I am going to do this!!!
I'll echo the sentiment that 2 - 3 vikes a day is an addiction. Oh yeah. Been there, done that. It's sneaky, too. It makes you convince yourself you need it. And when you stop, it hurts. In my case, three days of physical pain, runs, nerves, sleeplessness, agitation, depression. After day 3 it became more of a craving, much like wanting a cigarrette really really bad. At two weeks I was becoming even more depressed thinking that I'd never shake this feeling when suddenly it wasn't there any more.
What helped: hot showers, physical excercise (a half hour of aerobics gave me one and half hours of feeling decent). I have a blown out ankle (the reason for the vikes in the first place) so running etc is out, but I could do rowing and bicyling. Lots of water. Tylenol PM. I fessed up to my doc, who was understanding and helpful. We agreed on a 15-pill non-renewalable scrip for 0.25 mg Xanax and that helped me get through the nights. Forums like this. The love of a wonderful wife.
One warning: Because I have cronic pain, my doc, with good intentions, put me on Tramadol as "it doesn't produce the high that Vicodin does." That's true, but from what I learned personally and what I have seen here, it's much more addicting and w/d's are harder. I am on day 5 of being clean. I feel much better today. I am learning as much as I can about alternate means of pain control and never gonna do narcotics again. So, if you are a cronic pain sufferer looking to get off vikes or Oxy's or whatever, DON'T LET THEM TALK YOU INTO TRAMADOL!! IT'S WORSE!
What helped: hot showers, physical excercise (a half hour of aerobics gave me one and half hours of feeling decent). I have a blown out ankle (the reason for the vikes in the first place) so running etc is out, but I could do rowing and bicyling. Lots of water. Tylenol PM. I fessed up to my doc, who was understanding and helpful. We agreed on a 15-pill non-renewalable scrip for 0.25 mg Xanax and that helped me get through the nights. Forums like this. The love of a wonderful wife.
One warning: Because I have cronic pain, my doc, with good intentions, put me on Tramadol as "it doesn't produce the high that Vicodin does." That's true, but from what I learned personally and what I have seen here, it's much more addicting and w/d's are harder. I am on day 5 of being clean. I feel much better today. I am learning as much as I can about alternate means of pain control and never gonna do narcotics again. So, if you are a cronic pain sufferer looking to get off vikes or Oxy's or whatever, DON'T LET THEM TALK YOU INTO TRAMADOL!! IT'S WORSE!
Just an FYI, you DEFINITELY can get addicted to vicodin only taking 2 or 3 a day. Even though it is a smaller dose than most addicts eventually get to, you are still giving your body the medicine regularly every day, and your body gets used to that. If you all the sudden stop taking something you have been taking everyday for a long period of time, you will go through withdrawals. You also need to be careful though, cause eventually that 2 or 3 a day will not be enough and you will start taking more.
I never thought that I would be writing this on an addiction blog. I have been on norco for 4 years on and off. I have had bilateral knee replacements, done at the same time, nine foot surgeries, just had my thumb reconstruced ,all from severe osteoarthritis. I have stopped taking this drug successfully twice, but after I did I remembered why I took it in the first place. I have real allover body pain. I have arthritis in every joint in my feet, my spine, my neck, my clavicles and God knows where it is that hasn't been mri'd. I am also on Lyrica for neuropathy from my back discs (,in my feet) I take mobic for an anti inflammatory. I have an orthopedist(or should I say a whole practice of them-one for each area) a neurologist, a physiatrist and a physical therapist (which I consider a waste of time as it only increases my pain) I am a nurse that worked for 23 years in a hospital setting, and am on ss disability. I live with my daughter and her famly which consists of 4 children, her and her husband. The children are a 13 yr old and 5 yr old triplet girls. I have been taking care if the children since their birth, as well as the 13 yr old. I stopped working about 4 months before the birth of the triplets. I am in day 3 of w/d Wish me luck.
and haven't been on very long, but kept getting the "restlessness" and decided it was from the surgery and the "nerves" coming back and causing it. I don't know if you can start to feel an addiction after 2 months, but I"ve not taken any since yesterday, and can't sit still. I started taking tylenol, and thought about a beer, and thought better of it. Best to stick to tylenol and water I figure. In reading above, I see several had suggested b vitamins, hot baths, so I'll give that a try..so annoying the feeling, and restlessness, unable to sleep.. I can't even imagine what ya'll have gone through after being on these damn things for so long. God Bless you all, and I pray that you have gotten past your addictions.. I see the last post was in 2007....
just another contributor to let everybody know you're not alone. I'm about to start cold-turkey WD tomorrow, took my last dose of lortab 10/500 with Soma (3x3) a little while ago. I was averaging 7 of each per day, 4/4 in the morning with coffee (what a rush and motivation), then an afternoon "dose". It started out much less, of course, but that nasty thing called tolerance is a *****. So i said enough is enough. I had my pills all lined out to taper down until the end of the week, but i couldn't make it last.. i succumbed to the "rush" attempt which of course dissapates so quickly. So now i'm out, but i am comitted to get off. I have a few xanax on hand to help with the anxiety, and i have gotten off this before, so i know i can do it. The irritability and lack of sleep sucks, hopefully the xanax will help and i just have a few to get me through the hardest days. I'm like all of you, didnt expect to get this way, but the ridiculous availability in Houston (go to a "pain clinic", show them an MRI (of which i actually do have back issues) - and get 120 Norco or Lortabs, 120 Soma, 60 xanax after 15 mins). Big scam, and addicting tons of people. But i have a million reasons to get off of it now (sweet young 22 mo daughter, 2 businesses to run (that actually contributed to the stress and desire to escape reality). But enough is enough. I wish i could have tapered, but no choice now. So cold turkey it is. I know its a rough 3-4 days, so i'm just going to focus on the light at the end of the tunnel, XMAS holiday, and family. But man, its a bad cycle. I've told myself once and for all i'm done with this, and i really feel it this time. Never been a big drinker, quit smoking weed a while back, but he pills gave me that morning motivation and tingly feeling that is hard to beat. Glad i never tried heroin or oxycontin - i'd probably be hooked in no time.
So please wish me luck, and if anybody has any tips on how to manage the detox, let me know please... i've heard vitamins, something for the runs, and like i said - i intend to use those last few xanax bars to help with the sleep and try to wean off of them. And i ned to exercise out the drugs...
thanks to all
So please wish me luck, and if anybody has any tips on how to manage the detox, let me know please... i've heard vitamins, something for the runs, and like i said - i intend to use those last few xanax bars to help with the sleep and try to wean off of them. And i ned to exercise out the drugs...
thanks to all
I took my last Narco 10/325 (10 of codeine, 325 of Tylenol) last evening about this time. I want those who are taking small doses to know that, thats how I started too. 1\2 a tab twice a day for back pain. It wasnt but about four to six months before I needed more to control the pain. As of the last 6 months I,m up to 2 tablets 3 or 4 times a day. I have become forgetful and lacked enery to complete tasks so that part of the withdrawal was already in place when I was on the pills. I know Im not withdrawing from a 20 or 30 pill a day habit but I am having terrible restlessness. Im not comfortable if I sit or stand, im up and down constantly. I have a tens unit (transient electrical pulse) machine on my back and am taking naposyn which is an anti-inflammatory drug to help with the pain and so far heat seems to help a little. Im having heart palpitations and a little shortness of breath as well. It seems as though a huge nawing in my chest is making me feel like I cant take it but I know I can. Ive never been addicted to any drug or alcohol before unless you count cigerettes and I can tell you now this is much harder than quiting cigerettes. My motivators to quit are many. I truely have several hernited disc in my back as well as severe osteoarthritis but I dont know anymore how much is the real pain or just the the Vicodin telling my brain Im in pain. I really want to know this. The Dr has referred me to a Neurosurgeon and when I go to him I want to be able to describe the pain im actually in. I hardly ever sleep more than 3 hrs a night and sleep walk alot. I have become extremely forgetful and im to young for that. I am sure that is a side effect of the codeine. I will keep you posted on my progress if anyone seems interested. Reading everyone elses comments has made me feel like im not so alone. Good luck and God speed to anyone else out there going though the same thing.
Thank you so much for the information and feedback. You were very reassuring, and I do have an appt. with my Doctor in a couple of weeks. BEST, BEST to you!
Smiles, Lemon
Smiles, Lemon
I asked the pharmacist about over the counter stuff to help with wds and he told me to take Benedryl because it would make you sleepy all day and also Valerian Root which is for restful sleep. I can honestly say it did help a little, made me sleepy off and on which allowed me to rest some. But it did nothing for the other symptoms. Hope that helps...
hi there ... the 5/500 means 5mg of hydrocodone and 500mg of acetaminophen. 4000mg of acetaminophen should be the max a person should take in one day. Personally i wouldn't worry about being addicted to them if that is all that you are taking. Are you taking them for pain prescribed from your doctor? Hydrocodone/apap ( acetaminophen ) does sometimes make you sweat also, its one of the side effects of the drug. And i wouldn't worry too much about the liver since you're taking no more than 1500mg of apap a day ... But, if your still concerned have your dr run some blood work for you ... if you have anymore questions, let us know ... peace!
I have been taking 2-3 Hydrocodone 5-500's a day for about 6 months. I sweat profusely, and have extreme difficulty sleeping. What does 5-500 mean, and how bad is this affecting my liver? Should I worry about addiction at this point, or am I already addicted?
I'm into my third day of withdrawl. It is the worst. Worese than any flu Ihave ever had. Run, Chills, Shakes (which as stopped thankfully) .. I'm cheating a bit I am using Xanax to sleep.... I'll let go of that when I'm done with this.
I was taking 7/5/750 Hydros.... the 10/500 hydros means your getting more of the drug itself and less of the acetephemine. The Acet. is a killer on the kidney especially if you drink alcohol atall. It will produce high liver enzymes faster than anything.
No one who started this as a preseribe RX thought they would wind up feeling this way. I for sure did not. Admidttedly this is my third day, I befiginning to feel somehwat better, not nearly normal, but I'm going to try the hot shower bit and go fir a ride... maybe that will help. I am honestly welling is self-pity as well. I'm pretty confident that personality type would not handle getting off this slowlly with smaller doeses I know me. It's like being in pill prison... it has not bee pleasnant. The first year or two seem non-bothersome but then all of a sudden you need more to feel the same. (My experience anyway) if you stick to original doeses what happens is your body needs more and the beginning of withdrawl just start making you anxious.... so I was preseribed Xanax ... it's such a viscous cycle. There is not miralcure I guess. ITS JUST DETERMIMATION to get ouf of the cycle. Ihave asked a couple of times about the symptoms of CT....bottom line is for the last two days I'm non-functional. I just want to do noting. I graduated from 2 a day to 6 a day or 8 ... seems like w/o blinking and eye... but I started back in 2001. Last year my facination with them got to my all time level. I hav frinds who run out.... they pay $7 each for them on the street...I can't affort that but I'm headed in that direction.
Sometthing like advil will take away some of the muscle and joint pain... I hear-tell in two weeks worst is over. I've managed successfully to keep down 1/2 cup of rice and chicken soup. I have no appetite at all. NONE... You can always try some overthe counter sleeping aid to help you sleep.... it heals the boddy. I'v upped Vit C... increased B-Complex and am taking two daily vitamins while all this is going on. Admiddteldy I do feel a bit better today, but I'm still in a foggy state.
Hope this helps a little bit. Doens't paint a pretty picture huh.....In my humble opinion I was just going to get worse instead of better. When I'm all done I'll tell my PCP what I did and hopefully she cam elimate the Xanax as ell
God Bless...hope you get well soon
I was taking 7/5/750 Hydros.... the 10/500 hydros means your getting more of the drug itself and less of the acetephemine. The Acet. is a killer on the kidney especially if you drink alcohol atall. It will produce high liver enzymes faster than anything.
No one who started this as a preseribe RX thought they would wind up feeling this way. I for sure did not. Admidttedly this is my third day, I befiginning to feel somehwat better, not nearly normal, but I'm going to try the hot shower bit and go fir a ride... maybe that will help. I am honestly welling is self-pity as well. I'm pretty confident that personality type would not handle getting off this slowlly with smaller doeses I know me. It's like being in pill prison... it has not bee pleasnant. The first year or two seem non-bothersome but then all of a sudden you need more to feel the same. (My experience anyway) if you stick to original doeses what happens is your body needs more and the beginning of withdrawl just start making you anxious.... so I was preseribed Xanax ... it's such a viscous cycle. There is not miralcure I guess. ITS JUST DETERMIMATION to get ouf of the cycle. Ihave asked a couple of times about the symptoms of CT....bottom line is for the last two days I'm non-functional. I just want to do noting. I graduated from 2 a day to 6 a day or 8 ... seems like w/o blinking and eye... but I started back in 2001. Last year my facination with them got to my all time level. I hav frinds who run out.... they pay $7 each for them on the street...I can't affort that but I'm headed in that direction.
Sometthing like advil will take away some of the muscle and joint pain... I hear-tell in two weeks worst is over. I've managed successfully to keep down 1/2 cup of rice and chicken soup. I have no appetite at all. NONE... You can always try some overthe counter sleeping aid to help you sleep.... it heals the boddy. I'v upped Vit C... increased B-Complex and am taking two daily vitamins while all this is going on. Admiddteldy I do feel a bit better today, but I'm still in a foggy state.
Hope this helps a little bit. Doens't paint a pretty picture huh.....In my humble opinion I was just going to get worse instead of better. When I'm all done I'll tell my PCP what I did and hopefully she cam elimate the Xanax as ell
God Bless...hope you get well soon
I've been taking vicoprofen for 9 months. I started at 4 a day, and until last Saturday I was up to 12 or 15 per day. My last dose was noon Saturday, so I am in my second day of withdrawals. It is horrible. The depression, the body aches, the dizziness, the insomnia..It helps to see that others are going through it and have made it. Thanks. I wouldn't wish this on anybody.
I've been taking vicoprofen for 9 months. I started at 4 a day, and until last Saturday I was up to 12 or 15 per day. My last dose was noon Saturday, so I am in my second day of withdrawals. It is horrible. The depression, the body aches, the dizziness, the insomnia..It helps to see that others are going through it and have made it. Thanks. I wouldn't wish this on anybody.
plz listen like i should have stop now while you are young! believe me it took me til the age of 52 to realize it, and the w/d i think are worse mentally as one gets older. it is the toughest ordeal i have ever endured. still have a very long-way to go!!!just pray that i can get my "****" together before i loose everything esp my mind. hate living in this isolated "world", hope you never have to experience any of this, MISERY it is!!!!
I'm only 21 and i've been taking Vic for about a year and a half. Depending on how many I have; I've taken up to 30 a day. My doctor only gives me 80 a month and they're honestly gone in about 4 days!!!! I am sooo scared. I want to stop but I love it!! I really love it. I don't know what to do!!! I can't function without it. It's HORRIBLE!!!! Please, someone help me!
Supperaddict, either continue and any aspirations you have in life of being succesful or normal for that matter will be gone down the drain, or stop now, go through that week or two of big time depression, and re-adjust to normal life slowly but surely. The addiction will take you down. No one ends up in a good situation unless they quit! and by the way, if they weren't amazing and didn't make people feel so good, no one would be addicted and writing in this forum. SO THAT IS NO EXCUSE!
The best way to quit is to set goals for yourself. I don't mean weekly goals or monthly goals, I mean your real goal in your life. It truly IS all a mind game.
As far as what you can do or take for the physical pains of the withdrawals; the best thing is NOTHING! you have to say to yourself that you are about to suffer BIG TIME for the next 3-4 days, but you have to want to do it. There is nothing to take or do except drink gallons of water to filter your body, work out (cardio mainly) to sweat it out of your fat cells, and take baths every second to calm your muscle aches. I think that the toughest part is the fact that you cannot sleep and that you are exhausted yet restless, as someone put it below. But here is the funny part, almost everyone that has been addicted to Vicodin has quit at one time or another, the problem is staying off of it. You are clean and happy, and something negative happens to you, so you get back on it, it's too easy!. The answer, in my perspective is extremely simple: 1. Believe you want to quit 2. Understand why you want to quit 3. get ready to suffer like never before 4. move away for one month after you quit so you cannot access the drug anymore (even if you wanted them).
As far as what you can do or take for the physical pains of the withdrawals; the best thing is NOTHING! you have to say to yourself that you are about to suffer BIG TIME for the next 3-4 days, but you have to want to do it. There is nothing to take or do except drink gallons of water to filter your body, work out (cardio mainly) to sweat it out of your fat cells, and take baths every second to calm your muscle aches. I think that the toughest part is the fact that you cannot sleep and that you are exhausted yet restless, as someone put it below. But here is the funny part, almost everyone that has been addicted to Vicodin has quit at one time or another, the problem is staying off of it. You are clean and happy, and something negative happens to you, so you get back on it, it's too easy!. The answer, in my perspective is extremely simple: 1. Believe you want to quit 2. Understand why you want to quit 3. get ready to suffer like never before 4. move away for one month after you quit so you cannot access the drug anymore (even if you wanted them).
i have been on hydro for many years and have stopped c/t for a week, had awful withdrawals, more so mental--severe depression, self isolation,insomnia,no energy, completely change of personality. i need advice if anyone has any 2 help me get out of this awful state i am in, currently taking wellbutrin, but takes sometime for it to be effective.due to shyness i think is the reason i self-medicated with the hydros. just tired of being tired and having pills rule my life.
With the problems that you have I would not say that you are in habbit. You can have withdrawl from taking vicoden no matter how little you take it. but with only 4 pills a day you should be fine. again not a dr. but I have been on these meds for ever and research this time and time again. I have also asked my dr. so I hope what I say can help you.
Having kidney problems can cause a bigger problem. vicoden is strained through the kidneys as well as the liver. If I was you I would ask to be put on different meds. Taking Fiorocet together with the vicoden can also cause great concern. I would ask to see a pain managment specialest.
I have been on Fiorocet for the last 7 years but and it is almost the same as taking caffeen.
So be carfull and the doc what else you can take besides these meds. there is alot of meds out there now that can help with headacks. there is also a lot of different pills out there for pain.
the problem with vicoden is everyone looks for the hydrocodin in it. that is what causes the addiction. you can get vicoden that is 10mg of pain and 500 of hydro. then you dont have a bigger concern of deppendency. keep taking them as you have been but ask your dr. I am sure there is other ways to deal with the pain.
good luck.
Ash
Having kidney problems can cause a bigger problem. vicoden is strained through the kidneys as well as the liver. If I was you I would ask to be put on different meds. Taking Fiorocet together with the vicoden can also cause great concern. I would ask to see a pain managment specialest.
I have been on Fiorocet for the last 7 years but and it is almost the same as taking caffeen.
So be carfull and the doc what else you can take besides these meds. there is alot of meds out there now that can help with headacks. there is also a lot of different pills out there for pain.
the problem with vicoden is everyone looks for the hydrocodin in it. that is what causes the addiction. you can get vicoden that is 10mg of pain and 500 of hydro. then you dont have a bigger concern of deppendency. keep taking them as you have been but ask your dr. I am sure there is other ways to deal with the pain.
good luck.
Ash
Hi I have been on Vicodin for about a year...I never take more than 4 a day...my Kidney Doctor put me on it because of my very painful headaches and I take Fiorocet....1 or two a day....it was like habit and all of the sudden I feel like my heart is beating outside my chest, I cry alot and I am very sad. I am thinking I am OVER drugged because I take many other meds because I am in renal failure....my question IS....can people have withdrawals from only take 2-4 vicodin's a day? My don't by any means abuse it but I think I've just use it out of habit or perhaps addiction at this time!
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