Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Addiction: Substance Abuse Community
This community is a place to share information and support with others who are trying to stop using drugs, prescription drugs, alcohol, tobacco or other addictive substances. Discuss with others, the symptoms of addiction, addiction recovery, ways to quit like tapering and cold turkey, and withdrawal symptoms. If you are interested in general "chat", please visit our Addiction Social Community.
hydrocodone withdrawal
by tlb63, Nov 30, 2002 12:00AM
Hello,
I have been taking hydrocodone 10/500 for over 1 year now. I am desperately trying to quit on my own.I cannot go in for treatment as I have 4 kids and a wife to support. Is there anything at all I can do to help me with the withdrawal symptoms? I have a very stressful job and work alot of hours and I cannot afford to be "sick" at work. Is there anything over the counter I can take to help me out? I know I need to quit taking the hydrocodone now as I do not like the way it makes me feel any longer and feel it is taking it's toll on my health as well. Thanks for your help. This is a very helpful web-site.
tlb
I have been taking hydrocodone 10/500 for over 1 year now. I am desperately trying to quit on my own.I cannot go in for treatment as I have 4 kids and a wife to support. Is there anything at all I can do to help me with the withdrawal symptoms? I have a very stressful job and work alot of hours and I cannot afford to be "sick" at work. Is there anything over the counter I can take to help me out? I know I need to quit taking the hydrocodone now as I do not like the way it makes me feel any longer and feel it is taking it's toll on my health as well. Thanks for your help. This is a very helpful web-site.
tlb
Well you have arrived with an identical problem to many here ont his forum.
to answer your question, Yes, there are many things you can do to get off of these drugs. Give us some more info first though. You didn't mention much about why your taking them, or if you are in pain. Also, you may want to take a look at the challenge I p[osted here and ask yourself if you want to try this.
If you do, we'll help you, OK? Here's something called the Thomas Recipe for Vicodin withdrawal. MAny here, myself included swear by it.
We are NOT doctors, just fellow users. Check with your doc first, tell him everything, in all it's ugly detail. Then ask him about this plan.
Rex
p.s. Not sure I agree with Benzo item below. I did it using Klonopin VERY VERY sparingly!
--------------------------------------------------------
THOMAS RECIPE
If you can't take time off to detox, I recommend you follow a taper regimen using your drug of choice or suitable alternate -- the slower the taper, the better.
For the Recipe, You'll need:
1. Valium (or another benzodiazepine such as Klonopin, Librium, Ativan or Xanax). Of these, Valium and Klonopin are best suited for tapering since they come in tablet form. Librium is also an excellent detox benzo, but comes in capsules, making it hard to taper the dose. Ativan or Xanax should only be used if you can't get one of the others.
2. Imodium (over the counter, any drug or grocery store).
3. L-Tyrosine (500 mg caps) from the health food store.
4. Strong wide-spectrum mineral supplement with at least 100% RDA of Zinc, Phosphorus, Copper and Magnesium.
5. Vitamin B6 caps.
6. Access to hot baths or a Jacuzzi (or hot showers if that's all that's available).
How to use the recipe:
Begin your detox with regular doses of Valium (or alternate benzo). Start with a dose high enough to produce sleep. Before you use any benzo, make sure you're aware of how often it can be safely taken. Different benzos have different dosing schedules. Taper your Valium dosage down after each day. The goal is to get through day 4, after which the worst WD symptoms will subside. You shouldn't need the Valium after day 4 or 5.
During detox, hit the hot bath or Jacuzzi as often as you need to for muscle aches. Don't underestimate the effectiveness of hot soaks. Spend the entire time, if necessary, in a hot bath. This simple method will alleviate what is for many the worst opiate WD symptom.
Use the Imodium aggressively to stop the runs. Take as much as you need, as often as you need it. Don't take it, however, if you don't need it.
At the end of the fourth day, you should be waking up from the Valium and experiencing the beginnings of the opiate WD malaise. Upon rising (empty stomach), take the L-Tyrosine. Try 2000 mgs, and scale up or down, depending on how you feel. You can take up to 4,000 mgs. Take the L-Tyrosine with B6 to help absorption. Wait about one hour before eating breakfast. The L-Tyrosine will give you a surge of physical and mental energy that will help counteract the malaise. You may continue to take it each morning for as long as it helps. If you find it gives you the "coffee jitters," consider lowering the dosage or discontinuing it altogether. Occasionally, L-Tyrosine can cause the runs. Unlike the runs from opiate WD, however, this effect of L-Tyrosine is mild and normally does not return after the first hour. Lowering the dosage may help.
With breakfast, take the mineral supplement.
As soon as you can force yourself to, get some mild exercise such as walking, cycling, swimming, etc. This will be hard at first, but will make you feel considerably better.
Please post the details on this supplement if you any info on it, or have used it successfully.
Rex
Thanks for your posts. They really help me alot. I'm glad you're here.
Love to all,
Pink
As far as the Benzos, I don't recommend them at all - they are part of the original Thomas Recipe I found here.
Listen to me carefully Pink - be VERY careful with these drugs, because from what I read withdrawal from these is a greater hell than from opioids. Stevie Nicks had a well publicized detox stay from Klonopin, and I would not wish this on anyone.
As I have mentioned, for me the mental pain of anxiety and depression is a thousand times worse than the physical pain. You may want to jump over to the mental health forum and have a lok around or post a question over there. So please consult your physician before continuing with any plan.
Having said that, they can help in low dosages to help you sleep, and take some of the WDs away. Ativan, klonopin, and Valium are all in the same family - benzodiazapans (sp) and are basically tranquilizers. Ativan works faster, but Knlonopin lasts longer - I have no info on Valium other than it's the oldest of the drugs.
Take these in low doses or not all if you can stand it. Use the other items in the recipe to help you.
Were you the one who said that you never prayed, but you have just started? If so, I will be happy to provide more info on God to you, but only if you want it. I will say that I know God has been watching you and waiting for you to take a step towards him. He's got a plan, that's so much better than our own plan.
Let me know if you want more info, or if I can just answer any questions.. OK?
Rex
Rex
But now, you are turned around and speeding back the other way, and for many THIS turnaround is the hardest part.
Many of us are way down the wrong road, thousands of miles even, but we know once we turnaround, with some rough spots ahead, there is hope we get back to where we once were.
Congratulations on completing one of the toughest parts of detox - the admission!
I would focus on detox in two parts:
1) Taper down on the narcotics first, until you get a very low level, which you will then take to a NO level
2) Worry about getting rid of the other non-narcotic stuff next, like the ibuprofren
One more thing - all the experts, of which I am not one, will tell you that the alcohol and drugs go hand in hand. What I mean is while you consider Detox, why not consider COMPLETRE sobriety?
Good luck - don't forget to harness THE MOST AWESOME POWER IN THE UNIVERSE - God and prayer!
Rex
Thomas Detox Recipe
PLEASE NOTE: I am not a doctor, simply a long-time Rx opiate junkie who has had many opportunities to develop a way to detox. This is a recipe for at-home self-detox from opiates based on my experience as well as that of many other addicts. It is not intended as professional medical advice. It is always wise to make sure none of the recipe ingredients or procedures conflict with medications you may be taking. Likewise, if you have any medical condition, disease, allergy or any other health issue, consult your doctor before using the recipe. Thanks, Thomas
This recipe is designed for cold turkey opiate detox. It assumes that you can get about 5 to 7 days away from your job or household responsibilities during which you can sleep, veg and act as miserable as you feel. Opiate WD mimics the symptoms of the common flu, so, if you need a smokescreen, hide behind a bad case of the flu.
If you can't take time off to detox, I recommend you follow a taper regimen using your drug of choice or suitable alternate -- the slower the taper, the better.
For the Recipe, You'll need:
1. Valium (or another benzodiazepine such as Klonopin, Librium, Ativan or Xanax). Of these, Valium and Klonopin are best suited for tapering since they come in tablet form. Librium is also an excellent detox benzo, but comes in capsules, making it hard to taper the dose. Ativan or Xanax should only be used if you can't get one of the others.
2. Imodium (over the counter, any drug or grocery store).
3. L-Tyrosine (500 mg caps) from the health food store.
4. Strong wide-spectrum mineral supplement with at least 100% RDA of Zinc, Phosphorus, Copper and Magnesium.
5. Vitamin B6 caps.
6. Access to hot baths or a Jacuzzi (or hot showers if that's all that's available).
How to use the recipe:
Begin your detox with regu