A new start

[McTigerlily]

Wow, I have been reading on this site for hours and I just feel so hopeful that I will get off of hydros and one day be normal again. I began reading about how opiods work in the brain, binding to the receptors and your body gets used to the receptors being overflowed with the opiods. Well, when you stop, those receptors are empty and then you really don't have anything to help with stress. Endorphins, etc are usually there to flood the receptors, but spurts of endorphins just aren't enough after heavy doses of opiods. The body begins to panic. Then the cravings start.
I never knew this medical stuff about addiction! I always just thought, "God I am a worthless, lying, junkie." Even 'addict' just felt dirty; not like I was admitting anything admirable and worthy for me to change. Now I see that my brain/body is reacting very, very normally to a very abnormal. For some reason, now that I can see it medically, I feel like, "Wow. OK. So, this can be done. It's going to suck, but my body can repair itself and I really don't NEED this stuff."

Anyone got any words about this? I am trying to get off of 15 pills a day of Lortab 10mg. Not so fun. Could Sub work for me short term? I don't want a substitute, just a fast-track to getting off this ****.

[flmagi]

I'm on Sub and have to say I Do Not Recommend it for you. I would normally only recommend it for someone who has tried time and time again to quit and are at really dangerous levels of opiates.
You can get threw this and the suggestion of having your husband hold your pills is good, if you continue to taper.
You may be very surprised at the difference in your attitude with your husband once you're off the pills. You'll see and understand what I'm saying. Everything will get a lot better.
You might want to do the taper for a bit and then just jump into cold turkey and get it over with.
Keep posting, we're all here to help and support you threw this.
Good luck and stay strong.

[troubleinohio]

i sometimes laugh when i think of the different responses I have given to people on the topic of Sub...most of the time i say NO dont do it, dont ever take it, its just replacing your other drug and you still have to get off it at some point and go thru WD, its just delaying the inevitable.  Then theres soem folks who come on here that seem lower than rock bottom and have tried and tried 20+ times to get off their DOC and just cant kick it and sometimes i tell them that maybe Sub is for them...im so wishy washy. ANyhow, i guess thats how it should be- there is no black and white advice regarding sub- its an individual case by case basis. some people have to have it to get off (like some that maybe be taking SO much acetominophen a day that they are lucky to be alive each day without liver failure and death ) so in that case, at least the sub has no aceto to kill the liver, you know?  But in your case I definitely would not try it. Good luck with the taper plan, hope it works for you. I couldnt taper for the life of me. I had to go CT off the Vics. STick around here, this site is invaluable and a life saver!

[Fritz67]

Hey, you can do this.  Everyone is here to support you.  I started my taper from norco on Wednesday (today is Saturday).  I thought I was taking 10 a day but I really think it was more.  The first 24 hours, I went from whatever I was taking a day to 8 a day.  Took 8 pills on Thursday, 7 pills yesterday and will take 7 today as well.  I did feel w/d's the first 24 hours like sweating and cramping but the past few days, it's been hot/cold/hot/cold and a LITTLE trouble sleeping.  I put together a spreadsheet in excel of how long it will take me to wean, when I will take each dose per day and so far I have stuck to it.  I think my taper has been so slow that the w/d's are minimal.  No one knows I have this problem and I have small boys to take care of and a single mom so I do NOT have the option to go to rehab - nor do I want to.  I want to try this first and I AM GOING TO DO THIS...  I am very optomistic.  I envy those that can go cold turkey and just suck it up and deal with the wd's all at once.  I just can't do it.  For so many reasons.  I feel good today, not hungry at all but still trying to eat and take vitamins.  The slow taper is my route that is working for me so far.  I'm glad I chose this for my specific circumstances.  It's all about preference and what kind of arrangements you can make to allow yourself to detox.  I'd love to take a week off and CT but it's not an option.  

Good  luck with whatever you choose.  I spoke to a suboxone clinic the other day just to do some research and it's not for me and I won't be choosing that.  Once these opiates are out of my bloodstream, I don't want to put anything else back in!!  I don't want these out of my body to only substitute it with something else.  The guy at the clinic told me how much it would cost to go on the suboxone and NO THANKS!  Not only that, I'd be a slave to another medication.  I will suck it up  for now and do it my way.  If I need help, after I get this **** out of my body, I will go from there.  Hang in there, you are not a bad person (the guy at the clinic told me this), you give your body something it likes and it will keep seeking it out, like sugar or whatever.  I'm down to 7 pills a day in the past 3 days so I really know I'm making progress.  

[mickeypit]

to mctigerlily,,,,,,,,,,you are home of crimson tide......my advice to u is taper down for a week or two and prepare for a flu like period for 72 hours to follow.....i just went through withdraw from vikes and i have 2 newborn twins.........my wife is a doctor.....i take care of the house and the babies..............my secret was to keep busy...go through your routines and tough it out,,,,u can do it.....in the end ,it will be better for you and your family.hope things go smooth for u......................................

[gizzy32]

I am glad to hear you did you research about sub and in my opinion you don't need it coming off that amount of hydro's. Good luck with your taper, it can be tough to stick to for some and we need all the help we can get. The cravings are normal and it's the mental side that is the toughest. Myself I could not taper, i would be eating more, lol. Is there any way your hubby can help you with this, maybe by holding your pills during the taper? Good luck and keep posting. You will be amazed how you feel once that fog is lifted, it's almost like a rebirth:)

[McTigerlily]

I spent all night reading about Sub and yeah, I don't think that's for me. It sounds like it is still just replacing the body's natural pain management system like opiods do.

I am starting to taper today. I don't know how it will go, but I want it to work. Like intothedarkagain, it's hard for me to taper off. Especially when my husband is coming down on me (he's a perfectionist), but also when I get excited, like when I'm painting or having a great day with my 16 month old. Does anyone else experience that? Like, you get really giddy and the cravings are worse?! I didn't expect that at all. I mean, I began this downward spiral to get away from depression and shame, so when I'm happy and doing good, why do I still want this stuff?

BTW, my husband and I start professional counseling next week. I'm not real excited about that, but I know I have to do everything to try and make this work. I want it to work. He doesn't (he says) know he's being critical of me constantly. If I point it out, he says, "I am not being critical. You always think I'm attacking you." Imagine my surprise if he turns out to be right! I can't wait to see everything in a clear light without the fog of hydros.

[steveo30]

i never would recommend suboxone for someone trying to get off of lortab,it just dosen't make sense,at least for me.i would try tapering slowly.if you think that your receptors are empty now and you go on this suboxone thing ,the endorphins will take much longer to get hooked up again.at the bottom of this page on the right,hit suboxone/subutex, you will find out more info.on this drug and i'm sure you will get many responses from people that have been through this before.i wish you luck on whatever you choose.   steveo

[intothedarkagain]

It is great to see you.

It is going to suck getting clean no matter how you do it.
Some people like to tapper, but that is too hard for me.
I think going Cold Turkey is the best.
I am on day three of cold turkey and I hurt really bad, but I think I am learning this time.
I would, this is just my opinion, stay away from the sub.
Read online about people trying to get of that stuff.
Man o friday.
30 days of WD?
That would suck.
As you are looking right now, you have 4 days of hell and you will start to feel better.
Actually you are going to start feeling better after two days.
I feel a lot better today.
WHen you are ready to stop, let us know and we can guide you through the steps to make it easier...without subox or methadone.
CT CT CT CT yes!!!!

I hope this helps.
You can do it.
We can do it.
Sincerely,
Joshua From Oregon