BEEN ON PAIN PILLS NORCO FOR 3 YRS DUE TO BACK INJURY

WANT TO GET OFF THESE THINGS HAVE BEEN GOING COLD TURKEY LAST 3 DAYS TAKING ONLY ONE HALF PILL WHEN I WOULD TAKE 3 OR 4 EVERY 5 HOURS . HOW LONG DOES THE PAIN LAST SEVERE ABDOMINAL PAIN , VERY WEAK, LIGHT HEADED...... PLEASE HELP STEVE

[10356]

Hi Steve and welcome to the forum.. I had read where you left a note for a poster that was wondering the why and wheres of addiction.. You had dropped your dose very quickly from 3 to 4 and hour to 1/2 You are in perpetual wd with still feeding your body the opiate every 4 hours and this amount is minimal and not conducive to a proper taper.. since you have been doing this for 3 days I would suggest stopping all meds and getting the wd behind you.. it will be done faster.. Hot baths/showers as many as you can during this time.. reading the forum you can pick up things from the drug store that will help you to tolerate the wd. Please keep reading and reaching out for support.. the worst of the physical will be over in 5 to 7 days.. sorry your Dr. cut you off like that with no warning and I wish you well.. lesa

[10356]

that was 3 or 4 every 5 hours..

[GA Guy]

Quit feeding the addiction and it will get the worst finished sooner. The worst of the physical withdrawals take a week or so. Most physical symptoms are gone within a month. The mental part lasts for life. Any thoughts on aftercare? Meetings, counseling, group therapy?

[avisg]

yes first off the half a pill needs to go. Its not going to help you at all .what you are feeling is normal your already three days in things will lighten up soon,just watch the abdominal pain if it gets unbearable or you are running a high fever with it you may have something else going on.

[STEVE487]

I MISWROTE SOMETHING I WAS TAKING 3 TO 4 EVERY 4 HOURS NOT EVERY HOUR, I CANT BELIEVE THE BACK SURGEON JUST SAID U NEED TO CUT DOWN AND I SAID I AGREE AND HE SAID OK THESE ARE THE LAST IM GONN GIVE U. DIDNT GIVE ME ANY DIRECTION OR HOW TO CUT DOWN. I AM TAKING ABOUT ONE THIRD PILL 3 X A DAY DO U THINK THAT IS OK FOR NOW JUST TO TAKE THE SEVERE STOMACH ACHES AWAY

[STEVE487]

FIRST I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO HAS ADDED A REPLY AND TRYING TO HELP ME I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN ON THE OTHER SIDE BEING IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, SO BEING ADDICTED TO SOMETHING IS NEW TO ME IVE NEVER TAKEN ANY PAIN MEDS OVER 3 WEEKS BEFORE AND JUST CANT UNDERSTAND WHY THE DR. DIDNT LET ME KNOW OF THE POSSIBLE ADDICTION TO THE NORCO. I DONT KNOW WHICH HURTS WORSE THE TWO HERNIATED DISCS OR THE WITHDRAWEL FROM THIS STUFF. U MENTIONED THAT IF I STARTED RUNNING A HIGH FEVER WHAT WOULD THAT SIGNIFY AND SHOULD I GO TO THE HOSPITAL ASAP IF IT OCCURRS . AGAIN MY THANKS FOR THE HELP AND SUPPORT U HAVE GIVEN ME......... STEVE

[worried878]

Thing is steve is the small amount u r taking is only prolonging this..it isnt helping cos if u were taking 3-4 every 4-6 hours ur tolerence has gone way up...Do u have a history of addiction?  in either case///especially since it sounds ike u havent been on them long...cutting all opiates would be the fastest route to feeling better for u.....were u taking more than 10 a day?  hang tight and keep posting

[STEVE487]

NO IVE NEVER HAD ANY ADDICTION PROBLEMS . I COULDNT SLEEP AT ALL LAST NIGHT ID DOZE OFF FOR 5 MIN AND WAKE UP . IM SO TIRED AND THE PAIN IN THE STOMACH. I THINK I MAY GO TO THE REDI CARE OR THE PHAMACY TO SEE IF THEY HAVE SOMETHING TO TAKE THE EDGE OFF , DO U KNOW OF ANYTHING U CAN SUGGEST TO HELP ME GET THROUGH  THE NEXT FEW DAYS . THANKS FOR YOUR CONCERN

[Cissy373]

Steve I just went CT and I am on day 19 and I feel great now other than my pain. I have chronic pain from RSD and there is no cure.

If I could just bear this pain I would be ok.

Good luck and I never did do a taper just went CT and I felt like you know what for 3-4 days like the worst flu but after that I felt ok, everyone is different.

Cissy

[STEVE487]

WHAT IS THE CHRONIC PAIN FROM RSD U ARE TALKING ABOUT

[jossysmom]

How are you? You still hanging in there? Did you end up going to the pharmacy or redicare to get something? Keep us posted.

[122 Tactical Fighter Group]

Steve - - from the OTHER side of law enforcement - Welcome to medhelp .... you came to the right place. The Norco product information that was with your script outlines the addictive nature of your medication. The doctor must have thought that you would read it.  I would think that a trip to Redi-Med or your own GP would be in order...... You will be much more comfortable over the next week if you get some BP med for the withdrawal period - - and maybe a RX sleep aid.  A catapress patch would be one suggestion.....maybe phenergan ....maybe vistoril...  possibly zolpiderm... Lots of stuff that only your Doc can give you.................  Otherwise there are OTC items that can substitute - - But you will be best off with a pro's help...................

[Kevin_Bacon]

Yeah, the stomach thing ... try Maalox or Gelusil (OTC) -- it's a chalky liquid antacid that coats the lining. Buy a bottle of Rolaids, and sip milk (2%; milk's hard to digest for many) kept beside the bed.

Pepto is another option -- I just had more success with the others. And Rolaids are the best short-term antacid; wash them down (after chewing) with a sup of milk.

Cut down the caffeine intake, if that applies.

I think this will help a lot. Good luck.

[STEVE487]

NO WHEN I RUPERTUED THE TWO DISCS THE DR. DIDNT TELL ME HOW ADDICTIVE IT WAS AND JUST TOLD ME TO FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS ONE TO TWO PILLS EVERY 6 TO EIGHT HOURS AND THATS WHAT IVE DONE FOR ALMOST 3 YEARS . IVE COMPLAINED TO SEVERAL DRS ABOUT STOMACH PROBLEMS AND ASKED IF IT COULD BE ANY MEDS THEY HAVE ME ON . TWO GASTROLOGISTS AND THE SPINE SURGEON SAID NO. WHEN I WENT TO SEE HIM 3 WEEKS AGO HE TOLD ME HE WAS GOING TO SET ME UP WITH GOING TO SEE A PAIN SPECIALIST . I ADVISED HIM THAT I DIDNT WANT TO CONTINUE TAKING PAIN MEDS FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE AND HE SAID OK FORGET THE PAIN SPECIALIST AND TOLD ME HE WAS GONNA FILL THE NORCO THIS LAST TIME. I GO TO SEE MY PRIMARY DR. TOMMORROW MORNING AND HOPEFULLY THEY WILL GIVE ME SOMETHING TO EASE THE STOMACH CRAMPS

[122 Tactical Fighter Group]

The Doctor may have expected you to read the information that is supplied with your script and is legally mandated that you recieve when you get the Norco - -  But thats all irrelevant right now.  See your primary and tell him what you told us in that post.... they do have things like I mentioned above that can help you a lot..... A steady dose of narcotics for three years will cause some problems....  But none that you cant handle... See the Doc and he can fix you up with some RX things so its not so uncomfortable........

[jossysmom]

Yeah, the thing is, Doctors aren't obligated to tell you that these medications are highly addictive. Like theeagle said, your doctor probably thought that you'd read the info. that comes with your script everytime you pick it up. Now, the pharmacy, however, IS obligated to give you that information with your script. Mine always ended up in the trash but I knew what I was getting into.  Anyway, the fact is you are in withdrawl (withdrawal) right now and hopefully your pcp will help you out in the morning. Hate to tell you friend, although you've never had "addiction problems" in the past,...here you are and it's definetely a problem. Keep us posted and you are in the right place for support. Good luck!

[STEVE487]

WENT TO MY PERSONAL DR. AND HE PRESCRIBED ME PRILOSEC FOR THE STOMACH TOOK EKG CAUSE I HAD HEART PROBLEM TWO YEARS AGO AND ORDERED ME A CATAPRESS PATCH. SO ON WE GO LAST NIGHT WAS BAD COULDNT SLEEP OR ANYTHING EVEN WITH SLEEPING PILLS MUST HAVE BEEN IN MY JUCUZZI 10 TIMES TO RELAX DID GIVE LITTLE RELIEF HE ALSO GAVE ME SLEEPING PILL