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Cold Turkey Hydrocodone Withdrawal
Hi Everyone:
I came across this forum while searching hydrocodone withdrawal, and I need support I'm quitting Friday, the 18th, and I'm doing it cold turkey. I've tried unsuccessfully a handful of times tapering, only to do well for a couple of days, then end up taking more than what I started with. I have everything planned out, but I'm soooooo scared. I've never been this scared in my entire life. I've been on them 2 years, with the last 4 months or so having progressed to about 100-120mg of 10/325 daily. Can anyone give me any advice? What is everyone's experience with the withdrawal duration? I'm worried about the depression more than anything. I've got to be around family for Christmas, and I only have a week. I've got to be able to put on my "game face," so to speak, because I do not want them to sense that something is awry. Sometimes I don't think I can fight this battle. I want to quit terribly...I feel like I'm fighting for my life. They've become my best friend, and my worst enemy. Very few people know....my family has no idea, hence the little support network. Only just a couple of very close friends know how bad the addiction has become. I feel like I've lost myself--my complete soul--in those little yellow pills. Someone please help me!!!!
I came across this forum while searching hydrocodone withdrawal, and I need support I'm quitting Friday, the 18th, and I'm doing it cold turkey. I've tried unsuccessfully a handful of times tapering, only to do well for a couple of days, then end up taking more than what I started with. I have everything planned out, but I'm soooooo scared. I've never been this scared in my entire life. I've been on them 2 years, with the last 4 months or so having progressed to about 100-120mg of 10/325 daily. Can anyone give me any advice? What is everyone's experience with the withdrawal duration? I'm worried about the depression more than anything. I've got to be around family for Christmas, and I only have a week. I've got to be able to put on my "game face," so to speak, because I do not want them to sense that something is awry. Sometimes I don't think I can fight this battle. I want to quit terribly...I feel like I'm fighting for my life. They've become my best friend, and my worst enemy. Very few people know....my family has no idea, hence the little support network. Only just a couple of very close friends know how bad the addiction has become. I feel like I've lost myself--my complete soul--in those little yellow pills. Someone please help me!!!!
Im not sure how to start a new thread but, THANK YOU for the advice.. This is utter hell and I keep lying to myself telling myself if i just go get 10 or 20 pills i can function, come Monday.. Wednesday was my last day.. I gave every PENNY I had to the ONLY person that knows what i am doing and took Thursday and Friday off so i had, 6 days to withdrawl.. But i just want to feel batter...
welcome to the forum !!!
this is a very old thread, you'd better copy paste your post and start a new thread so that the members see your post and you get more answers...
Day 3 is usually the worst so hopefully you will start feeling better soon but some of the symptoms will linger longer ( lack of sleep, lack of energy, bouts of anxiety and depression and the restless legs symdrome..., do not get discouraged by this, pls.... it takes some time but you will feel better ! ) I would advice you to read the thomas recipe, there are some good advices there that can help you ....mineral supplements, magnesium and potasium will help with muscle cramps and pain, Hylands restful legs is a homeopatic remedy for the RLS, tonic water ( the quinine on it helps too ), valerian root will help with anxiety and stomach cramps and sleep, melatonin as a good sleep inducer..... as for now, take a very hot bath ( much better if you add epsom salts) and it will relieve a little your muscle cramps and RLS.... sweating is really common as well as the other symptoms, your body is detoxing all the toxins out and you are at the peak of the wds, take a hot bath now and you will feel a bit better
stay in the forum,, this is a great place and you will not feel alone... GOOD LUCK
this is a very old thread, you'd better copy paste your post and start a new thread so that the members see your post and you get more answers...
Day 3 is usually the worst so hopefully you will start feeling better soon but some of the symptoms will linger longer ( lack of sleep, lack of energy, bouts of anxiety and depression and the restless legs symdrome..., do not get discouraged by this, pls.... it takes some time but you will feel better ! ) I would advice you to read the thomas recipe, there are some good advices there that can help you ....mineral supplements, magnesium and potasium will help with muscle cramps and pain, Hylands restful legs is a homeopatic remedy for the RLS, tonic water ( the quinine on it helps too ), valerian root will help with anxiety and stomach cramps and sleep, melatonin as a good sleep inducer..... as for now, take a very hot bath ( much better if you add epsom salts) and it will relieve a little your muscle cramps and RLS.... sweating is really common as well as the other symptoms, your body is detoxing all the toxins out and you are at the peak of the wds, take a hot bath now and you will feel a bit better
stay in the forum,, this is a great place and you will not feel alone... GOOD LUCK
I have been on ANY hydros that I can get my hands on for 16 months now.. 3 months ago I realized that THEY were truly all I cared about and knew I had to put an end to this INSANITY... I would take 4 tens or the equivelency of in the morning after my shower, 2 more on the drive to work and then usually 3 or 4 (dosages) of 2 to 3 during the day.. So between 180 to 250 mg daily, it was highly expensive. 2 weeks ago i started tapering off my dosage (allowance), but today is day 3 ct and it is HORRIBLE.. Its 321 am and WHERE does this restless leg thing come FROM.. The hot, cold,hot,cold is TERRIBLE and I have a bottle of xanax but i have to take 2 or 3, 1mg to even feel like sleep as i sweat through the sheets and thrash around all night... HOW LONG will this last??
Ok guys...here we are. Day One. Cravings are so intense, I can't almost bear it. I've taken ativan to help me through this, and I have always been one to HATE benzos, so I might've taken maybe 3 vailum in my entire life. Its made my groggy, yet I can't go to sleep. Will keep you updated through my progress. Please pray for me and wish me luck.
Hang in there and don't give up. Freedom gave great advice. Main thing try your hardest to do what you can to get plenty of rest, healthy eatting, and especially stay hydrated. You may want to get some gatorade for electrolytes. If regular food is too much for you, atleast try jello and yogurt. A little benadryl can help you sleep better or melatonin and valerian or kava kava are natural supplements that relax and help sleep. You can get the natural stuff at a local health store. The detox will go much better if you are able to get plenty of sleep. Epsom salt baths with lavender oil will sooth and relax uptight muscles. If nothing else push yourself to shower atleast everyday. As you detox, it literally can feel like it's coming out of your pores and cleaning up will wash those toxins away and make you feel a bit better.
I too tried Hyland's restless legs before and it did seem to be very helpful.
And if you believe in a higher power, pray day and night to help you get through this.
Best wishes. Try not to be scared. Practice deep breathing and use it whenever anxiety comes over you. Some say just take it one day at a time. I say take it one minute at a time if you have to!
hugs, Shanna
I too tried Hyland's restless legs before and it did seem to be very helpful.
And if you believe in a higher power, pray day and night to help you get through this.
Best wishes. Try not to be scared. Practice deep breathing and use it whenever anxiety comes over you. Some say just take it one day at a time. I say take it one minute at a time if you have to!
hugs, Shanna
Thank you so much for your words of encouragement. I have approximately 19 hours to go (not that I'm counting or anything)!! I can honest to God say I've never been more scared of anything in my entire life. I'm a college-educated (master's degree), twenty-something year old woman who has no clue how I ever ended up in this place! That is neither here nor there; what matters, I guess, is that somehow I did, and now I just need to get out. I'm so beyond ready to find my inner self again, outside of the pills, but what I'm more scared beyond anything else is the detox. PLEASE stay with me. I will be continuing to update you on my progress, but I need every morsel of support I can get. Thank you all!!
The first thing you need to know is that the mind will play tricks on you. Telling you this is not possible. That is simply not true. Kicking norcos, although hard and unpleasant, is actually one of the easiest of the drugs to detox from. That being said, you have to "FEED" your body and not take a "sit back and wait" attitude. Like anything else, the harder you fight, the easier you will make it. So, with that said, here are some tips.
1) There is a ton of great information on this site regarding Vitamin and Amino Acid intake. Some examples are Fish Oils (3-6-9), Thyrosine, B-6/12, Multi Vitamins...etc. I went to GNC and picked up a Protein Shake mix. It has everything you need in terms of amino acids...the building blocks you body/brain needs to right itself.
2) Hot epsom salt baths...worked wonders for me. The salt helps accelerate the detox and they feel great and will calm you down.
3) Hydration...drink until you can't drink anymore.
4) For many, like me...RLS (restless legs, the feeling like electricity running through your body) and lack of sleep are the worst thing. I got Hylands, Restless Legs which helps a ton. For sleep, everyone is different, and you may need something to help.
5) Excercise...it sounds like hell, but it is amazing what even a 15 minute walk can do.
Know this...what you feel will not last forever. Most will say, that after Day 5 you will be feeling much better. Not 100%, but good enough to do what you need to do. Everything comes back, with a little hard work and determination. It won't feel like it, but every minute, hour and day that you make it, you are one day closer to your goal of...FREEDOM. These little pills take everything away...and it's time to get back to living instead of existing.
Oh yeah, one more thing...POST and READ POSTS. I did it for 3 days straight and it was a great tool to help wisk the hours away. There are a ton a great folks on this site at various stages of recovery. You are not alone and you can do this.
Keep us updated...we will be here to help.
1) There is a ton of great information on this site regarding Vitamin and Amino Acid intake. Some examples are Fish Oils (3-6-9), Thyrosine, B-6/12, Multi Vitamins...etc. I went to GNC and picked up a Protein Shake mix. It has everything you need in terms of amino acids...the building blocks you body/brain needs to right itself.
2) Hot epsom salt baths...worked wonders for me. The salt helps accelerate the detox and they feel great and will calm you down.
3) Hydration...drink until you can't drink anymore.
4) For many, like me...RLS (restless legs, the feeling like electricity running through your body) and lack of sleep are the worst thing. I got Hylands, Restless Legs which helps a ton. For sleep, everyone is different, and you may need something to help.
5) Excercise...it sounds like hell, but it is amazing what even a 15 minute walk can do.
Know this...what you feel will not last forever. Most will say, that after Day 5 you will be feeling much better. Not 100%, but good enough to do what you need to do. Everything comes back, with a little hard work and determination. It won't feel like it, but every minute, hour and day that you make it, you are one day closer to your goal of...FREEDOM. These little pills take everything away...and it's time to get back to living instead of existing.
Oh yeah, one more thing...POST and READ POSTS. I did it for 3 days straight and it was a great tool to help wisk the hours away. There are a ton a great folks on this site at various stages of recovery. You are not alone and you can do this.
Keep us updated...we will be here to help.
Don't worry yourself sick Hunny. I am addicted to hydrocodones also. Today is day 6 clean and I feel great! I was taking 200mg a day. If you can taper, even just a little, it makes a huge difference! It was hard for me to taper too, so I know how you feel.
You've come to the right place for support! Everyone is different with the severity and duration of withdrawals. But I can tell you what helped me. Taper off as much as you can!
Have Immodium or Pepto on hand along with Motrin/ibuprofen for muscle aches. Take hot baths if you have muscle cramps. I was pretty weak only for 2 days. On day 3, I was starting to feel normal again!
Just keep in mind that the withdrawals will pass and try to stay strong! I, too, was scared to death and it wasn't as bad as I expected! Keep your head up, you can get thru this and you are doing the right thing by quitting!!
Don't give up!
You've come to the right place for support! Everyone is different with the severity and duration of withdrawals. But I can tell you what helped me. Taper off as much as you can!
Have Immodium or Pepto on hand along with Motrin/ibuprofen for muscle aches. Take hot baths if you have muscle cramps. I was pretty weak only for 2 days. On day 3, I was starting to feel normal again!
Just keep in mind that the withdrawals will pass and try to stay strong! I, too, was scared to death and it wasn't as bad as I expected! Keep your head up, you can get thru this and you are doing the right thing by quitting!!
Don't give up!
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