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237500 tn?1189755831

DETOXING OFF OF HYDROCODONE - NEED HELP!!!

I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2000 and since then, my neurologist has been giving me an almost unlimited supply of Hydrocodone for my "headaches". Up until this past year, it wasnt so bad. I could have a bottle of Hydrocodone - 10/325 mg. and i could make it last me almost a month. I never really considered myself an addict because I could stop taking them at any time and I wouldnt withdraw.
This past year has been different. Last summer I had an injury and a different Dr. gave perscribed me Hydrocodone as well as the Hydrocodone that i was already getting from my Neurologist. I started using them more often (vs. taking them "as needed") and I realized that I couldnt function on a daily basis if I didnt have them. This past Christmas (December '06) I somehow managed to go through 8 bottles of Hydrocodone (qty. 20 - 10/325) in less than 3 weeks. I made a New Years resolution to get off of the drug completely because my addiction at that point had taken over my life and the thought of calling myself an "addict" scared me. The first 3 days of the detox were horrible, as I went cold trukey and didnt have anyone or anything to help me get through the worst part. About 4 or 5 days into it, I found this website and read everyones stories and it gave me hope that i could do it.
And I did.
For seven days.
After the physical withdraw was over, i assumed that since i wasnt sick anymore, i could go back to taking the pills "sparingly" to help me get through the days.
But a month supply of the meds eventually turned into a 2 week supply, then a 1 week supply, and now i am to the point that i can go through a bottle of 20 pills in 4 days.
To top it all off, my Neurologist has finally cut me off, I have "Dr. shopped" for the past few days and I cannot find a single Dr. in town that will perscribe me any meds...so Im back to square one.
I decided last night (as i took the last of my stash) that it was time to quit (again!) and that I need to salvage what pride I have left and stop Dr shopping and stop shamelessly asking everyone I know if they have *any* type of opiate that they could give me. Today is day 1, and as I have done it before, I know I have a rough couple of days ahead of me.
My question is: what can I do to help ease the physical detox? I have heard that increased vit C helps? I have a bottle of regular tylenol almost glued to my hand to help with the headaches. Should I call my neurologist and tell her I am detoxing and i need her help - ask her to write me another script so i can just cut my daily intake down to half every day until i am off completely? I almost dont trust myself and i am afraid to even ask for more.
I need advice, i need help, im afraid, and i have the worst rebound headache know to man. I am almost to the point where i have given up hope, and i am only on day 1.
15 Responses
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256169 tn?1191685315
Since your doc knows why you are doing it, what does the script bottle say you can take?
Helpful - 0
257844 tn?1191157544
i was reading the thomas recipe.  can someone tell me what a healthy doseage of valium would be to get through the first few days of hell with detoxing from hydro.  my doctor gave me the valium (10mg) to help me out.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
JRG
Hi all:
I just wanted to let you know I am in the process of tapering. I am down from 100mg a day to 55mg a day. I have been taking 1 1000mg L-tyrosine tablet in the morning when I get up in the morning to boost my energy level and it does help. You can take up to 4000 mg a day of this amino acid if needed. It has helped me to be able to stretch out and skip doses and I haven't noticed any ill side effects. This amino is included in the Thomas recipe so it has been around awhile. You can purchase it at any health store or most anywhere that carries vitamins.
Take care,
Jackie
Helpful - 0
257844 tn?1191157544
hi there.  hope ur doing well.  i made it 30 hours, by choice, since i do have an ongoing refill.  i thought i could do it.  by the 30th hour, i felt like killing myself. i called all over town for treatment.  not wanting to do an inpatient and knowing i needed help to get through this, i came upon a methadone clinic.  after interviewing for that and not being able to begin medication for a week i had to have my script refilled.  i am not interested in the methadone clinic as it only replaces one opoid with another and eventually u have to been weaned off the methadone.  i am calling my doctor first thing on monday and i am telling him i need help to get through the detox.  maybe a script of valium...anything...so i dont need to take the hydro.  detox on  your own from the hydro is painful (for me anyway).  but i am not giving up and i will make it through this one way or another.  i wish you luck.
Helpful - 0
256169 tn?1191685315
I just went through a WD from Norco, somewhat voluntary somewhat just running low.  It was much less severe than I expected.  I have started taking them again, as I use them for CP treatment.  You can certainly do it.  Think positively, take hot baths, get exercise if you can, drink lots of water.  Ger some immodium AD.  It attachs itself to the opiate receptors in your intestines, but does not cross the brain barrier.  I don't think it helped with my withdrawals so much, but yet, they were not very severe.  In any case, if you get diareah from the WDs, they help with that.  Also Moutrin (yes beach...I said MotrinI admitted it---it didn't help much, but I confess that it might have been worse without them.

Personally I am trying to come to terms with the use of Norco for management of my CP.  I am trying to reduce my dosage not increase it and maintain a steady solid fear of the power of the Poppy Plant.........
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
welcome,
I'm right there with ya.  I just took my lat 5 vicodin and I'm ready to join you with the withdrawals starting tonight.  I had major surgery (bilateral mastectomy's)  last year and just never quit after the pain subsided.
I loved the high, at first.  Now what I hate most, is the restless legs and the extreme fatique if I don't take them.  
Fatique turns into depression and I'm just completely worthless.  I get impatient and hate everything and everyone around me.
I know it will be temporary and I'm ready to go through it and move on.
I will be with you all the way.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi, welcome, this is from an old post--please repost and I'm sure you'll get more replies.  May I ask, why are you detoxing?  Were you taking more than the prescribed dose?  Hope to hear how you'e doing, best of luck.
Helpful - 0
257844 tn?1191157544
nice to find this.  i am on my second day of detox from hydro.  been taking almost 1000 mgs for the past three years. am a brittle diabetic with major pain in legs, arms and hands.  have a knee problem.  the thing is my doctor has prescribed me these pills.  like i said, this is my second day and i know i cannot do this on my own.  last night was rough and could not sleep.  all of the sudden i developed the "restless leg syndrome". here is the thing, I DO NOT WANT THIS IN MY MEDICAL RECORD. any suggestions?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
It's very hard what your going through. In 2002 I had a bad spine injury and surgery and was taking hydrocodone for a year and a half. At which time I decided I did not want to take medication anymore and wanted to seek other options so I stopped. Well  my body be came dependent on it and I found out the hard way!!! Once I realized what I was going through the 1st thing I did was talk to my wife and then called my DOCTORS  and  Disscused it with them they were very good and caring about it they agreed that I should detox in the hospital and thats what I did that very day. when I got it was one rough month before I felt really good again. I guess what I'm saying is speak to your doctor be honest with them if you find them resistent then ask a friend to recomend one who they like. There is help out there!! Good luck and God Bless
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi, I am a recovering opiate addict.  For 12 years I was on vicodin, or vicoprofin.  I am a housewife and mother of three and understand your shame and fear of being called an addict but once you realize that you are an addict and you accept help, (any help 12 step meetings, rehab, etc) your fear will turn to relief.
I did not ask for help even though I knew for about five years I was truthfully and addict who could not function without the pills.  I am a nurse and I started to steal from the hospital I worked at.  I am a professional, a church goer, a mother and a wife and a good person.  but I am an addict and I went to jail for stealing this medication.  I had to confess to my husband from jail and had to see my children crying and upset and scared.  For any addict, the end result is always the same:  Jails, death or an insitution.  you have a choice.  all you can do is trust me when I say you need to get help and the sooner the better, you will not be able to manage your addiciton, it is not possible.  I have been sober for ten months and it is the most amazing feeling to be this free again.  jail was not even as bad as the imprisonment of addiction.  dont think you are any different, you would be surprised where your addiction can take you, if you let it.  you are not a bad person, but you are afflicted with a bad thing and you need help to quit.  please take it, and write me anytime at ***@****  for me, NA saved my life.  I also did some outpatient treatment but NA is where I am continuing to learn a new way of life.  I have hope for you for the same, no matter how you choose to go about it, ask for help.  Opiate addicition is lethal.  I will be keeping you in my prayers, I promise.  Love Kathy
Helpful - 0
182493 tn?1348052915
People who have had addictions to pills in the past are much more likely to get addicted to Tram..Can you use them to taper??  I have heard of people doing that before..  the same euphoria as hydro so hopefully you would  be less likely to take more to "chase the high"Taking Tram can delay and WD's and kind of "replace" your DOC  if you do not want to prolong the ineveitable then I would not take them unless your headaches is really severe..
Helpful - 0
237500 tn?1189755831
thanks to everyone for your input and suggestions. today wasnt as bad as i thought it was going to be. my neurologist gave me a script for tramadol and it has helped me considerably, but im afraId of forming an addiction to that as well. is tramadol highly addictive? it helped with the headaches, but i feel like im cheating on getting sober. are my thoughts founded?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
The doctor who cut you off should offer you some Clonodine and a small supply of Valium or Xanax to help you through the withdrawals since he helped to get you addicted.  Can you talk to him and explain that you are quitting but need help to be successful??  Take care of you and hang in there
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
so sorry to hear you have to go through this again...There  are wonderfull people here to help you every step of the way.
i have terrible migranes and i take imitrex?? have you ever tried that??? it is not a narcotic., and works great..i know how bad they can be..i have to stay in bed all day and throw up constantly..no light, dark, no sound , but if i take the imitrex when i feel it coming on it stops it..
maybe you can ask your neurologist for that to help you..
i really hope your w/d's are not too bad..maybe you can call and be honest too, and ask for clonodine....
good luck
r2r
Helpful - 0
222369 tn?1274474635
Here's a prewritten response that I post to people starting detoxing cold turkey. Read it, and if you have any further questions, post and I will try and clear them up..

This is a work in progress...something I've been working on off and on for the last couple of weeks. It's not considered complete, but has lots of info from lots of sources. If any of the "old timers" have anything to add, let me know and I'll add it to the document. I hope to use this to post a general "how to" every couple of days or so.

Listed below are suggestions for detoxing and quitting an opiate addiction. They are just suggestions compiled from the detox plans of people that have gone through cold turkey detox before. They are just that, suggestions, and any detox plan is best when done under a doctor's care. Consult your doctor before trying any of the suggestions below.
This is prewritten for anyone who is beginning or planning on beginning a colt turkey withdrawal to opiates. This includes drugs such as tramadol (Ultracet and Ultram) codeine (Tylenol #3, #4), Darvocet, Hydrocodone (Vicodin, Norco, Lortab and derivatives),  Oxycodone (Endocet, Percocet, Oxycontin), Morphine, Demerol. Fentanyl, and Dilaudud. There are many other opiates not listed, so if you don’t see it listed, you can still use these suggestions if it’s an opiate based addiction. None of these apply to benzodiazepine based addictions. These addictions should never be dealt with by going cold turkey. Always consult a doctor for a detox plan for benzos.

First of all, opiate withdrawals are uncomfortable, but rarely life threatening. You may think you’re going to die, but most of the withdrawal symptoms are just very uncomfortable. Opiate withdrawal symptoms usually start 12-24 hours after your last dose. But, the timing of withdrawal symptoms depends upon the drug taken, length of time you’ve been taking it, and how you react to medications. The physical withdrawals usually last 3-7 days, with days 3 and 4 being the worst. Once again, this is all dependent on the person. You can expect these symptoms. Dilated pupils, diarrhea, runny nose, goose bumps, abdominal pain, stomach cramps, sweating, agitation, anxiety, nausea, vomiting, leg cramps, general aches and pains, and sleeplessness. This list is not absolute. You may experience all of these symptoms, only some of them, or other symptoms. Again, we are all different. Below is the famous Thomas Recipe. It gives some general information along with supplements that help with the withdrawal symptoms. The only thing I would add to this list is a blood pressure drug named clonidine. It effectively lowers the blood pressure and lessens many of the withdrawal symptoms. Most any doctor will prescribe it if you’re honest as to why you need it. Discuss dosages and frequency with your doctor.

Thomas Recipe:

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.
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