Detoxification, Hydrocodone

[R. Montalbano]

Following an injury, I have taken Hydrocodone up to 8 times per day for over 14 months. I am a 53 year old male. I just underwent anterior cervical fusion, C4-5 and C5-6. I am getting very anxious about every three hours, but don't have a lot of pain.  When I try to go for four to five hours I nearly go nuts.
I understand that there is a detox system of three days using a program of 3 tablets of something the first day, 2 the second and 1 the third. I am very interested in this. Would you please respond with the name of this or these medications so I might ask my physician?

Also, I have heard of detox under anesthesia. Do you have any knowledge or comment about this. Please help.

[R.Montalbano]

You are very kind to have such a wonderful place for people to go when there are issues of this type. Thank you for  your advice. Best of the New Season.

[me]

Talk with your doctor. He should help you deal with the withdrawal ....  7 days of Klonipin and Clonidine helped me get off the Hydro. I've now been off for 4 months, but it hasn't been easy.

[Laney]

Hey,

just wanted to let yu know its possible to stop the madness. Ask your doctor about gradual step down using darvocet... It worked for me. It took about 6 days

[Korey]

After about three years of continual use of Lortab and Vicodin I finally decided to quite this awful habit and start fresh. It was a tough couple of weeks gradually decreasing my dosage until my last perscription was gone.
Unfortunetly, I'm still experiencing what seems to be the lasting effects of the narcotic with hyper sensativity. I still have random itching, sweating, patches of heat over my eyes and the feeling of pins in my back and bottoms of my feet. I know this to be theresult from Hydro because after quiting the drug for he first time, all my symtoms went away. During a moment of accute pain in my ankle, I decided to take just (2) 500m Vicks and the irritations started all over again. I'ts been (3) weeks to the day without Hydro and I'm still having these annoying symtoms. I
I then called the drug manufacturers Watson and Knoll and they really could not give me any direction.
Are any of  you experiencing these same weird irritations. Please advise

[nancy o.]

i have been on vicodin es for over 1 year for a back injury
and am now trying to withdraw.  my doctor has given me clonodin
however i am having sever muscle pain and crying all the time.
please if anyone out there knows of any other non narcotic
medicines i can take for these symtoms please write and let me know.  i have a small child that has epilepsy and i can't stay coherant enough to properly to take care of here because of my sever distress.  i really need help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Donna]

i have been taking hydro for quite sometime i have endometrisois and severe back injury i have been off and on for about 4 years im now dependent and want help however i have no money for detox someone out there guide me im now trying to get off gradually - cold turkey i am trusting in the lord !

[John]

Ultram will help and is not an opiate.

[Anonymous,Ultram is a narcotic]

Ultram is not an Opiate? I beg to differ sir.Ultram is a analog of codeine and addictive.I am a recovering opiate addict and i took Tramadol ( Ultram ) for over a year just because of the high.I was taking up to 800mg per day.I got started on my addiction with Hydrocodone, but since alot of dumb ass doctors and subsequently their patients think that Ultram is "non narcotic" and "non addictive", and it is not a controled substance, it is very liberally prescibed.It is weak i know, but does have an affinity for binding to uOpiod recepters in the brain.
I have been clean for 5 months with no thanks to Methadone or Ultram.Two drugs which both belong in the Opioid group.

[FD]

ULTRAM IS NOT A NARCOTIC. IT DOSENT KILL PAIN WORTH A ****, AND DOESENT MAKE YOU FEAL LIKE OTHE NARCOTIC PAIN KILLERS,  THEY SUCK. IM SORRY YOU HAD SUCH A BAD TIME WITH IT THOUGH;..;

[geneo]

How do I contact an adictionoligist,I can't find it in the phone book.?  

[Brian to Geneo]

Call drug treatment centers in your area.

[[e-mail] John aka G]

Anyone on any of the above drugs can detox themselves, using the drugs they are addicted to. First of all, you have to want to quit. Second, believe you can do it. Three, don't think that after your done with the detox, that it is over. There is still the mental part. I was adicted to heroine and dilaudid for 15 years. I got on methadone to detox. Of course they don't detox you well. Letting you go at 5 mg. Ya your going to feel like ****. So back you go again. So I did the detox myself. 14 years later and I'm still clean.
Contact me if you need to talk, Remember unlike Dr's I have 30 yrs on the job traing in addiction. Good Luck
***@****
Gino

[JENNY]

I HAVE BECOME ADDICTED TO HYDROCODONE AND NO ONE KNOWS IT I'M AFRAID TO TELL ANYONE ESPECIALLY MY HUSBAND HE WOULD LEAVE ME I HAVE 3 CHILDREN AND I DON'T KNOW HOW TO STOP I TRY BUT MY WHOLE BODY ACHES AND I DON'T FEEL LIKE MOVING CAN ANYBODY TELL ME HOW LONG THESE SYMPTOMS WILL LAST OR DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY INFORMATION ABOUT MEETINGS ONLINE ANY INFORMATION WOULD BE APPRECIATED.

[JENNY]

I HAVE BECOME ADDICTED TO HYDROCODONE I WANT TO STOP BUT EVERYTIME I TRY EVERY MUSCLE IN MY BODY ACHES AND I FEEL TO BAD TO EVEN MOVE. I NORMALLY TAKE 4 PILLS A DAY. DOES SOMEONE KNOW HOW LONG THE SYMPTOMS LAST AND WHAT CAN I EXPECT. NO ONE KNOWS ABOUT MY ADDICTION I CAN'T TELL ANYONE ESPECIALLY NOT MY HUSBAND HE WOULD LEAVE ME. IS THERE ANY KIND OF HELP ONLINE OR IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO TO HELP RELEIVE MY SYMPTOMS.

[Brian to Sick and Scared § ALL you guys]

If you stop completely, withdrawal lasts about 7 days (it can last longer).  The first 3-4 days are the acute symptoms, and then mild symptoms.  Some weakness, muscle aches and mild/moderate depression may continue for a month or longer.  If you are only taking 4 pills a day, I would try tapering off them to reduce withdrawal symptoms.  Reduce your daily dosage by about 10% every few days, taking the pills when you normally would.  By the end of the taper your symptoms will be reduced.  There are online meetings, just do a search and you'll find them.  Good luck.

[debbie]

I have asked my doctor for Ultram and he will not give it to me.
I have been going through some of the same problems Donna.
Then about 2 years ago I had a serious injury to my knee and the Orthopedic was giving me Percocet for the pain, lots of it, for months.  Then all of the sudden he stopped no taper, nothing.
I have been getting them wherever I can since and I want out of this insanity!!
I tried 3 times on my own and made it almost 1 month once.
What always got me back was the exahaustion and residual pain.
I could hardly function.  I heard Ultram helps with the exhaustion and pain and is a non opiate.
I really would like to try it but my Dr. will not prescribe them for me.
I need help.  Any suggestions??  Anyone??

[debbie]

I have asked my doctor for Ultram and he will not give it to me.
I have been going through some of the same problems Donna.
Then about 2 years ago I had a serious injury to my knee and the Orthopedic was giving me Percocet for the pain, lots of it, for months.  Then all of the sudden he stopped no taper, nothing.
I have been getting them wherever I can since and I want out of this insanity!!

[debbie]

I have asked my doctor for Ultram and he will not give it to me.
I have been going through some of the same problems Donna.
I need to stop taking the Percocet and it sounds like Ultram would help.  Any suggestions anyone???

[JanteGirl]

I started hydrocodone 8 yrs ago when I was having gastric issues(diverticulitus) I'd be admitted to the hospital for iv antibiotics and pain meds. They sent me home with prescriptions. A year later my colon ruptured and I was rushed in for er surgery to keep me living. I had gotten up to about 120 mg a day. sometimes more. a year ago march I decided to go cold turkey. BIG MISTAKE! I got so sick and the pain. I wanted to die. I ended up in the er but did not tell them that I was detoxing. I went home on ativan, morphine, xanax. eventually I started taking the hydro again. I have to take it with benydral because the codine makes me itch. So I am addicted to benedryal, hydrocodone, ambien, requip. I also have to take prilosec 2x's a day because I no longer have a stomach lining. I need to get this stuff out of my system. Right now I take 10-20mg each day.

[josh45338]

dont go to a drug treatment place cause they will give you methadone and that is more addictive than hydro codone but i need help can some one help me i took 5-15 hydrocodone 10mg pills a day now i cant take this life style i dont wanna go to methadone clinck my life is getting runt but i know its my fault for abbusing them but everyone makes mastakes i go to the hospittale and they wanna give me methadone please some one give me addvise

[Savas]

Luv, the benadryl isn't addictive. If you can stop taking it, you should since it's usually used to help with stopping the codeine addiction. But it probably doesn't matter if you keep taking it.
Do you have an ulcer? There's an anti-biotic treatment that will cure most ulcers. If that's your problem, let me know I'll give you the link.
    Ambien and requip I'm not sure about, although I've heard bad things about ambien. It's not "addivtive" per se, but the rebound from stopping it will make sleep impossible for a while.
The prilosec is good for your stomach, and can promote healing, so don't worry about that for the moment.

The real problem is the hydrocodone. (for both of you).

Generally, there's only one affordable, gettable treatment for this. Clonidine 3 times daily (blood pressure med). If that one doesn't work well, you can try another.

Xanax or klonipin for the first week, although I'd advise using it for the fourth day for about a week, but no longer, it's VERY addictive. You won't sleep well the first 3-4 days with or without it the first few days.

Otherwise, you need to take things like imodium (immodium) for your stomach, and benadryl will help with some of the other symptoms.

This WON'T cure you, make it painless. It varies, but you should at least be able to sit in front of the t.v. all day and eat chicken soup. Treat it like a bad flu for 4 days. One of the hardest things addicts of pills/opiates have to come to terms with, is there are no really *good treatments* available right now. Unless you can fly out of the country and spend $7k. And even then, they aren't THAT great.

If you get past the first week, there's additional treatments you can use that can help your body heal and get back your energy levels and the like.

Any other questions?

[Savas]

He is right. You may do better to hit the "post" button at the top and start over. Or continue here. But people get confused and start responding to posts at the top of the thread that are from 10 years ago...If you have any questions for a particular user, put their name in the post title.

[k9groomer]

hello...ive happened upon this forum in search of detoxing off of vicodine. ive been taking them steadily for 6-7yrs. no one knows and id prefer to keep it that way. i already feel horrible enough about the addiction. im at my wits end and i want off of them. i take 8-12 daily. ive read the posts, but feel i need to post myself and get a direct anwser to my own personal struggle. im scared to death to detox off them-but i know i have to. i have 6days left of them and want to do it and get it done. if someone would please type out the way i should do this i would appreciate it. i feel like a child who neeeds specific directions or i wont do it right or at all. this addiction has made me depressed, isolated and sick of myself. i have off week days and work only on the weekend and even then if i need to take off i will. thank you for any and all comments in advance.

[FLaddict]

do you think you can taper off them with the amount you have left??  I can help you set up a schedule if you really think you can cut back.  If you can't taper then you will have to go cold turkey which will only last a week at most with the worst symptoms being at the 3-4 day point.
the other option is to go to inpatient detox. which would involve at least telling someone.

we are here to help. I suggest though that you post this as a new question Its in a very old thread. Click Back to Forum, then click Post a New question.

[b10nary]

Hi, I been taking hydro/ 10/650's for about 3 years and am up to 10 a day, it has been 12 hours since i last took a dose and it feels like my body is weird tingling everywhere like asleep i keep having phantom feelings like something is on my arm or legs it is strange and my eyes are dialated and almost black, I was also taking xanex and soma but not much of them just once a day not like the opiates, plus i feel like when i get up it feels like im almost tripping or halucinating or something its really scaring me but im out of everything and i have to quit so someone tell me if this is normal, because even when i read its like everything is hard to see and blurs together and i cant see anything straight also cant sleep but i know the sleeping part is normal.  Please anyone who knows tell me if I am ok if this is just withdrawels the pupil dialation is bothering me the most and the phantom stuff along with the confused state of almost depersonalization/derealization.

[keywhite]

Yes, pupil dilation is normal during withdrawals.  There are all kinds of sensations from withdrawals.  How much Xanax were you taking?  Do not try to come off the Xanax without a physician helping you.  Otherwise opiate withdrawal is not life threatening.  Very uncomfortable though and sleep is hard to come by.  I am on day 6 and here I am up at 2:30A. There are multiple symptoms of withdrawal including diarrhea, nausea, shakiness, nervousness, tingling of the skin, dilated pupils, elevated BP and pulse.  The worst days are usually days 3 and 4 then the symptoms start to decline.

[keywhite]

[keywhite]

you are posting on an old post - click back to forum and you will be on current page.

[slic2121]

what are the chances of getting hooked on hydrocodone taking them in 2-3 day spurts of about 6-8 (6-8/500's) at a time...one time a day.  I will generally take a few days off in between, along with a steady workout and supplementing a daily vitamin with amino acids and Fish Oils (which i have found to help tremendously).  sometimes i feel like im getting a bit flu-like but not very bad at all...my motivation for working-otu slips a small degree, but for the most part im not experiencing any dependency issues.  To clerify, i train Mixed Martial Art...I am a Brazilian Jiu jitsu instructor who trains Wrestling, boxing, and muay thai.  I also weight train 2-3 days a week, so my body undergoes incredible trauma and muscle tearing.  i find my joint pain and lactic acid pains to be borderline ridiculous at times, by taking these pills...vicodin, percocet etc..it gives me a temporary escape, and thats what im beginning to get addicted to....any thoughts?

[amikkel]

I'm a recovering alcoholic, 3yrs sober, who got caught up in a vicodin addiction due to back injury. Naturally I enjoyed the lift I got but I'm now up to 50-100mg of hydro a day. I'm willing to go cold turkey like I did alcohol but I don't know what to expect. I can get Xanax and Soma if they will help. I can take a week off but without knowing what to expect I'm kinda lost.
Any advice would REALLY be appreciated. FYI, I'm in AA, so I have that for support.

[GoingToMakeIt]

Please start a new post. This one is very old.(1999) We would love to hear your story and make comments for you.

[Irrigator2008]

I have been taking hydrocone for about nine years,when I first started one or two pills a day made me feel great. I had a bad four- wheeling accident,so with that the doctors started feeding me these things like candy. This has been going on for years now affecting my relationship,business time with my family. My whole life revolves around my next bottle. I send everyone I know to the doctor,including myself to enable my addiction. I am up to 10 a day and still never feel that boost of energy i'm accustomed to feeling. I have tried to quit cold turkey,did not go over well at all. Ultram does help if I take about 12-15 a day. On the 11th I have an appointment with the methadone clinic,I have heard several horrible stories about methadone I hope this will help my condition unstead of causing another severe addiction. My wife doesn't understand,she has never been addicted,however she is of full support to try the clinic. Courtney and her mother are both nurses and I trust their judgement. I hope this mess works.

[youcandoit]

I had had a problem with vicodin and Percocet a little over a year ago..They were prescribed by my doctor, but after taking then consistently for about 6mo I started feeling horrible when I didnt have them, It was the first thing I would do in the morning, just so I could start my day, anyway I kicked the habbit after suffering for about a wk with extreme anxiety a little achey (achy) and just NO energy it was pretty much like having the flu for a wk.  Anyway I was totally clean for about 4 months when I got hit with kidney stones and back on the percocet I went...I took them for the pain initially and then got back to the habbit of taking then just to function.  I have a son and dont want to take a pill everytime I need to feel (normal).  Im on day 7 quit cold turkey everyday I feel a bit better, Its really not that bad if you can just take at least 6 days off to just lay around take some ibuprofen and drink lotsa water...My biggest struggle was not the aches and pains but the anxiety and the crying, I would just cry all the time and not really know why...I agree that xanax helps however that is also a narcotic that is highly addictive..I only take them as needed which is usually at night when my anxiety is at its worst...Just stay strong and know its temporary it sux so bad but it WILL pass its more of a mental game than anything I promise!

[spacecadette]

Again...this post is almost 9 years old....if you want to re post at "post a question' button up top than you will get many more responses...sometimes the webmaster leads people to this site depending on what they type in and they et placed on old posts! best of luck!!

[todd1960]

I have been taking Norco 10/325 two tabs twice a day for over six years.  I have chronic orthopedic pain as a result of a serious bus accident in 2001.

I have tried to stop taking the meds preemptively with little success,  I experience typical withdrawal symptons; aches ,chills, spasms, nausea.

I am reluctant to take xanax, clonapin or somas as I am concerned with trading one for the other.

Any suggestions?

[skifree]

I AM GOING THROUGH THE SAME THING YOU ARE Montalbano!! Maybe a little different because I was doing heroin. But I am weaning myself off the opiates and I have a blog discussing it with pictures and all, check it out!!

****.***