Fioricet Withdrawal

[reclaiminglifeatlast]

I was searching for Fioricet addiction threads and the only ones I could find on here were old.  I started on Fioricet when I was 16 and over the years it just became a regular habit.  Doctor shopping, using multiple pharmacies, and all of the old tricks were used.  The introduction of internet ordering became my ticket to really going off the rails. In 2007 I became unemployed and that was my excuse to feel sorry for myself and deal with my stress by popping Fioricet. I was up to at least 20 per day.  I honestly don't know how many, and I know that's pathetic.  I just wasn't counting.  I would wake up and the first thing I would do was pop 2 pills.  Maybe an hour later, 2 more.  And so my day would go.  Sometimes at night, when I felt like I might not be able to sleep, I would take 6 at a time and go to bed.  It's a wonder I didn't just die in my sleep.  I had tried twice to quit, but my heart really wasn't in it, and I pretty much knew it going in.  I didn't really have a plan, so I was doomed before I started.  This past July 28, though, I woke up and said "today's the day" and started a taper.  After reading a lot of posts on here, I decided to go with a VERY slow taper.  It took me 13 years to get this bad, so I felt that a slow taper was my best chance for success.  My story is a little different than most, in terms of support.  I have no family support, and that is not going to change.  I know and accept that, and have entered into this endeavor fully aware of this fact, and feeling strong and able to conquer this on my own.  I never felt this way before when I thought about quitting, and I really believe I am going to make it.  I am married, but my husband just is not the type of person to understand how this could have happened and would want to know why I don't just go cold turkey.  He is not a bad person, but he is very black and white in his thinking.  I spent a lot of time asking myself how he could not see what was going on with me.  I still don't have the answer to that, other than he works very weird hours and I always managed to keep it together extremely well around him.  My family is the same way.  If they knew, they would never be the same around me again and I would be the one everyone whispers about.  For my sanity, it is best that I go this alone.  It is easier for me to go it alone than to deal with all of the questions and judgment that would come with allowing people in on my situation.  I would never have been able to do this a few years ago, but I feel very strong and capable right now, and with each passing week, I feel more confident.  The first couple of months, I cut out the excessive ones at bedtime, and a couple during the day.  But since then, I just drop one per month - that's it.  Each adjustment is scary and hard to make, but I am so proud of myself for making it this far.  I am 5 1/2 months on the taper, and I am down to 5 Fioricet per day.  I know for a lot of people 5 per day seems excessive, but with the daily amount as high as mine was, I know this slow taper is right for me, and if I keep up the schedule I worked out, I will be done at the end of June, making it a one year taper.  I just wanted to share my story with people who would be able to relate and see if anyone has any similar stories or advice.  The closer I get to being done, the more I start to wonder what it will actually be like to be free of this monster.  I also feel a sense of sadness that I won't have this crutch anymore.  When stress hits hard, Fioricet is the first thing I think of, and I don't think that will ever change.  I just have to alter my response to that thinking, and that's what really *****.  Thanks for reading my story.

[Alwaysneedhelp]

Vicki, I am hoping that you still are involved with this site?  

[vicki595]

Where are you?  I'm concerned...

[vicki595]

Hi there...I'm glad I saw this, I was just about to take off...

Listen to me:  Call the doctor back immediately and TELL him you need some kind of meds to cover you so you don't have a seizure. This is very important. A seizure will usually happen 5 days into a cold turkey detox. Maybe more, maybe less.  Ask him to help you here, tell him you abuse it, it doesn't matter. If he won't help you then go to an ER or urgent care center. I don't think you have time to wait for an online order to arrive.

Let me know what happens!

[FioricetNightmare]

I have been taking Fioricet for roughly 5 years in order to help with my migraines. I also started out with very few and they would last me for months. Now as time has gone by, I find my calendar is marked with the days I need to have them filled. When I first have a bottle refilled, I may take like 20-30 pills that day. I take less throughout the rest of the refill, but it is a constant struggle to avoid running out of the medicine and giving myself what i need. I just had it refilled at the end of july my bottle is gone. It has just evaporated out of my house. I am not  anxious as I thought I would be, but right now i think that is because i keep telling my self i will be ok. i was supposed to have a refill today, but the doctor is not going to alow it. I cannot get another refill until the end of this month and i will have to pay a visit to my doctor. i am most anxious about this visit. I am also very scared of the cod turkey side effects i may be getting ready to experience as I ran out of these pills saturday (4th). So far i have not had any horrible problems. I am focused on the pills alot. I am terrifeie at the thought of having a seizure. I dont know if I need to try and order some pills from online so I can taper off or if that is even legal. I really need someone to talk to!

[vicki595]

Hi again...I'm glad you got some inspiration from me...not everyone does! LOL!

The journal is very good. Write down everything!!  I'm going to urge to to find a therapist before the end is near...you'll want that person on board with you! Believe me!  Also, are you busy during the day? What's your lifestyle?  Start getting busy NOW and exercise. It makes a lot of difference. Vitamins are essential along with good food and just an all over "overhaul"!!  I ended up changing everything! I had to. The same old, same old, just wasn't going to work anymore. So start thinking about changing up any and all routines!

Ask me questions and I'll try to answer or find an answer. I respect you so much for reaching out and doing this. It may easily be the hardest thing you've ever done and there's something very noble in that!

[reclaiminglifeatlast]

Brian, thank you so much for passing my message along to Vicki.  And thank you so much for your encouraging words!

[reclaiminglifeatlast]

No, just the Fioricet, no codeine.  Thank goodness for that small thing in my favor.  That would make it that much harder, I know.  I am surprised that my family hasn't noticed that I seem more lucid and more active lately.  It's strange.  You are right - I can't wait to not have to chase pills all of the time!!

[reclaiminglifeatlast]

Vicki, I am so glad you posted.  I actually read some of your posts over the last few months, and gained quite a bit of inspiration from them.  Your stories were a big part of my courage to take this step and get off of these things!

Actually, it's been decades for me too.  I was typing so fast the other night that I left out a whole chunk of my story.  I started at 16, as I said.  I was seeing a neurologist for migraines. I didn't get hooked on them right away though, and in fact, went a few years without them.  Then, my headaches began to get more frequent, so I went back to the doctor.  I knew Fioricet had worked in the past, and nobody ever said anything about them being addictive, so I asked for them again - and again and again, etc.  In 1998, when I was 29, I started taking them the second I woke up, throughout the day at work, as soon I got home, after dinner, to help me get to sleep, and the daily amounts just kept increasing to the point where, as I mentioned in my original post, I don't even know how many I took per day, but I know it was at least 20 per day for the last few years.  

I have worked out my taper so that I take the pills I'm taking each day at a specific time each day, and I keep a journal, so I'm never stuck asking myself "did I take it?"  I don't know if that's a good idea or not because when the time comes that I don't take them at those times anymore, my brain is probably going to go nuts.  That's another reason why I am choosing to do it very slowly, so that my brain has a chance to adjust to each drop in dosage too.

I think I will look into a therapist to go to as the end gets closer.  It's so strange that it would be easier to talk to a complete stranger, isn't it?  I guess it's because we don't care if a stranger passes judgement on us, but our loved ones passing judgement just hurts too much.

Thanks so much for your support; I look forward to talking to you some more, as we do have such similar stories.  This forum is an absolute Godsend.

[reclaiminglifeatlast]

Thanks for your support and I will definitely keep posting.  Resisting mentally is so, so hard.  I try very hard to keep myself busy and my mind occupied, but it's the quiet times that get my mind reeling and when I have to fight the hardest.  I will be so happy to make it to the finish line, even though it will be a struggle every day to get there, and a continued struggle to stay there.  

Oh, by the way, I'm not sure if the last part of your post was for someone else?  I don't have an alcoholic boyfriend, so I'm not sure who you meant that for.

[bmdad]

I personally don't have any experience with Fiorcet but will message someone that does. She successfully tapered off of it quite awhile ago and is doing great. She will be able to answer any questions you have. She's also a nurse so will be able to help in more ways than one.

Congrats for wanting to gain control of you life!

Best of luck!




Brian

[selfinduced]

Your doing great. You have a solid plan, stick to it. Is this the fioricet with codeine? I understand the not wanting your family to know, I was the same. Chances are they know something is different about you (mine did). Stay active and keep your mind busy.Think of how nice it will be to not have to chase pills all the time. Stay strong!