Fioricet help anyone???????????

[Wishiwerenormalagain]

Does anyone have experience with fioricet?  I have recently been weaned off of fioricet after 5 years.  I have been off of them a week.  The doctor that weaned me off of them them gave me a script for klonopin .25 mg every 6 hours for 10 days.  I am on my 2nd day of the klonopin and I feel like a zombie.  He said this would help prevent seizures but that I couldn’t take the klonopin for more than 10 days (which is fine by me) but can anyone out there tell me what to expect when I quit taking the klonopin  and when I will get back to feeling normal.  I feel like a shell of a human being to say the very least.  

[my_mayberry]

i don't know what you should expect. klonopin is a benzodiazepine whereas butalbital is a barbiturate. they have very similar effects and even work on many of the same receptors, however the WAY they work is different. your doctor is right in as much as it will help prevent seizures, however i'm not sure that you've even established a real theraputic dose for this purpose. generally klonopin needs to build up in your system...but perhaps this is just when treating anxiety.in any event, what i'm getting at is that obviously since it IS a different class of drug it will not make you feel like the butalbital makes you feel....but it will prevent much of the initial withdrawal anxiety at least until you've d/c'd the klonopin. what will happen then? i don't know. perhaps someone else here has used this route to withdrawal. i would GUESS that you'll still experience major anxiety...the klonopin is only postponing the inevitable. i would guess you'll feel incredible urges and have problems dealing with any kind of stress for a few weeks....and probably see sleep disturbances.

it's just not common to use klonopin for this. how many were you down to on the fioricet before you dc'd those? i'm not saying your doctor is wrong by any means, but i'm very curious to know more detail about how he has taken you off this med.

[vicki595]

Take the med as prescribed for the next 8 days. You'll feel badly with or without it! At least you don't have seizures to worry about!

Do the best you can; this is a process. Be sure to take in a lot of fluids and eat properly.
Exercise is a great help. I weaned off Fioricet slowly over time and never took a benzo.
But then,I never told my doctor either!  I did THAT much later.

I'm also curious as to how much you took and how you tapered off...

Keep in touch!

[Wishiwerenormalagain]

I wanted to post more but I have never felt this bad in my life.  I was taking 20 a day and had been for about 18 months.  The doc reduced them by one a week until I was on one a day for 7 days and then he gave me the Klonopin.  I cried no sobbed all day yesterday and I hurt all over like the flu.  I have forced myself to eat and drink and the first three days I was on the Klonopin  I got out and walked, I haven't been able to make myself do much of anything. Is it true that when I discontine the Klonopin things will get worse?  I really don't know what to expect.  Any information would help.

Thank you

[vicki595]

Hi!  Sorry about this!!    I think you'll feel better when you stop the benzo. It shouldn't get worse...10 days is not a long time to have been on it.

You were taking plain Fioricet right? Not the one with codeine?

You took a hefty dose. I know...I took that amount and more for a very long time.

You had an excellent taper!  It's just going to take some time to feel better. To be honest, it took me a month to get into a new routine and feel good about it. After 3 months I felt great. Now,after 6 months,I'm unstoppable!!  I will never touch that crap again. I'd rather swallow a bullet!!

Here's the important thing.  We take pills for a reason. You need to figure out yours. It
nearly impossible to do that alone. Get some therapy,go to some meetings,do something to progress your recovery so that you don't relapse. And for God's sake,don't isolate.

You have to "go after" feeling better. Get some exercise. Just force yourself!!  I swim because it's easy and it works for me.

Post back as to how you're feeling~

[Wishiwerenormalagain]

Yes, I was on plain fioricet.  I agree we do take the pills for a reason and I will have to find out what mine is.  I didn't go looking for this but I swear I was hooked after the first pill, is that possible.  Can you give me some direction on what kind of a counselor to look for.  I feel like a fish out of water.  I am beginning to feel like I can't deal with anything.  Will that get worse when I am off of the Klonopin?  I can't focus, can't sleep and I have been isolating because I have been very nauseated. Also, I was told that you could have seizures for 3 months after stopping the fioricet, is that true?  Would an anti depressant help?  Sorry for all the questions but I am worrying a lot.

Mary Beth

[vicki595]

Mary Beth~   I believe you'll be fine without the Klonopin. It's not called a downer for nothing!    A seizure after 3 months? I doubt it. You did an excellent taper and that helps raise your seizure threshold. Ask your doctor about it.

I was hooked after the first pill,also,I swear!!  It loved my brain and did things for me that others never experience. That's what made it the drug of no return for me!

I have no way of knowing if you need an antidepressant. Wait and see how you feel. I would try and see how things go for a month without ANY chemicals at all. That's really the best way.  Your brain needs to heal,Sweetie. And it will. It takes a few weeks. Try to be patient.

I really commend you for getting this far. It's tough and you feel like a noodle most days!
Better days are coming,I promise.  Start taking some vitamins. A good multi vit with extra B vitamins and C will help.

As far as therapy,it's up to you. I see a therapist now. I've attended meetings at AA. Very helpful!!  I've gotten the most from my therapist because I required more one on one therapy. I was quite stubborn!!  I do a few other things and you'll find what works for you. Ask your doctor for a referral to someone good in your area.

Exercise is really important. It's awful at first but gets much better.

Keep in touch!  How many more days on the Klonopin?

V.

[my_mayberry]

you need to see a therapist that specializes in anxiety issues, if you can find one. since anxiety/depression are the most common reasons we see them in the first place, it shouldn't be hard to find a good one. most importantly, if you find  a doctor who wishes to treat any anxiety or depression issues they might find, you need to be very careful with any benzo's they might prescribe. they don't make you feel as good as barbiturates, but it would be all to easy to become just as addicted to them.

be proud of yourself! you've come a long long way...most people give up before they get to where you are. i know its tough but at least give yourself 5 minutes to just sit back and appreciate where you're at. the urges WILL eventually go away...the feeling terrible WILL eventually go away...you WILL eventually be very close to normal as long as you stick with this.

what will happen when you're done with the klonopin? i don't know. maybe you will feel better...maybe you'll feel a little worse for a while. either way, worrying about it will only make it much worse. don't worry about it...if it DOES get worse, know that its only temporary and that you've done everything you can to avoid the major withdrawal symptoms and the more minor symptoms will eventually pass. yes you will feel like you've been hit by a bus...but you kind of have, if only metaphorically. anyones drug of choice is kind of like a freightliner flying down the highway at 80mph and slamming into you. its something that most people DON'T recover from...so count yourself lucky that you've got this far...and use that as a motivation to finish the rest of the way.

as to what to expect....well vicki and i both LOVE LOVE LOVE this drug....but for her, things were slightly different when she quit taking it. for me, i felt a huge urge to have it for a couple years after i gave it up. i tried EVERYTHING to get it or anything like it....seconal...phenobarbital....ANYTHING...i did manage to get chloral hydrate during this time.  eventually though the urges did pass and thats what you have to keep in mind. your brain will eventually recover for the most part. the problem? it only takes one slip and you're hooked again.....never make that slip. i went years clean. i only thought about them once every few weeks. i got to where i thought i could take them again and not get addicted....i was terribly wrong.

so anyway...best of luck. stay optimistic. just hope for the best. the worst is over...the taper is done. the taper is the worst part of all. its time to let the drug go and move on.

[vicki595]

Mayberry~  Perfectly stated,as usual!

LOVE is an understatement !!!    Holy Sh!t,Batman!!  I thought it was heaven on earth!!

Sick   sick   sick....

[DayToTry]

Wishing the best of luck to you Wishiwerenormalagain (love that name by the way)

You all my find it as interesting to know as I did while reading this thread ... I thought huh ... Fioricet?  That's that drug the dr. gave me that I thought was crap!  I tried it several times and I eventually ended up throwing it out.  It didn't help my headaches at all and did nothing for me any other way.  Funny, you guys loved it?

[vicki595]

Day~  Oh...to be you!!     Yes,it's strange but our brain chemistry is just different.  My brain and Mayberry's are similar. Maybe we're related?  LOL      People either love this stuff or have no use for it. That's how we flew under the radar for so long. Even the doctor's thought it was no big deal.  I don't know about Mayberry,but I exploited every doctor to the hilt because of their naivete'.   No more for me! It's truly the devil if you're like us!
What's really funny is we tend to not like opiates!  At least,that's my case. I've taken them for pain,know how they make you feel,but can just walk away like they're aspirin!

Anyway...there you have it!  Another mystery of life...

[my_mayberry]

i did the same thing with opiates, so i guess we're even. haha. never understood why people like them.

[linda235]

To those of you who said you were hooked after the first pill,I know exactly what you mean.  I have taken both plain and with codeine fioricet off and on over the past 30+ years.  Guess which one I like best?  Anyway, I never took that much until about 5 years ago when I found a very generous doctor.  Now I have a very big problem.  A year ago, I posted here and vicki you and someone else who I noticed no longer posts after she got off the drug, were both very kind and encouraging to me.  However, I am back where I was a year ago--maybe even taking more.  No one who knows me would believe I am in this situation.  I have no one to tell.  And, of course, I don't want to tell.  I want the pills but I want off of them too.  

P.S. Congratulations Vicki on making it 6 months!  

[my_mayberry]

i'm very sorry to hear that. as much as we try to avoid relapse, and as much we tell ourselves its not ok to give in to the urge...unfortunately all too often its a very real reality of being an addict. i know that all too well. i also know how easy it is to relapse and end up taking more than the first time. what are you doing to start over? relapsing is one thing, but not having a game plan to deal with it means trouble. not engaging in activities to avoid relapse to begin with also is asking for trouble...i'm an example of that.

how much are you taking now and is it with or without codeine?

[vicki595]

Linda!!!   Hi!   Listen,start your own thread and let's work on this!   You know you have to taper so start doing that,a little bit at a time.

I'll help you as much as I can but you really,really have to WANT to stop. It just won't work otherwise. But,trust me,you can do it!

You won't believe how much better you can feel !

xo

[linda235]

It is fioricet w/codeine.  No, I do not really have a plan.  How do I start my own thread so you, vicki, and others who want to help can give me some ideas on what worked for them?

Thanks for answering back.  I don't feel quite so alone.  I really do want to stop and like the person who says they wishiwerenormalagain, me too.

Will await your replies.  Thanks again!

[vicki595]

Linda~   Go to the top of this page and click on the green "post a question".  Follow the prompt.  See you there!

[Wishiwerenormalagain]

Okay, I need help!   I took the last Klonopin day before yesterday and I am beginning to feel like I am going to shake to death and I am crying all the time and feel like this is never going to end.  My moods are swinging from one end to the other.  Is this normal.  Vicki, I asked my doctor on friday about what to expect and he said "I reallly can't tell you"  we mostly see people hooked on opiates.  I love this doc, he has been so helpful but I was a little shocked by the answer but at least he was truthful.

Mary Beth

[vicki595]

Yes,it's normal. Do anything to relax yourself (except for pills,of course).  Get in a hot bath. You have to concentrate on relaxing. Take deep,slow breaths in and out. It's very normal and your body and brain are trying to adjust.

There's a lot of anxiety associated with getting clean from this drug and it can persist. It gets better over time so just push through. Stop worrying.

If,at any time,you feel confused or disoriented,call your doctor right away. I doubt it will happen but be aware.

The mood swings are normal, as well.  All you can do is ride it out,distract yourself,and relax.

Let us know how you're feeling...

[my_mayberry]

thats kind of what i expected to happen...a delay of the inevitable. wild mood swings are to be expected. during my withdrawal i would go from laughing hysterically to being very angry at the flip of a switch. this actually lasts a while....but luckily the really bad anxiety doesn't last as long.

this is one reason having a therapist during this time would do you a lot of good. the next few months will be a huge emotional roller coster. best thing is that you have the hardest parts done...now just look forward. it can only get better. you're feeling the worst that you will feel emotionally....it will slowly start to get better.

[sweatinit]

Hi!
Wow does what you're going through bring back memories...Wehn my anxiety was off the charts; I would take a deep breath and know that the feeling I had was going to pass. Baths & heating pad helped along with just relaxing. Emoitionally I was a train wreck for a little while too, but again I took a deep breath and remembered that everything I was going through was needed to be clean from this wicked drug!
It's uncomfortable but in the end really~really worth it! Hang in there and try to just take a minute at a time if you have to...

[Wishiwerenormalagain]

Thanks everyone.  I have more question.  Since this drug from hell is a CNS depressant and now my SNS is no longer depressed, is that why everything is in overdrive?  I mean I eat something, it goes right through, I hiccup, yawn sneeze, etc.  I sweat like I have never sweated before.  Is this all part of it because about an hour ago I was ready to call 911, I guess I am scared.

Mary Beth

[vicki595]

This is normal BUT it's sounds a lot like opiate withdrawal,too.  Anyway,replace fluids and stay calm.

Call your doctor and just let them know how you're feeling.

Post back...

[Wishiwerenormalagain]

I put a call in to my doc, haven't heard back yet but the ONLY thing I was taking was the fioricet and the Klonopin for 10 days.  I can't even look at an opiate with out getting sick.

[vicki595]

Good...they'll call back.  Most of this is normal. Actually it's all normal except I was thinking you should be feeling better by now.  We're all different though.

Let me know what the doctor says...