HYDROCODONE

[teri]

I guess you might say that it can not happen to you.  Wrong I have gone through 7 surgeries in the past 8 months to recunstruct my teeth and jaw.  I have been taking this medication (hydro) regularly for the entire time. Finally I tried to stop taking the medication and found myself very ill. I did not understand the problems it can cause.  I sat down with my doctor yesterday and she was wonderful.  Because I have been taking 5 to 6 pills a day she decided to slowly take me off them.  I will start by taking 5 pills for 3 days, 4 pills for 3 days, 3 pills for 3 days, 2 pills for 3 days and then and optional one pill for 3 days.  I skipped the first part and started with 4 pills for 3 days.  I only feel a little nausous at times.  However, once the medication starts to leave my body will it become worse and worse?  Or is this method of detoxing your body the best?  Also is it true the more you take the harder the withdraws are.  I think it is very important to keep a positive outlook and know that once its over I will be ok.  Also my doctor gave me a medication called bentyl.  Will this help my stomach?

[Mike]

WOW! It sure helps to know that so many people like yourself have this in common. Due to back problems I've been taking hydrocodone for a few years and more and more to get pain releif.
I know it's time to stop and thats how I stumbled onto this site.
I'm like you If nothing else I feel the energy I sometimes get is worth the ADDICTION. I DON'T KNOW WHY BUT SOMETIMES IT DOES THE OPPOSITE.
After reading your letter and some of the others I feel alittle better knowing that it can be conquered. I'm  just not sure how to handle the lack of energy boost and withdrawl at the same time.
I'm embarased to tell anyone to get help.I'm in business and would loose to much respect to bring it out.
Before any answers different I'm being realistic thats all.
Danice, My E mail is  ***@**** if you're interested in discussing this further.
Either way : Good luck to all of us. Iguess it"s time to start and now I have a little More insight as how to do it.
mike.

[Brian-to Denice]

Denice, I too went through the painkiller addiction-withdrawal cycle many a time.  Do NOT tell your doctor immediately.  Many doctors care more about their own problems (fear of lawsuit, DEA problems, etc.) caused by having an addicted patient, then they do about helping you.  Your doctor may be a good one and may help you get off the drugs.  But, if you read many postings on the net, many people told their doc and the first thing he did was cut of the drugs. Then gave some great advice like, "go get yourself some help."  Then where are you.  My best advice is to look for an addiction medicine specialist in your area who can treat you outpatient.  Look in the yellow pages.  If you can't find one that way, call local treatment centers and ask if they do outpatient detox or know of local doctors that do.  Then call that doc and he can prescribe appropriate meds (such as buprenophine) to detox you humanely.  The other alternative is, since you are not taking ungodly amounts (many of us have taken the equivalent of 30-40 Vicodin ES a day), you can wean yourself slowly without much pain.  I have found going down no more than 10% per day in total dosage will ease you down with not much pain.  If you have enough pills, do 5% per day until you reach bottom.  This takes alot of willpower because you will have the urge to cheat.  However, if you really want to get off them, and want to stay out of detox, this is a way you can do it.  I would recommend getting help to stay off them because as we all can testify, that is the hard part--it makes getting clean look like a breeze.  Join NA or something similar.  Good luck.

[To Danice from Teri]

Danice,

If you talk to your doctor and tell them the truth, yes you may be in pain but can live with out the meds, then they can help you.  I am tapering off the medication and doing really well.  The doctors can also give you meds to help with the withdrawals.  I am going back into surgery in two weeks, I know exactly how you feel.  But you have to be able to have self-control over the term of the taper program.  God Bless you!!!
Teri

[DANICE WANTING RELIEF TOO]

I TOO HAVE BEEN TAKING HYDROCODONE 7.5 EVERYDAY FOR ABOUT ALMOST 2 YEARS NOW. IT STARTED OUT WITH JUST ONE OR TWO A DAY, BUT I AM NOW UP TO 6-10 A DAY.  IT ALL STARTED WITH SEVERE BACK PAIN AFTER HAVING MY DAUGHTER 3 YEARS AGO.  NOW IM HAVING MORE AND MORE PROBLEMS RIGHT AFTER THE OTHER.  IM ON THE PROBABLE LIST OF MS, AND I JUST HAD A COCCYGEAL BLOCK DONE JUST LAST WEEK DUE TO A CRACKED TAILBONE.  IVE TRIED TO COME OFF OF THE PILLS BECAUSE I AM VERY IRRITABLE, AND I HAVE TO HYPERACTIVE CHILDREN THAT NEED TENDING TO AND SOMETIMES I JUST CANT DO IT UNLESS I HAVE THE PAIN PILLS.  THEY GIVE ME ENERGY, AND MAKE ME FEEL LIKE I CAN DO ANYTHING IN THIS WORLD.  BUT WHEN I RUN OUT THE WITHDRAWALS NEARLY DRIVE ME INSANE AND I WILL SCRAPE UP MY LAST FEW DOLLARS JUST TO GO BUY ME A DOSE TO GET ME THROUGH THE DAY.  I WONT HELP SO BAD TO GET OFF OF THEM, BUT THERE IS NO WAY THAT I CAN GO THROUGH A HOSPITOL TO STAY DUE TO THE FACT OF HAVING NOONE TO TEND TO MY CHILDREN.  IM JUST SO SCARED TO COME OFF OF THEM DUE TO THE WITHDRAWALS, BUT NO THAT I NEED TO.  CAN MY DOCTOR REALLY HELP ME IF I GO IN TO TELL HIM THE TRUTH WITHOUT HAVING TO GO IN SOME KIND OF HEALTH CENTER OR SOMETHING?  I CAN REALLY SYMPOTHIZE WITH US ALL THAT ARE HOOKED ON IT, AND I DO PRAY FOR MYSELF AND FOR YOU ALL THAT WE CAN ALL BECOME CLEAN.  IM SO GLADD THAT I FOUND THIS SITE IT HAS HELPED ME SO MUCH.  GOD BLESS YOU ALL.

[david]

to victor from david.

victor, due yourself the biggest favor and get some help. i hope you have not relapsed since the 13th, but if you have, don't get down on yourself. the withdrawls have probably been eliminated by now, depending if you have stayed off the drugs. if you have stayed off the pills and are still experiencing withdrawls, be patient, i promise they will go away. as for permanent damage, this would depand on how long and severely you have used. perhaps, really most probably you have not incurred any permanent damage. please see a qualified physician to determine this!!
victor what's more important is finding the strength to stay off these pills. that's unfortunately the hard part. seek some counseling either through n.a. meetings or private practice. all i ask is that you seek help through the caring hands of individuals who understand addiction.
i was a slave to pills for over two years, taking just as much as you!!! so trust me i know how you feel. i received help by keeping an open mind, now finding myself a free person drug free.
if you want to talk, e-mail me @ ***@****, i'd love to share with you.
david

[to Victor from Teri]

Good for you.  Just hang in there.  Staying off them is the hardest part.  The most harmful thing that these do to your body is it is very hard on you liver.  But it is the Tylenol that is what hurts your liver.  If you are concerned your doctor can run a simple blood test.  The only other thing that my doc has told me can happen is overdose.  So be careful.

teri