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Help with withdrawal from vicodin please...
Hi All,
I have been reading this board for a long time but have never posted. Of course I find myself reading it mostly when I have run out of pills and am in a sheer panic about the withdrawal road ahead. I have been taking Vicodin for about 6 years now. For the first several I would say it was occasionally for my knee pain without feeling like I "had" to take them. About 2 years ago is when I started to go downhill. I used to be prescribed 180 5/325 norco's per month that lasted forever. Then those started dwindling in a week and I told my Dr. that I needed something stronger. I then had 120 10/325 per month which would last like 4 days. I had refills on both so for a long time I was able to get both prescriptions in a month plus my husband was injured and was prescribed 90 750/500 that they would basically refill every 7 days. I took his pills too, he didn't. He is aware of my problem and is fully supportive. I honestly can't say that he totally understands but who really does until they have been though it. I have tried to quit several times, mostly not by choice. I run out, the withdrawals kick in, then I look for a way to fill a prescription. I do not buy them because I don't know anyone to buy them from but believe me I'm sure I would have. I stumble to my bottle when I wake up in the morning, before coffee. I carry some with me when I leave the house, "just in case". They basically control me. I have a little boy that means the world to me and I tell myself that I am better when I am on them because I am so energetic and can do so much. Yeah, give me a break. I know I have a problem, I have known for a long time. I can get past the mental part of it it's the physical withdrawals that get me every single time. Ok here is my question now that you have some background. For the past several weeks I have had not had my regular prescription, ran out of course. I have been taking some 5/500, 40 in a bottle and making them last a week. That is a really big decrease from what I was taking. This has been about 3 weeks now. I haven't been feeling great but I haven't been feeling horrible either. Ok so I took 3 of them on Saturday, a half yesterday morning at 5am and nothing since. I decided to go down and get the stuff for the Thomas Recipe and I took the vitamin supplements yesterday as well as potassium, immodium and drank lots of water. I took an ambien last night to sleep. I DON'T FEEL BAD!!! I don't feel fantastic either but I am ok!! Is it safe to say that I weaned myself down enough that it's not going to be much worse. I am a little jittery, had diarrhea, shaky, etc. I am much less cloudy than I would usually be, I don't feel like I have sandbags tied to my legs, I made dinner last night which was not an effort. Most importantly I don't have the desire to rush down to pick up my prescription!!! Do you think I am out of the woods?? Or is the worse to come??? Thank you all for sharing your stories, you have helped me greatly! Good luck to everyone!
I have been reading this board for a long time but have never posted. Of course I find myself reading it mostly when I have run out of pills and am in a sheer panic about the withdrawal road ahead. I have been taking Vicodin for about 6 years now. For the first several I would say it was occasionally for my knee pain without feeling like I "had" to take them. About 2 years ago is when I started to go downhill. I used to be prescribed 180 5/325 norco's per month that lasted forever. Then those started dwindling in a week and I told my Dr. that I needed something stronger. I then had 120 10/325 per month which would last like 4 days. I had refills on both so for a long time I was able to get both prescriptions in a month plus my husband was injured and was prescribed 90 750/500 that they would basically refill every 7 days. I took his pills too, he didn't. He is aware of my problem and is fully supportive. I honestly can't say that he totally understands but who really does until they have been though it. I have tried to quit several times, mostly not by choice. I run out, the withdrawals kick in, then I look for a way to fill a prescription. I do not buy them because I don't know anyone to buy them from but believe me I'm sure I would have. I stumble to my bottle when I wake up in the morning, before coffee. I carry some with me when I leave the house, "just in case". They basically control me. I have a little boy that means the world to me and I tell myself that I am better when I am on them because I am so energetic and can do so much. Yeah, give me a break. I know I have a problem, I have known for a long time. I can get past the mental part of it it's the physical withdrawals that get me every single time. Ok here is my question now that you have some background. For the past several weeks I have had not had my regular prescription, ran out of course. I have been taking some 5/500, 40 in a bottle and making them last a week. That is a really big decrease from what I was taking. This has been about 3 weeks now. I haven't been feeling great but I haven't been feeling horrible either. Ok so I took 3 of them on Saturday, a half yesterday morning at 5am and nothing since. I decided to go down and get the stuff for the Thomas Recipe and I took the vitamin supplements yesterday as well as potassium, immodium and drank lots of water. I took an ambien last night to sleep. I DON'T FEEL BAD!!! I don't feel fantastic either but I am ok!! Is it safe to say that I weaned myself down enough that it's not going to be much worse. I am a little jittery, had diarrhea, shaky, etc. I am much less cloudy than I would usually be, I don't feel like I have sandbags tied to my legs, I made dinner last night which was not an effort. Most importantly I don't have the desire to rush down to pick up my prescription!!! Do you think I am out of the woods?? Or is the worse to come??? Thank you all for sharing your stories, you have helped me greatly! Good luck to everyone!
I picked up the phone twice and have not done it!!! What is wrong with me??? I don't feel well but I am totally functioning, I slept last night with only 1 ambien. This is the absolute best I have ever been while trying to get off of these nightmare pills and yet I am still hesitating. I know next time it will be worse. This is not a situation I ever thought I would find myself in. It's almost like I don't even know who I am sober anymore, it's been so long. The weird thing was I got in the car this morning to take my son to school and noticed how bright and clear everything looked.. the trees, everything! I have been in a fog for years and years!
My husband was off today so I sucked it up and we left the house for the day. I didn't know if I would make it but I did not want to sit here and stare at these walls all day. It helped. I am really tired and my back hurts so bad I can barely stand it.
You are right about the refill, it has already went through my mind several times today that Wed. is 48 hours away. I am going to call them right now. I have to stay strong for myself and my family. My poor husband has been so awesome through my entire ordeal but I know it is so hard on him. Thank you!
You are right about the refill, it has already went through my mind several times today that Wed. is 48 hours away. I am going to call them right now. I have to stay strong for myself and my family. My poor husband has been so awesome through my entire ordeal but I know it is so hard on him. Thank you!
I think in the case of L Tyrosine early in WD, it's best to stay lower. It can make you jittery. Just hang at the dose you are at for now. Take some more imodium if you haven't already. It helps more than just diarrhea.
Here is some good advice. Trust me on it, ok? Call the pharmacy RIGHT NOW and cancel the refill. Tell them that you won't need it anymore. This way, you WILL be able to make it. Why? Because you will have to! You won't have any choice if you have no way to refill it and nowhere to buy it otherwise. If you get the refill on Wednesday, these few days will be for nothing. I have seen some strong people on here relapse because of refills!
Don't think.....just cancel it! : )
Here is some good advice. Trust me on it, ok? Call the pharmacy RIGHT NOW and cancel the refill. Tell them that you won't need it anymore. This way, you WILL be able to make it. Why? Because you will have to! You won't have any choice if you have no way to refill it and nowhere to buy it otherwise. If you get the refill on Wednesday, these few days will be for nothing. I have seen some strong people on here relapse because of refills!
Don't think.....just cancel it! : )
I am starting to feel a little worse than I was when I woke up this morning. I am yawning, achy, quite a bit of anxiety, but worst of all my back is killing me! I do not normally have back problems. Still more clear headed than I normally am at this stage.
tramahater- I have to agree. The supplements seem to really help. I am afraid of taking too much of the L-torazine though. I took 4 pills (2000mg) this morning with the B6 and potassium. I have heard I can take up to 4000?? Do you know if that is the case?
allmymarbles- Unfortunately tapering is done. I have been out since Saturday basically and my prescription will not be filled until Wed. I do not want to pick that prescription up. I have decided that if I can make it until Wed. than I do not need it. That is the longest I will have ever gone.
Thank you for the support! It really helps.
tramahater- I have to agree. The supplements seem to really help. I am afraid of taking too much of the L-torazine though. I took 4 pills (2000mg) this morning with the B6 and potassium. I have heard I can take up to 4000?? Do you know if that is the case?
allmymarbles- Unfortunately tapering is done. I have been out since Saturday basically and my prescription will not be filled until Wed. I do not want to pick that prescription up. I have decided that if I can make it until Wed. than I do not need it. That is the longest I will have ever gone.
Thank you for the support! It really helps.
You are doing well, but not out of the woods. What I would be careful about is reducing the dosage too quickly. That might produce a withdrawal symptom that is so uncomfortable that you take more pills than you should. So make your progress slow and steady. Drop down - hold steady for a week. Drop down - hold steady for a week. Before you know it you will be rid of this problem.
Hi! I would say it could go either way, but why not have a great attitude, like you are, and just think positive that it's gonna be easy?? I would say that the taper helped, but the stuff from the Thomas Recipe is helping more than you think. The supplements REALLY do help. The Imodium helps A BUNCH too! Try to get out for a walk today too. That will make a big difference in your restless feeling later in the day. Keep pushing the water and taking the supplements, and take a hot bath when you're achy.
Keep us posted! I'm really happy for you! : )
Keep us posted! I'm really happy for you! : )
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