How long does Hydrocodone withdrawals last?

[TNMedHater]

I was prescribed Hydrocodone/APAP (10/500) in December 2011. Never took more than the prescribed amount (3x Daily). I am now in day 5 since I quit cold turkey. The first 2 days were rotten. My whole body felt achy. Mostly in my lower back. I couldn't fall asleep. I finally fell asleep on the evening of day 2 and slept a good solid 9 hours. (Something I haven't done in quite a while.) When I woke up on day 3 I felt as if I had energy to burn. (Actually got more accomplished on that day around the house than I have in a long time.) However, after working about 8 hours on rebuilding one of my decks I figured I had worn myself down enough to get a good nights sleep...again. But that wasn't to be the case. Day 3 turned into day 4 with no sleep in between. I was able to sleep a little during the day and last night got about 6 hours sleep. But for the last two days I've had this feeling that my body's just not right. I've not had any nausea or vomiting, just diarrhea and a general feeling of malaise. And really not much energy or any ambition. Not sure if I'm bordering on depression. (Though I did have some ambition to get a little done on the computer when I woke up at 2:00 am this morning, but that only lasted a couple of hours.) Also, I find I have to be really hungry to eat (nothing sounds appetizing), and cigarettes (maybe fortunately) taste like they do when I'm sick with a really bad cold or the flu...ich!

Anyway, I have searched all over the net trying to find a list of withdrawal symptoms from Hydrocodone, and it seems no two sites can agree. And all the information I've found about how long the symptoms last are usually dealing with someone who's been taking a lot more per day than I have, and for a lot longer. So here are my questions:

First, can someone point to a reliable web site where they list the symptoms?
Second, how long I can expect this general lousy feeling last?
And last, how long will it take to get back to a feeling where I want to do more than just lay around all day?

Thank you all in advance for answering my questions.

[cavalcade63]

Last pill @ 9pm.  Starting in the morning, on Thanksgiving I will not take my medication.  I have been taking between 1 up to 3 per day since 1998. December of 98, I was rear ended in a car accident. Toyota T12 hit me on the off ramp of the hwy.  The force of 50mph pushed my car into a row of 6 waiting at the red light. Car was totaled. I had a compression fracture T11/T12.  Now I degenerative disc disease. One disc is full of blood.  With all that, and time I have been on meds.  What am I in for?  Maybe the pain in just in my head, and the Drs. Are getting rich off of prescribing pain meds.  Or the pain is real.  I am aiming for Christmas for the truth. What can I use for back pain? Thank you for any advice. 51 year old male.

[Cab30]

I have been taking lortab 10 for 5 years up to five a day max . I'm thirty years old and I'm starting to realize it's taking affect on my life . I'm not the mother I want to be my mood swings are terrible . I don't spend a lot money on them because they're prescribed for my back but I hate depending on something . Sometimes when I run out I just ly in the bed all day . My child wants me to play but I have no energy and it's killing my soul . I have to stop now. I tried once but I couldn't handle the withdrawls and having to work 8hr to 12hr shifts and be a good mother n wife . I just read about a vitamin supplement called withdrawal ease , the testomonials were great . They described everything I'm going through . Do you know anyone that has tried this .     Cb

[shemawmaw01]

I have been on hydro 10/5 for over two years, I went cold turkey  4 days ago, I feel a bit better today, I finally slept about 5 hours in 4 days, I am still so miserable, I feel like my skin is crawling, restless legs are awful, I'm very emotional, my chest feels like my heart is going to jump out. I am going to do this if it's the last thing I do, I don't wanna take them anymore, I'm very embarrassed about it but I opened up to my sister and husband and my daughter's so with their help I'm hoping to concur this terrible addition I have, (had)...thank you for your encouraging words..god bless you and I hope your life is better

[Jameskeenom8171992]

That's crazy Texan817 is me lol I remember all those post I posted I just never figured I run into it again. I got clean for 7 months then started parting a lot (I turned 21) and then I started to abuse the hydrocodien again. As you can tell I'm back on here just with a new name Jameskeenom8171992 I saw someone say don't use Xanax cause then you'll get addicted to Xanax and the withdrawals. But it takes a few weeks to develope a dependence on Xanax. Now if your taken 5 a day for 2 month ya your screwed the withdrawals on Xanax I heard were horrible. But if you break a 4 bar (Xanax) into a 4th or even break it in half it won't be that bad I'm currently on day 5 of withdrawals from hydrocodien (which is my second time detoxing) and over these past 5 days I've taken 6 Xanax bars the 1mg ones (which are the weakest ones. But some people get easy addicted to certain drugs like for me hydro and viks are my poison but Xanax I hate and it helps with sleep and (RLS) along with vitamin c and tonic water etc etc. I'm just saying I'm an example of someone who relapsed I went 7 months clean and just said **** it one pill won't hurt then a year later I'm here addicted once again so I've learned that. Now some people love 4bars(Xanax) and can become addicted to it, but I actually hate Xanax and last time I detoxed I used a bit of Xanax I think I used a total of 12-15 Xanax within 12 days then stop completly no withdrawals and that's when I started working out hard and life got so good I was so happy god was on my shoulder guiding me threw evil then I just said I deserve one good high then got addicted. That's how easy it is to come back on your drug of choice,what I'm saying is it all depends on how you like a drug in my opinion (and I say my opinion) weather or not you develop and addiction depends on you. I personally hate Xanax I don't like the high it makes me sick a little that's why I take small proportions but when your going threw withdrawals for the first 1-14 days I think it's okay to take a small dosage to help with RLS and sleep (although it doesn't help a lot but it does help for me a tad bit but it not might work for others so listen to the people on her purrfectlykrazy is a great supporter and advice giver I listen to HER quite a bit. So if anyone reads this anymore there you go

[PurrfectlyKrazy]

This is a very old thread.  If you would like to discuss substance abuse or have need of our forum please go to the top of the page and click on Ask A Question.  Thanks!

[LoveAndSupport]

I have kicked Hydrocodone 3 times after long term use months-years taking anywhere from 6-20 10's a day. I find it best to stop everything at once and plan at least 72 hours of no commitments. Say you have the flu. CLONIDINE was by far a gift from science for withdrawal. The worst symptom they call "restless leg" but for me it was more like the feeling of holding my breath until my body was jerking and screaming for relief. The clonidine took all of that away and most of the pain. Advil Immodium and Nyquil are also helpful. Remember Hydrocodone has a short half life so withdrawal is quick. If you keep moving and use a sleep aid and possibly an antidepressant you will get through it. I usually feel better within 36-48 hours. Hang in there! Withdrawal can also be a beautiful and empowering spiritual experience. It brings back the God Factor or Hope and it can be magical. Remember the "restless leg" will come in waves. Get up and walk and walk and walk until it passes then try to sleep. Love you all!