Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

How long does hydrocodone stay in the system?

I have been off painkillers for about 2 weeks and still get the chills and diarrea. Is this still the remainence of the hydro? If so are there any ways to cleanse my system besides water? Thank you for this forum. I really enjoy reading all the support people give each other.
184 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
Ive been addicted to norco,percocet or vicoden pretty much anything I I could get my hands on I felt so amazing on them I have anxiety and depression and being on them made me better. I would be able to take them before and that was it I didn't crave them or look for them like before. I would say I've been hooked on them for about a year now I would get them by stealing them from people I know had them or fake some type of pain to get them ive wanted to stop taking them for awhile now but ive been afraid of the withdrawls and the fact my husband has a script for them so I see them or hear them and I just want them. Im on my second day without them I have the chills slept horrible last night even took 2 ambien which I have prescribed to me for insomnia I feel achey and keep sitting on the toilet cuz I feel like I have to go but nothing much happens. I decided I needed to stop because this isnt me especially the stealing and lying and for my children. I dont want anyone around me to know whats going on cuz im embarrassed. Ive been drinking lots of water taking vitamins and snacking. I just want to know how much longer until things start getting better and if theres anything else to do. I was taking 3-5 a day orally
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I just stumbled on this site and I am curious as to what recipe you are talking about.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I'm only in the beginning. Day 1 1/2 for me and this is hell. Good to see there is hope
Helpful - 0
480448 tn?1426948538
Please start your own thread, you keep posting on other people's threads.  You will get more replies if you do that, plus, it is just far too confusing to have two people trying to explain their unique situations and to keep the info straight on one thread.  Here's the link to start a new thread!

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/new_with_new_subject?forum_id=77
Helpful - 0
1827057 tn?1397520277
HI   Please go to the top of the page and click on the orange "post a question" button  .Then repost this and you will get tons of support and it will be your very own thread. This is an old thread you are posting on. Sorry you are going through this .
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hello everyone I am new here. My doctor has had me on 60mg of morphine and 60 pills of hydrocodone10/325 for over two years bc I have arthritis in my neck and suffer from migraine headaches. Well on friday when I called to get my monthly refill they called it in then canceled it and told me that I failed my urinaysis test. I dont take any other meds accept ibuprofen so I really dont know what the problem is. I have started having withdrawals  all weekend. I feel like my eyes are popping out it sockets and the diarrhea is ridiculous and painful. Im shaking uncontrollably and my husband is mad that they just took me off them with any withdrawal medicine. Im in the judicial system and I had to call off work because I cant be in court with the shakes and the diarrhea. Can anyone tell me hiw they can just prescribed this stuff to and take u off without anything to help u out with. My husband is ready to get a lawyer. I am tempted to go speak to my judges about this. I really want the pain to go away but reading these comments have me thinking that ill be down for weeks. Any advice??
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi I have searched but can not find the Thomas Recipe can you re post it please? I have been taking hydrocodone for extreme back pain, I am breastfeeding and the Dr is aware of it but I can"t believe it's not going to effect my baby. What are the withdrawal symptoms and how long does it last?  Will my baby have problems?  
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I am fighting this after being in them for 6 years. Its time I deal with reality and concern myself with the ones I love. Being more productive. each day gets better. You can get thru it! I now havent smoked cigs or taken any pills for a week! So, Im gettinf alot healthier than I anticipated! being in the sun makes me feel sick. So, I try not to be in it alot. I havent done much around the house, but my finance understands the situation. I will get out of my funk eventually! Its not going to make me lose my battle! Im staying strong!!  congrats to all of yall w your sobriety! Keep your heads up!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I am 33, my name is Renee. I was taking 7.5 lortabs a day. i became void of everything. Id smoke almost 2 pcks of cigerettes a day! Id like someone to talk to. Im sober one week. I get them from my doctor. I havent been back and my boyfriend flushed the rest I had. He kept them hidden from me becAuse I would just sit, and smoke and do nothing else. It was great having his support on this. right now I get the hot sweats, I feel hungry alot, smoking cigs makes me nauseas, Im real lazy, I feel like my body is a huge weight. i dont have alor of energy! It ***** but My moods swings aren't raging here and there. I spend less time on my phone. I am more involved with listening to what my fiance says! these pills made me numb to everything! I liked that, but it makes you constipated! I gained alot of weight from them! eventually this will be out of my system. my hair and nails are growing longer now and are healthy! im more aware of peoples feelings. trust me these are worth stayin off of. im glad Ive made the choice to never get them again.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Day one for me
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I so understand, I have so much Arthritis myself...The best thing to do for that is stretch, start slow and walk, move, don't sit. Because when you don't move, it hurts much more..Hot baths, hot showers..But stretching is the best..If I don't do that everyday, I can't stand myself.. If you have insurance ask your doctor to get you in physical therapy and they will help you learn how to stretch and teach you how to sit properly and walk properly...We in America don't even know how to properly take care of ourselves so we turn to pills...I am learning all of this right now, because I will NOT go back to these pills...Think positive, stretch, if you can ,physical therapy...That is what I am doing next...MOVE MOVE...Hope this has helped...Let's make a good effort to take better care of ourselves without the flipping pills.I am right there with you and I am almost 66 years old..Hugs Denise
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
The Lord must be answering my prayers because I've been struggling with how to get off pills for months & just decided the last few days that I am ready and doing it. Then I found you all today. I have used pills off & on for 10 years. Then 2 yrs ago I found a doc to prescribe me 10-325 Norco, 3-8 pills a day. Things were ok until I started adding in 15mg Oxycodone to compensate for my higher tolerance. I have 2 beautiful kids ages 2 & 5 that are my life! People always tell me what a great mom I am, but I feel like a fake because noone knows that I only get thru my days because of the pills. I so wanna know that I can still be the same great mom, or better without these pills. But I worry- what if the pills are the reason I'm that great mom? What if I have no energy, motivation & patience without the pills? I'm so scared, so alone, so lost. I'm searching for all the info & support I can get. I think I may have to quit cold turkey becuz my doc gave me a UA today & found the oxy in my system. I have no access to anything, so if they don't refill my Norco- I'm out & have no choice. My husband and family don't know how bad my habit is & don't know I'm cutting it off. I guess I'll say I have the flu? But I am home with my kids & work part time 3 days a week & there is no way to get help at home or take time off to do the withdrawal. Any advice for the best way to handle it while caring for 2 small kids and keeping the house running? How long will the real bad stuff last? My habit has been approx 3-5 10-325mg Norco for over 2 years & I've added in 1-3 15mg oxycodone daily for the past 8 months or so. What is the Thomas Recipe? I have about 5-7 days of pills left to taper down as much as possible in such a short time & then I'm jumping. Any advice, experience stories, encouragement, ideas or support would be a life saver. Thnk you all so much for sharing your stories. You may actually be the reason my kids won't have to grow up with a drug addict Mommy.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hey today is going to be my first day without before I was  taking 6-10 and ... Well now I'm out, I've been wanting to quit seems the only way I stop is when i don't have anymore. Then I try to quit this time the only thing different is me looking to this site for encouragement and strength
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hey it's ok Erika keep ur head up, I kno how u feel wen ur husband doesn't listen or understand, it can make u feel even more lonely than being alone.  Ur in pain and trying to stay clean?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hey it's ok Erika keep ur head up, I kno how u feel wen ur husband doesn't listen or understand, it can make u feel even more lonely than being alone.  Ur in pain and trying to stay clean?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Melvin61 go post a question so people will see ur post this is old and may be overlooked . Congrats on 7 days
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Ok I'm on day 7 or so I haven't been counting but yes I am miserable and even thought I might die from the withdrawal symptoms especially jet black diarrhea.  
I am hangin on to my a__and doing it alone. I will not go to meetings not for me but had been on Norco for over 5 yrs after a head trauma.  
So far I'm just sick of being sick. Hurting and ache and frankly quite irritable.

Immglad your all here
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I am trying to quit what do I do cold turkey?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I'm on day 7 and I feel like a limp noodle, I have no energy what so ever. I was taking up to 20 10mg Norcos a day.  I tried cold turkey before but went 5 days and relapsed.  It was extremely the hardest thing ive ever had to do.  This time I've promised myself for the sake of my 5 kids I will never touch a norco again!  I missed work all week with my job thinking I have the flu, but I have to go to work tomorrow and I'm dreading it because its been really hard to sleep.  I just keep praying it will get better.  How long will it take to feel normal again or should I get them and try to ween off?  I really just want my body to be free of Norcos.  Please someone help!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hello, I have heard most of your stories and I am going through it also. It may not seem like a lot but trust me it is for a person that hasn't never been addicted to anything before. This is my fourth day going cold turkey coming off of hydro codone 10 mg about 6-8 sometime 10 a day for the last 4 years. 4 days only it feels like 4 months. I don't know how long this should last but I'm trusting in  God and knowing that I'm going to be alright. I stay praying and reading my Bible more than I ever have. God will never fail us and nothing is too hard for God. I feel better than I thought I would feel because I trust in God. I would take anger out on my children, my husband, and myself. As long as I had some tabs I was good and everybody else was good. If I didn't have them or if I was coming down off of the high everybody must leave. I just want to be me without the meds and I don't even know how I was when I wasn't taking them. Was I cool, fun, full of energy? I have no clue. However it was I just want it back. If someone can tell me how long this last I will be grateful. Thanks for listening. First of all Thank You God for Your Strength. You all are in my prayers
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I feel what all of yal r feeling, I have been an off and on addict for many years, I am a registered nurse and lost all that I had worked for in one day after getting caught diverting meds from hospital I was working at, I would take or inject anything to get high and through the day, lost my nursing license, almosty marriage and my child, it's not worth it but still I couldn't stop! Went to out pt drug rehab for 16 months, didn't help, then tried suboxone and started abusing them!  Still struggling and family has no clue but problem is down to my last 10mg hydro's and can't find anymore do the weaning process has started and it ***** so bad, I have a 4 yr old and a husband that doesn't understand why I went from cheerful housewife and mom to bitchy cranky leave me alone wife who can barely make it out of the bed, I have been workin as a counselor since loosing my license, go figure, but I feel like I can help people cause I been there I just don't do what I preach. I have got to stop,bin process of getting nursing license back but I got to quit, I will have random drug testing as soon as I get back. I hate what the drug had done for me, have been on several antidepressants but none work, I gave no pain, I just take for the energy! Does anyone out there now of anything that can give me energy over the counter without having to drink energy drinks? I also take klonipins and almost out but can't go back for refill bc my md drug test me to make sure not taking hydro's. If anybody has any advice, please help, I'm only 33 and have my whole life ahead of me. Thanks
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hang in there. The thoughts will pass. Sometimes Ive had to remind myself Ive been through this before and it will pass.  After the first 2 or three days for me I seemed to feel better. I just have to talk myself through it and do things that are positive for me, ie get out of the house, walk, pray, read motivational material, stay away from negative people. Sometimes I just have to say, like Scarlet OHara. I'll deal with that tomorrow and take care of todays problems today. Be gentle with yourself, treat yourself as you would treat a sick person, youre trying to heal
As for your husband, if someone hasnt walked in your shoes they wont understand. And some people just arent capable of understanding some things. Point is he dosent have to, you do though. You're responsible to take care of yourself. Youre important to more people than yourself, even though it dosent seem that way. Addiction is a disease of perception, we misuse the drugs, sometimes intentional, sometimes not but youre here for a reason. Your life isnt yours to take. Hang in there and just keep telling yourself "this will pass". Focus on what you have instead of what you dont have and verbally be grateful. That always helps me. This site helps too. Just keep asking for help. People have been there and we do care
Yvette
Helpful - 0
1801781 tn?1461629469
Marry, please go up to the top if this page.  Click on the ORANGE ask a question icon and repost.  This way you will start your own thread and get the help.  Posting on this old thread you might be missed and I do not want that to happen.  Glad you came here.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I am addicted to vicoden 10 5 s for 3 years i have back problems and my dr gives them to me like candy i realy want to stop but i feel like it gives me energy and if i take less i sweat i  also have severe heart problems had surgery i nevrr took anything prior to my health issues now i just am lost depressed
Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Addiction: Substance Abuse Community

Top Addiction Answerers
495284 tn?1333894042
City of Dominatrix, MN
Avatar universal
phoenix, AZ
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
Is treating glaucoma with marijuana all hype, or can hemp actually help?
If you think marijuana has no ill effects on your health, this article from Missouri Medicine may make you think again.
Julia Aharonov, DO, reveals the quickest way to beat drug withdrawal.
Tricks to help you quit for good.
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.