How long does it take to kick Norco's

Hi, I have been reading many of your posts regarding Vicodin addiction. I hope someone can add some inspiration here for me.

I have had two serious back injurys that have left me with cronic (chronic) back pain. As well I have degenative disc's. In 2002 I had another low back injury that led me to opt for back surgery on my L4-5. I was almost 100% pain free shortly after the surgery, but in 2004 I had another back injury while driving a tractor. Which led me to pain killers. I started taking 1 - 7.5/Vicodin two times per day for about 2 years. Then my tolerance built up and I began to take more 1 1/2 twice a day, then two twice a day and until about two weeks ago i was up to about 6 a day (10mg Norco).

I have three small kids (ages 3, 6 & 7) and feel like I am missing out on their life. I also don't feel very good taking this many pain killers. Up until about 2 weeks ago and for the past two years I have been on Zanax and Norco. I was up to 3 - 1mg Zanax a day and 6 - 10mg Norco a day.

Two weeks ago I stoppedtaking the Zanax and began weaning myself  off the Norco's. At least I am trying to stop the Norco's. My body keeps telling me to take them and goes into cols sweats, dizzyness, no energy and just feel like ****. As of yesterday I have dropped the Zanax (2 weeks now) and down to 4 Norco's a day. Today I woke up and took 2 Norco's and tried not to take anymore. I felt like I was sick. Diarea (diarrhea), Cold Sweats, a little dizzy and little energy. I just went to the Gym and walked for an hour ( 4+ miles) to regain some energy. I feel drained so I took 1 Norco. So that's 3 for today.

If I am understanding right and what I have read on these posts and others, it is best to wean myself off the Killers. Well, I have gone from 6 a day now to 3 a day and am going to stick with this for how long? I don't know!

I guess what I am trying to ask is, how long does it take for my body to rebound if I was to stop taking all together tomorrow???

I love my family and I don't want to be like this anymore.

Sincerely,
J_WW    

[J_WW]

How long does it take to kick Norco's. How long will my body want them after quitting???

[road2recovery]

Welcome...Did you say you stopped taking xanax c/t??  at 3mg a day?  Did you tell your doctor this, and did he advise this...Reason, is that drug should never be c/t...I have been there without knowing and it is hell, and can cause serious problems....

But if it has been 2 weeks , maybe you are ok...I will let worried or another nurse answer that one...IMO the norco's should have been stopped first, then weaned the xanax....
Stay here and hopefully we can all help you!!
r2r

[kim715]

Like r2r has already told you,you are not supposed to go cold turkey off of benzos,you need to taper off to avoid serious problems.Someone will come along that has more knowledge about that then me.In regards to the norcos,if you were to stop taking them tomorrow,normally you will suffer through 5-8 days of what most here refer to as the 'super flu',it's actually a lot of the symptoms you are having now since you dropped your dose.Are you wanting to taper all the way down or go cold turkey?

[J_WW]

Thanks for replying so soon. Yes i quit the zanax first because i ran out and did not want to deal with getting more.

It has been two weeks now and i am feeling better. At first I had many sleepless nights and restlessness. I thought that quitting the killers first would probably be best, but it worked out the other way for me. I am feeling better now, but am still on 3 - 10mg Norco's a day (weaned down from 6- a day).

How long should it take my body to rebound once I stop the Norco's and how long should I stay at 3 a day?

Trying desperately to quit!

[J_WW]

Hi Kim715,

thank you for your reply, i don't really have anybody to discuss this with. My wife is proud that I have finally made the decision to quit as she is the only one i can talk to about this, but shes never been through it!

Thank you for your concern about the Zanax, I am feeling pretty good now. Trying to work out a bit to regain energy and am feeling much better.

I am still taking the 10mg Norco's. Down to only 3 a day as of today, 4 yesterday (down from 6 a day). I want to quit C/T the Norco's also. What are your thoughts.

FYI - I went to the health food store and purchased some natural relaxants to wean myself off the Zanax.

[road2recovery]

Well i am glad you are feeling better from the w/d's from the benzo's...For me the c/t from benzo's was a bit tougher then the opiates....At the end i was taking about 15 to 20 lortab 10's...I tried to taper but had no self control, so just went c/t....If you are strong enough to taper then you will do best that way...If you want me to send you a taper just let me know , i can Pm it too you....
I am glad you are honest with your wife that will help ...And although they are supportive ., they don't understand unless they are going through it, so please welcome her to read her , it may help her and you!!
Your dosage of norco's is not that high, so if you taper down slow, you should be ok, look at the top right corner of this page, and go to health pages, try to get all the amino's, and thomas recepie

[kim715]

Look in the health pages under thomas' recipe,there are things that can help ease you through the w/ds a little.You have found a wonderful place for help and support.The biggest factor is your desire to get clean.As long as you are committed to quitting YOU CAN DO THIS.As I said before it will be about 5-8 days of the 'super flu'.The symptoms you are having now may intensify a bit once you stop all together.Keep posting.Exercise is a HUGE plus.The physical part is rough,but the mental part is rougher so it's best to have some after care in place like attending meetings.It's great that you have your wifes support and you have all of ours too.Stay strong.All the best...Kim

[Military1971]

Hello Everyone,
I suffered a broken neck in 2002 that subsiquently ended my career after several surgeries and like J_WW, I also have a family.
This sounds horrible however, I've had the benefit of my Brother being an addict, this has always kept me away from falling into the trap of drugs and alcohol, however, currently I have been on Norco since 2005.
I've tried to keep this in check and have not ever taken more than 4 in one day, for about the past year I have had very bad sleep patterns, up all night, can't sleep, when I do sleep I can't wake up and I become super irritable, is this normal for norco?
this is my first visit here, and I'm not P.C. friendly enough to find forum answers, so please forgive me as I ask, when I stop or wein myself off, what pain would I have? is my pain being amplified because my body is wanting more norco?
Also Thank you for this site and topic! and EVRYONE who has posted, I know it takes courage because I'm having a hard enoug time writting here, so thank you all!
David