How long does it usually take to get off Hydro's?

[mismike]

Hi, I am new to this site, but I am just like most of you trying to get off them, I had surgery in april and my doc had started giving me pain med, (lortab 7.5's) for pain , i have sever endometriosis and a tumor in my uterine wall, and i had laprascopic/laser surgery to remove what he could in april and after a month or so he cut me off, i was on this medication for months before surgery, and then he just cuts me off and puts me on motrin 800mg. That is a joke to an addict for pain. Anyway my husband had no idea i was going and buying them but he did know i was taking them from his bottle, he gets 90 a month for back pain where he was in a minning accident and broke his back in like 10 different places. I have been going to a therapist for my addiction and he isnt much help, so i see the doctor that works there and she wanted to admit me into the hospital for treatment, and i couldnt go because my husband thinks i am clean and thinks i have been for over a month which i have not, i am just at my witts end on how to get clean and stay that way, my husband told me it was him or the drugs and i want to choose him but it seems i have to have the drugs, If anyone has any advise for me please feel free to tell me. I want to try to taper off the meds but like i read on a post in here it is hard to do that, without going over board and starting back on them again as strong as ever.well i have ran my mouth enough. hope to hear from someone soon.
Mis

[christinesho]

Hello everyone;

I am sitting here with tears in my eyes reading about what you have all gone through.  I , myself, never thought this could "ever happen to me".  I had back to back surgeries in 2001 and then complications with a lot of pain.  Ended up having the Hydo 5's prescribed to me, then 7.5's.  I have been on the 7.5's for several months and I realized I did not want to do this anymore, as the pain was virtually gone, but in my head I wanted them.  I prayed with all my heart a few days ago to get off these monsters, because if I don't get off them now, I know where I could go with them.  Yesterday was the 1st day off them.  Last night was horrific.  I asked God why this was so hard and He said if it was easy, then wouldn't remember the PAIN.  I am actually functioning and at work.  I have the fevers, my legs feel like spaghetti and I got that "gonna crawl out of my skin" feeling...but, all in all He is gracious to me.  I don't feel I need anything to help through the w/d's as I wasn't on them long enough and I was only up to 5 at the most per day.  But, if this can be a testimony to any one out there that you CAN STOP this before it gets out of control.  You will now without a doubt when your mind starts going off and thinking about that quick high with "another pill"..come on take another one! and another one!  STOP!  don't listen and just STOP.

This forum has helped me throughout the year that I have been on painkillers on and off.  This last time was much harder and I can see how it sneaks up on you.... God bless you all! and good luck!

[billyk]

I tried weaning 3 or 4 times all unsuccessful. Here is how the unsuccessful steps went, 1. I would cut down from my normal 100mg of hydrocodone  to 60mg,, held that for a few days. 2. then would go from 6 to 4 pills a day for a week. 3. (this is when it got hard) cut from 4 to 2,, would always end up on three pills a day for a long week. I took all this medication on a regimine, certain times and would wait if the wd's were not that bad. 4. now I go to 2 pills a day for 2 weeks,,, this is when the pills do nothing for ya except keep the wd's at bay.. might get a few days in like this. Then I would take three pills one day and wrestle around in the addiction for some periods, thinking "at least I am getting closer to quitting" untill I was nowhere near quitting the drugs,, ya know back up to 6o 7omg a day again.

I did however go see a DR. and he perscribed me 4 days worth of Methadone 10 mg. took 4 meth tabs the first day, then 3 the second day, then 2 for the next 2 days.
That got me through the worst wd's. Now I go to meetings and wrestle with the psycological part everyday..

My wife was out of town when I was doing this. She had no idea I was on drugs. Hell I am supposed to be an upstanding business owner and a great guy. Tried cold turkey for a few days before giving in to see the doc. I was on my last day of Methadone when she got home, I gave her a note I wrote about all my shame I had and told her of all the love I had for her and explained how I did not know how I got to this position, but I had become an addict. I wrote all this stuff in my "momment of clarity" some wild stuff in that note, some very deep emmotional stuff. When she was done reading the not, she looked at me with tears in her eyes and said "I love you to, and we can get through this." I now have one person outside a meeting I can talk to about my struggles,,, and she has been a Godsend.   goodluck to ya, let us know how it comes out. we all have been there, and we are here now for the still recovering addict
billyk

[jaycee433]

i really give you guys credit,you've got balls,there is no way i could have done it cold,i weanedoff its a long process but no pain,i will really have to be hurting to go on them again and quit as fast as i could. all the nice feelings are'nt worth it by any stretch God help you all,wishing you an easy time

[tex3]

Hi and welcome. I haven't posted much lately as I've been really busy at home, but can see everyone here is still giving great advice. I agree that you should talk to your husband about this, if you can. It's going to be really hard with the temptation of his pills always around. But you can do this; many here are proof of that. I quit April 1 and am, I can honestly say, a different person. I also had endo, which was what led me down this road. If you can see an addiction specialist, I truly believe that's the best route. The recipe helps a lot, especially with mental outlook and energy. You have to get through those first few days, which is where a specialist can really help, as they can give you some stuff to alleviate the symptoms. First get some distance from the drugs, then focus on really changing your behavior and quitting for good. But the first step is getting all the **** out of your system. You can do this, so hang in there and stick around here. Good luck!
tracy

[kell737]

I believe everyone is effected differently when then stopping using a drug.  I myself have taken percocet for 8 years straight everyday (about 10-12 a day)  .... I quit cold turkey because number one, I knew I wouldn't be able to taper because I have no will power!  I figured if I didn't have the drugs to take I wouldn't take them.  My husband had my car keys (at my request) he locked up the 9 pills I did have left, which I wanted to keep incase I absolutely couldn't handle the withdrawls.   The 1st 3 days were horrid!    I honestly thought I was going to die and I almost took one of my remaining pills.    I grabbed  my bible and held it, read it, prayed with it and slept with it.  My husband helped me every step of the way.  It was by far the hardest thing I've ever done, no way I could've done it alone!  

I admire each and everyone of you to the fullest extent! You all deserve the best for the strengh you have.  I have prayed for all of you and I honestly believe God has been on our side (I know he is on mine)!   Those pills controlled my life for 8 solid years and when I flushed those 9 monsters down the toliet I was forever proud of myself!!  We have all been through a lot and I wish you all the best.  This forum has been a huge help to me and I greatly appreciate it!  Thank you all, I'll never be able to say that enough!  THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART, and please don't ever give up and let these monsters take over you again.  Life is so much better and I didn't reslize until now  Sorry I rambled alittle much. LOL  God bless you all!

~Kell

[hellbent]

My largest hydro habot was 13-14 norcos a day (28 vikes). It was a bad 5 days when I stopped cold, got gradually better, and by 3 weeks I was feeling good again. Then, I celebrated, with another 100 norcs...

[Julz@Peace]

Today was my last VicES-nasty little pills arent they? Anyway, i am trying the "Thomas Recipe"- will let you know how it goes-also want to say the Nutritionist at the Health Food Store I bought my vitamins from heard my story, and also advised Inositol to help with the Nerves... am trying it- will keep you posted.  God bless you all.  <*)))><  Peace out

[kell737]

Welcome to the forum!  

First things first.... you have got to be honest and upfront with your hubby!  I know why your not because I've been there but you have to have commucation with him.  Let him know you want help getting off these monsters!   Everyone in this forum (almost) as been where you are and it's not easy, especially when you go through it alone.    Here's alittle something that does help the withdrawls after quiting..... it goes like this

L-Tyrosine 8 500mg capsules, on an empty stomach (my edit here..this was too much for me, gave me a bad stomach ache and made me feel jittery, but some folks need this much. Test what works for you)
B-complex
Hot baths to help with muscle aches
Valium to help with sleep, but be careful to not take it too long or you will get addicted to it.
Multimineral tablet that includes zinc, magnesium, and manganese, as well as calcium.

I added 5 htp and SAM-e, that help with the depression quite a bit.

You can read a lot more about this throughout the forum but this is called the "Thomas recipe". AND IT WORKS!!   Give it a try.   You'll be glad you did.   Good luck to you and keep posting.  

~Kell

[jaycee433]

i just got off them 11/2 years of vicodan it took 4months of weaning 1/2 pills ata time i was taking 6 ES aday so to say you can go cold turkey when your taking 10 or more a day is crazy it cant be done i tried when i was at 2 aday and its impossible tell your doctor what the problem is and if they can't help you go to someone who will. good luck you'll need it ,it feels nice to be off them

[mismike]

Hi, I think you may be right on stopping cold turkey, I did it one time before for 5 days, and i broke over and started right back, it is hard when your husband gets them prescribed to him everymonth. 90 a month. thanks for your responce.
mis

[memikey]

I can only answer from previous experiences, but if done quickly and cold turkey, the worst can be over in around 5 days ... but that's using something much weaker like Darvon to help kill the aches.  I've never successfully quit by tapering, so I can't advise you of that, only that it takes longer and much more will power.  Good luck.

--memikey