How to quit codeine

I have been taking about 20 to 30 lortab 10 a day for about 5 years. It is legitimately prescribed to me for back problems but no one, not even my husband knows I take it at all.  I was taking it when I met him but I remember him making a comment about not putting up with a person who has an addiction because it shows weakness. So obviously I never told him.
I am ready to try to stop taking them b/c obviously I take more than prescribed. I don't know how to do this. I am a stay at home mom with a 9 month old who needs me to be functionable.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! I'm tired of constantly thinking about my pills. I have 10 left now and I'm wondering how I will make it thru tomorrow. I know I can go to my dr. and he will give me a rx. I need help and I have no one to talk to or get help from....

[laurel453]

Hi welcome here :)

it doesn't show weakness, it shows there is an illness ... Anyway, i wanted to ask before answering your questions  if you have ever gone through wds before and if you know what to expect ? and if you have someone who can help you with the baby for the first days ?

[hollytabor]

Hi there ...

I'm a VERY new poster, but I've been taking vicodin for back issues for the last three years.  I'm supposed to take up to 12 a day (per the rx) but usually do 12-16 ... well, until a couple of days ago when I got fed up, switched from lurker to poster and began to taper with the hopes of getting down to a very low dose that will cut my w/d symptoms.

I think you'll have to decide on whether or not you want to go cold turkey (ct) or taper your dosage.  Whatever you choose, please keep posting .... you can get through this!

[sickmommy07]

Your beat bet would b to go c a doctor and just tell them what's going on, I'm on my 4th day of detox and i iam only  grtting through it with help from my doctor
Try and promethazine and clonidine. They both have helped me so so much. I'm not pukeing any more and i don't feel the very very hard / sick detox.

[sudie58]

its good you want to come off these meds and get your life back, as laurel says, have you gone through withdrawals before? are you planning on tapering or going cold turkey?
you can do this and there are folks on here who can help, keep posting and god bless.

[allaboutcc]

I have been a day or 2 without pills and all I did was sleep. That was before the baby. So I don't think I've actually gone thru wd per say. I think I need to taper but I am so scared. I just don't know what to do anymore. My kids need me and being sick won't help. But I know being hooked on pills won't help either.

[dyn2bcln]

hi, i just joined too, ive been on opiates for 12 years. today im gonna TRY my tapering, i an also sooooo f......g tired of thinking about me pills. maybe we can try this together. im scared and alone, i too have a husband that has no idea, so i know EXACTLY how you feel.

[Stevo977]

It takes a huge commitment to quit and I would suggest consulting your doctor ( being honest) and coming up with a taper plan and following it. As posted above, Phenergan will help with nausea and clonodine will help with the spike in blood pressure associated with withdrawals. It's extremely important to understand that you can't do it alone and if you insist on not telling your husband, at the very least, having a doctor assist you will help better than attempting on you own.

The first time I quit I tapered but relapsed fairly quickly and eventually had to seek inpatient treatment. My addiction was a little higher than yours mixed with xanax and alcohol. I went through methadone treatment and suboxone but was still a slave to drugs. I tried to hide from my wife, but she knew all along. I finally broke down and was honest with her, and she was supportive, but cautious as far as trust was concerned. It was a long hard road to recovery with me having lost my career, many real friends, and the trust of my wife of 10 years. I have been completely drug free over a year now, and feel better than I ever did on drugs.

Early withdrawal is a huge test for most of us as we will seek out anything to help us through the suffering and as you know, popping pills, whether addictive or not, is addictive also. I did every over the counter, anti-depressant, anti-anxiety medication there was, but it took so long to get over the mental aspect of taking a pill to feel better. I'm certainly not against needed medications, it was just something that I felt I needed to do to overcome it.

Good luck and keep posting,
Steve

[dyn2bcln]

i just read your post and you mentioned promethazine.....how did that help you wiht wds? i have some that i did not take( no opiates in it ...ha)  so glad i saved it. please let me know

[sudie58]

if you go to your dr. you can ask for a taper plan if you think thats for you, either way you cant avoid withdrawing but you really shouldnt frighten yourself out of it, it is doable, there are lots of things to help you, i know what its like, it is worth it,

[kajama]

Promethazine is phenergan and helps with nausea...it also helps sedated a little so u can get some sleep