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Hydro/soma addiction

Hello everyone!
      These drugs have really got a hold on me. I started taking them for herniated dics in L4-L5. I now am abusing them. I am taking up to 25 norco 10/325 and 15 soma 350 a day. I have taken them for so long that I have esophgus and stomach problems. I  have gotten no help from doctors, when being open with them. I often think that I want to end my life, but do not want to put my family through anymore then they already been through. I have lost 3 brothers in the past 10 years and my mother had a stroke on 4/23/07. I dont have insurance for a good inpatient program and the state funded programs, in my state are a joke (long time waiting list and only for 5-10 days treatment) I tried detoxing on my own, but with no avail. This system of things are at it's worst. Maybe someone might have an answer for me, that I haven't already tried. I have so much knowledge of prescription drugs, with little of getting off of them. I have tried many things, including the thomas recipe with no avail. Tried tapering many times, but always failed at that. I don't want to die but I know that if something doesn't give, it's just around the corner. I often read many people say "it's doable" Well HOW? When you have been swallowed whole by the the devil and he has you by your tail. Helpful advice is greatly appreciated!!!

IN DESPARE!
7 Responses
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306455 tn?1288862071
Welcome makinit. There are as you now know, many ways to get clean. Of course, the #1 thing is to Really want it.  Look into the Suboxone, it may work for you,since you seemed to have tried other options (really tried?). I was on Percs & Vics (alot daily) for 3 1/2 years. Went cold turkey, now on day 19 clean. I REALLY wanted to do this. I just set my mind to the fact that I was gonna have a really bad Flu for a week or more. For some reason, some people can  accept the fact that they have the flu and just baby themselves and wait it out, can't work etc. Then you start to feel better. It worked for me. I feel really great now. Still alittle run down, but that's what happens with the flu. But my mind is clear and I'm feeling happy & optimistic again.  Anyway you can do it... do it. Remember YOU ARE WORTH THE EFFORT.  You will feel so good about yourself. There is life after pills and a light at the end of the tunnel.  Think of all the time and money and all the other bad things since you've been on them. There's probably been bad things that you don't even realize. Compare that to a week or 2 of the flu, then feeling great and being clean again. Having your life back. Laughing again etc. It is sooo worth the 2 weeks of feeling like ****. When your bodies natural pain killers kick back in, you may find your pain is not as bad as you thought it was. Happened to me, and I'm amazed by it.  
So, there is hope.  What ever way you can do it.
Everyone here will help you through it too.
Join us in our fight for freedom from the drugs.
Magi
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I am surprised no one has mentioned to ask your doctor adout suboxone treatment. You REALLY need to research SUBOXONE. It helps people get off things like oxycontin, and Vicodin. I too was trying to stop taking the Norco 10/325 and I was given a bunch of what i think was garbage. My doc gave me Darvon, some muscle relaxers and nausea medecine. I was good for about three days but my family thougt the hell I was going through was worse than taking the pills. I found a doctor after hours of searching that I will be starting suboxone treatment with starting on Tuesday at 12:30. I too felt like i was on the verge of insanity because I so desperately want to stop destroying my body. Please do your research on suboxone treatment. I think it could save you. I will be consistently updating the board on my experince with the treatment. Keep thinking of all the good things in our life and you WILL get through this.  J-
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I can,t believe you said "maybe I can get pulled over by the police and detox in jail" I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy! Not to mention I have never drove a vehicle while under the influnence of these 2 drugs. Yes I do know I have a lot of soul searching, into myself but I wouldn,t wish more problems on any addict then he/she is already facing. What a sorry statement! I am affended...I am struggling, at this point and I know I have to come to terms with my decision to do this. I just thought you might have something new to offer. I know, as a long term user that their are no magic bullets, but just thought someone might have something comforting to say!

Jenny and precious pearl thanks for your thoughts....
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I agree with everone that you have to find it in yourself to quit and no matter what someone tells you how to quit, if you dont want to try, it's not going to work. Taking the amount of medication your taking every day the devil does have you by the tail but he is not putting the pills in your mouth or calling different doctors for the same meds or buying them on the street for you! You have to reach deep into to yourself to see that only you can stop the madness or maybe you can get pulled over by the police and get arrested for DUI on drugs and detox in jail. If you tell your doctors your taking 25 pain pills a day and 15 of the other, do you think they would still give them to you? If you want to get clean than be honest with your doctors so they cut you off and i dont know if you get them on the street too but you have to cut off the supply and demand if you want a chance of recovery. I played the game of doctors for a long time to get opiates of all kinds, lortab being my DOC and after the long run ended and i got caught by all the doctors because i never had enough pills to ease my pain and the money ran out is how i had to stop. Thats not a pretty way to stop and in the end lost my wife and messed up my 4 kids heads because of the drug use, lost my job and i struggle after being clean for only months with my health. You said if you keep using you might die and you might but you might lose everything that is dear to you and you might wish you were dead. I am sorry to sound so hard but these are the facts of long term drug abuse of any kind of drug that can run your life. This forum is great for spilling your heart out and you will get all kinds of support but the biggest effort has to come from you.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I, too, have been prescribed vicodin 3-4 per day 5/5.00mg and soma 3-4 per day 350mg for over 7 years.  I just recently went off of the vicodin for 5 weeks but am back taking it (don't ask) this past week. I, too, want to get off both these bad drugs. My Dr. says I need them for pain...I said he just wants me on them to keep me coming back. I, like you, am educating myself right now to psyche up to STOP BOTH of them. I DID stop both for like 48 hours when I first quit the vicodin. Not sure why I continued with the soma  but I did. NOW I want to get off of both of them. Would like to do it before the holidays. THAT would be my Christmas present to myself. :) I personally think cold turkey is the only way for me. You have to just tell yourself you have the flu for a few days. My worst days were days 3 and 4 coming off the vicodin. I had NO energy but made it thru. So, I hope I can do it AGAIN and this time with BOTH and NEVER go back. It IS doable...It's the STAYING off that's hard, I think. :) OK let me know if you find an easy way to stop both. Thanks Precious
Helpful - 0
280102 tn?1208877222
We all felt that way when we first quit.  You have to just make up your mind that that is what you really want.  If you've always failed when you tried to taper, maybe you can't do it that way, Have you tried CT?  Benadryl can help you sleep at night, Immodium for the Diarreah, and Ibuprophen for hte muscle pain.  There are alot of other suggestions that can help you on this board.  Bottom line, you have to make up your mind, then get ready for 2 weeks of hell.  But everyday, you'll be getting closer and closer to your goal, every clean day gives you something to be proud of, and something to look forward to, no more withdrawls, and no more being a prisoner to pills.  
Helpful - 0
271792 tn?1334979657
Hello.

I don't have an answer for you, but I didn't want you to feel that you were being ignored.

You stated that the state inpatient program is no good...cold turkey didn't work, and tapering didn't work.

Please understand, I am not trying to be harsh but you have to be willing to do something to help yourself. There is no miracle out there. Those of us who have gotten clean have had to work to get here. Getting clean and staying clean requires determination and willingness on your part.

What are you willing to do to help yourself? Like I said, YOU have to do the work and the people here will support you and help you through it.

I hope you are re-considering. Take care of yourself.
Helpful - 0
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