Hydrocodone 5.500

[Mike_B_]

Well my dr gave me some 5.5 instead of the 7.5 and told me they would have to last until I see the nurosurgeon.  That is going to be less than 2 a day until my appointment.  He acted like it made him mad because i wanted to see another dr.  I have taken the 2 a day but no more.  I had gone 4 days without taking anything until Easter and my daughters came home from college for the weekend and my wife said you can't just lay around all weekend.  I have been dealing with this since early Feb trying to ween myself off 10 mg opana er 3 times a day.  I have used colodine and it makes me so tired.  I have a lot of pain from cancer surgery i had years ago in my lower back.  The test show a lot of scar tissue and bone spurs in my facet joints that triggering the pain.  

I feel bad that I have taken the hydro but i have not even taken them as the prescription stated.  It said take it every 6 to 8 hrs for pain.  But, if i had done that i would have been out long before the appointment with the nuro who is a pain management guys too.  I'm just not sure what to do.  I feel like instead of taking one this morning i should just start the colidene again this morning and see if i can make it without the pills.  Advice???

[mojo420]

I took 9-12 norcos a day for 7yrs to deal with my  lowerback pain,no problems untill had to change doctors.I stoped cold turkey;it was a living hell. 1year clean from any Rx.I realize much of the pain was in my brain.I still long for opiates. I think some people can handle opiates once you find the right dosage?but I was on a morfen drip for over a year in the hospital in the  80s,mabey my body adapted?any knowledgable comments apreciated

[VicUser]

I too have scar tissue.ine is from earlier herniated disk surgery and I deal with siatic (sp) nerve pain. I have talked to several Drs Neuroligest and Neurosurgons about the pain. All have said the same thing that while surgery would help in the short term that scar tissue would come back and may be worse. You might want to get a couple more opitions before surgery. Just a suggestion, I understand about the pain scare tissue can cause but please becareful. I did take clonidine as a possible drug instaed of vicodin, but it didn't help me. good luck

[Mike_B_]

I only took one yesterday and didn't sleep much last night.  I am trying to make it through the day without taking any.  I feel bad and my back is hurting and i don't feel like eating.  My wife wants us to get out she thinks that may make me feel better.  It's cold here and i just don't have any enegy to go.  I took on of the clodine this morning and i am sure that is what has me weak.

[Mike_B_]

lost soul do you mind me asking if you started because of pain?  Are you starting to feel better after almost a month and are you sleeping through the night now?  You are right it is so hard to stop even taking only a small amount on a regular basis.

[lostsoul2]

These pills are stronger than most anybody.  I thought the same thing.  I thought I could control it.  Through time instead of quitting I was increasing up to 15-20 pills a day.  When the pharmacy started asking questions it was time to go to my Dr.  He told me once they gain control it's hard as hell to stop.  He suggested I go to rehab, but I quit at home with a lot of willpower, and a few relapses along the way.  But rightnow I am 3 and a half weeks clean.  I feel ok other than feeling like I lost a friend.  These pills gain control of the mind and actualy alter your brain chemistry, so the sooner you can quit the better.  Trust me.

[Mike_B_]

Thanks goingtomakeit.  I have heard of the neurontin before but i have not tried it.  I am just having a real hard time with myself believing I am down to only 2 of the 5.5 a day and i can't stop!  Did you ever have to ringing in your ears?

I hear the sucess stories and i can't believe i am having this hard of a time with this stuff.  It's like it just takes hold of your life and won't let go.

We had a sheriff in a town close by that got busted not long ago,  He was getting hydrocodone from a local pharmacy without a prescription.  When they caught him he had almost 3000 pills at his house.  He went to rehab like everyone that gets caught and testified in court the other day that it had taken over his life and he had no control to stop.  I read about other people on this site that were taking 20 and 30 a day and i am only taking 2 but i can't seem to stop.  Maybe it's because I'm alone during the day without anyone to talk to except my wife who calls me just to check if I'm ok.  I always thought i was a strong person because i have been through so much, cancer at 24 and 3 heart surgeries, but i guess this is stronger than me.

[GoingToMakeIt]

Getting all of your options and looking at them is never a mistake. I would do the same. There are alternatives to opiates. Some have had good success with Neurontin and it helped them quit the opiates. Send bmc1976 a PM or note to have him tell you about his experience with it.

[Mike_B_]

He is a nurosurgeon,  the other doctors i have gone to just say there is really nothing that can be done and my MD said if i went to a pain clinic they would just put me back on what he had me on.  But, at this point i just feel like i should see someone that knows about pain and how to control it.  It maybe a mistake to see him but i already have the appointment.

[GoingToMakeIt]

Once you are off the hydro for a while the pain levels do go down. The body produces extra pain to get more Hydro. You said you are going to a surgeon, so if a surgery is in the near future it might not be time to quit until after the surgery.

[Mike_B_]

Is advil the same as motrin?  I've tried that but it has not helped.  I am like everyone else i can't sleep and when i read all the horror stories about trying to get off this stuff it scares the heck out of me.  I had taken ultram but i have not taken any of it in about 4 weeks.  It just seems like with me only taking 2 a day of the hydro 5.5 for the last 4 days it would a lot easier to stop.  But, my back just hurts so bad and i can't keep my mind on my work or feel like doing anything if i don't take that one in the morning and the other one at night.

I did go 4 days without taking anything the week before Easter and it was just too much for me to handle.  I am going to see a nurosurgeon next week and if he decides i need to get off all this maybe he can help me do it.  I am just not sure i can do it on my own.  Maybe I am just not strong enough.

[road2recovery]

I am sorry i didn't see this post first....What is opana??  The clonodine made me very sleepy too....
Have u tried Motrin for your pain?  Or lyrica--non-narcotic?
I know you are in a tough postion because you have real  pain....I have low back pain with degenerated disc, i am close to 7 months clean from hyrdros....And i PRAY i never have to go back...
good luck
r2r

[Mike_B_]

You know you would't think only taking 2 of the hydro 5.500 for 3 days after being off the opana for a few days would be this hard to stop.  I just don't get it.  I took one yesterday at noon and none so far this morning and i am so nervious and feel like ****.  I work from home but i don't feel like working or eating anything.  I have lost about 20 lbs in the last 3 months because of this stuff.

The clondine is for you blood pressure and is supposed to help with the wd.

[catmagnet]

I don't know anything about clonidine either, why don't you try breaking your pills in half and space them evenly throughout the day? And confused is right about the ibuprofen ( motrin) it's safe to take with the tylenol in the hydros. Hope this helps you.

[confused456]

I'm sorry you are going through this and I am not familiar with the clonodine. Is there any way that you can take 1 pill and then at your next dose take 800mg. of Motrin instead and switch back and forth? Sorry, I don't have the answer, but best of luck to you.