Hydrocodone Withdrawl

[LasVegasRealtor]

Hello Gang,

So here is my question.  I have been taking 2-3 10/325mg of Hydrocondone for the last 2 and 1/2 years.  I really want to stop because I have seen this drug ruin people.  I am fine now....but if I keep this up, who knows.   I run a large business, have a wife and a 1 year old daughter and my time seems to be needed by everyone.  So I am scared as you know what to quit.  How bad withdrawl symptoms should I expect?  I am thinking about going to a hotel and detox by myself but need to know how long I until I will feel better.  I went of once for 2 days and it felt so weird....like I was walking in a haze.....I had no energy....was very antsy.....and was in a complete fog....and that was just after 2 days....how lonh until you feel remotely normal?

Last question....is it better to taper off or go for it and go cold turkey?

Thanks in advance for any help.

[extrmeski]

I had better success with the cold turkey method, but as everybody here mentioned everyone is different.  Tapering to me was just prolonging the agony.  With the dosage you were taking and being hydrocodone, I think that you will have around 3 days of having flu like symptoms, then you'll be fighting the lack of energy after that.

[Sue13]

Well Las Vegas realtor, I suggest we form a little group here (If I could ever find out how to find threads (help anyone in navigating this site?).

I am going to try to taper off of 10 to nothing asap. I am not sure what that means (probably depression and general discomfort (but I am going on a trip so my mind wiill be occupied.

Anyone else reading this thread? Is there some way to start a support  thread? I am just not familiar enough with this site.

Sue

[Jerrieee]

I've been taking one hydrocodone 10/325 in the mornings for a few YEARS for Fibromyalgia; it takes the edge off pain and I can straighten up and forget about it.  I never felt a need to take more until recently.  I've been experiencing some serious hip/leg pain for a few months now, though, and have increased to 2 of the Norco a day (still, only mornings).  I only increased it because the morning pain was truly unbearable; burning/stabbing, and I couldn't stand up.  I have never taken any of them outside of the morning dose, for fear of addiction, even if I'm in pain.  My pain is always worse in the mornings; even though I have the pain all day, it feels less severe than mornings.  There are days when I take only one, although I still haven't found the reason or treatment for the leg/hip pain yet; still working on that w/the doctor.  There have also been times when I haven't taken ANY Norco, and I don't notice any withdrawal symptoms.  Am I fooling myself?

[LasVegasRealtor]

Wow, what a great forum, sure am glad I found it.  Like I said my biggest fear is life after hydrocodone.......but after reading all these posts I know what needs to be done.  A very big thank you.

[scaredmommie]

try energy drinks if you are tapering now i havent been tapering off right now and im doing a slow taper. when i start to feel my body w/d and its not time for my next dose i drink a monster energy or amp they give me that little bit of boost and hyper to get through the w/d and in doing that the other day i was actually able to skip a dose i went from taking 2 perc 10s every 3 to 4 hours to taking 1 every 13 hours. so give the drinks a try

[GoingToMakeIt]

At your dose, the withdrawals will be less intense than most of us here. You still will have them and they do not feel good. Some say 3-5 or 7 days of it being rough, but the truth is everyone is different. You are wise to be thinking of getting off them. I thought I was sharper, more energy etc when I was on them. It was after I got off them and looked at things I did. I found many mistakes being made.

[bull172]

i feel i have to chime in here.............

I was on 55mgs of vics daily for 3+ years.....9 days ago i woke up and said "F-THESE PILSL"    and went CT

Went thru some bad WD's.....sneezing...lethargic....muscle aches...and most of all NO SLEEP.....

I am on my 9th day now and IT GETS BETTER!    last 2 nites i have slept 7 & 8 hours straight thru.....

day 7 was by far the worst and yest (day 8) was the best....today i am still little weak and i am getting cravings but thats the mind....i have been exercising...swimming....jogging....ITS THE BEST REMEDY FOR WHAT YOUR GOING TO GO THRU!

As for me?  i am in sales too.....so i hear ya on that.....BUT....when i took my pills they never gave me energy...they turned me into a lazy sack of sht......

im curious to see where my production numbers will go while being clean, its too early yet and my body is weak....BUT EVERYDAY IS GETTING BETTER AND BETTER!


GO CT  AND DONT LOOK BACK!    GO THRU YOUR WD'S....SUCK IT UP AND GET IT DONE!     BUT LIKE I SAID....DONT LOOK BACK OR ELSE YOULL BE F'KD  EVEN MORE!

[worried878]

u could taper off and keep working...1/2 pill at a time...takes alot of discipline..i handed mine over to a friend...i was at 80 mg a day and felt bad for less than a week..physically...the mental part and energy was a while...good luck and it is good to stop now...it just gets worse

[TWEETER21]

I was reading eariler on drugs.com a/b effects of meds i've been taking and tabs(hydrocodone) can cause seizures if u dont want to go to detox and want to detox ur self wing ur self off if ur able u want feel as foggy or risk having any type of medical problems when they took my grandma off thats how they done her.

[Florida_Guy737]

Hi - I agree with the above post; cut your pills in half and set up a taper schedule. You're lucky your use wasn't higher, e.g. 10-15 plls a day.  At your level and with a reasonable taper you should be fine.  I tapered off percs/patches at a much higher level and have been clean for almost 6 months.

If you want to stay sharp, take your aminos, drink your fluids and exercise.  You'll shorten the recovery process and feel better naturally.


Guy

[10356]

Hello LVR Welcome to the forum.. It seems that you have the will power to keep the pill intake to 2 to 3 pills a day it seems you would have the determination and the will power to taper. I would suggest that you quit taking 3 right away after a week cut one in half take one and a half for a week then one for a week then a half for a week then none.. You can adjust the taper as you feel like every 4 days for a faster taper. You will still feel the wd but it should be lessened to a degree look to be over the worst in 5 day's.
I was thinking about what you said about being good at what you do when on them, maybe you have just gotten better at what you do over the last couple of years.. Food for thought..
You will feel a bit sick during the taper but nothing you could not handle and if asked just feeling under the weather.
If you choose to jump now look to feel all the symptoms above in your first post but include a lot of hot baths juice water and food that makes you happy also exercise and walking even if you have to make yourself, day 2 and 3 you probably won"t feel up to it but it help's a lot. I could not use vitimans but I have read that they seem to help a lot of people.. The harsh symptoms should last about the same amount of time and the residual effects up to 2 weeks it depends on the individual..
I'm sure in the morning you will receive more advice. Take what you think will work for you. Congratulations on your decision to get clean and put these pills behind you. It sounds like you have a nice life and family and although you have keep your intake to a minimum they are deceitful and sneaky and have ruined many a life... I wish you well on your journey from addiction and into the life you have built for yourself.. Lesa

[dominosarah]

Those are all signs of a classic addiction.  Everything revolves around those pills.  Exercise is a great thing to get back into.  That really helps.  I found myself eating tons and tons of ice cream, thus the 30 plus pounds i gained.  I dont even care for ice cream!!!  Your ambition level will hit zero and it will be work just to go to work.  Please stop taking these.  You have a good plan to stop.  I dont want to see you end up losing everything especially you or your family.  Its a matter of life or death.  Keep posting too!!!

[LasVegasRealtor]

right on sara.....that was the answer I needed.  You are right.....mr suave on he pills....shy off the pills........but i am starting to see myself not wanting to do things i used to love....surf, work out, golf....now I plan my life around the next 3 hours and a pill.....pill at the movies...while road tripping....while workng out....and being stoned all the time made me eat a ton of food and i gained 80 pounds over the last 3 years.....go figure....scary decision.....i am fine now but i know i cant "handle" this forever.... will be taking 20 pills before i know it...

[dominosarah]

pills can and will give you a false sense of security. If you are taking them for that reason your consumption will eventually increase and then you risk losing everything you have.  It does and will happen.  It seems that self esteem is a biggy for alot of us and taking pills made us feel bigger than life.  YES there is life after lortabs and it is MUCH better and more fullfilling than using.  I used to look at people i cared about and think how can you have fun, you dont use.  Now that i have been clean life is getting really great.  I have new friends, a much better zest for life and facing things head on.  I dont hide behind that pill bottle anymore.  The world is waiting for you!!!!  As for tapering or ct??  I would go ct and get it over with.  Your dosage is low enuff so hopefully it wont take you long to get back to feeling better.  I promise you will feel lots better off them than on!!!                             sara

[confused456]

Yes, there is LIFE after pills, but I will be honest, it takes some time to feel really great again. Some not as long and others, well, quite a while. It is worth it though!! Hang in there!! There will be more people here to give more advice and opinions in a few hours, most are sleeping right now.

[confused456]

Good wanting your life back. WD are different for each. Check out the Thomas Recipe and the Amino Acid Protocol to help with the symptoms. I did a VERY fast taper and I think it helped but some people say that it is easier to just stop cold turkey. Depends on your "will-power" I guess. If you can taper, it will help minimalize the WD.......best of luck.

[LasVegasRealtor]

Thanks Sara........

Here is my biggest problem....hopefully someone can relate.  I am in sales and numbers are a big part of my job.  When I am HGH I always close the sale....I was very sharp with numbers, charmng with people, full of evergy....you get the point.  Now I will tell you I was that way before pills....but not as good....does that make sense?  My biggest fear is getting of pills and feeling miserable....a common theme I am seeing here....and that scares me a lot.  Is their life after loratab?  And at my dosage CT or Taper?  Thanks!!

[dominosarah]

I went cold turkey off 18 vicoprofen.  I was sick for about a two weeks.  The first week was like a bad flu.  Im not sure what kind of w/ds you will have as your amount isnt that high compared to what some(me) have taken.  I am glad to see you wanting to get off these before they really become a big problem. They are sneaky and brutal and take anyone prisoner.  get off them while your dosage is low.  look at the thomas recipe in the lower right hand corner.  I loaded up on vitamins.  This is very doable for you and you will feel so much better.  Oh and welcome to this forum.  You will find many caring and supportive people on here.  Keep posting on your progress.           sara