Hydrocodone addiction

[Fireman096]

Hi.. im a mid 40s male that has been taking 3-5  norco 10/325  a day for approximatly 5 years. I have a chronic knee pain and im fixing to have surgrey to get it replaced. What can i expect to experience from going cold turkey and how long will it last?

[sudie58]

thomas recipe is on health pages.

[Jimmy1975]

hello Fireman , I would just like to add that you're not at a really high dose compared to a lot of people we get on MedHelp . I myself was taking three sometimes four 10/325 a day and when I stopped I got away pretty easy as far as withdrawls go . I think I was sick for about two or three days and by the fourth I was physically fine . It was the mentel withdrawls that were the tough on me . That was about a month or two I believe . You can do this but whatever you do DON'T go any higher then what you have been taking !!!!  Good luck  , Jimmy

[sudie58]

i would get all the info you need , prepare for your detox, there is the thomas recipe, right hand side of this page, it gives you lots of things to help you through it, get in the right frame of mind, determined and positive,  set up some after care, and keep posting on here, we will help you get through it, good luck with your operation, best wishes, sudie

[Fireman096]

I just wanted to thank everyne for the great advice... and support. I will wait till after the surgery, but i am anxious to get this over with. I have struggled with runing out before my script was allowed and i hate the feeling of sickness i feel those few days . Sadly, i have even occasionally bought them ffrom friends... My wife told me i am terribly moody and hard to be around when i dont have my meds. I just want to go back to being normal again.

[sudie58]

hi, i think the best thing would be, if you want to go cold turkey off the pain meds, is to wait until you have had your op, and it has settled down, tapering is very hard when you are dependant on them, and a lot of folks would sooner get it over with, it is hard but certainly doable.
by the 6/7 days you will start to feel a bit better, but we can help with that after your surgery, theres not any difference to withdrawal , between dependancy or addiction, the physical withdrawal symptons are the same. your mind just wont crave them , i really wish you well. keep posting ,let us know how your doing, best wishes.

[ERmed]

You're definitely not gonna want to stop immediately post-op! A knee replacement is far from pleasant in the first place. In addition, due to the chronic use of the Med your pain threshold will be greatly lowered. Also, the withdrawal alone will intensify any pain you're having, including some you weren't even aware of (its been masked for a good deal of time). Normally I would recommended cold Turkey until the withdrawal becomes intense followed by some occasional low maintenance dosing. But not until at least a couple months after the surgery. However, there is a difference between addiction and physical dependence. You're definitely dependent on it at this point but from the little I've read I would guess you're not addicted. So I think the tapering would definitely work very well for you. Discuss it with your orthopedic as well as your family practicioner and set up a plan. Good luck!

[NurseCEE]

You are going cold turkey? Your doc said? Cant you taper off? You will have 2 horrid weeks of nausea, vomiting, chills, headache, depression, disconnected feeling, sweating, just like your body is in the eye of a tornado. Please discuss w/ physician for assistance ---taper off, do not cold turkey alone. Kindly, Concerned, keep me posted on your progress  PS/dont be embarrassed about the addiction to hydrocodone--we are only human, and living with pain of anykind is torture. As you pain subsides post surgery, take less and less, and soon you wont need it, but as I have discussed---your physician will know what needs to be done

[Fireman096]

I have run out before and been 3 or 4 days without them, the restless legg problem has got to be the worst problem for me , my arms also .

[Fireman096]

I dont know ... I dont want to have it post op... Im thinking i may not be able to start this till after .

[Stevo977]

Do you expect to get it prescribed post-surgery? My mother-in-law just had knee replacement surgery and was prescribed Tramadol but only took a couple. I don't imagine you would have a horrible time, but you'll feel crappy for a week or so, especially if you plan on not taking any post-op. Might work out good though if you do it that way and try to get by with the minimum amount. Will help trick your body and raise your pain threshold.