Hydrocodone withdrawls

[ASauer12]

Hello! I have been taking Hydrocodone 10/325mg 4x a day for cronic back pain and was wondering if this was consider a lower dose or higher? I have stopped taking hydrocodone and have started to experience what I believe to be withdrawal symptoms, how long do these symptoms last? Is there anything I can do for the body aches? I have a 2 year old daughter and she deserves to have a Mom as active as her but with how I feel now its hard to keep up! Any suggestions or comments would be appreciated! Thanks!

[Krissy_123]

I don't know if the cough is normal,but I did get one too. It started like a tickle at the back of my throat and then I'd know the cough was coming. OR you could be getting a flu bug or a cold. You should start feeling better soon from the physical w/d's. Have you been drinking lots and trying to move around as much as possible? I know it's so hard but the more we just lay there the longer the anxiety and energy will take to come back. You're doing awesome!! So proud of you!!

[atthebeach]

hun congrats on day 5. all your symptoms are very common in detox.
make sure you are drinking enough fluids, juices, water, tea, soup.
try to eat toast, yogurt, light foods. take an anti histamine. take hot baths.
stay as active as possible, push yourself, get some sunshine and take walks.
you are doing great. keep moving forward. you are healing. be patient
with the process.
you are getting to the other side. hold on another few days.
sending encouragement and prayers,
Debbie

[ASauer12]

Does anyone know how common an awful cough is with w/d? Im on day 5 of cold turkey still having chills and anxious and this awful cough my energy is really low and my apeite almost doesnt exist. Am I getting any closer to these withdrawls being done?

[Krissy_123]

You are very welcome. When new people come on you will be able to help them to with your experience of getting through this. If we keep this cycle going no one will ever feel alone and will always have this site to help them!

[ASauer12]

That really is the best way to explain it BLAH! Trying to get out and be active today hoping that will help with mood and energy. Thank you Krissy for all your advise and support.  

[Krissy_123]

If you're on day 4 then you should start feeling better now a little bit everyday. It's hard to say when energy comes back. I had to push myself to do stuff up until a month. It was of course nothing like that first week. I just felt blah.

[ASauer12]

I am on day 4 today, sleep has been ok. I am a bit anxious and real emotional. I have 0 drive to do anything. Pretty irritable and being kind of hard on myself. This just ***** and I would have NEVER imagined I would be in this place today. When does it peak? Will my drive and energy return soon?

[Krissy_123]

How are you feeling today?

[ASauer12]

Yes, I can only take Tylenol products due to the blood thinner.

[Krissy_123]

Oh right maybe I did. Is that why you can only take tylenol? Because of your heart issues?

[Krissy_123]

The anxiety due to w/d's can really get your heart pounding. So yes,keep a close eye on that. I felt like my heart was going to pound outa my chest the first 4 days. But I'm a healthy 34 year old with no heart issues so I was ok. Becareful. I didn't even see that in your first post.

[ASauer12]

I will speak with my cardiologist monday but until then if I notice any difference with my heart my husband and I agreed 911 will be called.

[ASauer12]

I havent experienced anything different with my heart I have been watching closely. I was paralyzed in 93 and had a spinal fusion to correct the spine and lots of physical therapy. Yes the pills were prescribed. I will most likely have cronic back pain the rest of my life but an very limited to what I can do about it because of the blood thinner. My primary care dr moved anout 2 hours away and I cant get into see my new dr until the 20th. My prescription is out and I dont think I want to refill it. I want to find a different way to deal with my pain. I was seeing a dependency to the medication and these withdrawals are nothing I was to experience again. My family is very supportive and I am very grateful for that. I still worry about the withdrawl process. After 5 open heart surgeries and multiple other surgeries you would think I could handle it but they are interfering with how I interact with my daughter. Is there a way to jump start my body to start taking over on its own again? Heart issues are common with withdrawals?

[VICourageous]

I have to agree with Sarbie.
You need to talk to the Dr and let them help you go through this detox. We can help alot and give good tips on natural things and such, but your Heart is my Concern.

I have been using and drinking off and on for over 40yrs. Dumb! I had gone c/t off of 3 meds back in 2012. My heart pumped so hard that it scared me at the age of 56. I finally got the cloindine which is a light BP med. It is not so much about the BP pressure itself, but keeping the Heart from pumping to hard. They use this med alot in detox because it will also help with sleep and anxiety. I took nothing for about 22 days and did not sleep at all for a long time. When I finally got the bp med I only took it at night and I could get in a few winks. All of this takes time as the Brain wiring/neurotransmitters and such has to fire back up. When I had 23 months in I found out that I had 2 blocked arteries, the lil ones that lay over the Heart. Plus I had lost most of my Family in a 90day period before all of this. They got one stent in about 10months ago, but the other was 100% blocked. I just found a new wonderful Dr up here in my town who went in and worked so hard and got the stent put in the 100% blocked one. I am on a 2mg blood pressure pill but I have always had great BP. They said it is for the Heart not to pump to hard. I also had a lil heart attack that I never new I had..SO PLEASE BE SAFE AND GO TO THE DR ASAP!! Sometimes I think that attack happen when I went c/t off those 3 meds. All 3 meds pulled the nervous system and the Brain all different directions and my Heart did pump so hard and it hurt too way before I knew any of this.

There is so so so much more then just getting through the detox. This is what I call the "somewhat easy part"..It is working on staying clean that takes the cake. I wish you all the best and please talk to a Dr before you try this alone. I would be worried about the Heart..
Bless

PS..We do have lots of tips for you. Like vit/min, sleep, anxiety and so on. We will deal with this as we go on. I think the DR will set you up with some comfort meds right now. Just be careful and make sure they are not addicting like a benzo.

[Sarbie]

Oh dear, my apologies (hand over mouth) I just read my post. Where it says 'joking NA' it should say, 'joining NA.' Im on my phone. Sorry!

[Sarbie]

Hello. Opiate withdrawls can normally be safely managed at home. Have you been experiencing heart palpitations, high blood pressure? These are all normal withdrawl symptoms.

However, with your cardiac history it probably would be wise to see your dr. Are the meds your withdrawing from prescribed for you? Even if they aren't, please don't let this stop you from seeking medical advice.

Great you have your husband for support, this will help you immensely. What has made you want to cease the meds? It is a great decision that you have made firstly for yourself and then for your family.

If you feel your husband could do with some support there is a forum on here that he could join, 'Living with an Addict.' Or go to a support group- alanon.

Also joking a group like NA could be beneficial for yourself. I guess it depends on whether you were taking the meds as prescribed or otherwise.

Also if you are still experiencing back pain, finding a healthier way for dealing with the pain would be a good idea.

[Krissy_123]

If you haven't already read other peoples posts on here. It will make you not feel so alone and what you're going through is normal. There are millions of people going through w/d's right now. Stick close to this site. Proud of you,you're going to do to just great! xox

[atthebeach]

Exercise, time  and amino acids will help repopulate your natural
Brain chemistry. Drinking protein shakes, eating lean proteins, stay away from caffeine and sugars will help reduce anxiety.
Taking magnesium supplements and epsom salt baths will help with tbe
Restless leg.
Be patient with the process you will heal.
Keep the faith.

[Krissy_123]

Yes this site saved me well I detoxed. At night don't try to force your self to sleep you will just get aggravated. You will just have to be ok with not being ok for awhile. What I did was watch funny movies all night. Laughing is the best way to get your endorphins going. I know it's hard but try to get out and go for little walks. Deff get the Epsom salts. I'm glad you have your husband to help you through this!

[ASauer12]

Is there a natural endorphin supplement?

[ASauer12]

Yes I can and I will go pick some up. The anxiety and depression scare me. Is there something to help that or purely the person's mental approach? How long until your body feels "normal" again? I feel like I am coming out of my skin and my legs ache. My legs don't seem to bother me until the evening. Thank you for your help! I don't have anyone to talk with that has been through this. Very thankful my husband found this site.

[Krissy_123]

Oh ok yes. You're deff going to be having w/d's then. Can you take the natural sleep aid melatonin? This awful part should only last about a week to two weeks. But you could have anxiety and deppression because our bodies quit producing natural endorphins.

[ASauer12]

Its been about 2 years. I have restrictions on over the counter medications due to a mechanical heart valve. I have to take warfarin a blood thinner so I am restricted to Tylenol products. But just regular or extra strength Tylenol isnt helping. I tried Midol today and that oddly seemed to helped. Im worried about not sleeping.

[Krissy_123]

Yes you will have withdrawls if you were taking them for longer than a couple weeks. Hot baths with Epsom salts help the aches. OTC pain meds like aleve or Advil. How long were you on them?