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Hydrocodone withdraws help
I have taken hydrocodone for5 years and have took more than what's prescribed,so I am once agin running out! I have taken 15-20 daily last year or so and yesterday I couldnt bc lack of supply. Today I have take halfs. All tog 1 1/2 so far, I did take a lyrica that I am prescribed once today bc I could feel it in my body. I also pushed myself to go out in the hot sun today and clean weeds from flower beds to keep busy. I only have about 5 left and I am scared but I want to get it over with to get my life back! How long will it last? When will it get worse,had some discomfort, but by this time of day i usually have taken around 12-15. I find my self alittle tension but I don't know if it's bc I'm waiting on it or it's part of the withdraw,thanks to all in advance.
Lostgal are you saying you want to quit CT (cold turkey)? If so the best thing to do is to just get on with it. First get rid of any pills you have because if you don't you will probably take them when you in the throws of w/d. So flush them bad boys down the toilet. Next check out the Thomas Recipe which you ca find on the bottom right of this page. Get the ingredients needed for the recipe, minus the Valium. Get yourself some Gatorade, juices or just plain water and keep yourself hydrated. Also get protein drinks like ensure or whatever you like to keep nourished.
You ar going to feel like you have the flu for the next 5-7 days and if people ask you can tell them you have the flu. So keep posting and let us all know how you are doing and we will try are best to guide you through all of this. I will pray for you and remember YOU CAN DO THIS. God Bless---Rick
You ar going to feel like you have the flu for the next 5-7 days and if people ask you can tell them you have the flu. So keep posting and let us all know how you are doing and we will try are best to guide you through all of this. I will pray for you and remember YOU CAN DO THIS. God Bless---Rick
You can do this. Get to the store for some stuff like quitnoxys said. Imodium is a must...opiate trots suck and this will help a LOT! Here is what I have written that may help! You can do this. Good for you to want to change your life.
I kept telling myself...YOU HAVE the FLU! It will be over and I will feel so much better. My brain seemed to get that and settled down a little. It is hard, but doable! The Thomas Recipe (bottom of the page) under Health Pages will help. I had to cut back on the Ltryosine, but the rest really helped. Imodium, Imodium, Imodium (liquid or pills if the liquid can't be found or you can't swallow it) will help. I took double the dosage for a few days (personal choice) and it helped so much..even with the withdrawals in general and the opiate trots which sucked.
Hydrate and eat! ((gatorade is good) Even if it is just a little every hour or so.(boost or ensure might work for both food and drink) You have to eat something to keep your energy up as much as possible.
If you have Restless legs..it is hit or miss what works. Walking seemed to help me some. Hot bath with epsom salts..a little. I finally had to get my doctor to refill my restless legs meds (non addictive) to get some sleep. If nothing works,your doctor might help. Benedryl or OTC Alteril helps some with sleep issues and you will have them.
One hour at a time is all anyone can ask. After 2 weeks it gets a little better and I started to say, One day at a time! Your brain will do all sorts of things to get you to take a pill. I found if I was hungry..the cravings got worse. I would try to eat a banana, a few grapes or a few crackers to get that under control.
The hardest part comes after the detox. Your brain will be all over the place and will try to get you back on the pills...It is having to work and not depend on the pills to help.
Good for you. I hope all goes well. You have made a good start coming here....this site has helped me so much!!! Keep posting!!!!!
I kept telling myself...YOU HAVE the FLU! It will be over and I will feel so much better. My brain seemed to get that and settled down a little. It is hard, but doable! The Thomas Recipe (bottom of the page) under Health Pages will help. I had to cut back on the Ltryosine, but the rest really helped. Imodium, Imodium, Imodium (liquid or pills if the liquid can't be found or you can't swallow it) will help. I took double the dosage for a few days (personal choice) and it helped so much..even with the withdrawals in general and the opiate trots which sucked.
Hydrate and eat! ((gatorade is good) Even if it is just a little every hour or so.(boost or ensure might work for both food and drink) You have to eat something to keep your energy up as much as possible.
If you have Restless legs..it is hit or miss what works. Walking seemed to help me some. Hot bath with epsom salts..a little. I finally had to get my doctor to refill my restless legs meds (non addictive) to get some sleep. If nothing works,your doctor might help. Benedryl or OTC Alteril helps some with sleep issues and you will have them.
One hour at a time is all anyone can ask. After 2 weeks it gets a little better and I started to say, One day at a time! Your brain will do all sorts of things to get you to take a pill. I found if I was hungry..the cravings got worse. I would try to eat a banana, a few grapes or a few crackers to get that under control.
The hardest part comes after the detox. Your brain will be all over the place and will try to get you back on the pills...It is having to work and not depend on the pills to help.
Good for you. I hope all goes well. You have made a good start coming here....this site has helped me so much!!! Keep posting!!!!!
I would prefer to taper bc I am scared but like I mentioned I am down to 5 pills after taking 1 and half today. I am prescribe this medicine but I'm tired of the physical dependency. I have fibro and chronic fatigue syndrome and osteoarthritis along with back issues and neuropathy. I don't know how I will deal with all the pain but I want to do it without the pain medicine! I made myself get out side today to keep busy and my mind off it, but when will I start to get bad wd? The dose I usually take by now is a lot but today I'm under 2 and doing it by halves
Welcome. Since we all do detox differently I can only offer you general information.
If you are trying to taper, then you will feel the affects of withdrawal, but not as intense at first. Once the pills are gone, the physical detox will get worse, and the mental part of withdrawal will begin in earnest. Your mind will know that there are no longer any pills around and that will be difficult to deal with. The worst of the physical detox will last about 4 days; the mental side of recovery is on going. Try to keep eating - if you can't eat then drink Ensure. Drink lots of liquids, and if you're losing liquid, then be sure to replace the electrolytes in your system. If you can keep your body fueled you will handle everything much better. Hot baths will help. You also have to be sure that you can't access meds. You will crave them during detox and your mind will lie to you - "one won't hurt. Just to help with this part..." and on and on. This is very important. You will make detoxing, and then staying clean much harder IF you don't cut all sources. Once you're through the worse, then you need to look at after care, but that's down the road a bit.
Try not to worry about this. All the things I imagined detox would be were much worse than the process itself.
We're here to help. Keep posting. You will do this.
If you are trying to taper, then you will feel the affects of withdrawal, but not as intense at first. Once the pills are gone, the physical detox will get worse, and the mental part of withdrawal will begin in earnest. Your mind will know that there are no longer any pills around and that will be difficult to deal with. The worst of the physical detox will last about 4 days; the mental side of recovery is on going. Try to keep eating - if you can't eat then drink Ensure. Drink lots of liquids, and if you're losing liquid, then be sure to replace the electrolytes in your system. If you can keep your body fueled you will handle everything much better. Hot baths will help. You also have to be sure that you can't access meds. You will crave them during detox and your mind will lie to you - "one won't hurt. Just to help with this part..." and on and on. This is very important. You will make detoxing, and then staying clean much harder IF you don't cut all sources. Once you're through the worse, then you need to look at after care, but that's down the road a bit.
Try not to worry about this. All the things I imagined detox would be were much worse than the process itself.
We're here to help. Keep posting. You will do this.
I drink lots of water daily since that's the only thing I drink in the last 6 years due to having my tonsils removed and had trouble, when do you start the Imodium? Before or after it hits you? Thanks again!
The first 24 hrs is usually not bad, day 2 so-so, day 3-5 usually suck. That is why you need to be prepared with soft, easy foods....to eat (you really need to try), Gatorade, boost or ensure....water.....and the other stuff listed on the recipe mentioned. and the aforementioned IMODIUM!!!!!
A lot of pain management people say that they have found that often their pain gets better...they wanted to stop so they could see where their pain levels really were. Often the brain will manufacture or cause you to feel more pain to get more drugs. Tricky brain!!!!! You may have some rebound pain until things settle down. Some say it can take a month or more to really tell. Get serious with your doctor and look for other options for pain relief. I did and it has helped so much. It is easier to give pills than to come up with a plan that does not include them. IMHO!
A lot of pain management people say that they have found that often their pain gets better...they wanted to stop so they could see where their pain levels really were. Often the brain will manufacture or cause you to feel more pain to get more drugs. Tricky brain!!!!! You may have some rebound pain until things settle down. Some say it can take a month or more to really tell. Get serious with your doctor and look for other options for pain relief. I did and it has helped so much. It is easier to give pills than to come up with a plan that does not include them. IMHO!
I just read your second post; you've got legit pain/medical issues. The info we've given you is solid, but considering your circumstances I'd suggest that you call your doc and tell him/her what you want to do. Safest approach. Ask about tapering -vs- cold turkey, etc.
Well you only stated you only have 5 pills left, that is not going to be enough to taper with. Are you feeling any effect of w/d with only taking halves now? If you are not then maybe just keep doing the halves until they are gone. If you are feeling w/d symptoms then by taking the halves you are just prolonging the agony. So taper if its helping but if its not then you need to make a decision on what you are going to do.
I am so scattered an I apologies. I also wanted to mention that my husband thinks I take them as prescribed and that's 3/day. I know I won't be able to taper properly according to post I read, like I said I had 61/2 pills when I got up and I have taken 1. 1/2 thus far. Have experienced alittle sick to my stomach and it's making weird sounds with some abdominal pain. I want to be strong to do this
The stomach stuff is normal. You will experience things that, unless you've detoxed before, will be completely foreign to you. It will be like a bad flu.let us know how you're feeling and maybe we can help by reassuring you that "x" is a normal part of detox.
But the wd hasn't been unbearable thus far! I can't belivie I pushed myself to work outside but it helped keep it off my mind. I have some pain in feet/legs but I'm always in constant pain due to illness. My doctor also writes my scripts out for 6 months at a time. I had some eggs this morning and a burger that I forced down me, been eating popcicles a lot. I wasn't Hungary when I ate anything but I did. I am having stomach cramps and do have the immodium on hand
I have never detox before and I guess I'm just scared and no one knows. I felt bad yesterday bc I didn't get to take 15-20 and I kept feeling like I felt bad and needed to take 1. I do have lyrica and I didnt take bc I was on hydro, I am prescribed to it as well. Maybe taken 1 a month but suppose to be in it 3/daily and they are 150mg. Should I take them through this for the pain? Will it help withdraws?
I don't know about the Lyrica, you should talk to your doctor and let him or her know that you want to get off of the opiate pain meds. Your doctor may even help you through the process but you need to be honest with him or her.
I know nothing about your other meds. I'm sure someone will be along soon to help. But the general rule of thumb is to not use one med as a substitute for another. This is another reason to contact your doc. You need professional advise.
It seems like I'm liquids goes right through me, is this part of the wd to? I drink a lot of fluid but never go like this.Someone said hydrocodone was like going through a heroin wd, I only know what heroin is from the tv show interventions, but that seems like a lot stronger than hydrocodone, but I have no clue what's normal with myself at the moment, also why do I feel like crying and feel myself tearing up?
Thanks, my doctor thinks I take the lyrica regularly so I'm afraid to tell him. Its hard to do without any medication with the fibro. I just choose to only do the hydrocodone in fear of needing both. I get them filled and have locked up in safes. I have years if supply but I kept them bc they were so expensive. I could function on hydro and never got high but I don't like the way the lyrica makes me feel and to me 1 makes me feel high, I never have been drunk but that's how I feel on . thanks to everyone posting, it means a lot.
Maybe you could get the doctor to decrease your Lyrica dose to 50mg. 150mg is pretty high. Just explain to him how it makes you feel. Lyrica is a popular drug for fibro.
I started out on 50mg and my doctor kept raising them and they do help fibro but I do have 1 prescription of the 75 mg. but like 15 of those but for me that's a lot and I think i will start 1 a day. Fibro is painful enough. Already taken a hot bath soak and the other half of hydro which makes 2 but I won't take another half till morning regardless, but from 20 almost daily and got through today with 2 makes me hopeful. Having low back pain,not sure if that's the wd? I know the leg cramps and bc of you helpful people I know the stomach and all that crap is! I am also having chest pain alittle but not sure, do you have chest pain with wd? I know fibro calls it to sometimes and I'm also on the nitro and I see a heart doctor. I don't want to take nitro if it's anxiety though! I sure hope I can be back normal after this. Even though I don't know what that is anymore. Im afraid I will feel different about things,life. Will I? This is probably a dumb question but I have a lot of things going through my mind.
I can't believe he keeps raising it if he knows how it's making you feel. Bless your heart. One of my best friends has fibro and it's a mean disease.
You're doing great. The chest pains could possibly be a little bit of anxiety, but of course, I don't know. If it persists, see a doc. The back pain could be from wds. Maybe ice, heat or an OTC med like Ibuprofen could give you some relief.
As far as the hydros you're still taking, I really don't think that small amount is really doing anything for you except prolonging things. You should be able to flush them now and not feel any different than you do already. You're doing so well. Keep it up! :)
You're doing great. The chest pains could possibly be a little bit of anxiety, but of course, I don't know. If it persists, see a doc. The back pain could be from wds. Maybe ice, heat or an OTC med like Ibuprofen could give you some relief.
As far as the hydros you're still taking, I really don't think that small amount is really doing anything for you except prolonging things. You should be able to flush them now and not feel any different than you do already. You're doing so well. Keep it up! :)
This ***** and I feel like crap, n tired along with a sinus infection now. I don't know
And for the doctors around here they will write for anything,most people around here go to pain clinics to get stronger medicine and just recently it's been on news showing ppl in parking lots of these pain management and people were piled 10 in a car and using and high in the parking lot. Like I said I go to my family doctor 1 every 6 months unless sick.
I commented on your other post about physical dependence but hadn't seen this one at the time. I just want to mention a couple of things that may help. One is the Pain Management forum here. It's a great resource for chronic pain. The other is that after coming off the narcotics, your pain may initially increase, but after a while, it will decrease to your real baseline pain level. There are many ways to treat chronic pain.
I have some of the same pain issues as you: fibromyalgia, really bad osteoarthritis in most joints, a herniated disk in my back, and RSD (which I wound up with after I had a joint replacement in my thumb. That implant failed, and I had a total of 9 surgeries and wound up having the RSD, nerve damage and a fusion.)
Because I'm very sensitive to medications, I had a lot of side effects from the medications, including the narcotics. They had me on a tremendous amount of narcotics and I was still in pain most of the time. Pain killers don't always work on all kinds of pain. Some pain, like nerve pain, can be hard to treat. I was also very worried about my tolerance to narcotics and was worried that if I needed something in the future, they wouldn't be able to control my pain.
I tapered off my meds with help from here. It definitely was hard and I felt lousy for a very long time. I was afraid of how bad my pain would be after I got off everything, but like a lot of people, I found I am able to manage my pain without narcotics. I'll never be pain free, and there are some days I wonder if I made the right decision, but for the most part, I am able to manage my pain by piecing things together. I use ibuprofen, lidoderm patches, prescription gels, and exercise to help.
People with chronic pain most often will never be pain free, and pain management is about more than pills. There's physical therapy, injections, other types of medication, acupuncture, massage therapy, and more that can help. And distraction helps lot as well.
When people with chronic pain become addicted, I personally think in addition to aftercare you also need to think about how you'll treat your pain and manage it. It would be very easy to slip back into addiction when you're dealing with pain day in and day out.
If your family doctor can manage your pain, that's great, but pain management specialists often have more ways to help. I've tried a lot of different things and now know what helps and what doesn't.
Best of luck with all you're dealing with. For me, it was definitely worth coming off the narcotics.
I have some of the same pain issues as you: fibromyalgia, really bad osteoarthritis in most joints, a herniated disk in my back, and RSD (which I wound up with after I had a joint replacement in my thumb. That implant failed, and I had a total of 9 surgeries and wound up having the RSD, nerve damage and a fusion.)
Because I'm very sensitive to medications, I had a lot of side effects from the medications, including the narcotics. They had me on a tremendous amount of narcotics and I was still in pain most of the time. Pain killers don't always work on all kinds of pain. Some pain, like nerve pain, can be hard to treat. I was also very worried about my tolerance to narcotics and was worried that if I needed something in the future, they wouldn't be able to control my pain.
I tapered off my meds with help from here. It definitely was hard and I felt lousy for a very long time. I was afraid of how bad my pain would be after I got off everything, but like a lot of people, I found I am able to manage my pain without narcotics. I'll never be pain free, and there are some days I wonder if I made the right decision, but for the most part, I am able to manage my pain by piecing things together. I use ibuprofen, lidoderm patches, prescription gels, and exercise to help.
People with chronic pain most often will never be pain free, and pain management is about more than pills. There's physical therapy, injections, other types of medication, acupuncture, massage therapy, and more that can help. And distraction helps lot as well.
When people with chronic pain become addicted, I personally think in addition to aftercare you also need to think about how you'll treat your pain and manage it. It would be very easy to slip back into addiction when you're dealing with pain day in and day out.
If your family doctor can manage your pain, that's great, but pain management specialists often have more ways to help. I've tried a lot of different things and now know what helps and what doesn't.
Best of luck with all you're dealing with. For me, it was definitely worth coming off the narcotics.
Years ago I tried the pain management, physical therapy was more painful bc it would throw me into fibro " attacks" and physical therapy discharged me as well as the doctor. As far as the injections I have taken those and i don't know if it was due to where they injected in lower back/bottom and after a year I stopped going and that just about killed me bc I couldn't get out of the bed at all, anyways doctor started me in another pain management but sent referral bc of fibro was no reason to do any shots, don't know what that was about and I continued going to that pain management (years ago) till he told me if I would take the shots he would up my pain medicine, at that time I was taking as prescribe and just quit. But had not been on them long, so when I went back to family doctor maybe month later, he ask if I was still going an I told him no and he starting writing them from then on. Can you tell me when you would start cravings?
Hang in there. I took hydros for five years also. I have been off of them for a month (and a day). It gets better. I had a hard time getting any energy back, but it is definitely getting better, a little every day. My breakfast was a pain pill and a coke. I would get nervous, nauseous, even panicky if I didn't have them with me at all times. A couple of times, my pills were stolen, and I had to get them "off the street" because I couldn't face the idea of not having them, and getting sick going through withdrawal. I don't want to say withdrawal "wasn't so bad"....I was miserable....but it is probably worse for people who took more than I did...but it was certainly do-able. Just keep on, one day at a time. Get through today. Then get through tomorrow. I have very bad knees, and so many times I have thought, if I only had a pill or two, I would feel better and be able to get out and work more. I think at first you feel pain more...and then as days go by, even though you have pain, it isn't enough to stop you and you learn to live with it. Now...I am speaking for myself. I realize some people are in worse shape than I am...but I have learned that I can live with the pain that I have, and the craving for the pill was worse than the pain. The craving is greatly lessened now....a month in. Does it still cross my mind? About a hundred times a day. But at least it isn't my constant thought any more. Good luck to you!!
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