I am addicted to fioricet

[Sherri202]

The only person I have ever admitted this to is myself.  I have been taking around 90 pills a week for at least 10 years.  I spent my twenties popping pills, I am 35 years old and I can not really recall a time in my life when I was clean.  I fear the migraines, but I also know that these migraines which I will some mornings wake up with are from the overnight no butabarbital in my system...The first time I took this med was when I was 13--my mom takes them also--and I took a couple from her bottle and they were very nice.  

I know I am dependant on this drug, I know not only my body but my mind yearns for it--but I do not want to live my life around fioricet any longer.   I want to stop taking this drug, and I want to know how it feels to look at myself in the mirror  without being over medicated on this stuff.  

I don't want to go to a rehab, I don't want anyone to know.  Recently, for about 2 weeks I had gotten down to 5 tab's a day,  But this wednesday must had been a bad day b/c I don't even remember how many I took.  I was doing so good too.  Granted I had cravings, but took 1 when I woke at 7am, held out til 1 or 2 pm, then held out until 9pm when I took 2, then another one at 10:30pm.  The first few days of this was hard,  but it did start to become easier and I was very proud of myself.  

So today was a pretty bad day also. And I didn't even have a headache.  I don't recall how many pills I've taken today, Maybe 9???  I pray tomorrow will be a better day.  

I want to taper myself, so I don't have a seisure, as I am horrified of what I have read online about withdrawl from barbituate dependency.  Go from 5 to only 3 pills a day.  I am not sure if my mind can get reprogrammmed from this.  I know I will always want them, that too I have read.  But I do not like myself .  I admit and have only admitted this to myself, that I find myself popping a pill out of boredom or for a little elation.

My question is:  Is there anyone out there that has successfully stopped?  Has anyone taken around 90 pills a wk, every wk for well over 10 years and been able to stop taking them?  What did you do to stop?  

[scaredmom330]

you have made the first step but admitting your addiction. I don't know alot of about your DOC...have you talked to your doctor about helping you with the w/d?...did you realize you may be have rebound headaches now instead of migraines?...you need to find someone you can trust and have them give you a dose only when you have a true migraine..take care, keep posting and reading threads...it's late but I am sure someone will be on tomorrow that know more about fiorcets...

[troubleinohio]

im glad you've educated yourself on this med as its not a common one (for this forum anyhow) so Im glad you're aware of the barbiutate in this drug and the fact that you  must taper off it due to the seizure risk. Keep educating yourself and work out a taper plan. Good luck to you and keep posting!

[mojorisin64]

I have had esgic plus,i think it's generic for fiorcet...i have abused those too thought they were pretty much caffeine pills like a script version of excedrin....so duh is this something I should never take?? only do if I miss my coffee in the morn thought these were safe since non narcotic....great...................

[HR_PuffnStuff]

I believe Esgic Plus are a generic for Fioricet but also contains caffeine. You can Google it and see for sure. I used to take Fiorinal for migraines. Not that it takes away a real migraine (for me anyway) but it would allow me to hold it off a bit and not have to take so much Imitrex since the price for those was outrageous. I did not take as many as you. But I found I was taking them even when I did not have a headache. Thankfully my doctor did not want to give me many and I quit those a few years ago c/t. I am so glad that you know about the dangers of quitting those. Since you really want to I'm sure you can figure out a weaning plan and stick to it. I can tell you for sure that you will get or are getting rebound headaches. I know the terror of anticipating a migraine. I found that if I made it through the rebound headache...they became less and less frequent. Have you tried Imitrex? It is now available in a generic so it is much more affordable. If your Dr. could prescribe those then at least you would have something to take if a migraine comes and you stick to your taper. I know there are at least a few others on here who have had addictions to Fiorocet/Fiorinal. Just do a search and maybe you can find the posts. Good luck to you. This forum is a great sense of support as you seek to change your life.

[Debbie1054]

I took them for about 12 years and loved them I took about 100 a week I stopped taking them because they were causing my head to hurt to much from migrains.  But it got worse my doctor started me on oxy's and now I am tappering off of those.  I have a bottle full of the fiorocet and have taken a couple of times but after taking oxy I hate the way they make me feel.   I hate the fact that a doctor goes from one drug to another and we always have to suffer to get off of the stuff.....Good luck I stopped taking them cold turkey and was sick in bed for 3 days throwing up and my head was killing me but i got over it..

[WMN854]

I think you can do this if you really want too. I have been on some kind of pain killer for years with chronic, legitimate medical problems. After having recent back surgery I decided No More! I tapered my dose down over a few days and than stopped. Completely. Of course a lot of people have posted that they are unable to taper and just go cold turkey, but that's what worked for me. I have pain, but I refuse to be a slave to the pills any longer. I read a very good comment in one of the posts that said "you are only a week away from getting your life back". I don't think it could be said better than that......

[Fen871]

Hi my name is Jen I know exactally where you are coming from I'm down to 31/2 sill I was at 100 pills a week I went down to 8 pills a day stuck to that then cut slowly it has been very hard I was tading fiorcet for 12 years. But I made a decison that I do not want this drug in my life any more. my husband holds on to my pills in a safe in gives them to me daily are else I would of slepet up by now. you have to be strong in you can do this but don't keep going up then down this can cause sezziures so keep tappering down.
I talk to a couple of people on this forum about the same problem. you can e-mail me any time I'm hear if you need any advise are if I can help. Good Luck

[Sherri202]

I am glad that I found this forum.  I feel that I can finally talk about my addiction to  the fioricet.  

Today was an 8 pill day.  I'd really like to take 1 more now, not b/c I have a headache but out of habital nightly regimen.  Today I took my morning pill at 7:30 and went until about noon.  I was starting to feel dizzy, and a litttle anxious and had to take one sooner than I would had liked. I think tomorrow morning I will start my day with 1/2 a pill.  I remember a couple yrs ago I'd only take a half in the morning.  

I am also thinking b/c of the anxious dizziness I feel when I don't take 1 soon enough of what my body is used to having, maybe a motion sickness medication would help?  Might take off the edge?

I thank you all for your advice and well wishes, and esp. your stories.  I wish and pray for the day when I alm only on 3 and half pills...

I have no other drug that I can take.  I have tried several.  Can't take imitex, had bad side effects, also 2 other migrain med's were not for me.  When I had surgery last year, I should had stopped then b/c of the opiates my dr gave me for the pain.  I didn't like the hydro's at all.  so instead of taking them I took my fioricet-2 at a time.

I need to do some more research.  I feel like a total slave to this drug.

I have read the Thomas Recipe and at 5 or less a day for a couple wks this might be ok for me, but as of how I am yet again for these last 3 days it wouldn't work, I would get dreadfully ill.

Tomorrow is another day.  Tomorrow has to be better than yesterday.  I shall see.  I hope I have the strength.

[Fen871]

HI what you said about the motion sickness medicness I take just a halm of meclizine my pharmist sold me 100 pills for 20.00 this does help with the dizness I don't take it every day only when I feel really bad you can ask your pharmist to order you this medicne and see if if help.

[worried878]

do u have anyone to hold ur pills while u taper?  can u let them go?  most of us have to hand them over and admit we have no control...we are mostly control freaks here!  LOL  til it comes to our addiction...then we r powerless..u have admitted that..so u r on ur way to cleandom....good luck and keep us posted

[Sherri202]

Right now, I want to try to do this myself.  My b/f of 19 years thinks I stopped taking these pills years ago.  I have been hiding my use.  At times I do not have control.  I am going to try this out myself first, and if it doesn't work at all, then I guess I will either have to tell my hunny or check myself into a detox.  I have really never tried to quit.  I really want to try to do this.  I don't know if I will succeed, but I need to try.  

I have the mecilizine already, my dr gave them to me about 2 months ago when I had an ear infection.  :)  I hope they will help!  I will try tomorrow.   Excedrin Migraine may help the rebound headaches b/c of the caffiene in it.    

[HR_PuffnStuff]

I'm sorry you can take Imitrex. For me it is a lifesaver. I also take Excedrin but found that you can get rebound headaches from them as well. I was taking too many of those and actually had to wean down from them. Can you imagine....weaning down from Excedrin? How pathetic, but I guess it's the addict in me. LOL. I did find that when I cut back on those the headaches were less. I do think that the caffeine will help you with the rebounds. Keep strong! God Bless you.

[Fen871]

mmm,