I am getting worried now.

[D30]

Tomorrow is going to test my will. I start the 4/day of the ES Vicodin. I am not sure I am ready for it, but I have to do it. All I have thought about so far this weekend is having no energy and wanting the next few hours of energy. I am so sick of this.


I have not been so good this weekend, I have not gone below 6.5/day and I was suppose to be on 5/day. I am sorry for the let down to you and myself. I am getting sick worried now about tomorrow going from 6.5 to 4 for three days then droping to 3/day for 3 days. Just because I screwed up this last 3 days taking more than 5 I am still going to 4. My last day on these things is scheduled for the 9th of june.


I am so pissed at myself. I think I have made going to 4/day tomorrow a living hell. Time will tell for sure. I have all the respect in the world for the cold turkey people.

I am not sure if I will fill like typing in the next few days so I have to get it out today. Peace

[CadillacJack]

The worst thing about going c/t, with a habit such as yours, is simply the fear of doing it. Tapering is hard, and probably not warranted for a relatively low dosage habit. Just my opinion.

cj

[Mike_B_]

I think it is even a little harder when you are taking an es type scrip.  Can you cut those in half without messing them up?

[D30]

So I should just quit cold turkey?

[D30]

I have no problem cutting them down into quarters. I have 50 pills to do this and I want to get it done this time. My wife is getting fed up this time. I always promise this and that. I Know this is just going to make me sick. I have went 13 hours without them before and even started getting sick then. Shakes and chills. narcotics are horrible.

[Mike_B_]

I know how you feel.  When I stopped earlier this year some ultram and opana's it was really tough.  Now I am only taking a couple of hydros a day and it is still hard.  But as I read on here there are many that have done it and you are young and you body will recover.  Read over on the right about the amino acids and they may help.

[D30]

Cool, I can go to the health food store and get some Amino acids.

I hate it because right now I don't feel like doing anything when I don't have any pills in me. It sucks. I just want to lie here.

How many days of hell would i go through considering the amount i have been taking?

6.5 -7 / day

[enemy48]

Hi D,

I'm a cold turkey success lady, but that was only after several failed attempts to taper.

I'm glad to hear your honesty.  You're not letting us down at all.  People slip all the time, and just need us buddies to help get them back on the right track.

I wish you the best & look forward to hearing from you more.  Whether you can type or not.  Typo's are accepted.......expecially in detox!

[theeagle]

No matter what you decide, still get the Amino's - nutrition and supplements wont hurt you thats for sure. It sounds to me like you are agonizing over either a taper or just c/t. I attempted a taper a time or three - its not that easy to do successfuly......you arent really on that huge of a dose - If tapering is that much of a living hell why don't you consider just getting it over with? Flat out stopping should (you don't say how long you have been doing them) not be much worse than the aggregate of the aggravation you are feeling by trying to taper.

[D30]

Typos are caused by my fat fingers, if you could see my weight tracking scale on my medhelp page you would understand :). We need a darn edit button to edit for atleast the first 10 minutes a post is posted.

[D30]

I have been on them for 3 years, however I started taking 5 then 6 or so only about 4-5 months ago. Before that i was taking 4 a day and doing good.

I want to quit cold turkey, but I own my business and I am afraid I can't function.

Would a weekend be long enough or would I need longer to quit CT

[enemy48]

LOL!  If you could have seen all of my typs's during detox, you'd LYAO!  That's what I meant.  It was all I could do to just hold up my elbows and hands to type!

[D30]

I know just rassin you.

I would like some input on how many days I would need for cold turkey.

[enemy48]

For cold turkey, counting the days you'll no longer have noodle arms & legs, and a good supply of vitamins & food intake, you'll be good to go in a week.  

First 4 days are the really bad ones.  Next few are painful, but tollerable.

What kind of plan have you set?

[D30]

Right now I am considering the tapering, but now listening to you all, I am considering taking 4 days and quiting.

[theeagle]

Everybody is different with this stuff. After re-reading your post, and considering your business issues, it is probably best to taper as you are. Unless you can arrange some time. Usually 4-7 days will get you in good shape. You may be able to continue to taper and then stop with less.....maybe continue the taper and keep thinking about it. Might be able to find a long holiday weekend or just take a day or two...if you can add a day or two to a weekend you can probably plan to do it - but if you are dropping such a rapid taper that you are getting sick its way too fast and therefore almost worthless.......have to weigh both sides

[enemy48]

I PM'ed you.

[D30]

Well, I slept really well for some reason lastnight. I went to sleep around 8:30 and woke up this morning and took my first of 4 pills at 4:30am. 3 left for today. I am actually thinking how am I going to make it through the day.

I have to make it until 9:30-10 for the next one. This is something I can never do. I will keep you up to date how it goes and post my pill taking times.

[D30]

Well I took the next pill an hour early, I started getting a little anxiety ( I guess is what you would call it) Only 2 pills left for the day. I had only had one pill in 14hr.s before I took that last one at 8:15am

I also noticed that when I move my head it takes a second for my brain to catch up.

I am living in the past a few seconds. LOL

In all seriousness what is this and what causes it?

[Mike_B_]

glad to hear your trying to taper.  Do you think you could have taken only 3 instead of 4 this morning?  I only had 1 1/2 yesterday and took a cloidine last night to help me sleep but I had to go to the bathroom a bunch of times yesterday.  I guess I am just getting this stuff out of my system.  I took my 1/2 this morning but i waited 3 hours later than I did yesterday.  I would like to think I can make it through the day today without taking anything else.  

If you can continue to cut back and control what you are taking without taking anymore than you need to hold off the wd's.  It will get easier as you go.  I agree though it's sure not easy and I don't feel real good this morning.  I am hoping that half I took will kick in with the tylondol I took with it.  Have you tried the vitiamins and amino acids.  You can order them over the internet at puritan pride *******.  They have better prices.  Good luck to you and me and remember whatever comes your way God can bring you through it.

[ct_bobby]

whats up i went cold turkey Friday you get sick, but you can do it i am on day 3 now its not as bad as you think i have pepto one a day mens vitemn and b complex, and fish oil. i was taking 4 to 6 loracet a day for about 11/2. i don't feel that great right now but i feel better then yesterday  
i think i should be good tomorrow living for your next pill gets old i am a bit shaky right now and my stomach hurts i get the chills but not as bad as the first day. i am sad i don't have no friends any more and don't have family, but i took off Friday because of the holidays would give me time to get my life back. you can ct its not that bad if you need anything i am in front of my pc reading !

[D30]

I only took 1 of 4 this morning.

Today is a 4/day only. I made it for 14hrs. on one pill.

I have today and 2 more days for 4/day then it drops to 3/day for 3 days.

This Sucks and it is so easy for my wife just to sit back and say why do you have to take them just don't take them. It isn't that easy.

[ct_bobby]

do you have time off it will take you 4 days with no pills to get through this bro. I am on 3 and its much better. i took my last pill Friday. i took up to 6 for more then a year ! and i took loracets a stronger version of vicoden!

[D30]

I want to say I admire you, I find it very difficult to do with no one going through it with me around here. I just wish in a sick way my wife was addicted to something like caffine or something stupid so we could quit together.

My wife is one of those who never has smoked pot before and doesn't even drink coffee. Man I wish I was her.


Do I just go to the health foo store and ask for Vitamin B-12 and regular Amino acids?

[D30]

I tried to get my wife to take 4 days off not this up coming weekend but the one after and halp me through it. She said lets try tapering first.

I want to do it cold turkey in 2 weeks if she will be here. The 6,7,8 and 9th of  June. I am kind of afraid to be here by myself doing it.

[ct_bobby]

bro she will not understand you.. thats ok i do! i know how it feels, you need to get B complex... make your self eat and take fish oil. drink the real orange juice with the pulp, fro reading your post i think 4 days should be all you need man. you can do this trust me  after day 2 you will be like screw this i am done bring it!!! YOU FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE A COLD have you ever been sick ? well if so thats how you will feel...its like having the flu for 4 days. i am on day 3 its not that bad now the first 2 days are really hard !!! but after the first 2 days you will be on your way. I feel a million times better today. but i have nausea. I want you to be free with me i know the hell of worrying where you will get your next pill or how the only thing you can think of is if you should take a extra pill even tho you are running low. you seem like a strong guy i want you to be free man i went trough the chills and tierd and diarrhea all for 2 days now you can do this man !

[D30]

I am headed out the door for the first time today without a pill in my front right pocket. See you all soon

[ct_bobby]

ok now your talking ct good! your on your way. if she can help you its awesome. you have to be strong and not have any pills around you toss them out !!! very impotent!

[D30]

I am going to get some vitamins today.

[ct_bobby]

do what it takes. people over come cancer thats what helped me, i was thinking to my self why cant i over come this ! i wont die the only thing that this will give me is my life back

[ct_bobby]

I found something that will really really help you hope you enjoy.


For what it's worth, I'm going to re-print my cold turkey detox recipe for Lortabs (yes, with the right combo of drugs and non-drug therapies, you can detox yourself from this drug). I know, because I developed this formula in order to detox myself from a seventy-five (yes, 75) vicodin per day habit. So, here it is. If you're going to do it, follow it to the letter or it won't work. The one rx drug you'll need to make it really work is some kind of benzo like valium, klonopin, librium, xanax, ativan, etc. So, if you have any relatives that can help you out with one of these drugs (or a doctor, of course) the benzos wll help make the results much more successful ... but if you can't, the recipe can still work ...



Here's my tried-and-true do-it-yourself "cold turkey" detox protocol.



Supplies you'll need first:



As many Valium, Xanax, Librium, Ativan or Klonopin as you can get your hands on.



--- first day off the opiate, use enough Valium or whatever, to, if possible, sleep through most of the first couple days. Then start decreasing the dose until you're down to nothing in about 5 or 6 days. You'll have to do the math. The Valium or one of its sister drugs will help tremendously with the anxiety and, somewhat, with the body aches. Valium may make you eat like a pig and, when withdrawing from narcotics, one usually craves sweets, so I'd be ready to indulge myself with lots of treats, along with some good escapist movies to take your mind off of evrything. That always worked for me.



VERY IMPORTAT: Around-the-clock access to either hot baths or a Jacuzzi.



--speaking of those goddamn thigh cramps that seem to love to show up in the middle of the night, have that hot bath or Jacuzzi at the ready. Don't hesitate to spend the majority of the week in that hot water if that's what it takes to get you through it. You may be wrinkled, but you'll have your sanity. Don't underestimate what the hot baths can do to relieve the withdrawal discomfort. They really, really work. Heating pads between the thighs can help with those cramps, too, but not nearly as much as the hot baths.



Brand-name-only Imodium (immodium) (over the counter at the supermarket. Don't ak me why, but the brand name just works better.)



-- if you're a normal Lortab/Vicodin addict, you'll be getting the runs by no later than the second or third day off the lortab. In my experience, it's an especially unpleasant variety. At the first impulse, take two or three Imodium (immodium) and respond to returning urges with two tabs. It's important that you do it at the slightest rumbling from your guts. Immodium is also an opioid class drug and, even though it's action is mostly confined to that part of the brain that affects bowel motility, I noticed a slight relief from the overall withdrawal feeling when I took the Imodium (immodium) -- just don't overdose on the stuff thinking it will relieve all the withdrawal symptoms - it won't - it will just constipate the hell out of you at very high doses. Stick to the dosages I recommended.





Now, this is very important to short- and long-term reovery - I can't emphasize this one enough:

L-Tyrosine [NOT L-Lysine] (qty 50 of the 500mg caps) - an amino acid freely available at the health food store. Costs about 12 bucks a bottle.



WHY?

Chronic use of narcotics depletes the brain of several critical neurotransmitters responsible for well-being and mental performance and attitude.

Plus:

Bottle of 100 mg B6 caps (the B6 helps the L-Tyrosine be absorbed)

Plus, high-potency magnesium and zinc suplements. You may have to buy each in separate pills.



My experience detoxing with L-Tyrosine says take 4000 (four thousand) mg. (8x500mg caps of L-Tyrosine) with two 100mg B6 caps along with your zinc/magnesium supplement every day for your "detox week" to provide your brain with the raw material it needs to replenish its stores of these neurotransmitters. Many feel the difference on the very first dose. (I did, big time!!) ***Take it on an empty stomach, either first thing in the morning or at bedtime. You can continue this regimen after the first week if it continues to make you feel good. I continue to use L-Tyrosine every other day with very few exceptions, although now I cut my dose to 1500 mg of L-Tyrosine. I cut down on the dosage beause it can cause the runs at high doses. But for your first week, you need the high dose of L-Tyrosine and should just put up with the runs. It only happens once after each dose (if it happens at all) and it's not the "buring runs" that you get from withdrawal. It also happens within the first hour and won't return, so it's something you can plan on. Also, the Imodium (immodium) justight cancel out the runs, anyway. So, it's livable at least for that first week. Besides, the L-Tyrosine will make you feel so damn good so quickly, you won't care! You'll be looking forward to your morning L-Tyrosine dose, believe me! L-Tyrosine will make you feel alert without being nervous, peaceful without feeling sedated, and just generally GOOD, despite the withdrawal. It's truly THE discovery of opiate withdrawal therapy.



Multi-vitamins (most junkies don't eat too well, so this one's just for good sense).



Acording to some literature, you also need to add copper, phosphorus and Vitamin C to fully complete the dopamine, norepinephrine converson. You might have to do some hunting at the health food store to find the right vitamin or vitamins to supply all this stuff. Health food stores generally care multis that, instead of carrying every vitamin known to an, carry instead all the "metals" we need such as copper, Magnesium, zince, phosporous,etc. I esily found a multiple that contained large doses of zince, magnesium, copper, vitmamin C and lots of other things for very little money. In any event, I got a VERY good result from just the L-Tyrosine and B6 alone. Don't let any difficulty finding the whole laundy list of minerals and metals stop you fro using the L-Tyrosine and B6 -- it works like gangbusters anyway!



By the way, the zinc and magnesium tip was supplied by a contributor to this site called "pillpoppa" who cliamed it was the magic formula for recovering from long-term methadone use, so it sounds like an important part of the fromula for you in particular. Even though I never used methadone, I was using this multiple with large doses of zinc and magnesium (without realizing it) and, at first, I couldn't figure out why I felt so good so quickly after stopping the Lortabs. The I realized I was getting all that zinc and mag with my multiple! Pillpoppa's formula really does work, my friend. So, don't skip any of the instructions I've given you here. Add it up, and it doesn't cost as much as a visit to the doc for a big fat Lortab rx! Remember: all the details of my recipe are necessary to complete recovery. Then, just will yourself to stick as close to the prescribed dose as you can for your pain and, hopefully, you're home free!



WARNING: Avoid L-Tyrosine if you're on an SSRI (serotonin reuptake inhibitor) such as Prozac, Effexor, Paxil, all those kinds of psychiatric mood elevators, etc.