I can't believe it !!

[2pillsaday]

I had a run of some minor surgeries, 2 shoulder operations and I was spayed (like a dog) smile. I had lots of vicodin given to me........residual pain, more vicodin. Have managed to keep vicoden down to 2 to 2.5 pills a day and will not take any more. If I still have pain I touch it up with motrin. Just went to see a neurologist this week to find out why I am still in pain. Her first issue was my vicodin addiction. She feels that I am in a rebound effect type situation and wants me off the drugs. I have read some of your posts and wow...I feel for you people.
Am I going to go through similar stuff? Anxiety, diarrhea, sweats, etc. Looks like many of you are taking more drugs than I am but none the less thinking about not having my two pills (which I break in half ) is starting to bother me.
I get really bad headaches as well as have left over shoulder pain........but the headaches are migraines and they are killer. I started taking Topamax which is supposed to help the headaches but it may take several weeks for that to kick in. My goal is to be off the vocodin Thanksgiving weekend.

Is it really going to be that ugly?

[allaboutmary]

I am not sure, but I think your symptoms should be very mild.  Sorry I don't know much about detox for a small dose. I'm glad your doctor wants you off them. I wish my doctor had informed me about the rebound pain. Good Luck

[troubleinohio]

years ago when I was only on a few tylenol 3's a day for awhile, and then stopped, I had bad pain symptoms. At the time I didnt even realize it was WD's, but thats what it was. Oh how I hurt everywhere in my body. And that was just from some wimpy codeines (ha ha). Little did I know I was working my way up to "bigger and better" drugs (percs, vicodin ) .   Good luck to you

[frankie165]

I was taking 5-10 pills a day since July for a series of 3 operations.  I didn't realize until it was almost time to go back to work that I had grown dependent on them.  I tried to stop cold turkey, but it was very painful.  I ended up doing a very quick taper.  I took 2 1/2 pills the first day-only in 1/2 pill doses.  The next day I was able to take 1 1/2 pills.  Next day 1 pill.  Then several days of only a half in the evening.  I have had 3 days now with no pills and feel pretty good.  I don't think I had the mental addiction that most people talk about here, but I definately had the physical.  Tapering like this may not work for everyone, but I was able to get off the pills with aches and pains. Basically I felt like I had a very bad cold.  I am definately starting to feel better now.

[FLaddict]

If you taper down your dose over a few weeks you should have very mild symptoms. Anxiety, some sleeplessness, some aches, runny nose diarreah. It will feel like you caught a flu bug. Luckily for you, your dose is very low. I would cut a half a pill every 4-6 days, til you are down to one half then stop. You may wanna line it up so you stop on a weekend or when you have a few days off. Get some Immodium for the diarreah, and a sleep aid either OTC of see if your doc will prescribe you one for a 2 week period.
Best of Luck to you..

[2pillsaday]

thank you all for the responses. I appreciate the warnings and all the advice. I am sure it will all be fine. I expected some mental.......some physical...........but I do not want to end up down the road of wanting and needing more and then the job of getting off that much harder.

It has been a long 3 years...........but I am ready to face the world without the drugs. I think.