I think I'm weaning incorrectly, please help

[HookLineandSinker68]

I've been on 60 mg of hydro for over a year,everyday. I have been thinking these angel I mean devil pills have got the best of me now. With the support of my husband we decided to wean by 10 mg to 50 mg and on day three today. Yesterday was horrible, just that negative 10 mg my body went flip not to mention my mood swings were in full force. I'm afraid of these pills and what they have turned me into. I get up pop 2 with coffee and start my day. No excuses, I like them, they way they make me feel. But now I'm noticing lack of energy, depression, and I want off. They control me now. So I've been reading and cannot find one simple answer anywhere... How and what is the best way to taper off of 60 mg? I'm down to 50 mg on third day but when is it time to take another leap to wean down and how? I DON'T want to feel to many withdrawals, I'm a wuss and tried cold turkey first.. To those who can do it, your my hero!!!! I'm in the medical profession and went to my doc, huge huge mistake, she looked at me and said just quit after spilling my guts and feeling like a piece of crap. Can someone, anyone tell me the answer please? Least withdrawals, how much do I decrease and for how many days. I KNOW I will feel some withdrawals, I did this to me and don't expect to get off pain free but the anxiety and wd was to much for me to handle day one. Tried methadone clinic for 8 days, my opinion on that and sorry if I offend anyone but "you have got to be kidding me" methadone was the most horrid i have felt and mouth sores to nodding on just 40 mg, that's what the starting dose was. Please help I can't find the answers anywhere. Also, one last question does it ease the wd to wean and what do I expect?  :) never thought I'd be writing this in a million years....

[HookLineandSinker68]

Okay decided after 5 days I'm going to take another leap. Won't say how much since will be a violation but its a full dose for me. I'm going to start again this morning, take my 100 vitamins, and just get this crap done and over. It's nice to know 2 out of 6 pills a day is gone....I hope... I know a lot can't taper but I will and can. Have to, no choice to big of a baby to do a ct. Sometimes I feel I'm prolonging the inevitable weaning but I'm only doing to give my brain and body a bit of an ease into them and hopefully my wd won't be but a mild flu. I also learned exercise gets your brain to produce endorphins which will naturally help with wds. Just to get off my but and do them is the kicker...I started these due to a Lapband surgery and lost 160 pounds and now way down past my original goal, high school weight. They started me on liquid Norco, drink it and feel good in 2 minutes. But the feel good was to good and had a great happy pill prescribing doc.(okay docs)...doc shopping for a bit until I got scared and now for weaning I just get what I need each week from a person who sells them... My God am I a junkie!!! Have 3 successful kids, one got into drugs for a bit and kicked him out. Was so against any kind of drug. Never tried anything until a year ago at 44. They would flip out on me and would not understand so I come here for venting,plus I think I'm driving the hubby nuts with this. He comes home and I blah blah blah about it. He is supportive but I don't want to do this to him anymore so thanks for allowing me to get this out here so he don't have to hear my crap and whines. Thank goodness I was laid off ( in the medical profession) in critical care for years, and here I am seeking help when my passion is to help others. I know I would be back at work if it were not for these making great money, so end goal get off this crap and work. Ahhh, one day. Interview Monday which I will have to pass since I'm not clean, the pay and job is perfect and man I want it but now I pay the consequences for my actions...so I may drive everyone nuts through this wean cause I have no one and I can't wait to read and get on here to vent and ask questions with peeps that know what I'm going through..... BIG question... Have carpal tunnel, will need surgery soon... Don't want pain meds, that would defeat this whole purpose.what do I tell them and what do I take for pain that's NOT addictive... Also, did anyone ever have an issue with pain meds from a surgery, do you jump right back into your problem if you take them say for three days from surgery... Delaying surgery now....

[nbhope]

I am new sorry did relize your not to post exactly how I tappered. Mine I rid do with in 3 Weeks, but I know my doctor had talked about tappering me off so you may want to ask and then that way your doc can also watch you too... ?? I also read on other forums to how to Tapper and quit cold turkey. Either way I feel its painful and I just perpared myself for it. Reading others post helped tremendously :))

[notordinary]

Hi, as i told you. You have to have the right mind set to do a taper not everyone can do it. Ask they will tell you they couldn't do it.
But it is doable no doubt.
I did my taper over 28 days. From 80-100mg down to 20-30 mg. Maybe a day or two +/-.
So do the math. Some need to taper longer but there is no need to.
Stay positive and the rest will fall into place.
It's like, remember when you were young and wanted something really bad,
And you did whatever you had to do to get it? Get your mind there and fight like h#!! To get it.
I wrote my taper to a tee on a day planner, and i stuck to it. And my mind followed along with the plan.  
And I'm so happy i am done with the little devils. And my pain, wow it is so much better since i stopped.
I actually going back to work after taking a year off. And looking forward to it.
Have any questions pm me. If i can help you i will.

[HookLineandSinker68]

Congrats on your sober days. I cannot wait to be where you are. I would say you have no idea but oh you do!!! Your fulfilling my dream. Way to go, can't wait until I can say what you are!!!!!  

[HookLineandSinker68]

Okay some post were deleted they were in violation. They did hit to my email and got some great information. But understand this is more for support. How does wd feel after weaning down to say 5 mg per day from 60mg per day. I have my weaning schedule, just letting my body tell me what to do and what I feel is best and from the research. I would love my docs help and she told me to just quit. So I am hoping my question is general and is allowed as I am trying to learn what to say and ask. I feel ok on 50 mg now after 4 days. So taking another leap and won't say how much since may be a violation but I'm doing it... I just want to know if anyone has tapered, stuck to it and got to 5 mg a day for a week or so and had withdrawals and what should I expect as far as withdrawls if I can stick to the taper method I have in place. By the way, thank you all for helping me. I am alone with this and feel like a piece of crap and have been very hard on myself for doing this to me and my family. I just can't wait to see my little grand babies without the fog......thank you from the bottom of my heart.... Very sincerely when I say I don't know what I would do if I could not vent and wait for responses with some kind of help.....also, I don't know how to PM... How do I PM you so I can get better information that is not a violation. ;). We can do it.  I can do it... I hope....

[dominosarah]

The safest way to do this is to see your doctor and tell him/her what is going on and that you need some help coming off the pills.

[jenjen1966]

Hi. Sounds like this has you very stressed! Just take a minute and breathe! I am 36 days off 6-8 Norco 10 for about 2 years. I'm not going to lie, it has been rough at times. I tapered down to 4 a day and went ct. The taper was too slow for me. I just wanted to be done. The first day wasn't too bad. The creepy crawling drove me nuts. Moving and a heating pad helped. I never got the sweats, I froze! Data 3-5 were very uncomfortable. Physically and mentally. I just kept telling myself its no worse than I felt post op when I started the stinking pills! I didn't sleep at all the first few days. Thanks to this site, I expected it and was prepared. I didn't even try going to bed. Just planned on movies all night. That way I didn't get too frustrated with it. I have just really started sleeping 6-8 hours. The items from the Thomas recipe helped, but I couldn't get them til day 3. Hot baths and showers help a lot. Imodium is a must. Not just for the trots. It made me feel better all around. I hope this helps some. For me, the fear was the worst. Once I knew what I was going thru was normal, I just hunkered down and got it over with. Hang in there. You can do this.

[Emily_MHManager]

Hi everyone -

Clean_in_ks - Some posts were deleted that you didn't see.  You can always send me a PM if you have questions about something specific.

Hooklineandsinker - you can ask for, and get, general info.  Dosing schedules aren't allowed, but you can find out how long people tapered, etc.  If you have specific questions, feel free to shoot me a PM.

Best,

Emily

[HookLineandSinker68]

@clean_in_ks Thanks, I guess you got my point. I understand the rules and each person is different but assumed I could get some relief or answers. I understand a taper schedule recommendation is not permitted and I understand that now. But I just want to simply know how long it took several people to wean, how it worked for them,what withdrawls were felt,and how long should I taper down to 10 mg a day for how many days...or rephrase that how many days did someone else taper 10 mg for how long until they jumped down again to ease the wd symptoms. I just want off as I am determined as ever. I will admit, I cannot handle cold turkey, about 8 hours into it I felt like I was dying. May be related to having anxiety for 20 years. And last but not least when tapering down in the end when your done, what are the wds like and what to expect. I'm scared to death, I'm feeling a bit confused with all this not to mention overwhelmed. I'm trying, I'm doing it one way or the other. Just need some flipping help here. First time I've been addicted for over a year and thought I was strong enough to just quit as easy as my doc said it was and I'm honestly not strong as I thought I was. I just want the haze and the control this has over me gone. Please anyone, can you give good, honest advice please. Help help help....I came here for help with people in the same situation and just need some answers is all. I appreciate anything from anyone. I have the Thomas vitamins and Xanax to help. Water and electrolytes, and motivation for he first time in over a year, I don't want to be rude but I came for help not to be told the guidelines. Can anyone be straight up and answer these please as I can find nothing online other then methadone or sub and Not an option at all. Thank you kindly....

[clean_in_ks]

I'm a little confused here.....I have read EVERY word above and find NO SPECIFIC tapering advise given.  Just support, what has worked for one of us, a suggestion, or such.  The OP on this thread just asked for help and rec'd GENERAL INFO.  No specifics or a detailed taper plan were even mentioned????

[Emily_MHManager]

Hi everyone -

Please remember that giving specific tapering schedules is not allowed on our site. What works for one person may actually be dangerous for someone else.  

Thanks,

Emily

[notordinary]

Hi, i also did a taper from 80-100mg a day (almost a decade of taking them)  to 20-30mg a day.
I got clonidine from my dr and it helped a lot.
It can be done. You just have to set your mind to doing it. Stay positive and busy the days will pass.
I'm 28 days clean today and i feel good.
Congratulations for wanting your life back. It is a great feeling when we get clean. All the things we missed, we never think of when high.
Do a slow taper and you will be fine. If you have any questions please ask.
Keep posting,  

[YesLife4Me]

You could also try talking to your prescribing physician about if they can provide you with any other types of medication such as clonodine and phenegran to help ease the withdraw symptoms??    

[Missshawn]

If it helps,read my questions... Good luck... You can do this

[clean_in_ks]

Yes, it is a violation of MH guidelines to give specific taper advise...BUT
we are allowed to share our experience, strength and hope with other members.  Having said that....many people who choose to taper and are ABLE to taper go down a little at a time.....wait to level out.....and go down again.  It draws the whole process out....but you said you have tried CT before and want to taper.  You have the support of your hubby.  You have already tried asking your dr. for a taper plan by being honest....and sounds like that didn't go too well.
Me, personally, I tapered from 20-30 hydros (10mg) a day down to 10 pills and then had to jump off.  I was too sick and unable to keep from popping the things in my mouth to relieve the w/d hell.  You have to find  what works for you, but if you keep weaning as you are....wait to level and wean again....you may just get r done!
Blessings to you~

[IBKleen]

Hi & Welcome,

I am sorry but it is a violation of our guidelines to provide you with tapering information. Just to be on the safe side you should consult your prescribing physician and get a proper plan. I hope it all works out for you and you get to the other side. It is well worth it!