Lortab Withdrawl?

[Nance77]

Hi
I have been taking Lortab 10/500 mg, about 4 to 5 a day for almost 2 yrs, along with sometimes substituting Percocet 5mg instead of the Lortab doses.....I am not able to get the Lortabs from the same doctor anymore, so I decided to try to stop taking them....My last pill was last nite around 9PM....around 3AM, I still couldnt sleep and started having restless leg...I slept maybe 2 hrs, after taking a xanax which didnt really help...Today, I have stomach pains, feel bad, depressed, tired and like I am jumping out of my skin..
I am shocked that I could have withdrawl symptoms so soon, and after so low a dosage, considering what some are taking...Are these withdrawls and if so, how long would they last?  I do have a fair amount of pills left, and thats all I am thinking about all day, just taking one...But I dont want to have to start all over again...Should I have just quit like this or is tapering better?
Thanks!

[Nance77]

Thanks!   I am on Day 12 now, and most of the physical symptoms are gone or better...Every once in awhile they flare up.....Still have no energy, but at least the past few nites I have been able to sleep...The insomnia and restlessness was what really bothered me...I would sleep 2 hrs a nite if that for a week....
Now its just not wanting to start taking the pills again when I feel better physically...But at this point, I really dont want to, cos I dont want to go thru this all again...

[marypoppinpills]

I withdrew for two weeks in rehab, went through hell, than relapsed, withdrew for two days, relapsed again, and plan on going clean as long as i can again.  If i'm  jumping out of your skin a benzo can help sometimes.  I dont enjoy the buzz like I used to.   It's a false sense of assurance.   I've learned i may have chronic anxiety.   An anxiety pill would be more helpful.  It doesn't mean I wont abuse it though  sometimes.   I keep trying to discipline myself, but when im in pain, its very tough.  I debated taking one for an hour tuesday and ended up taking 3 7.5's.  But yesterday I stayed out of the house, even drank coffee, had no cravings or anxiety.   I just fear the withdrawals probably coming up.  been back on the wagon for almost four 1/2 days.  I'll get hot and cold, chills, possibly wrestless legs.   Ive heard weening/tapering has different results for different people.   When I weened the anxiety was there but the chills and twitching weren't there.
Attitude can make a huge difference.  Even if all your relATIONSHIPS ARE RUINED, AND YOUVE GOT A REP for being a druggy from hell, focus on who you care for and what you value and you can get past  such issues.   Think about the person you were before your addiction and ask yourself what you want back in your life.   peace out!

[Nance77]

I certainly am not one to tell u what to do, but if u do take any, u will say it will be just one, but it will probably me more..
Plus for me, I can't take the withdrawls, so right now while I am still sick, I am thinking I wont take them again..But once all this goes away and I am feeling better physically, who's to say...
Right now I have terrible anxiety for no reason, it must be just coming off the pills..that is what is bothering me the most today...I could take a Valium, but Im like, should I, or will I then be addicted to this too!
Just think if u want to start from the beginning again if u take a pill now, and stay strong

[taffy1020]

Hello !
CONGRATULATIONS!  You have made it to day three (that is great!)  Lastnight I have to admit, I had a moment of weakness.  My dealer called with his normal offer, and I felt like giving up, so I got some......I still haven't taken one, but GOD I want to....I've been up all night debating on weather or not to take one...just one (what harm could it do).  I feel better  just knowing I have them right here, and I could take one whenever I want.  I'm torn on what to do.  I've come this far, and I don't want to fall off the wagon, but the mental aspect is killing me.  My husband has no clue that I bought them...I lied and told him i was going shopping at the mall (I feel horrible for lying).  I'm not sure at this point what I will do.  As of this moment it has been four days since I haven't taken any Hydro's.  What am I going to do??  What should I do??  Damn!

[Nance77]

Hi all...Well last nite at 9PM was starting Day 3 for me without the pills...I was very sick yesterday but as night came, I started to feel a bit better and took a hot shower....I felt so bad that I did take one Darvocet in the afternoon just to get thru...I dont get high off it, it just helped the withdrawl pain, plus Imodium....I was able to sleep 4 hrs straight last nite which might not sound great, but it was better than the 2 hrs the 2 nites before...I was awake at 6AM, but at least got some sleep and didnt have to take a Valium for the restlessness like the night before....I feel much better today physically, but mentally worse....I got up, fed my dog and cats and am now doing laundry....Im so tired and so bored and take no pleasure in doing any of these things, but its just stuff I have to do..Its funny how its only been barely 2 yrs on the pills, starting with Percocets, going to Lortabs, then doing both, but I really cant remember how and why I functioned without them....How did I feel when I did things without pills?  I couldnt tell anyone who asked me right now...It seems impossible that I even got out of bed.....
How are u doing today, taffy?  I know we are kind of at the same place now, day wise...I'm still shocked how dope sick I was/am cos of the pills...I thought that only happened with heroin withdrawls...I thought I could just stop taking the pills whenever I wanted, and then start again if I wanted to, no problem, like I had with other things...I guess if its only a temporary thing and not every day, u dont get addicted..Funny how I started with a half a percocet and that was just fine for me for the whole day...Before I knew it I was taking 5-6   10mg Lortabs a day, plus sometimes percocets, then xanax as well to sleep at nite sometimes......
Thanks for listening and letting me post here.....I still think about the pills and well when this is over, maybe I could just take 1/2's occasionally, but really, I know that cant happen, cos the whole thing will start all over again after a few months....I am not as obsessed with wanting to take one as I was the first day, thats all I could think about, so I guess thats one good thing...lol  I just hope there eventually can be some quality of life for me without the pills, but I guess that will come in time...

[peaceinknowing]

You're on the right track to getting your life back. You're definately going through WD symptoms, and unfortunately there isn't much that can be done about it. You're a lot stronger than I am right now, because if I had pills around me when I was going CT from them, they would've been gone in a heartbeat. When I found this site and heard all the miraculous stories of sucess with going CT from the pills, I took the bottle of Percocet that I had left and flushed them down the toilet. I believe there were a little over 60 pills left in that bottle. I couldn't have done this with the pills still around, even if they were to be given to someone I trust, like my husband. I know he would've given in and given me a few here and there because I too, live with severe legitament pain day in and day out.

Keep posting here and continue to let us know how things go for you. Try and stay hydrated with water and light juices, like apple juice. Try and coat your stomach with milk from time to time, but only in sips. If you experience RLS before you head off to bed, try jumping in the shower and/or bath and make sure that it's hot and the water is getting on your legs. Bananas are good as well because of the potassium they have in them. All of these things help without having to take any other medications.

[taffy1020]

I'm really sorry to hear about your Fibromyalgia.  When you have Chronic pain, it makes it even more difficult to get off the pills.  Today will make day three for me, and I really feel like giving up.  Physically I feel like I have the flu...very lazy and no energy.  Like you, I would think about all these wonderful things to do while I was on the Lortab. You (like me) have a family to take care of, and it's not like we can just take a few days off....who would take care of our house and family? Mentally, I feel as though my life will no longer be fun, and what the hell's the point of getting out of bed, if I have no pills to make me feel better???  But I can and will do this!!  I KNOW YOU CAN DO IT TOO!!!  It is hard to think of how our life was before the pills, cause our brain has been "numbed" for so long.  I think back when I was a child, and the simple things in life would make me happy.....going for a bike ride, playing with dolls etc.... When I look into my two daughter's eye's I see what kind of mother I would like to be....free of this hold these damn pills have on me.  I had quit school because of the pills. I was going to be a lawyer (which I no longer have a desire to do).  I want to help you out in any way that I can.......Keep posting, and I know things will get better for you.  You are not alone in your fight!!

[Nance77]

Well, today at 9PM will be 2 days off the pills and I really feel like ****....I was thinking of taking just a half or so, but then Im afraid I will be back to 5 or 6 a day again..I will keep trying to do it with no pills and see how it goes.....I had to take a valium last nite at 3AM cos I could not sleep at all..That is now the worst part for me...I am so tired, but cant sleep...The night before I slept 4 hrs broken up...Last nite, all in all, it might have been 6 hrs, but broken up too..The most I slept at once was 2 hrs and tht was early this morning...Have bad anxiety too for some reason, and the stomach pains, hot and cold,etc...
Im on the 2nd day too, taffy..How are u feeling?  What are your physical symptoms if any?  I feel the exact same way u do...I had to take a pill to do anything or go anywhere (grocery shopping, out with my son or husband, anything)  and I always took pills with me in case I was out and needed my next dose....Cos it seemed nothing was "fun" or worth doing without them...Im trying to remember what I did and how I did it before the Lortabs, but I seriously cant and dont know what I did, or if I had any fun doing it...I dont think I did...I always had so much  energy on the pills, and never wanted to sleep, and I always had all these good thoughts and things in my mind that I was going to do and get accomplished, etc...But now when I think about it, it seems I really didnt do much that was productive...Just thought about it, while I was feeling good and being high from the pills...I just didnt think it would be so hard to stop..I have quit other things just like that, years and years ago and never looked back(alcohol, cocaine, speed, pot,,etc)..I decided to quit and I did, no problem and no side effects....I probably should have tapered but I was scared and didnt trust myself....I got prescribed the pills in the first place for a case of shingles, and then after for fibromyalgia, and if I would have taken them only when I had pain or temporarily, I guess I wouldnt be in this situation..But with fibro, its kind of like chronic pain, so thats what led to me taking them daily, and then of course upping them cos I didnt get the same feeling I did at the start with  just 1/2 a pill...Thanks all for the posts

[FUNKYJUNKY]

The ones you have left, if possible, give them to someone you really trust. Tell them what you are going to do. Whatever you normally take, start at 75% for a couple of days. Then go down to 50%. You wont get the high feeling, but thats all in your mind. These doses are for helping you stop. After a couple of more days go to 25%. Doing it this way will dramatically reduce withdrawl. Once you get to 10%, you oblviously know you will not need them anymore. Discipline is what you should concentrate on, more than anything. You will notice you will start being you again. I have been on everything you can think of and have stopped taking them all. It is not easy by any means, but it will work. Mind over matter is not just a saying, its a way of life. I know you can do it. This has been the best way I have found to come of any drug.

[bree21]

sounds like me withthe oxy. I would take my pills just so I could take the kids out all day. All I did all day was smoke! I havn't takenanything for 2 days and well the thought of a smoke makes mesick

[taffy1020]

Wow, do I know what you are going through......I feel the exact same way.  My life is no "fun" w/o the pills.  Getting up, going shopping, going to the park with the kids, before I did anything I would have to have the pill to make me feel like going, or even taking a shower, and getting ready for the day.  My preference was 10/650 Lortab.  I'm on day two of being free of the hold they have on me.  I feel pretty damn sh*tty!  I also had many left, about 20 pills, and I had to get rid of them, because I knew if I kept them they would be hanging over my head like a 50lb weight.  Every minute I am thinking about how easy it would be to pick up the phone and order some more (every inch of my body aches for it).     If I were you I would get rid of the pills....you have to be such a strong person to taper down (which I am not).....I don't have much experience since I have never tried to quit before...this is my first time that I have put an effort in to truely try and quit.  I want my life back.  I want to wake up everyday and feel happy to be alive, happy to have my family, and happy to go about my day w/o thinking about my addiction.  You can do this!!  I get my strength from reading other's stories on this site......We are all so different, but determined to get back on track no matter how many times we fall................Good Luck to you!!  Stay Strong!!  :)

[Nance77]

Thanks....All I have been doing all day is thinking about taking a pill...I know I should get rid of the ones I have, but I cant bring myself to do it...I really want to quit, but now I am so used to taking them, I feel like I will have no life without the pills....I looked forward to taking them everyday and they immediately made me feel better..happy, calm, energy...I know that if I could have an endless supply, I would take them for the rest of my life...I dont even know how this happened or how  I got addicted...I started with a half a percocet a day!  Now, like I said, I am up to 4 or 5 Lortabs a day, plus Percocets at times too...Even though its only been 2 yrs, its hard to remember what I did or what life was like before the pills...Nothing seems fun without them...And I did find myself counting all I had, hoping there was enough to the next refill, and stockpilling them just in case (getting them from 2 places)......When I was told yesterday, I wouldnt be able to get them from the same place, I was scared, devastated, cried, and didnt know what to do...I was so angry..I was like, why am I acting like this over pills>  I told my husband, who gets medical care from the VA, to ask them for Lortabs for his bad knee, so that I would be able to have more....I tried to cut down yesterday just to see...All day yesterday, I took only one pill..None so far since 9PM last nite, but its all I am thinking about...I know if I took even  a half, I would feel great..But then I am afraid the whole cycle would start again..
Thanks for listening

[bmdad]

Like IBKleen said, if you have pills laying around, it makes it so hard. Tapering does help as I have been able to do it once, but it takes so much willpower! There is no way I can taper anymore as I have tried. If you don't want to taper the pills must go. Tapering does drag out the withdrawal effects longer compared to cold turkey, they just aren't as extreme. I personally would rather go cold turkey as the worst of the physical part is over around 5 days or so. It's a decision you will have to make on your own. Some things that do help while going through withdrawals are exercise, hot baths, plenty of fluids, and eating healthy. There is also a amino acid protocol that helps replenish our bodies with supplements we need. Info on it is on the right hand side of the page under health pages. Just keep going strong and you will make it through this. It is difficult, but not impossible. Best of luck!

[IBKleen]

It sure sounds like withdrawal and should last (the physical part) about 5 to 7 days.

I am sorry hun, but I could never ever make it through the withdrawal process if I had pills around. I don't believe anyone is that strong and you have a decision to make.

I hope you can get rid of the pills and finish the job. Best of luck.