Lortab withdrawl and detox

[ananapum]

Hi guys... I've been taking 7-8 Lortab 10s a day for the last 2 years or so. I've detoxed twice (once because I was going to europe and didn't want to take them on the plane and once because I needed to pass a  drug test for a job and I'm paranoid). Both times I detoxed I knew that I'd be going back to them but this time I know I want to quit for good. I took my last pill about an hour ago and am going to begin detoxing tomorrow. In the past Tylenol-1 (with codeine) has helped me get through the worst of it so I picked some of them up from canada this afternoon. I'm telling myself that the first day will be rough and the second will be better and the one after that better... in the past I've been 75% back to normal after the first day. I'm a huge poker player (pretty successful too) so I'm thinking of going to the casino to keep my mind off it tomorrow. Any advice or tips would be greatly appreciated... I'm really scared but I know this is my time.

[marcatj]

hi...

first off, punch in The Thomas Recipe on the above search engine - there's alot of info that will help you through withdrawals (well, as best as one can get thru withdrawals.)

secondly, if possible, get some Clonidine tomorrow - a blood pressure medicine.  if you can get some asap and get it into your system it will really help.  but so you know, many have done it (w/d) without it.

as well - post ALOT here, if you need/want to talk.  it got alot of us through the w/d's, and got us clean...

good luck.  and good for you for making this decision.  it will be the best one you've ever made....

warmly,
mj

[ananapum]

thanks for the advice... what symptoms will the Clonidine help with?  Also - would you recommend trying to go with the codeine for a little bit to make it easier? I took codeine for about a week last time I detoxed (about a year and a half ago) and I remember the symptoms being almost non-existant.

[marcatj]

i'm afraid i don't know about the codiene.. i'm sorry.

the clonidine pretty much helps with EVERYTHING.  it's pretty dang great if you can get it.  i used it the 2nd time i went off pills (i have some chronic back stuff) and i tapered for a few days too before i quit, and man, i almost had no withdrawals.  it's pretty great stuff.

and like pete said, the benzo/anti-anxiety's work thru the w/d phase too...

once you feel able (if you have a rough couple of days) keeping busy IS good.  i didn't at first... big mistake.  too much time to think.  among many other things... (you still feel "checked out" of life too, unless you force yourself to get out there.)  can be hard... but do it when you are able.

and again - keep posting!!!

:)
mj

[ananapum]

thanks for the help guys. i'm on about 12 hours and not feeling too bad yet. my boyfriend just got over the flu and i feel like i'm coming down with that as well so that'll be fun once the w/d hits.  I'm about to go the the health food store to pick up some juice and the vitamins that are in the thomas recipe (minus the clonidine because i have a heart murmer and i've already got the codeine so i'm going to try to stick with that instead). I may try to hit up the gym and maybe the casino as well. The worst part is that I know my boyfriend would kick me out of our house if he knew I was taking lortabs because he thought I had been off them for a while. It'd be a lot easier if he was supporting me.

[Jade59]

Lortab, codeine are in the same class.  I think if you're using tylenol1, which is a very small amount of codeine, then your body still thinks it's receiving a pain killer and you are just putting off the REAL
w/d you will eventually have to go throught when you stop the tylenol1.  The clonodine is GREAT stuff and I think you will be much happier in the long run if you just take the clonodine if you are able to get it and forget about the codeine.  I have done the substitution thing and it's just putting off the inevitable.  Best of luck to you.  I'm sorry you can't get support from your boyfriend, but this forum can do that for you.  There are very kind and supportive people here.  

[ananapum]

Thanks for the help FM! I called my doctor and the problem with the clonodine is that i have a heart murmer and we're not sure how safe it'd be to drop my blood pressure like that. I was thinking the codeine would be more like a taper since it's much weaker and to be honest I'm definitely feeling the effects of the W/D now... cold sweats, headaches, restlessness... I've done it before with the codeine and don't remember getting real sick  after stopping the Tylenol1 but it was a long time ago. All I know is that I feel like total hell...

[soontobemom1]

[ananapum]

Hi all... I'm on about hour 19 and I'm trying not to take the codeine unless absolutely necessary. I'm having a pretty easy time right now but it seems to come in waves. Keeping busy definitely helps. Does anyone else have experience with using Tylenol1 with codeine as a taper or to ease the symptoms? I really don't want to prolong the inevitable as FX said.