Norco 10 mg - taper fm. 7-8 per day

[3grlz'mom]

Okay, guys, I really need your input.  I have exactly 118 (10 mg.) Norcos.   LAST REFILL.  EVER.  (I know you've all been there and said that before too.)  But I mean it this time!  Okay - how is this plan?:  I want to taper with the most minimal withdrawl symptoms possible because I am going to be interviewing (series of interviews, presentations, going before the board, etc.) for a super important career position (college professor) that the rest of my life and my kids' lives are depending on.  (single mom, dwindling COBRA insurance, no child support, bankrupt ex.)  (My life is real fun right now.)  I absolutely CANNOT feel like **** through the next month because I have to be at the top of my game to impress these people, but at the same time I absolutely have to get this drug out of my life NOW.  
Okay, I Begin March 6 on a 6 week taper plan:  7 a day for first 3 days,  one pill every 2.5 hours.   Then 6 a day for 3 days, one pill every 2.5 hours.  Then 5 a day for 3 days, one pill every 3 hours.   Then 4 a day for 3 days, one pill every 3.5 hours.  Then 3 a day for 3 days, one pill every 4 hours.   Then 3 a day for 3 days, one pill every 5 hours.  Then 3 a day for 3 days, one pill every 6 hours.  Then 2 a day for 4 days, one pill in a.m. and one six hours later.  Then 2 a day for 4 days, one pill in a.m. and one pill 8 hours later.  Then 1 a day for 6 days - half pill in a.m. and half pill 8 hours later.  Then half pill in a.m. only for the last 6 days.   Day 42 - no pills.  What do you guys think - ?especially the taper pros like avis.   Thank you!  You are all awesome.  This site is the best!

[jim811]

Hi...I also tapered off a perc/patch habit. I found that small doses spread throughout the day minimized withdrawals; you won't feel like before but you'll keep wds down so you can function.  I was on biz trips during my taper and had to be up and running.  

My taper is below...pills were cut in half and I used my cell phone as an alarm clock to remind me when I needed to dose.  If you see 11..that means 1/2 pill every 2.11 hours (24/11) and so on.

Clean for 45 days and feeling good.  Quit smoking 20 days ago and that has been much more difficult :-)

Nick



Day 1/2 Pills
Friday 11
Saturday 11
Sunday 11
Monday 11
Tuesday 11
Wednesday 10
Thursday 10
Friday 10
Saturday 9
Sunday 9
Monday 8
Tuesday 8
Wednesday 8
Thursday 8
Friday 7
Saturday 6
Sunday 6
Monday 6
Tuesday 6
Wednesday 6
Thursday 5
Friday 5
Saturday 5
Sunday 5
Monday 4
Tuesday 4
Wednesday 4
Thursday 3
Friday 2

[usarmymedic1]

I also quit during interview application process for the job I am in at this time. I went to 6 defferant interviews and had to choose between all six jobs so it can be done.   I will call them tomorrow and ask they are sience major's though brother has PHD in evalutionary biology and enviromental biology his wife masters in botney but I think the questions should give you some heads up keep posting this site does help. with me by posting it help with the anxity and deppression and when you get stressed out think about this what does STRESSED spell backwards say.............

chris

[toxictome]

I think it would be better to space them out during the 24hrs....I never took mine at night either...but when i was tapering i did if i woke up..trust me...i doubt you'll be sleeping all night long... :(  but if you don't wake up during the night...just take one first thing in the morning) ....you can also experiment ...if you need them more during the day...but the object  w/ a taper is too take less meds further apart..so see what works for you....my night dose helped w/ rls

[3grlz'mom]

Yes - I guess I was spreading the doses out more evenly during my waking hours, not including my sleeping hours.  Should I be spreading out over the full 24 hours or just the 16 awake ones?  I never take any past 7 p.m. anyway.  I haven't gone anywhere at night in ages (loser) and I go to sleep when my girls do at 9 p.m, so I never felt the need to take them at night.  But is it better on the system to spread out through the whole 24?. (Wake up earlier or during the night to take a dose?)

[toxictome]

You are doing a good thing...i thought i was staying more focused by taking the pills...but now that i'm clear headed again...i can see how fogged out i was, plus I just wasn't catching the buzz anymore, hadn't been for  a long time...i was taking mine for "emotional pain"..LOL

yes...snazz yourself up...you'll lQQk and feel like a million $$$$$$!!

[3grlz'mom]

worried - great advice!  I am going to get a new suit - now I am thinking about the underthings, too!  And a manicure is perfect.  I will smile!!  You are so right!  It does put people at ease.  
r2r - I remember you from before - so glad to see you are still on here and still so encouraging and friendly - thank you!!!

[3grlz'mom]

I am taking 7-8 per day for the last few months, up from 4 to 6 for the year prior.  I usually take only one 10 mg pill at a time, occasionally 1 and a half but that is pretty rare.  But it's sporadic.  It's not a regular dosing schedule at all.  I used to be really good at listening to my body and taking them for pain. I take more than I need now so I never give my back a chance to feel pain because I have taken another before I even needed it so I could be focused and participate in class better, or because I have to pick up my kids and it will "pick me up" a little because they need me so much.  Both of which are just wrong reasons to take a Norco!!  It's got to stop now.  I have to live through that pain some other way because I do not want to watch this thing snowball.....

[toxictome]

IN regards to the 2 pills /day...yes..i would break them in half and take them 4 times that day...1 half every six hrs........good luck!!

[worried878]

practice your smile in the mirror....over and over...take photos or get your close ones to tell you whick looks best  LOL   flash them with it...over and over during the interview as you talk about everything you know....people love to see smiles...more important than 100 words...do some good things for yourself first like skin care and new clothes (even undercloths)...pedicure and manicure...will make u feel good and confident..they will feel your vibrance as  walk in the room...you will have them at the first interview!...keep your confidence up and hold your chin up high

[3grlz'mom]

Thank you so much - how terrific of you!  Yes, I am very nervous about the interviews - the job is at our local community college and it is a professor of speech-communications position.  I know there will be a huge committee of faculty members questioning me and then there is a meeting with the board of dirctors - I have no clue what any of them will ask.  I have been told that they are very interested in a professors viewpoint in the latest in learning assessment techniques.  I have the Master's degree and 5 years of college teaching experience but no credits toward my PhD yet, which will count against me.  I have been out of the workforce (home rasing my girls) for 12 years so I am at a real disdvantage next to other candidates so I have to wow them somehow.  Any input they might have for me would be highly appreciated!  This is the only job that I could find here that will pay enough to support all four of us on my own and give us all insurance.  All higher paying jobs are an hour commute to the city, and then there is no time for family!   Thanks again, Chris!  

[road2recovery]

I want to add that i would break them in halves....i know you need this job, so just listen to your body.....
r2r
also go to fladdicts profile, i think she has some good info on tapering, the reason, and how to make sure to have a steady stream , without taking enough to get high, only to keep w/d's away

[road2recovery]

welcome back....i think that is a great taper...you can do this, we will be here for you!!!
r2r

[worried878]

No one can make that decision for you...this is an important time ..the next few months it sounds...keep posting...quitting in the middle of a new job is not ideal either...there is never a good time to quit...i figured that out after about 6 months of going back and forth...when u r ready...you just have to do it and seize the moment....make a plan ...prepare and post...life never leaves me too many open times where I can be totally stress free...I wish it did but that is not my life...tiem it out as good as you can to fit in with your life...it sounds like you have made a plan already...perhaps you just need to go for the gusto and stick to it....keep posting

[toxictome]

YOu could cut the days back to drop every 3 days instead of 4 and when you get lower, every 2 days. How many pills are you taking a day right now..and how many per dose?

I think you could get this over quicker than 6 weeks...and have a CLEAR head by the time the process of the job interviewing starts. That would mean flushing the extra pills...aaahhhhhhh....i wouldn't want to draw it out another 2 months...and i would want to have a clear head.  You may not have much in the way of physical wds but you will go thru the emotional stuff...get it over with!!!!

[3grlz'mom]

Like the 2 a day for 4 days - should I break them up to half pills and take them 4 times a day rather than one whole pill in the a.m and a whole one six or eight hours later?

[toxictome]

Welcome to the forum. I tapered successfully with of 15 vics over 10 days......I was down to 4 /day when i started my taper. First, I will warn you, you will have wds no matter what .But, they will not be as bad as going ct. In fact, you should be able to do anything you need to during this time.I was not spared the emotional part, though.

I had NO diarrhea, vomiting or nausea. I had No sweats and no crawling under my skin...minor headaches.

I did have rls (bad), cold feet, deep bone pain, body aches and pains, crying jags,memory weirdness(loss?), irritability and insomnia, and probably some others i can't think of right now. BUT again...except for the crying jags..i was fine out in public, at school, sporting events, whatever. The good thing was...i didn't have all the symptoms at the same time. You may not react the same...just letting you know what i experienced. The other good thing was...as long as i had my mind occupied..the wds didn't seem that bad...but if i was just sitting around the house...it seemed way worse.

One other bit of advice...as you taper, you may want to spread your doses out evenly for the 24 hr. period...ex: say you're taking 4 pills /day...take 1 pill every 6 hrs.  (24divided by 4 pills =6 hrs) Just a thought...it may keep things on a more even keel.

Good luck...you sound determined...you are making a great life change for yourself and your children...actually 2 changes, stopping the pills and gettting a new job.....

YOU CAN DO THIS!!!!
Keep posting and let us know how it's going...we'll be here to help you thru it!!!

[3grlz'mom]

I tell you, if I feel like I am going through w/d really bad, I will get so frustrated!  I went c/t before and physically it is bad for a week - so that whole week I was worthless - no way I could have done a job interview or given a speech like that.  I was crying uncontrollably and constantly and didn't trust myself to look stable in my classes or even at the store!  Then the depression and crying kept going for awhile - I am not sure how long it would have lasted because I started back up again.  I just have to be highly functional for this.  I am only prescribed 4 per day so the others I have been begging and borrowing.  I guess I could taper down to 4 a day and keep taking 4 a day until the whole job process is over - probably by May 1st.  Would you guys think that is a better plan?  I really need this job but I really want to quit asap!!!

[usarmymedic1]

if you have any question on what these interviews and boards will be like I can get them answered for you my brother and sister-in-law are profesors one is at WASH U in Saint lewis and the other is at Prencepia college haveing your questions answered could ease your mind and help with the anxity you are going to be feeling. feel free to ask away

chris

[worried878]

And re-read my post...it sounds a little negative...I did not mean for it too sound that way...I was just that for me any big event called for pills so it was stressful to not have the amount I needed then going to important events totally sober...This is very do-able and I am glad u r doing it...just keep posting...lots of support here...get the thomas recipe and get your body ready for action!

[Will390]

Sounds like you have put a lot of thought into this : specific dosing and timing. I can tell that your are sincere and I wish you the best of luck. Sounds like a good tentative plan. Hope it works with minimum discomfort/maximum happiness.. Stay strong.

Will

[worried878]

Agree with usarmy...you are not gonna feel great no matter what you do after you get deeper into the taper...spreading small doses out over the day is important....looks like you have done that but you may want to make some of your last days more doses with less mg.....I did not feel good during my short taper and was looking very forward to quit day...I tapered so I could work til my time off...cheated the whole time...yep I did!  and I had someone else giving my pills to me and I still managed to cheat...you may be stronger than I....just not sure you are going to be feeling your best with a taper so be ready for it....keep posting

[GoingToMakeIt]

I agree, This sounds like a reasonable taper with minimals w/d. Good Luck.

[usarmymedic1]

you should tapper at the rate that is good for you it is good that you have a plan and sticking to will be hard. you will find your self in some W/D from the tapper you should espect that. with a tapper it should be done with feeling minimal W/D if you go into full out W/D symptoms from your tapper why not go CT see what I am saying keep your self at a level that is going to ease the W/D until you get down to that point. to stop

chris