Norco Detox... I need help :(

[KelleyMack]

Hey all... I'm new to this forum... I just found it today and man, you guys are great. I'm in the same boat as a lot of you. I'm a stay at home Mom of two small children, and I started taking Vicodin about 7 months ago for chronic tendonitus, (5/500) and then after a few months of taking the vicodin (and loving the crap out of it) I found a doctor who prescribed me Norco 10/325. (Norco is the same as Vicodin, just a higher dose of the hydrocodone and a lower dose of the acetaminophen.) He would prescribe me 180 a time which is a one month supply, (if you take 6 per day). Which I was doing for about a month or so until I had to up the dosage due to the fact that I was building a tolerance. I loved the way hydrocodone would kill my pain, and at the same time give me such a great feeling! Everything the hydrocodone was doing for me I loved... It made me want to stop drinking my beloved wine at night, (I loved to have about a bottle a night not because I'm an alchoholic, but I love the taste and of course the little buz that comes with it after a long day with kiddos.) The Norco's also helped me to loose 35 pounds, the clarity and focus it gave me was so great, not to mention it helped considerably with prior stomach issues. (IBS) I found myself looking SO forward to taking my next dose, it just lightened up my life so much. Before I knew it, I was up to 12 Norco's a day. And since my husband was seeing the same doctor too, I convinced my husband to ask our doctor to prescribe him some Norco's also since I had to take so much and was building a tolerance. I thouroughly convinced my husband that I would not get addicted and that it was just a temperary solution until I had surgery on my hand to fix my tendonitus. Well... About 3 weeks ago, I was going through my pill bottles and noticed how fast I had been flying through my pills. I counted them and figured that I have been taking 20-25 pills a day!!! It scared me. It scared me BAD. So I decided to start tapering. Never worked. At the end of every night I would give myself this great big "pep talk" and had every intention of tapering the next day. Well, then my husband discovered how many I was taking. He is worried sick, and so am I. I can't seem to taper. The aggravation I develope after a few pills wears off is SO bad, that I just pop a few more to take the edge off. Then the cycle starts all over again. So this morning... I decided to go cold turkey.... Wow wow wow. I've never felt anything like that in my life. After a few hours of being awake and not taking any Norco's, I was doing ok, and thought, yep, I can do this. Oh boy.... Within the next few minutes I was laying on the couch with the wierdest cold and hot sweats I've ever had. It felt like ice water was rushing through my veins and my skin was on fire. Then, nausea hit me like a ton of bricks. I ran to my pill bottle so fast to wash a few down to kill that horrendous pain of withdrawl. I want to get off of this so bad. But I'm scared... I just got a mere taste of what it was like to withdrawl only for minutes.... Any advice would help me so so so so much. I just want my normal life back.... :(

[beagles4u]

ok - it's 0105 and I've taken 2mg klonopin, 2mirapex, and 5mg valium and cannot stop moving around the bed - this will certainly be a deterrent in the future if my pain warrants narcotics, I will remember this..........and just say NO!  If there hadn't been so many break ins and home invasions in my area, I would go for a walk to try and walk out the jitters - I have a new found sympathy for anyone detoxing from anything to alcohol, oxy, benzo's whatever and will now go lay down on the couch and pray for everyone here that is struggling with the addictions and detox that our pain and suffering will end quickly so we can get back to living our lives!  goodnight all,  sharon

[beagles4u]

thanks for the suggestions and support......I have been taking hot showers, when I can muster up the strength to get out of bed and have been doing ibuprofen 800 x 6 hours....I take 1mg klonopin for sleep and had to break down and take one this afternoon which I hated to do, but it helped with the heebie jeebies - my boyfriend is here, trying to help, but he's getting on my nerves big time  (smile).....I know it will be over soon enough, and I just pray I can find alternatives to my pain that do not include these nasty little pills - Thanks again for the support and it does help to know that others are feeling the same and are willing to share their experiences - KelleyMack- I love beagles, I do part time work for a beagle rescue and am a foster failure (I've kept the last three fosters for myself) I just can't help it, my latest Ziva (named after the NCIS character bcuz she is a trip) I decided on the ride home to keep her.  I love my babies.....and they are sticking to me like glue!  Thanks again!

[pharma9]

I quit a 10-12/day Tylenol #3 habit and went through withdrawals.Mine lasted about 4 days of sleeplessness,restless legs and sneezing.The rebound pain was bad,but i controlled it with 2 extrastrength tylenol mevery 4 hours max 2000mg./day and 800 mkg ibuprofen every 4 hours max 2400mg/day.At night to help me sleepI took Nyquil without the decongestant for a few nights.I also worked full time and coped reasonably well.I do not need the sleep aids,but still take tylenol extra strengthy for my rheumatoid arthritis pain.I also took all the vitamins and nutrients.I am over 4 months clean and do not have any cravings.

[KelleyMack]

Hey Sharon, I'm in the same boat as you... (And I even have a precious little Beagle to boot!) Yes, this is grueling pain... All I can hope for is that the next day will be better. Everyone is different, so I'm sure it's different for everyone. The good news for you is that you were only taking 3 and half pills a day, and even though it was for 2 and a half years, you might have a better time than the rest of us are. Infact, I wouldn't be too surprised if you would be just about all the way back to normal by tomorrow morning. Baby yourself, relax, and breath through every moment. Take it hour by hour and just know that this is possible. (From what everyone has been telling me, haha.) Yes it *****, it's painful, we want it over with more than anything. But just remember, no pain, no gain. Tell the pain to BRING IT ON, YOUR NOT GOING TO BE HERE FOR LONG!!!  :)

[formerjerseygirl]

Day 3-4 were the toughest for me.  Just get through the first 5 days and you will be seeing the light at the end of the tunnel and you will actually have some natural energy.  The thomas recipe really helped me.  I also have 2 kids and used them as an excuse to take pills.  Now I am using them as the reason to not take pills.  You can do it.  Today is my day 6 and I just ran three miles and had a good lunch and actually felt happy without any substance.  You can do it.

[beagles4u]

I'm on day two off of norco - and I could spit nails, I took for fibromyalgia and it just quit working - I was taking 3 1/2 10/325 pills per day.  I can't sleep, my restless legs are worse than ever as is my pain. I was taking the vicodin for 2 1/2 years and just wanted to give my body a break and try alternative/non addictive medicines....HELP!  How long do the w/d's last and will they get worse b4 better.  Thx Sharon