Norco and sniffles

I've gone though several sugeries in the past two years: for my knees and back. I have been taking Norco during that time and never had to take more than 6 in a day. My main pain medication is ibprofen 800, but my prescribed dosage for Norco is now 3 per day.

My knee pain has been getting better and I have good days with my back that sometimes allow me to take only 1 Norco a day.

But one of the odd things that seems to be happening concurrently is that I have been getting a runny nose and watery eyes on a very regular basis. I live in allergy country and although I had not suffered much from them before, they seemed to be kicking in with a vengeance at work. I took sudafed, benydryl, but they did not seem to go very far to relieve the symtoms (symptoms).  I finally noticed that the allergy symptoms seemed to go away shortly after I took the Norco.

My question is, despite the fact that I have taken the prescribed dosage, are these withdrawal symptoms I am suffering?

[WDsRawful]

During withdrawls I too suffer from sneezing/watery eyes/sniffles.  They're easy to pass off as allergies but many others report the same thing during wd's.  Especially the sneezing.  If they're going away after you pop a pill it's probably wd's.

[Axl_0113]

Yep.  Most common WD symptom.

[Lovemyhorse]

Yes. This is my first time trying to quit and I'm finding those symptoms most definately.

[dominosarah]

What you explained is wd......

[bmdad]

Like everyone said above, they are withdrawal symptoms. Anyone that takes pain meds for a extended period of time will eventually become dependent on the physically. You are probably not a addict because you were taking them as prescribed.
Think of it like caffeine. If you are use to drinking that coffee or soda in the morning and all of the sudden stop, you will get a headache. It is the same thing with the norco, just different symptoms. When the time comes when you don't need them anymore, talk to your doctor and he will help you taper off of them. Doing this will help by easing your body off of them and you will probably feel little to no withdrawal. Therea are other symptoms associated with withdrawals that tend to hit a day or two after you stop taking them. The worst is usually over with 5 days or so.
When the time comes for you to stop taking them make sure you come here for support. Even if not addicted this forum can still be so much help. There are things that can help with withdrawals and there is no better advice than from the ones that have been there.
Best of luck!
Brian

[stinc]

Thanks for the many responses you have given my post. It is a bit of a shock to me that I have a dependency. I have a cousin who is an oxycontin addict, and his life has completely fallen apart. After reading this forum I will definitely resist that urge to take an extra pill when I can probably gut it through the pain. I thought pain was my biggest problem - I didn't realize the relief would become a problem, too.

May peace be with all of you, and thank you again.

[worried878]

peace to u as well

substances like narcotics can relieve pain at first..they were never intended to be used long term due to the tolerence they buld over time

narcs actually do not work on the soursce of pain like ice, heat, anti-inflamatories, stretching etc....instead they interrupt the pain signals to the brain and contort the perception of pain..in reality the pain is stil there..only the brain's perception of the actual pain is altered

having only sniffles would be a s/s of wd..but as a rule one would also experience the runs, headache, mild nausea etc on a small hydro habit/or dependency..sniffles r usually a s/s of a more serious wd so perhpas like everyone else this time of yr..u have a cold

Posting here can also mean u r concerned..if u r able to put them down and leave them alone..then chances r u r not mentally addicted..which is a good thing..just always beware..if u take them cos u dont feel mentally ok..then it is sumpin to watch out for..otherwise u will be ok/physical wds are not the hard part of being clean...if u do find the urge to use after u decided "NO MORE" then let us know/not every pain pill user is an addict..and i u r an addict//u know this deep inside