Please read and answer

[Mioster]

Hello everybody, my name is Michael. I have been taking about 50-60mg of Hydro's/day for the last two years. On April 15, I took my last pill. My question is about all kinds of WD symptoms. I am having muscle twitches, headaches, and sometimes rapid or pounding heartbeat, mostly in the middle of the night. Also, anxiety is getting the best of me. I do not have cravings for the stuff, but physicaly and mentaly, I am not nearly OK.
Muscle problems and heart is particularly bothersome. Please share if you or someone you know had these.
Thanks a lot for your help.
Michael.

[Mioster]

Thank you all for your fast response. As you can tell, last night really freaked me out. I did talk to my Doc about my drug problem about a week ago, and he gave me Klonopin 0.5mg to take half of pill in the AM and half PM. I did not take any yet, I was thinking about taking only half before bedtime, I do not want to exchange one addiction for another. I know, eventualy cravings will come back, I am propably to sick and to scared to have them yet, today is day 17 since my last Hydro, on April 15, I came clean with my wife and flushed about 80 pills down the toilet. Anymore input is greatly appreciated.

[J.B. to Brian and Vicky]

The flushing of drugs is admirable, but...maybe not a wise as some would lead you to believe.  That's as "cold turkey" as it gets. Most of the folks here consider this dangerous, but I'll admit I've been away for a while and things may have changed.

You've been taking 50 to 60 mgs of hydrocodone for two years and I wouldn't consider that a "borderline addiction"(my opinion, only).  Flushing drugs or pouring whiskey down the drain?  What does this really mean? Sounds like pure frustration if not desperation to me.  I wish I had a dollar for everyone who's done this! At any rate, the true addict will even find this act another reason to use again.

Welcome and hello from someone who knows a little of which you speak!  Hang around here for a while and you may learn more than you really want to know.  As for myself, I practice unconditional love for my fellow addicts and yadda, yadda, yadda...

J.B.

[angst]

You did more than I could by flushing the pills, even though hydro's were not my drug of choice.  I think people think less of us who had a street addiction to dilaudid.  I know I was crazy at times to go where I went.  Back to withdrawals, I have kicked at home twice off dilaudid.  The usual symptoms are stomach ills, anorexia, the shakes and jerks, and anxiety.  I might be concerned about the heart palps if you have chest pain with them.
I went through rehab twice.  They tried taking me off all  benzo's.  I've been on them for 22 years for some problems and I am asthmatic who takes drugs that hype me.  I had a heart attack even though they put me through what they viewed as a slow phenobarb detox.  
You will make it through the withdrawals.  Especially if you have been off for 15 days already.  Just think how far you've already come.  The klonopin might help, at least at night.  You know that you have a tendency to like drugs, so be careful with the klonopin.   Keep posting.  It does help.

[Phaedrus]

Mi,

You are doing great.  Flushing the pills down the toilet is a sure fire sign that you are serious about this.

Everything you're experiencing is perfectly natural and NOT LIFE THREATENING.  You're probably through the worst of it and each day, for the most part, is going to be better than the next.  

Take it from most who post here: STAY THE COURSE!!!!!

Beat this thing now.  It will only get more difficult with each relapse.  And this isn't any game.  This is serious.  If you're not scared you should be.

You have a bunch of people here that have been through it and can answer all of your questions.  Keep coming back.

And please remember, the time to talk about whether to use again or not is BEFORE you do it, not after.  If you get the urge, please come online and talk to us about it.  We'll be here.

Best of luck to you.  This is so doable.  You can do it.

[tlk]

You flushed 80 pills? That's great! You are very strong. I didn't have cravings until this week, about three weeks after I detoxed. The cravings are scary but not overwhelming. I'm more afraid of living like that again, or taking the pills and feeling like a failure. I know I have a script for 100 hydros but have not filled it. It's what was left over when I tried to get my last script early and the pharmacist would only give me one day's worth. That was on March 29. On April 1 I went to my doctor and he prescribed a "cocktail" to detox with at home. If you need to take the detox stuff, do so. My script was only for three days' worth so I wasn't worried about getting addicted to the phenobarb, but I certainly could if I had an unlimited supply. You will feel better every day. Good luck. tracy

[Nod]

The biggest victory you had was coming clean with your wife.
We addicts live in a world of secrets.  Our own little world, just us and Morpheus.  Its not until we get rid of the secrets will we ever have a chance of coming clean.  After 2 yrs of 150-200mg hydro a day habit I was both dependent and addicted.  Then after my work suffered and I crashed my car (Nod off,) I decided I needed to change or die - I chose living.  I came clean with my wife, my doctor, and thus myself.  No more secrets.  

SO CONGRATS TO YOU!  Your more than 1/2 way there.  You will start feeling better every day.  Just hang in there.  

And by the way I'm officially clean!  Been over 2 weeks!  Yes, still lethargic and get depressed but I'm getting better every day.  A clean head just feels great!  
Take care, you'll be fine!  
Nod