Quitting hydrocodone cold turkey

[anonymous1981]

I am 26 years old. I started taking Vicodin, Lorcet, or Norco (all basically the same thing), approximately three years ago. The addiction started very quickly, I have a very addictive personality, I was only taking a few a day for legitimate pain, and shortly thereafter I was up to at least 5-10 a day. At my peak, which I estimate was about 8 months ago, I could not physically get through a day without at least 20 of these pills, normally I would take approximately 30 per day. I quit cold turkey several times, I am not sure what makes it easier or harder for me to quit, but every time I quit it was for less than one week. My greatest success has been a 3 week period. Right now I am taking about 10 Norco per day. I do have legitimate pain, but I know it can be helped with Aleve. I have no more source to obtain hydrocodone, so I know I will be forced, at least for the next week or so, to quit. (I am glad this is the case because all I want to do is quit, but I find it futile unless there is an absence of these pills).

My question is this:

I will be quitting cold turkey. For the next few days, when the symptoms that I KNOW I will incur, what should I be eating?

(diarrhea, hot/cold flashes, inability to sleep)

I need to know what to eat, and what over the counter medications I should and can be taking during the next tough week?

Thank you for the quick response,

anonymous

[chi-town guy]

You are doing great at 3 days + and if you are feeling pretty good today, day 4 will get even better. You got to think about what is going to set you off when you get back to the east coast so start your planning now to try and avoid the trigger points if it's a certain person or place that you can avoid or try to limit the time your there. Do you have family or a friend you can call when you struggle. The gravings will get less and less each day so just be pro-active when they come on and  move around, walk, jog, do whatever will help. Just keep posting and keep writing on how you feel and that way you get it out and off you mind until you have some kind of plan. What kind of art form is it you do without giving away who you are.

[Robert55]

I'm sure that if you just tell someone close to you what you are going through it will make it much easier. It truely helped me defeat my addiction. This will help you get through the rough times so you can perform on stage.... P.S. I love the show Wicked

[Sydney Smyth]

when you crave the pills just keep remembering that the withdrawl could get bad.so far you've been lucky,so far.remember you are not you on pills you are another person,an addict,and these pills could lead to even worse ones because youll need more and more.many of us oxycotin addicts started this way,please its easier to quit now then on stronger or more pills.Disassociate with the dealers and places and get some drug counseling,it works.everytime you take that pill the guilt will start to eat you alive and this is good it drives ppl 2 quit.good luck

[anonymous1981]

ive always been kind of scared to go to a meeting, and reluctant to find one. i dont think i would be able to fit in. i would feel out of place, due to obvious reasons (i would be recognized). not many of my friends, surprisingly, have any problems with illicit drugs besides marijuana, and heavy drinking. i dont even drink at all. its not really my friends who have been the problem it is me. 100%. maybe 98%. its middle of day three, i would say approx 60 hours in, making it almost three days. besides coughing, i really am feeling great. dont have much of an appetite but thats not keeping my energy down. i actually feel like a normal human being. i must say. however, the one big thing is i have terrible pill cravings, like all day long, and i dont know what i would do if they were put in front of me. i know that i probably wont be able to stay sober for long, probably a couple of weeks, but i know i will want pills, especially when i go back to the east coast to perform starting in baltimore on the 7th, something like that. so yeah, i dont really know what to do with the stage of getting off of the pills, but still wanting them more than anything.

anonymous1981

[Calzy]

Sorry to hear what you are going through. You must be in pretty good shape with your job so you should be able to get thru the phys phase of c/t but the mental part be be the toughest. Is there someone in your group that is in recovery you can talk to, if not you are going to have a hard time staying around the party every nite after shows. Maybe find a AA-NA where your at or keep posting here, you just have to come up with a plan to avoid the peer pressure your under. It's the hardest thing to break away from ppl when they are using and laughing and having a good time but if you know this will trigger you than you have to stay away from it or have someone with you for support. No solutions here but just some ideas to think about to free your life of addiction.

[anonymous1981]

had to re start. im through 36 hours, and i will be through 48 soon because all i gotta do is go to bed in 6 hours, (obviously wont sleep), then wake up at 6am, and it will be 48 hours then. so basically, optimistically, one more day of the tough part? two?

anonymous

[NautyOne]

get through what you have to get through.  when your done with the road trip can you take some time off and try to quit then?  u need some time for you.  Recovery time.  Is that possible????  9 more days.......you should have saved some for yourself because It will start again in no time.  I wish you all the best.  Keep posting and let me (us) know how you are doing.

Nauty..............................

[anonymous1981]

not good.... was offered 5 lorcet after a performance this evening, and took them.

it is so hard having so many people around me all the time, always expecting me to "have a drink", or whatever. i cant put up with this anymore but i must finish 9 more days on the road. i dont think i will encounter any more pills, but i didnt think id encounter any in the first place.

what to do what to do.

-anonymous

[NautyOne]

you very well could be one of the lucky ones.  but from what i hear the worst is usually on days 2-4  I hope It doesn't get any worse for you.  good luck.  My advice is to read as many posts as you can.

Nauty..................

[wirelessman15]

I have been taking 60 to 70mg hydro for about 6 months.  I hit the wall 32 hours ago and quit.  The last couple of hours I have felt fine.  Are the withdrawel symptoms over or do they come and go?  Any advise would be helpful.

MG

[NautyOne]

Oh, what a terrible time for this to happen to you.  I can't imaging having to go through with having to do what you do.  I hope that it doesn't get much worse for you, but you still have some of the drug in your system, so the chances are it may get much worse.  I pray it doesn't, and I hope you can get thru this.  I truly feel for you right now, but maybe being busy and not laying around thinking about will help with the withdrawals.

I wish you all the best, and I'll be praying for you.

nauty........................

[exhostage]

You asked about possible otc meds and here are a few suggestions: Immodium, Benedryl (for sleep), and Hylands Leg Cramps (for restless legs), and Excedrin Back Pain.

[anonymous1981]

Yes it's due to work, and it's worse than you think. I am, someone who needs to perform in front of many people, etc. I am still clean it has been almost 24 hours. Day 1 went off without a hitch, I was able to keep everything together despite terrible back pain. Believe me performing in front of a large group of people was much different than usual. In the past 5 years I have been on the road at least 200+ days a year, and the vicodin has kept the edge off. Today was pretty crazy, being in front of a crowd again after so long with the pills, now being in front of them without the pills is like a whole new terrifying experience again.

Back pain, oh yes and terrible canker sores. I have never had that problem before but yeah terrible canker sores, like everywhere. I found one pill in a piece of my luggage and I keep trying to throw it away but every time I do, something pulls it back into my luggage. At least I havent taken it yet


sorry this might be rambling and incoherent with spelling errors, i dont know, and im obviously too scared to let anyone around me check it!

- anonymous

[NautyOne]

What do u mean that you are traveling?  Is it due to work?  God I hope not because I dont want to be the grim reaper, but its gonna be rough ......Good luck, hun.

Nauty.................

[anonymous1981]

This seems like great help only I have no access to any prescription medications, and I cannot go see a doctor as I am currently traveling, with almost no time to even make an appointment.

But thank you I will try to post as much as possible.

[marcatj]

btw - that's exactly what i went c/t from: 10 norc's a day.  it's gonna SUCK for 2-3 days, but then it starts to get better...

[marcatj]

Hi... go up to the search engine and punch in The Thomas Recipe... it will tell you everything you need to know (and will need) for your w/d's... also, banana's are great because of the potassium for the RLS that some get..

If there's any way in heck you can get some Clonidine too - a b.p. med - try to. It really reduces w/d symptoms.  If not, alot of us went c/t without it...

And post here ALOT - it got most of us through...

I would also STRONGLY suggest a plan for support after you quit.  If you've relapsed a number of times, something is missing in your "aftercare."  you know what I'm saying... N/A meetings, counceling - something!  because you do want this to be your last time. trust me - you are going to feel so much better off this sh**, i can't even tell you...

listen, i am hitting the hay, so if you don't get any more responses tonight, please post again in the a.m. if you need support.  lot's of people will be here to support you... again, it got most of us through...

good luck buddy....

warmly,
mj