Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

Taper off hydrocodone?

I have ankylosing spondylitis, which causes a lot of pain in my back, neck and ribs.  I think I can manage the pain with ibuprofen alone, and I want to quit the hydrocodone.  I'm so glad I found this great website.  It's a good feeling knowing there are other people with the same problem.  Here's my question - I'm hoping I can taper down the hydrocodone and avoid a lot of the withdrawal symptoms.  For a while I was taking 10 Vicoprofen pills at a time.  I only take it once per day, in the morning.  I cut it down to 7 pills, and by the next morning my body is letting me know it wants more, mainly with anxiety.  If I stay at 7 pills, will my system eventually find that to be an adequate amount?  And then will I be able to go down to 6 pills and get used to that, then 5 pills, etc.?  I'm hoping I can taper down in this way and avoid the cold turkey symptoms.  Thanks in advance for all responses.
111 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
Do I ask my doctor for it for methodone to get off vicodene
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
this is silly sue. I finally realized I am one of those who found  out  what this miracle drug does to you ,I have fibra myalga and I take halfs all the time ,then when the  gets real bad I take whole ones ,I realized last night that I am addicted and I am gonna try weening off and then I never want to see these pills again.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I dont know if is a great idea to tell your doctor everything keep your med s for pain in your corner, the doctor is not suffering,and most have broken there hypocritical oath these days, i have been on 750/antecetphetimine, for 6 years from a double c-spine fusion,started as only for pain,and have only taken 3 in a day once or twice in 6 years, after reading all this,now i take only 2 a day are only if i need because of pain. gabapentin was the bad one i quit to cold turkey it did me very wrong after only a few months of mixing with hydrocodone i was taking,so i stopped it all together and i had bad withdraws for 3 or 4 days with it. free from it ,now moving on with this hydrocodone,and i am tapering off it,and or am trying to get started doing that.my doctor Edgar D Ramirez in land of lakes Florida, left me high and dry when i tried to get help on a second opinion from LSI , he wanted to corterize my nerves ,i think it was called nerve oblation , and i would not let him so he basically showed me his egotistical doctors power by leaving me with out my meds, in pain, and kept my copay. Its ashamed they have too much power now,you cant even find anyone to take a complaint on him. but i have moved on. dont tell your doctor everything unless you know you can trust a human, and the bible says we cannot. so i will not no more you are now like myself in the underground for the right to live and have a healthy life without dr's treating you like a cash cow. God bless, ill be praying for you, and i would say get family help,stay on internet searches and do what is right for you everyone is diffrent God bless.  
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
20mg a day is not a lot, but if Dr increases ur dosage to 10/325 or 10/500, be careful.  Remember (1) 10/325 is = to (2)  5/500.  I got addicted when i upped the dosage that way and kinda forgot about the strength (narcotic) in ea pill.  The best way to look at this IMO, is that you're body is "dependent" and tolerant of the dosage, so quitting will usually cause withdrawals listed in this discussion.  I tried CT and was clean for 3 mos..then had a Dr increase my dosage to 10/500.  Thats when the probs started for me.  Im tapering now, cutting ea pill in half from a base dose of 30mg a day, cutting a pill in half after a week has passed.  Less problems than CT for sure.  Staying on the meds is a personal decision, but unless you have SEVERE pain, you just end up getting hooked on them and they do little for pain less than that.  There is also the Long-term usage of these pills and the effect on your liver regardless if you dont drink alcohol.  you could liken that argument to a moderate use of alcohol over many years.  Most ppl probably dont get cirrhosis of the liver in that case, but do if their drinking lots of hard alcohol and beer ea day for 20 or more years.  ive heard your liver has to recover and it has a lot of work to do anyway without adding heavy booze or Opiates to the mix
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
ITS JUST AS BAD AS BEING ON THE VICS OR HYDRO AT ALL YOU DEPEND ON THEM JUST THE SAME BUT GET NO BUZZ~ITS ACTUALLY HARDER TO WITH DRAWL OFF THOSE THEY STAY IN YOUR SYSTEM LONGER!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
i take a total of 15 to 20 A DAY IT ***** ILL TAKE 5 AND THEN GET SO HIGH I FEEL SICK AND TURN AROUND 3 HRS LATER AND DO IT AGAIN I TRY SO HARD BUT I RAISE A SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD HES 3 AND A HALF BUT HAS THE MENTALITY OF 2 AND A HALF HE HAS AUTISM AND SPECTRUM DISORDER AND ADHD~I JUST CANT KEEP UP I STOP AT 6 PM AND SUB STATUE WEED FOR A BUZZ WHEN I GET UP THE 1ST THING I DO IS POP A FEW I FEEL LIKE COMPLETE CRAP UNTIL THEY KICK IN AN HR LATER ANOTHER COUPLE~I CANT QUIT I HAVE TRIED I CANT GET HELP BECAUSE OF BOOGIE MY GRANDSON HAS NOONE BUT ME~ITS A VICIOUS AWFUL CIRCLE I HATE IT AND MYSELF I GET SO SCARED IF I GET DOWN TO 20 OR SO AND IF I RUN OUT~HERE IF YA NEED SOMEONE~SHA
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
saboxone is just as bad a girl friend of mine went from methadone to that and shes just as dependadnt on those~after to many yrs on and off i cant even count i now take 10 to 15 a day i feel awful all the time alot of diff feelings one is self hate and alone and lost its an awful thing~
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I find myself coming to this site a lot. I too have an addiction to norco 10/325. I've been taking them for about a year and I can't recall a day with out taking one. I started off with just taking one at a time about 3-4 times a day. and over the months I've increased to taking two norcos at a time. It has escalated to me waking up and popping three or four. An hour later I would take another two. I would do this throughout the day, everyday. My bf takes them as well but he will only give me one at a time every 4-6 hours. Little does he know that I have a bunch of my own, on top of what he will give me. On Saturday night I bought 50. It's now Tuesday night and I have a total of 5 left. I know that I am taking way too many and I come to this site just to remind myself that there are ways to quit. Personally for me I am finding it hard. I have experienced W/D and I do not like them so I take more. I honestly can't go more than 4-5 hours without having them. I know I need help. But I don't want to go to the dr or go to NA meetings. I would like to try to do this tapering that you all are talking about I'm just not sure if I have the self control to so do. Can anyone please tell me exactly how to start this step
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
It feels good to read all the posts,and know I'm not alone...I take one 10/325 at 730am last till 239pm then take 5 ,finally I take 4 at about 700pm..many people say they got from a high dose to a 2 day dose but don't give details..LOL..can anyone tell me how long I should lower one pill by? I hear one pill a week or half a pill less a week is good..but can anyone with experience please help me figure out what works and how long the dosage souls last before I take less? I lov.my wife, my familia,but I just need to know what schedule works for minimal withdrawls,,i can't feel horrible at work but do deal with some symptoms plus I need to sleep some to be able to function,,someone please respond I swear I will stick to it..but
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
It feels good to read all the posts,and know I'm not alone...I take one 10/325 at 730am last till 239pm then take 5 ,finally I take 4 at about 700pm..many people say they got from a high dose to a 2 day dose but don't give details..LOL..can anyone tell me how long I should lower one pill by? I hear one pill a week or half a pill less a week is good..but can anyone with experience please help me figure out what works and how long the dosage souls last before I take less? I lov.my wife, my familia,but I just need to know what schedule works for minimal withdrawls,,i can't feel horrible at work but do deal with some symptoms plus I need to sleep some to be able to function,,someone please respond I swear I will stick to it..but
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
What is the best substitute to ask a Doctor for when trying to get off the Addiction Hydrocodine 7.5mg and used 8-10 a day, but I have been very depressed because I have been fighting this addiction alone, both my parents are deceased and I'm 23 yrs old. I really want to feel normal, no one knows of my addiction and I want help. I believe in God and I know he will help get through this. I fear the withdrawals. I can't stand it.

Please advise If someone has any helpful tips.
Thank you
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I've been taking 3-4 vicodin nightly before bed  for 3 years, so I can sleep without pain. 5/500.. I read all of these posts about becoming addicted and I wondered if I was. I have severe back pain and rehumatoid arthritis. I noticed about a month ago they didn't seem to alleviate any of the pain so I just stopped taking them. I didn't feel any different after stopping the pills as I did when I was taking them. (approx 45 days pill free) I keep myself from taking them during the day because I want them to work at bed time. They just stopped working!!         I told my doc they were'nt working and I needed something stronger so I could rest at bedtime. He prescribed norco 10/325.. I'm 56 y.o. male and very seldom take a pill in the daytime unless the pain is terrible. I just deal with it.. Does anyone think I will have a problem with addiction if I take these pills in the same manner?? I don't want to become dependent on anything.  Thanks  Steve
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I've been taking 3-4 vicodin nightly before bed  for 3 years, so I can sleep without pain. 5/500.. I read all of these posts about becoming addicted and I wondered if I was. I have severe back pain and rehumatoid arthritis. I noticed about a month ago they didn't seem to alleviate any of the pain so I just stopped taking them. I didn't feel any different after stopping the pills as I did when I was taking them. (approx 45 days pill free) I keep myself from taking them during the day because I want them to work at bed time. They just stopped working!!         I told my doc they were'nt working and I needed something stronger so I could rest at bedtime. He prescribed norco 10/325.. I'm 56 y.o. male and very seldom take a pill in the daytime unless the pain is terrible. I just deal with it.. Does anyone think I will have a problem with addiction if I take these pills in the same manner?? I don't want to become dependent on anything.  Thanks  Steve
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
follow up - I didn't see you were pregnant sorry.  Does your doctor know you are taking them? How far are you?  I would say taper with help of your doctor, some ladies here who have experience with this will probably come along to weigh in but detoxing on your own while pregnant can be dangerous.  I'm gonna let the mamas with experience step in here.  Consider reposting a new thread of your own!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi and Welcome.  I'm 64 days off a 4-6 10/325 Hydro for over 2 years of solid use.  Some people taper (like me) and others just go cold turkey - quite honestly where you are at such a low dose I personally would just stop.  You are most likely feeling flulike and achy anyway as 10 mg per day of hydro isn't much.  

You really don't have much to taper and we can't give advice on that but I just went down a from 4 to 1 per day over a 2 week period gradually decreasing.

when I jumped off (that is when you stop) I started withdrawals about 16 hours after my last pill - immediately the diarhhea started and I didn't manage that which was a big mistake.  So get yourself immodium and you take one every time you hit the toilet to get it under control.

Get some gatorade and other drinks so you can hydrate -  push those fluids.

Your skin will crawl, you won't sleep, you will cold sweat and be miserable but I just kept telling myself it was the worst flu I ever had. I took lots of hot showers - like every hour as it was the only real relief I got.  I just put a towel down in tub and laid down to take a shower letting water run on me.

The fear of withdrawal can be worse than just doing it.  The worst usually lasts 2-3 days and then you just feel like you've gotten over the flu for another week or so.  It isn't fun but the only way out of opiate addiction is straight through it.  Stopping is easy enough, it is staying stopped that can be tricky.  Once you get over the physical withdrawals the mental part can play games.

Focus on getting over them right now with a thought of how you will manage the other stuff later, N/A meetings are free, there is counseling, this forum.  You really have to WANT to be clean more than you want the pills.

I'm happy to answer any questions you have if you want to private message me.  

One last thing, it is usually better to just start your own thread - more people will post and support you - just go to top of forum and "Post a question".

You've found a great place to get support and we all know what you are going through.

Stick around!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I'm new to this medhelp forum site . I have been taking hydrocodone for the past 4 years. I started out at 4 hydrocodone 10mg a day to now 2 hydrocodone 5 a day. I just recently found out I'm pregnant and need to get off them ASAP! I am having the hardest time going with out any . The first thing I do when I get up is take a 5mg . I think I can go with just 1 a day ( although it is extremely difficult) I just want to know how I get from taking 1 to 0 And what to expect when I go without for a day and how long will I feel
These side effects . These last days are the hardest for me.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I've been taking  7  10/325  Vicodin for 16 yrs now for 7 major surgeries on my back and female complications and I would like to start a taper now just got a script for 210, can anyone tell me the proper way to do this. I tried cold turkey made it 5 days and I felt like I wanted to die. I don't want to take anything else. I heard Clonodine was an exellent choice and non narcotic. Can any one help me. I'm ready I want my life back I'm 42 and my daughter is 9. She doesn't deserve a mother who can't function. Please help me I'm in dier need of input. Thanks
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
hibluehen, how are you doing? I commend you for stepping up and quitting cold turkey. I plan on doing the same next Saturday when my significant other goes on a business trip. Until then, Im doing the tapering method in hopes of decreasing the withdrawl symptoms I will experience next week. I am currently on a much higher dose than what you were on.. I was taking 10- 10/325 Hydrocodones per day. Yesterday I decided to split that amount in half to 5-10/325's. No, I do not feel any high from 5 pills as my tolerance is through the roof however Im experiencing mild withdrawls. Anxiousness, chills, some mild body aches, but I consider myself very lucky! I suppose the withdrawls will get worse with time when my body realizes what Im doing. Im going to introduce some more water into my diet and Ive heard going to a infrared sauna will help with the detox process so I may try to find one of those as well! Good luck and let me know how your doing! I would love a buddy to chat with during this time! Best Wishes!!!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
We have a family doc who dispenses 100 vicodens a month like candy to my wife who takes them occasionally as needed for MS pain). I got into taking a couple of them here and there but then leveled off to taking about four to five 7.5mg vicodins for about a year for no good reason except the energy they appear to give me and to alleviate the detox symptoms. I have tried to tamper off,  as suggested by others,  but didn't have the will power to see course through.  I finally decided to detox myself. I checked into a motel with a case of water and began drinking water (about 4 gallons) over a 24 hour period. One rough time of quiet suffering with a Do Not Disturb sign on the motel door. Did not tell anyone. While urinating I could literally smell the hydrocodone (no joke). During this period, I experienced severe lower back pain, profuse sweating, insomnia, and anxiety. Took a few hot showers during that time to alleviate the back pain. Tylenol helped also. After checking out of the motel I went to the Gym and walked on the tread mill for as long as possible with the theory that this might metabolize the  hydrocodone at a faster rate. This was followed by as much water as practically possible. The first few nights after the motel were filled with severe insomnia and wrestless legs.  After 5 days things are way better but slight insomnia persists. Besides losing about 7 pounds from the process, I am glad this went through this. There is still a bottle of 50 Vics sitting in the bathroom cabinet but I can't face the thought of going through this detox process again. Hope this helps the many folks who have the same problem.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Gabby - I just sent you a PM, pls check your messages.
Helpful - 0
2067502 tn?1331218472
I really feel like crying right now, One i feel like im in horrendous pain two, I almost am certain I am addicted to the Hydrocodone, I am supposed to take one tablet 4 times a day I take them way more often than that and I always run out at least a week and ahalf before I can get them refilled, in that time i am making my family crazy, I am not taking care of myself, I have changed...so I take tylenol P.M. to sleep till I can wrangle more out of my doctor...I did sign a paper saying I wouldnt try to go thru any other doc for this med so far have kept my word, but I also do have knowledge that ppl sell their vics on the street not exactly a good idea to be doing that...which I haven't yet, but oh how I want to..when i am hurting like this, I dont understand why my pain is so bad, I have Osteoporosis, but for some reason it is only in my Upper spine to the mid spine where it hurts so bad I want to tear my hair out and wish for a way to end it...i have never been this type of person, I am changing I dont like it...Please Ideas here...would be appreciated I am going to tell my doctor after reading your info here...I am going to tell her to help me get off of them if she wont I do have another doc that will course hes a psychiatrist...but shoot they know their meds too right.. anyway im glad i found you all...thankyou for all the shares now I know for a fact I am addicted and do need to take care of it...gabby
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
You have no idea just how normal you are!  I have exactly the same mind set as you.  Have yet to tell my doctor, even debating if I should.  Tomskatt is wonderful to talk to about this as well.  I had a plan in place today to tell my Dr. everything but now I have it in my head that I can wean myself down to an "as needed" basis.  Maybe I can maybe I can't but I do know that I am taking way more than I should.  As supportive as my husband is he is definately starting to get angry with me.  He doesn't blame me at all but he is angry that life has thrown us another curve.  We have certainly had a rough 12 years of marriage.  He is my one and only, I do know that.  Just hope he feels the same when I start detoxing!!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Sorry I misread your post - so you are still tapering which is what I did.  Just be ready for detox when you jump off, I cut back till I was down to one for a day or two then just stopped.  We have almost identical amounts and durations so I'll tell you what happened to me so you are ready, I'm on day 4 of no pills and I feel soooooo much better, if you can hang on through the couple really rough days you will feel better.   Get through it a minute at a time, an hour at a time and I kept repeating to myself this will be over, this will be over.   Look up the Thomas  recipe and get all that stuff before you jump off, GET immodium and take it aggressively (this is where I made a big mistake and let myself get really dehydrated).  Take a few days off cuz you WILL be sick, like the worst flu of your life.  Consider posting a new link to get support from people, this looks like an old threat.  Best of luck.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I'm here, was on just about your dose (plus a bunch of other stuff) and am on Day 4 - hang in there.  You should be through the worst of it, hang in there.
Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Addiction: Substance Abuse Community

Top Addiction Answerers
495284 tn?1333894042
City of Dominatrix, MN
Avatar universal
phoenix, AZ
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
Is treating glaucoma with marijuana all hype, or can hemp actually help?
If you think marijuana has no ill effects on your health, this article from Missouri Medicine may make you think again.
Julia Aharonov, DO, reveals the quickest way to beat drug withdrawal.
Tricks to help you quit for good.
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.