Aa
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.
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
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!
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!
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!
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.
These side effects . These last days are the hardest for me.
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
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!!!
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