Vicodin Withdrawal...Restless Legs

Hello,
I have been taking Vicoden for 7 years or so for chronic migraines/fibromyalgia pain. It is a very long story but I used to have continuous migraine headaches where I could not get out of bed for over a year...it was terrible. The only thing that helped when it was bad was Vicoden. I've tried most all preventative meds(anti-depressant, anti-seizue, you name it I've tried it). Mostly I've found I am chemically sensitive meaning that smells/chemicals trigger my migraines.
Anways..now that my head is a little better, I find I am addicted to the Vicodin. Years ago I used to take 6 pills/day because the pain was so bad...but now I am down to 1 pill/day. Sometimes I can make it with 1/2 a pill per day. But if I get a severe migraine I may have to take 3-4 pills (which is usually once a week or so).
I want to cut down so that I am not taking pills on the days where my pain is not as bad...but I find I get the most terrible restless legs. I have trouble sleeping as it is and it just is not realistic for me to not sleep at all. I've tried in the past but I will literally go weeks without sleeping at all due to the withdrawal.
Does anyone have any suggestions for help with sleeping/restless legs from withdrawal?
My Dr. had me go to a sleep specialist and they want to put me on Atarax. But I've read that can actually cause worsening of restless legs so I'm afraid to try that.
I've heard that OTC cough syrup can help sometimes w/ the restless legs or even Tylenol PM?
I'd be glad for any suggestions.
Thanks so much.
Sincerely,
star

[TechAngela]

I have RLS and for some reason Tylenol PM or OTC sleep aids send it through the roof. And OMG if I take an antihistamine!!! I almost pulled my own catheter out once because of that. I just had to get up and move my legs. And Benadryl as well. I finally found the best thing is hydration. Seriously! Oh, and bananas every day.

[WDsRawful]

Go to Walgreens or CVS and buy Hylands Restless Legs.  I believe it's in the same aisle as like Tylenol (but don't quote me on that).  anyway, this Hylands worked wonders for my restless legs.  I took 3 at a time and within minutes I'd settle down.  Try it.

[star13]

I hear you...that is why I was worried when the sleep specialist prescribed Atarax(which is an antihistamine)...I haven't taken it cause I fear that would make it all worse. He thinks it will help me sleep but I just have a feeling it will make me feel like I am crawling the walls!

[star13]

thanks for the suggestion...I'll have to try that.

[star13]

oh...and i'd love to eat bananas...but i get terrible terrible heartburn to the point of insomnia if i eat a banan;-(

[star13]

Hello,
just thought i'd add an update. I did try the Atarax but it did make my restless legs worse...so i slept worse not better.
i'm still taking .5 mg of melatonin at bedtime. thinking of trying hyland's restless legs

[sportbikerguy]

With what you've typed before about meds, not sure if this is something that would help since you're chemically sensitive, but was was prescribed Methocarbamol from the CDRP (Chemical Dependency Recovery Program) and it's worked wonders!  I will also tell you that hot baths with Epson Salts help tremendously.  Sit in a bath as long as you can and as warm/hot you can stand and just lay there, for as long as you want. I will tell you that I took about 5 baths the first night (my neighbors must hate me running the bath at 3am) but hey, I'm most important at this point and time.   The second night was about 2 baths and then maybe once or twice during the following the days.   There seems to be a lot of advice on what you can/should do, and some work for others.   Just try to be a little patient and I'm sure you'll find something that works well.  It does get better, trust me.....been there, doing that.  Please do keep us posted.   (p.s. I hate Bananas)

Mark

[soscrewedupfubr]

WHATS UP Y'ALL, MY NAME IS NIKI AND I AM FROM TEXAS, DISEASED PANC, 13 YEARS LATER, 40 OPS, LESS ORGANS, ETC. I HAVE STOPPED COLD TURKEY AT HOME LIKE 3 WEEKS AGO. I WANTED TO LIVE!!! MY ORGANS THAT I HAD LEFT WERE SHUTTING DOWN, IN FRONT OF MY 3 TEEN KIDS!!! SO TO MAKE A LONG STORY AWESOME AT THE END, NOT ME BURNING????? YUP, I HIT A PIPE WITH WEED IN IT, WOW, U DONT GET HIGH, ONE OR TWO HITS, YOU ARE ABLE TO MAKE IT THRU ALL THE WITHDRAWALS, MY FAMILY IS SO HAPPY, AFTER 10 SOLID YEARS THEY HAVE ME BACK, YES I KNOW ILLEGAL, WELL IN 13 STATES ITS NOT, MAYBE YOURS....ANYWAY..............IS IT NOT BETTER TO USE WHAT GOD GAVE FOR NATURAL PAIN RELIEF OR KILL OURSELVES WITH MAN MADE CHEMICALS THAT ARE KILLING US AND NOT HELPING EITHER? TRUST ME, RESEARCH IF YOU NEED TO, BUT PLEASE FOR YOU, JUST BITE THE BULLET MAKE A FEW CALLS OF WHO U CAN TRUST, GET A TEENY AMOUNT AND JUST SMOKE THRU A PIPE. TRY IT NOW, REPLY 30 MINUTES AFTER. Y'ALL I WAS LOOKING LIKE A CRACK HOE, MINE WAS NOT FOR FUN AT ALL, JUST MANY YEARS OF DILAUDID, METHADONE,LORTAB 10, NORCO 10, VICODIN, U NAME IT, I WAS ON IT, I DO NOT TAKE ONE SINGLE PILL TODAY AND I Am ON 2 1/2 WEEKS, WITH ALL MEDS GONE, EVEN LEXAPRO GONE!!! ALLL IN LESS THAN 1 WEEK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NIKI.....TXT IF U NEED SUPPORT YALL 9036516141

[Virgo1722]

Hey Star. To Sports point, what works for some doesn't always work for all. If restless legs and insomnia is all your feeling just  be done with it! Again, everyone is different but it doesn't sound like your withdrawal will be sevear which is probably because you've gotten yourself down to 1 or even just a 1/2 a pill a day. I was struggling BIG TIME with RLS for about a week before I tried the hylands restless leg OTC. Boom, that was it. And even on the nights it didn't work 100%, it still helped at least 97% of it! I started taking a multivitamin about 2 months before quiting The insomnia, well, unfortunately that's something that will come within time. Most OTC meds or even prescription ness will put you to sleep but you won't be able to stay asleep. Now not only are you tired but groggy and foggy as well. I stuck to advil PM, melatonin and valarian root. Wasn't a full night of sleep but at least it gave me something. The valarian root which is a vitamin helps with anxiety so it's good for trying to achieve a mellow or relaxed mood. The espon salt baths are great for relaxing and they won't wonders for the infamous deep muscle pain of withdrawal. Seriously, going through this isn't easy by ANY means, no matter how much or little of the standard symptoms you have but really, you should just stop the pills altogether. It will definitely be uncomfortable but it should be barable. Good job getting yourself to such a low dosage! Just be done!!!!! YOU GOT THIS!!!! Keep us posted?

[Virgo1722]

Sorry, you'll see a sentence wasn't finished in the middle, my dang finger hit the send button. But yea, I started a multivitamin and several supplements about 2 months before quitting. I was trying to follow the Thomas Reciept. I had potassium in the multivitamin and grabbed an extra supplement for that too; I was really trying to prevent the RLS. Unfortunately, it didn't do much as all :( but I do believe the vitamins in general helped the severity of the withdrawals. Try the Hylands, it might just do the trick! And I'll say it one more time, YOU GOT THIS!!!! Just be done! Keep posting :)

[reallyneedhelp76]

I know this is going to sound crazy BUT my neice had chronic headaches just like you described and hers were always in the same spot and for 8 months a 19 year old girl laid in bed.  Then she went to a different doctor and he injected Botox into the area of her head that the migraines were and Poof no more migraines, i don't know if yours occur in the same area, but just a different treatment option to look into.