Vicodin withdrawal symptoms...how long?

[ALreins]

I am a 40 yr old male and I have been taking 2-4 Vicodin a day for the past three years. A medical doctor prescribed it for me after it was discovered I suffered bone degeneration in my lower 2 disk vertebrea. At the time I thought little of taking a prescription painkiller. Now after my first 6 days of no longer taking Vicodin I am realizing how powerful of a substance it actually is. I'm having withdrawal symptoms I didn't expect. Light headedness, the runs, blood pressure going up, and general fatigue. Lots of fatigue. And some irritability. I am hoping that these symptoms begin to decrease soon. Well, they have gotten better than it was in the first 2 days. I am still wondering how long I can expect to have these side effects of withdrawal?

[anotheroldrocker]

I haven't posted in a while thought I'd provide an update: today is day 50 clean! Things are pretty normal now, I am sleeping at night and my intestinal track is regular lol. In fact I've been motivated to now move forward with my severe nicotine habit and kill it (I've been hooked on the gum for 5 years). Almost two weeks on the level 1 patches, about to move to level 2 - cut down method instead of the cold turkey like I did on the opiates. It was super hard to kick, but after about 35 days it really started to normal out. Sure I'll get a little thought about it now and again but I don't let it bother me and in fact I go for days without even thinking about it. Folks, as hard core addicted I was for as many years as I was (always an addict though), if I can quit, so can you.

[dillon563]

It has been 2 months since I quit a 3-year Vicodin habit. (cold turkey)  I initially started because of a severe injury but continued to use after healing as it allowed me to cope with the stress of work and family.  I took one tablet a day for a long time but eventually got up to 10.   I am a respected professional in my town so the guilt associated with the addiction was overwhelming - I decided to quit.  Coming off cold turkey was as others have described quite unforgetting.  (which is good)  
The part I did not see coming was the intense depression.  Vicodin was my coping mechanism for stress so  now feel now that I cannot go on.   I really find that enjoy very little about life.  Here I am over two months clean and I still think about it all the time – especially when things get tough.   I really want to tune out.  I find that I think about how much I hate life all of the time and no matter how hard I try, I cannot fill the void that remains.
Any suggestions?

[anotheroldrocker]

I'd recommend a couple of things - and I used to suffer from depression but the older I've gotten it doesn't bother me much any more, point being I understand it. And my wife suffers from severe depression and has for years. You made the right choice, being clean is the first step and be proud of that. Secondly and this is the toughest thing when depressed -- try to eat better and get a little exercise. I'm slowly getting better with that myself. Next, go to a doctor and discuss the symptoms and get on some meds if you and the doc feel its the right thing. I used to take an anti-depressant and it worked wonders. My wife has been on them for years, they do help her as well. Medicine is good if taken properly and for the right reasons. Just be aware, the first two weeks on most antidepressants is not pleasant, you feel strange but after a couple of weeks the levels get into your system and they start to work correctly. After all that, you may need even need more counseling but I'd start out with other things first. Good luck! I'm at day 56 clean today by the way and feel awesome.

[jhart80]

I've posted before, and it helps to know there are people out there that have gone through this, so here I am yet again, and hope there are people out there to talk me through this again.
I have no choice but to quit cold turkey.  I have 3.5 pills left.  I called my doc, he said that he will no longer treat me, as I have broken our "contract".  I know what to expect, as I have gone through this before for 3 days.  Tomorrow will start day one.  This time, I will have my father here for support.  I hope it goes well for me.  He (my father) has never been through any of this before himself and says to me that it's all in my head.......I wish it was.  He will arrive here today around 6pm, and leave Tuesday.  Anyone know how long the WD acutally last for?  I want my life back, but I want to know how long will this take?

[IBKleen]

Hi jhart,

Glad to hear you are working to get clean. You won't regret it.

I am happy to talk with you about this and there are many others that will do the same and stay with you through the physical withdrawal. It makes it easier knowing that there are people to support you and who will not judge you.

Before we start talking, do yourself a favor. Go to the top of this page and hit the green "Post A Question" button. Copy and paste what you have here and start your own thread. This one is from 3 years ago. It is long and it confuses people as to who they are talking to. Not only that, it will return to archives rather quickly if it is accidently over looked. If you need help, just ask. I will be around for a bit and happy to help you.

See you in the forum!

[camille188]

MY DOCTOR PUT ME ON VICODEN CAUSE SHE COULDN'T FIND OUT WHAY I WAS HAVING REALLY BAD CHEST PAINS.. HEART ATTACK SYMPTOMS.. I ONLY BEEN ON IT FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS AND I DIDNT LIKE THE FACT THAT I WAS GETTING IMMUNE TO THEM... I STOPPED A COUPLE OF TIMES BUT I HAD BAD STOMACH PAINS WITH LOOSE BOWEL MOVEMENTS AT LEAST 5 TIMES A DAY... SO I WOULD TAKE AT THE MOST 2 A DAY ONE IN THE MORNING AND THEN MAYBE ANOTHER IN THE EVENING... I FINALLY DECIDED TO GO COLD TURKEY.. THE FIRST DAY I STARTED TO HAVE STOMACH PAINS BUT INSTEAD OF WAITING I WENT TO THE ER AND TOLD THEM I THINK I WAS WITHDRAWING FROM VICS SO HE GAVE ME IMODIUM.. IT STARTED WORKING INSTANTLY AND I HAVEN'T HAD ANY STOMACH PAINS SINCE... I AM ON DAY 3 OF NO VICS AND I HAVEN'T HAD ANY STOMACH PAINS OF LOOSE BOWELS... I TAKE ALEVE FOR HEADACHES AND ZOLOFT FOR DEPRESSION.. THE ONLY SYMPTOM I CONTINUE TO HAVE IS YAWNING.. I CAN'T STOP YAWNING... LOL.. BUT I FINALLY FEEL MYSELF GETTING BACK TO NORMAL...