Vicoprofen withdrawal?

[Lillieperl]

Hi y'all- this is my first post. My sitch: On November 6 I fell and broke my ankle. Ironically I was on my way into my psychiatrist's office (I take 20 mg Lexapro daily for anxiety and it's working very well.) For a while I lay on the ground outside her one-story office throwing acorns at her window, trying to get her attention. Soon some Boy Scout leaders (I kid you not) came by and helped me, and we called help and I went to the ER and got a splint on it. Next day I went to my own doc and he gave me a prescription for vicoprofen (2.5mg/200mg) and referred me to a podiatrist. I took one vicoprofen at bedtime until my surgery, which wasn't until November 26. After the surgery the podiatrist said to take two vicoprofen along with 25 mg hydroxyzine pamoate four to six times per day.

For the first three days I took that dosage around the clock to keep the pain at bay. After the third day, I dropped the dosage to one vicoprofen with the 25 mg h.p. every four hours. After a couple of days I stretched that to dosing every six hours, and that's where I am now. I thought I'd drop further to dosing every 12 hours for a couple of days and then to one at bedtime (where I started). I'm not experiencing much pain in my leg, but then I've been sitting around a lot. When I get out and about, I anticipate that my leg will hurt from the activity (swinging it around, heaving it here and there, etc.)

1. Can I still expect withdrawal symptoms when I stop that once a day dose?

2. I've noticed that as it gets time for my next dose my injured leg goes into these unpleasant spasms. It's not entirely involuntary, but a couple of times I was awakened by these leg jerks.

3. Do I sound like I'm on the right track? Do you think I need professional help to detox? I can always call on my psychiatrist for help and/or a referral. (And this time I'll be careful when I step over her curb.)

Thanks

[traveladdict]

Continue your postings under the tag you started yesterday "question". It has more of your personal story in it and others can respond easier. But yes depression and emotions will come out during the detox process. But it gets better everyday.

[MikeVicoprofin]

Actually, I have to say that, if I am able to get off of Vicoprofen on my own with a week or so without major incidents, the discomfort of this week still made it worthy of using the medication because it helped me when it could and for as long as it could.  

Aside from starting to use almost twice the dosage amount and pressure from the few that new of my use, what also prompted me to end this is that I am not experiencing the level of pain relief that I used to.

For what it's worth, I find myself torn up and tearful about things that happened a long time ago.  I suppose that's the depression component of the withdrawal.

BUT PLEASE, any advice is very much appreciated.  I am now two days into this and have no real idea what I am going to face, or if the current/moderately dicomforting symptoms are bad as it will get.  --Michael

[Lillieperl]

After I posted four days ago, I didn't take any more vico-profen. I had only one REALLY bad night with constant leg spasms, sweating, horrible dreams. I almost took a half a pill, but I'm glad I didn't, because now I seem to be over this.

After reading around on this forum, my heart is breaking for all the people who have been on these painkillers for years. The casual way doctors prescribe them without any warning about the addictive properties! This boggles my mind!

The only other time I had withdrawal problems was when I was coming off paxil. I had been on it for about six months, and it took at least that long, even after VERY slow tapering off for several weeks, for the anxiety and especially the "brain zaps" to go away. I've also been having mild brain zaps after stopping the vicoprofen.

I felt SOOOOO good when I was taking the vicoprofen, happy, at peace, nothing bothered me... but the withdrawal is not worth it, and I will never take that particular drug again.

I pray for strength and comfort for all who are struggling to break free of this insidious drug.

[FLaddict]

quitting asap is the smartest way to go.. start taking aleve or motrin 800 for the pain now during the day. Stick to the one at night then maybe half of one at night then get off them. you are very lucky to have researched this before it was too late. 5 weeks is a good amount of time, any remaining pain should be controlled with OTC meds, ice elevation, ect

[Lillieperl]

Well, I left this part out, because it was too good, but there were several leaders working with some Eagle Scouts. So yeah, I was saved by an Eagle Scout leader. hehehe

I realize you don't dispense medical advice, but in your knowledgeable layperson's opinion, would I be digging myself in deeper if I take one at bedtime for another couple of weeks? Or is tapering off and quitting asap the smarter course?

[IBKleen]

You got saved by a Boy Scout leader? I mean...does it get any better than that???

You will probably have a headache coming off of that dose. It is very doable. Thank God you stopped now before it got out of hand.

Good Luck. Let us know how you are doing.