Aa
Advice
I was perscribed Lortab 5 years ago for 3 herniated discs (lower back) degenerative bone disease, arthrititic pain in hands knees, lower back, and fibromyalgia. I have tapered from #9-10 Lortab - 7.50/500 to 6 1/2 successfully. Have been tapering 1/4 pill each week. I also began taking 5 mg's of Valium about 2 years ago after my mom died and I took her meds home with me thinking I would take one at night to help me sleep as I tapered off Lortab. As a young person, I had a severe panic disorder issue from age 19 through my 30's and conguered that but it was pretty bad to where I was becoming (agoraphobic), homebound so the panic disorder is what I don't want to experience while tapering off the Lortab if I can prevent it. I have been panic free since 1982, live a full life but now have an addiction problem to two powerful meds. After a lot of researching and visiting various forums, I want to continue the tapering of the Lortab FIRST, until I am free of it completeley. Then I plan on tapering the valium which I was advised to taper take 1/4 less of a 5 mg tab every two weeks which they say is the easiest taper plan for going off valium. I realize this schedule will be a very slow process but one that is more tolerable and even successful. I am open to any other suggestions any of you might have since I would prefer to be med free sooner rather than later. I am so grateful for finding this site and would appreciate your help.
You could call a pharmacist. If it's terribly uncomfortable, you may consider calling your doctor. I doubt they would write you another script... But who knows. Maybe if you gave them you other pills back?? I really have no idea about that one.
You could start some other natural techniques to calm your body. Chamomile tea, hot baths, aromatherapy, breathing exercises, etc. Look for natural remedies online. You can take Valerian root. It's referred to as "nature's valium." It makes me sweat like crazy, so I can't take it. I never had much success with it, but it effects everyone differently.
Calcium and Magnesium are also known to have sedative properties. This may aid with calm sleep, as well as melatonin. Don't forget about the cup of warm milk. It doesn't have to be warm though. I know most of this is sleep related, but I'm sure that if your pills are throwing you off, it may cause problems in other areas.
I hope it's helpful.
You could start some other natural techniques to calm your body. Chamomile tea, hot baths, aromatherapy, breathing exercises, etc. Look for natural remedies online. You can take Valerian root. It's referred to as "nature's valium." It makes me sweat like crazy, so I can't take it. I never had much success with it, but it effects everyone differently.
Calcium and Magnesium are also known to have sedative properties. This may aid with calm sleep, as well as melatonin. Don't forget about the cup of warm milk. It doesn't have to be warm though. I know most of this is sleep related, but I'm sure that if your pills are throwing you off, it may cause problems in other areas.
I hope it's helpful.
Thank you so much for your advice and confirmation of tapering the Vidodin first.
Being over age 60 and finding myself dependent upon narcotics is the last thing I expected in my retirement years. Just 8 years ago I was still walking 7 miles a day, played golf carrying my clubs, etc. Today, I am still active because I refuse to give into the pain. But in order for the pain meds to work now I would have to take more and that isn't going to happen. Had I known what the Vidodin would do when I first took it to relieve my pain, I would have opted for the pain. Then becoming dependent upon the Valium which was to help taper off the Vicodin is embarrasing to say the least and a living hell as well.
I have resolved to the idea it will take me at least one year to become med free. Then again, I have been on pain meds and valium for much longer.
Has anyone else had this problem? Twice now after picking up an RX for a generic valium I could tell the difference in the brand. The one manufactured by MYLAN is orange in color and is less potent than the yellow pills manufactured by IVAX. The reason I ask this is because by the second day of using the orange tablets I start experiencing withdrawal. The pharmacist said some people tolerate different generics in different ways. But I also heard that some pharmaceutical companies use "fillers" in their products which cuts their cost. The point I am trying to make is, just when I start making headway with the Vicodin tapering, twice now, the orange valium tablet throws me off and I feel like I am starting all over again. Any advice on that aspect?
Being over age 60 and finding myself dependent upon narcotics is the last thing I expected in my retirement years. Just 8 years ago I was still walking 7 miles a day, played golf carrying my clubs, etc. Today, I am still active because I refuse to give into the pain. But in order for the pain meds to work now I would have to take more and that isn't going to happen. Had I known what the Vidodin would do when I first took it to relieve my pain, I would have opted for the pain. Then becoming dependent upon the Valium which was to help taper off the Vicodin is embarrasing to say the least and a living hell as well.
I have resolved to the idea it will take me at least one year to become med free. Then again, I have been on pain meds and valium for much longer.
Has anyone else had this problem? Twice now after picking up an RX for a generic valium I could tell the difference in the brand. The one manufactured by MYLAN is orange in color and is less potent than the yellow pills manufactured by IVAX. The reason I ask this is because by the second day of using the orange tablets I start experiencing withdrawal. The pharmacist said some people tolerate different generics in different ways. But I also heard that some pharmaceutical companies use "fillers" in their products which cuts their cost. The point I am trying to make is, just when I start making headway with the Vicodin tapering, twice now, the orange valium tablet throws me off and I feel like I am starting all over again. Any advice on that aspect?
YOU'LL WANT THE VALIUM!
You'll want whatever help you can get when you're going through opiate withdrawal. I searched and searched for information. I found so many sites talking about opiate withdrawal, and many of them said, "...if you're lucky enough to have some benzo's..."
Pills stay in your system for 5 - 7 days. That doesn't mean the withdrawal stops there. My physical withdrawal lasted for a month. It was at it's worst for the first week. I was on morphine, about 200 - 300 mg per day. I tapered, but far too fast. I didn't have any choice. I only tapered for a week, my last dose was about 50 mg, and I ended up with horrible withdrawal. I'm sure it was far better than going cold turkey from 200 mg per day though.
You're probably about right on tapering for the valium. I've read that you should taper 25% every two weeks. I'm not a doctor... I can only tell you what I've read. You might want to double check this. You can find all kinds of info online. Be sure to look up "protracted benzodiazapene withdrawal syndrome." That's what you're trying to avoid, well convulsions too.
I hope it helps.
And yes, try the cherry juice extract and the olive oil. Note, it's not just cherry juice. It's extract. It's like syrup and very, very tart. I like it, but then again I like tart tasting stuff.
You'll want whatever help you can get when you're going through opiate withdrawal. I searched and searched for information. I found so many sites talking about opiate withdrawal, and many of them said, "...if you're lucky enough to have some benzo's..."
Pills stay in your system for 5 - 7 days. That doesn't mean the withdrawal stops there. My physical withdrawal lasted for a month. It was at it's worst for the first week. I was on morphine, about 200 - 300 mg per day. I tapered, but far too fast. I didn't have any choice. I only tapered for a week, my last dose was about 50 mg, and I ended up with horrible withdrawal. I'm sure it was far better than going cold turkey from 200 mg per day though.
You're probably about right on tapering for the valium. I've read that you should taper 25% every two weeks. I'm not a doctor... I can only tell you what I've read. You might want to double check this. You can find all kinds of info online. Be sure to look up "protracted benzodiazapene withdrawal syndrome." That's what you're trying to avoid, well convulsions too.
I hope it helps.
And yes, try the cherry juice extract and the olive oil. Note, it's not just cherry juice. It's extract. It's like syrup and very, very tart. I like it, but then again I like tart tasting stuff.
Thanks Coolio! We are ALL not just conqueror's of addiction but much MORE and the reason we can be hopeFULL.
My goodness, you guys make me feel so welcomed. Thanks for the olive oil advice.
I read that Valium stays in our system for 100 hours, thus the most severe withdraw symptoms 4 days later. I was told to taper 1/4 of a 5mg tab every two weeks which tells me Valium is more serious in getting out of our system than Vicodin. My reason for thinking I should go off the Vicodin first is the Valium does help. I think if I did it the other way around and with my history of panic disorder I would do better to go off the Vicodin first. I just pray my doctors or pharmacists don't catch on before I can taper completely off both drugs.
I read that Valium stays in our system for 100 hours, thus the most severe withdraw symptoms 4 days later. I was told to taper 1/4 of a 5mg tab every two weeks which tells me Valium is more serious in getting out of our system than Vicodin. My reason for thinking I should go off the Vicodin first is the Valium does help. I think if I did it the other way around and with my history of panic disorder I would do better to go off the Vicodin first. I just pray my doctors or pharmacists don't catch on before I can taper completely off both drugs.
I, like others, am perscribed the meds by several doctors. My doctor who perscribes the Lortab doesn't know I take the Valium and I am afraid to tell any of them thinking they will cut me off like so many others I am reading about. I am very disciplined and know I will succeed in tapering off both meds. It is so nice to speak to people who know what I am going through since only my daughter knows of my dilema.
I am finally feeling hope and already realize how much support is available here. It will make my journey that much more tolerable...along with knowing God is on my side. I once heard Him say to me not long ago...."I AM more POWERFUL, than any substance"! In other words...don't be afraid.
I am finally feeling hope and already realize how much support is available here. It will make my journey that much more tolerable...along with knowing God is on my side. I once heard Him say to me not long ago...."I AM more POWERFUL, than any substance"! In other words...don't be afraid.
this is going to sound corny. For chronic pain take 1 - 2 table spoons of cherry juice extract. It's like a syrup. I have chronic pain in my neck and knee, and I'm amazed. I still have to take Tylenol at times. But it does work. Do this every day. More won't hurt you. My wife is an RN and she received the word through a medical journal she subscribes to. I've also heard that taking olive oil in about the same amount is good for arthritic pain.
Concerning the opiates - yes, taper. Withdrawal is horrible. And just FYI, physical pain is part of withdrawal. You're already in pain, so you don't need much more of that.
Concerning the Valium, you definitely want to taper, and the slower the better. I took benzo's for over 2 years. I got up to a doctor prescribed level of 5 mg per day. I knew that convulsions were possible if you stopped taking them abruptly. So, I tapered, but WAY to fast. I later found out that if you stop them too fast you CAN go through what is called, "protracted benzodiazapene withdrawal syndrome." A very small percentage of people experience this. The amount you take, the length of time all come into play. Even if you used them for many, many year, you may not experience this. I was one of the very unlucky ones that did. The bad thing is that it doesn't hit you for about 3 weeks after you stop taking them. One of the side effects is severe insomnia. I went for about 2 months with almost no sleep. I was prescribed about 20 different things to help me sleep - none of which worked. I honestly ended up taking so many things combined that I probably could have died from it. I was very, very desperate for sleep. I finally got 1 doctor out of 4 (totaling probably 10 doctor visits) to finally listen to me. None of them wanted to hear about this supposed, "protracted withdrawal syndrome." None of them except the last doctor even acknowledged that it MIGHT exist. It was very frustrating. I'm not a doctor after all, yet I know about this syndrome and the highly paid a*shole wearing the white coat had no idea what I was talking about. I might as well have spoke in a foreign language to them. I finally got prescribed Klonopin, another benzo much like Valium. Now I can sleep again.
I have insomnia already, by the way, hence the need for something.
Concerning the opiates - yes, taper. Withdrawal is horrible. And just FYI, physical pain is part of withdrawal. You're already in pain, so you don't need much more of that.
Concerning the Valium, you definitely want to taper, and the slower the better. I took benzo's for over 2 years. I got up to a doctor prescribed level of 5 mg per day. I knew that convulsions were possible if you stopped taking them abruptly. So, I tapered, but WAY to fast. I later found out that if you stop them too fast you CAN go through what is called, "protracted benzodiazapene withdrawal syndrome." A very small percentage of people experience this. The amount you take, the length of time all come into play. Even if you used them for many, many year, you may not experience this. I was one of the very unlucky ones that did. The bad thing is that it doesn't hit you for about 3 weeks after you stop taking them. One of the side effects is severe insomnia. I went for about 2 months with almost no sleep. I was prescribed about 20 different things to help me sleep - none of which worked. I honestly ended up taking so many things combined that I probably could have died from it. I was very, very desperate for sleep. I finally got 1 doctor out of 4 (totaling probably 10 doctor visits) to finally listen to me. None of them wanted to hear about this supposed, "protracted withdrawal syndrome." None of them except the last doctor even acknowledged that it MIGHT exist. It was very frustrating. I'm not a doctor after all, yet I know about this syndrome and the highly paid a*shole wearing the white coat had no idea what I was talking about. I might as well have spoke in a foreign language to them. I finally got prescribed Klonopin, another benzo much like Valium. Now I can sleep again.
I have insomnia already, by the way, hence the need for something.
Sweetie - you are NOT alone! Pretty soon, you'll have lots of advice and support from people more experienced than I am. It's amazing the knowledge they have to share with us all. Read some of the other posts and that will help you too.
Yes, we do have so MUCH to live for. We deserve to be free of drugs clouding our judgments and making us want them even when we know it's not good for us. It sounds like you have a lot of pain as well and that makes it even more difficult.
My doctor was very understanding when I called her freaked out last weekend. She gave me her personal cell phone so I could reach her during the critical times. I hope you have a doctor that can work with you as well!
Be strong!!!
Yes, we do have so MUCH to live for. We deserve to be free of drugs clouding our judgments and making us want them even when we know it's not good for us. It sounds like you have a lot of pain as well and that makes it even more difficult.
My doctor was very understanding when I called her freaked out last weekend. She gave me her personal cell phone so I could reach her during the critical times. I hope you have a doctor that can work with you as well!
Be strong!!!
Suddenly, I don't feel so alone!! Thank you for your speedy reply. I had my grandson over the weekend and I have a chart that I faithfully journal in to log my progress. Sometime over the weekend I forgot to take one of the meds (I think it was the Lortab, the 3:30 #1 1/2 tabs) and today I am really feeling the affects and my reason why I finally joined this group for your support and advice. I am so sick of all this and want my life back. We ALL have so much to live for and being over 60 I can't imagine living the rest of my life like this. Again, thank you!
Hey hun,
I am not an expert in this type of thing. I just recently developed an addiction to Lortab after taking up to 6 to 10 a day for about 6 months. The withdrawals were difficult. I just want you to know that you have my support and that you can do this! I will leave the good advice for those more experienced and perhaps you should speak with your doctor to see if he/she has any good ideas for you. You certainly have come to the right place! You are in my thoughts!
I am not an expert in this type of thing. I just recently developed an addiction to Lortab after taking up to 6 to 10 a day for about 6 months. The withdrawals were difficult. I just want you to know that you have my support and that you can do this! I will leave the good advice for those more experienced and perhaps you should speak with your doctor to see if he/she has any good ideas for you. You certainly have come to the right place! You are in my thoughts!
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