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What to expect when withdrawing from Fioricet

What are the dangers of withdrawing from fioricet?

How long after my last pill will I go into withdrawal?

I do not abuse it as in taking more than 6 a day, and have been only taking 4 a day for awhile now.  Sometimes 3.

I am not sure when I began taking them daily but it's been probably six months.  I have a 2 left, and will most likely get an RX for 90 tomorrow, but it's not certain.

I planned on doing one less pill a week at a time until I'm down to a half.  I won't be going to a hospital unless I end up there in an ambulance against my free will.  It was doctors who did not treat me properly in the first place that got me here, and I will not be using anymore of them unless I lose my faculties and am forced to.  I'm very serious about my decision, and I just want to know what to expect.  

I have Propananol for chest pains that I get from mitral valve prolapse, that helped lower my blood pressure yesterday when my pain levels were unbearable.  I have a lot of neck pain, and it gives me tension type headaches.  

I don't feel high, drunk or impaired when I take fioricet so I don't know what people are talking about when they say they feel euphoric or good, or energized.  I just feel as if it helps with the pain in my neck and head.  I have muscle relaxers for the spasms in my back/neck but when I take those I feel weak all over.  I noticed taking the fioricet helped tension just as well and didn't make me feel like crap.
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Avatar universal
I am sorry but i need to chime in here for a sec, I am on these 22 years old along side tramadol and I have taken 6-10 fioricet and Have been able to stop COLD turkey and only suffered a severe ...SEVERE migraine plus anxiety that not even lorazepam could stop... so um sorry but no abulance ride needed so much mis info on here I understand e are all different but.... im 100 pounds yup 100 pound male from opiate abuse I assume but I currently use it to kick opiates and let me tell.. its amazingly helpful, helped me kick tramadol for five days until i relapsed like a dummy, DO NOT TAKE MY ADVICE AS 100% ALL ARE DIFFERENT! But still maybe i am an alien but although feeling the symptoms of getting off fioricet no ambulence needed , just family comfort, pain meds tylonal advil etc. lorazepam for anxiety and BOOM all done. At least for me..
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1 Comments
jrabia:  I'm certain the reason you didn't seize after abruptly stopping Fioricet is due to your intake of lorazepam which will prevent a seizure.  It's never wise to suggest cold turkey detox from a barbiturate is not a concern because it is and it's dangerous. I'm sure you mean well but we need to be careful with anecdotal information.
Avatar universal
I haven't taken Midrin in a long time, but if I do, I don't take them together.  Thank you.

I went about a week with barely any fioricet and it's been tough.  I don't know what I would have done if I had to work last week.  Very anxious, spacey, forgetful and dizzy.   I woke up a few times not sure of what day it was.   I got a refill and took 2.5 yesterday and today.  I shouldn't have let myself run out like that.  I still feel crappy b/c I've sent my body into such a shock and I'm weak.  It really wreaks havoc on your system when you stop taking it.  I have no idea how much I'd have to take to feel "normal" again and I don't want to know so I am not going to take more.

After a few days I'm going to go back down again slowly and for a longer period this time, so I can adjust.  

My blood pressure is pretty normal but my anxiety is high.  I get cold a lot.   I had to take some immodium yesterday and not so far today but that's just me. It works well for me.  Not much nausea, no vomiting.  

I'm taking Topomax 25mg in the AM and PM, and will probably take that for awhile.  I don't think I'll take it long.  The side effects ...the tingling in your extremities have already started and I hate that.  They also call it dopamax because you begin to forget words and I really don't need that.  

My in-laws are telling me to try some acupuncture and other alternative type treatments and I'm willing.  They seem healthier and happier, and at least they don't have any side effects or withdrawals.

I'm learning a lot about medications as I get older..unfortunately the hard way.  



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Avatar universal
There you are! I was wondering how you were doing. So how are you doing, other than your headaches?  You  finished with that Fiorcet now,  or ?
Those spasms are sickening, I know. I get them in my lower back all the time, and causes my sciatic nerve to get pinched.  that smarts.


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1135275 tn?1586565652
Oh...well just be careful with taking midrin and fioricet together.
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Avatar universal
The reason I said I should take them now is because I know that Topomax is an anti-seizure medication that is also used for preventing migraines.  
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Avatar universal
I understand they aren't to be taken daily but I was and have been desperate for any pain relief I can get for my headaches.  It's a long story how I got to this point but my doctor does not prescribe them to me regularly. She started me on them, sent me to a pain dr. that I don't see anymore (he gave me shots of steroids into my neck muscles, into my hip joint too) and tried me on cymbalta (anti-depressant they use for chronic pain) but I had a bad reaction to it.  

I forgot the medical terminology, but it all stems from some disc problems in my neck.

I have Midrin for migraines.  I don't get migraines as often. They don't make it anymore but I have a bottle still.   These start in the back of my neck where I spasm and go up the back of my head.  I have them every day, even if I take the fioricet but at least they weren't as bad there for awhile.  

I forgot that my primary dr. gave me Topomax to try if I got desperate.  She said they were a good migraine preventative and many of her patients are on them.

But I have it here, and now am thinking I may as well take them.  It'll help reduce the risk of seizure while my body adjusts to not having Fioricet.
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Avatar universal
HI I just wanted to encourage you to push threw with this take your time your getting lots of responses both Vicki and my_mayberry are are resident experts in this drug so seek out there advise you may want to message them they both have experience and are good at giving out great advise I always message them when it comes to this drug your in good hands there both assets to the forum and wont lead you wrong its not as common as some of the other drugs out there but being an addict we all share the same traits your going to be fine hang in there good luck and God bless......Gnarly
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2 Comments
Vicki and my_mayberry
I would love to chat with both of you
Empath64...

Hey again.  Vicki and MM are rarely here nowadays.  However, I am the third of us three long time members who used Fiorinal/cet.  After a sickening amount of years on this drug, I've now been clean for 19 months.    

If you could start your own post, that would be great, as it can be a challenge finding new posts inside these comment areas on these old threads.  

I don't know if I can direct you to where you would post a new question as I'm on a PC and you are likely on another device which I believe makes the forums look entirely different, but for me, I see the Ask a Question at the top right of the page inside a red box.  

If you can't find where to post a new question, I can try and help you here. :)  
Avatar universal
I use the same or similar  drug sheets and clinical studies.  But I get where your coming from now.

Again, have a good day, take care. Gotta run... er limp
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Avatar universal
We were writing at the same time...

You know, quite often people post and then we don't hear back for a long time or ever!  I try to trust the power of the human spirit to survive...I'm sure "October" is just fine. If she feels too awful she's got an rx for 90 pills at the pharmacy and a doctor she can call. And speaking of doctor...that's what she needs! She doesn't really need us to tell her anything more...I've heard enough to know she needs to be under a doctor's care. She has MVP, she has spikes in her b/p,I know the action of butalbital and heart muscle,increase b/p and MVP; one trip the doctor will get her in good shape. She may be there right now!

Good day to you ,as well.
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1135275 tn?1586565652
Vicki..it disappeared just recently. Sad because although it wast good front-line treatment, it was a decent alternative to butalbital. If it comes back, it will be as a brand...and since it was never even popular as a generic, i doubt it will be worth it for the drug companies to prove its effectiveness.
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3 Comments
What drug was it?
Hi Empath64...

Vicki and MM are talking about Midrin (google search showed me this drug was discontinued in 2009).  

As you may have noticed, this thread is back in 2011.  The format on MedHelp has changed since then.  When that happened, the answers went WAY out of order for some reason.  
What I meant to add was if you keep scrolling, you'll see where Midrin is mentioned between them.  
Avatar universal
Okay...

The comment wasn't clear to ME. That's true.  Part of the reason is because I have evidence based knowledge that you don't have and that causes confusion for ME.

The "unlikely" is my opinion based
on fact,history,doctors,pharmacies,hospitals,education, etc...  It's a word...one word Jim. It's not a snub.

Further discussion will need to be in the form of PM. It's not fair to hijack the post over silliness,okay?

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Avatar universal
Yes we are say the same thing, LoL!

And yes, considering she is cutting her pills fast and now has a (or had for all we know now) a bad headache and not feeling well just when she's cutting, it does make me a little concerned at least!  It may be just a withdraw headache, or a build up to something worse.  I sure hope not.  That she hasn't posted for a while now raises questions I guess.

Anyways, have a good day.  It's no big deal
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Avatar universal
You said:

"  I have no idea what "Jim" means by:"Taking a lot less than prescribed is a dangerous thing to do"( because you will not feel the full effect that has  for over a day! )  ...  To Matt: "But,the comment wasn't clear: "take A LOT less than prescribed".

And the "unlikey", I took as a snub.

I don't have a problem with you,   I read a lot of your posts and think you are a very helpful person,  But I just don't get the snubs.

I'm not saying anything here that hasn't been said before.  Maybe you are just misreading my posts somehow. The comment IS clear, IF you read the comment  of the person (Oct.) it's in response to.   She is going from 4/day  to 1-1/2 a day for these last 4 days,  Thats too fast considering the half life of the med. She  is  taking an unnecessary and potentially dangerous risk by withdrawing too fast is all I said.
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Avatar universal
I'm not attacking anything dear...I'm defending what I said as are you...Mostly, we are saying the exact same thing here so, truly, there is no reason to get upset. I think it is moot in that "overopiates" doesn"t have a problem with the drug and "octoberblue" knows what she's doing.   Her bad headaches should worry ME?  Why?  She gets headaches,she has meds for them,she has a doctor,and she's smart. I'm not worried...
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Avatar universal
Moot?

Not if you are attacking me for no good reason.  i even agree with you that it SHOULDN'T be taken that way.

All I'm telling her is to be careful, that she shouldn't abruptly stop them after taking 6 and 4 a day for over 6 months. She should see her doc first.she could have a seizure.
  
She was having bad headaches her last post.  That should worry you.  Hope she's ok.
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Avatar universal
AND My friend...this is what I said: "It's unlikely, BUT IF IT WAS...that's very bad..."  

I left room for doubt...
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495284 tn?1333894042
COMMUNITY LEADER
Count your blessings!  Many have had horrendous wd's coming off fentynal.
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Avatar universal
LoL!  I am, believe me.  I got some of my life back after being in that fentynol haze, which is what memory I have left of  the years i was on that stuff.  It was surprisingly easy to quit cold turkey though. I just slept a lot for three days and felt fine as far as wd effects go.
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Avatar universal
I'm too busy...I read it the first time...at this point it's moot.
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Avatar universal
Did you not read Overopiates post?

"I'm so confused about fironal as I've been prescribed them for yrs.I used2get90now I had them dropped2 60amonth cause there expensive+didn't need that many as I'm prescribed2a day"

Prescribed 2 a day.  

Oct. is prescribed 90 a month which equals 3 a day. She said she was taking 4 a day for a while and went back to 3 a day. I asked if they were prescribed that way to confirm my suspicions, but she hasn't answered yet.

Read her first post.  as well as Over opiates entire post  Maybe it will become more 'apparent'.
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495284 tn?1333894042
COMMUNITY LEADER
You got gyped out of the buzz even if you tried?  Be very grateful for that.
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Avatar universal
And you are right again as far as chronic pain and opiate use goes.  I have never gotten a buzz from them. Not even if I try. I do get the same physical addiction as opiate abusers do though.  I just get gypped out of the "buzz" They say they get.
Not that I wanted it in the first place, which was why I went on it.  The fentynol I was on before this had some strange side effects. As long as my eyes were open and I was engaged mentally, i felt ok, but soon as I shut my eyes  for a moment, like you do when they get tired from working on the PC all day, I would fall asleep instantly. Plus it was hell on the long term memory. I didn't like having to drive on that stuff, so i quit fentynol and went on oxy. Much better, except for  when I want to sleep! I'm lucky if I can get 4 straight hours at a time. But it's still better than spontaneous sleep. Like any drug, if you have to be on them, there are trade offs.
  
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Avatar universal
Actually, it's not apparent to me that both of these gals had butalbital prescribed around the clock as opposed to prn...it's unlikely but if it was...that's very bad...


Matt: I guess it's been awhile since I've been seeking these things out!   Ha! When did Midrin go away??  
Also, you know I totally "get" the half life scenario...that's where my "accidents" happened!
But,the comment wasn't clear: "take A LOT less than prescribed".  If we're speaking about 3 a day, what is a lot less?  She already knows not to stop abruptly. She's well informed. So, that's all...I think she's on the right track now...
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Avatar universal
Yep, that's what I  said.

And vicky, apparently Docs do prescribe them that way, as Overopiates Doc has as well as Octobers apparently.

And no, she should not stop taking them suddenly.  She is setting herself up for a possible seizure by withdrawing to fast from them, not to mention she also has a heart condition.
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