Withdrawal and depression

[worm1971]

I am a 41 yr. old mother of 4, 2 of which are toddlers.  I am addicted to painkillers,  I am prescribed Norco 10/325 3x a day but I take 4 pills instead and I know I am addicted.  I can't function without them but I don't want my life to revolve around these pills anymore so I quit CT 9 days ago.  The physical withdrawals wasn't that bad but the lack of energy, iritiability, depression, anxiety, insomnia are killing me.  I don't enjoy or look forward to anything I just want to die.  I know my kids need me but only 10% is there.  I know I need to be on an antidepressant but have no insurance.  
So i caved an took a lortab today and feel so guilty about it.   How long will I feel this way and want can I do to combat the depression,  I thought of taking 5-HTP but don't know how well it will work.  I want to stay away from these pills but it is so hard especially when I know other people in the house are prescribed them as well.  When will I get my life back,  HELP

[Hogcountry]

I am a little over 2 months from going cold turkey from vicodin. The withdrawals are the worst as we all know. I got tired of instead of pain management places helping you they treat you like a felon. I just wanted to help coming off the meds I was on but the more I thought about it a patch would just keep giving me the opiates that I was trying to get away from.
Never been a believer of acupuncture but a friend told me to try it that it couldn't hurt. Best thing i did. going cold turkey it helped combat the toxins that are going through your blood system it settles it down. I went twice a week and also took a Natural Pain reliever I got there called Angelica Root it help so much with the muscle and bone aches which was bad first 2 weeks but better each day that past. If you have yawning,sneezing, and runny nose take benadryl it helps a lot. Loose stools I used a anti-diarrhea over the counter med to help. NOW remember the over the counter stuff only use to get you through the first 2 to 3 weeks cause they can get addictive too your body. If you like baths I don't but take HOT baths with epsions salt it will open your pores to bring out the toxins to.I took pain meds  for 16 years and heavy for the last 5 years. 16 to 20 pills a day Jan to June. I went cold turkey July 27th,2012 and now its October 8th,2012 IT is hard but you can do it. DON'T sit around stay active as you can more you sweat the quicker the toxins come out. When your body says I'm tired and I don't feel like getting up to do anything GET up and go for a walk,do dishes, clean something to take your mind off the withdrawals symptoms.
I hope this helps and I will pray for you that you may get through this. Remember God is good and he never will give up on you.

[OpenMind24hours]

Hi, I can really ID with you. I too live with a spouse who has a Hydro script (although 5/500). I'm on day 11 of hydro WD and still have ups and downs. Depression goes with the territory. I go to my support groups which really helps me to get out of my depressed thinking.  I find my mood is completely changed the remainder of the day.

I can tell when my wife has taken some, she's really up. My thinking is: What goes up must eventually come down. When I came down I crashed. She gets moody and depressed when down. This gives me even more determination to stay the course and keep on keeping clean. I also quit alcohol and weed the same time I quit the Hydro. She drinks a few glasses of wine at night. I'm powerless over what other ppl do. Liquor stores, dope houses, drinking and drugging is everywhere. So I need to work on myself, not the outside world.

I wasn't using to get buzzed, just used to get normal. And I've had enough. But I can't possibly do it alone. That's where my support groups save my life on a daily basis. This is a great site also. These ppl on here have really helped me.

Keep getting better! Everyday will be better than the last.

[cleanguy]

I take 5htp and it works great for me. It needs a day or two to kick in, but it helps tremendously! You just can't take it with any antidepressants. The combination of 5htp and ltyrosine is to be good too. The depression and fog will lift, hang in there!

[worm1971]

Yes everyone in the house knows I am addicted.  I was taking them for back problems and have been on them for about 1 1/2 yrs. I don't have hardly any support but my husband and his mother are both prescribed them also for back problems and migraines.  My husband is also addicted but has no interest in quitting.   I just don't know how I am suppose to stay off of these when I know they are in the house.  I don't go searching for them but knowing they are here and knowing he is on them just makes the fight that much more worse.  I do want to quit so bad but living in a house full of pills is making it seem impossible.  

[dominosarah]

Hi and welcome to the forum~

Go and get some of the 5HTP.  Your depression will be magnified right now due to you coming off the pills.  You wont feel like this forever.  It takes a while to get our body and brain working again.  You could also try some B-6 and B-12.   Does anyone in your home know you have a problem with addiction?  You can and will get your life back.  It is hard work but it is so worth it.  Keep talking to us~

[Nursey7]

Hi! What were you originally taking the Norco for? Was it pain? Do you still have pain?  Have you been to any NA or AA meetings?  Do the people you live with know you are addicted?  If you can't sources then you have to have support!  Why are the other people in the house prescribed them?  There are a lot of issues to get straightened out before you can be worried about how long the depression; etc. is going to last. There is no time limit and very individualized. We are all here for support but honey you can't have access if you really want to quit.