getting off of vicodin

[maile]

I am taking 15- 20 vicodin E.S. a day, and I really need to stop but I don't want to be sick.  what can I do?  my husband doesn't even know but I need to get off of this ****.  I am a full time student (medical asst)  please help!!!

[Graciedw750zzzzzzz]

Hi I'm a mother of 4, married , and Vicodin addict. I want to stop but there are a few problems. First of all I have legit pain from a skiing accident that caused permenant damage to my lower back and right knee. I've had 3 surgeries (which is how the vicodin got started). I used to manage nicely with 3 VicodinES a day. 4 years later I'm up to 10-12 a day(that amazingly don't even make me high,not even a buzz).If you met me you would have no idea I was addicted to anything. I'm also worried about the effect this is having on my kidneys due to recent symptoms (orange urine with a terrible oder, breath that smells the same etc)I've had numerous tests for a UTI that all come back Neg & the LFT tests are all normal as well. I can not tell my husband any of this. He has a family history of addiction and has no tolerance for it at all. He has no idea I am addicted and would never understand. So Rehab is out of the question, besides there is no one who could take care of my kids. I've tried to stop on my own several times and the longest I've lasted is 2 days. I was wondering if there is a way to do this and keep the withdrawal symptoms (especially the diarea) to a minimum. I have access to xanax and I've read that that helps with some of the other symptoms. I need help, I want my life back. I have no one to help me because no one knows. I work full time , I am on the board of education, president of the PTA and am very involved in all of my kids schools and activities.I function just great but I have never felt so alone , frightened and helpless in my entire life. Is there some kind of home cocktail of vitamins,xanax,OTC meds, that could get me through the withdrawal? Then I worry what to do about the pain. I remember way back when ,when I could deal with it with only 3 a day. i don't understand what happened. I guess I could figure that out once I get clean. Can anyone out there help me?

[MEL766]

I CAN ONLY FEEL YOUR PAIN..I WAS IN THE SAME SITUATION AND STOPPED ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO. I USED TO TAKE  7-9 PILLS A DAY OF WHAT EVER I HAD AVAILABLE. I AM A SURGICAL TECHNICIAN AND I HAD THE MEDICATION AVAILABLE. PLUS THE DOCTOR WHO I WORK FOR GAVE IT TO ME AS WELL AS OTHERS. ANYWAYS, HOW DID I STOPPED???

- IT WAS THE MOST DIFFICULT THING I EVER HAD TO DO IN MY WHOLE LIFE. I DID IT ALL ON MY OWN..GOD IT WAS HORRIBLE, BUT I DID IT. DON'T ASK ME HOW I GOT TRU WORK, SCHOOL AND MY FAMILY HAVING WITHDRAWALS..IT WAS HARD.
IF YOU REALLY WANT TO STOP AND NOT KILL YOURSELF..BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT YOU ARE BASICALLY DOING, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A STRONG WILL AND STOP.
I FEEL GREAT NOW!  NOW I HAVE THE POWER TO SAY NO!

GOOD LUCK..WISH U THE BEST!

[GoingToMakeIt]

At the top of the page is a 'button' labeled Post a Question. Click that and then ask away.

[steve99316]

thanks, not sure how to get to the other post, guess I'll see what happens.  So far I am feeling much better on Clonazepam, but hope to quite taking it within a few days.  Then I will see if I get sick again....

[GoingToMakeIt]

I know it is confusing but you posted a response on a very old post(2000). Start a new post with your questions and responses.

[steve99316]

I have been taking viocodin afor alomost a yar now, at firwst it was just at night to help me least a bit longer during sex (which totally worked), then it turned into a problem where I was taking two, every four hours or 8-10 10's (Norco) a day. When I ran out I would take tramedol but didn't realizes until after I ran out of pills, how sick it make me.  Nights sweats, diarrhea, loss of appetite, and depression.  My doctor recently prescribed clonazepam which seems to have helped, but i have only taken it for half a day.  i can't wait to be free of these and feeling nornal again.  when i tired to go cold turkey, iI had to miss a few days at work, which was not right.  then i took a few tramadol and it seemed to make the sickness go away.  now i am taking clonazepam instead of the tramedol.  how get a get past this as quickly as possible.  i am ready to concentrate om bigger and bettre things.  Any advice that might help?  How long with these terrible withdrawal symptoms last.  should i taper off the drug, or just go cold turkey and take the     clonazepam my doc gave me.  Please help, this is not the way I want to live