i could use the support going off hydrocodone

[kelley43]

I am getting ready to come off Hydrocodone.  I've been on and off of it for 5 years, (5 knee surgeries) and I become dependent everytime!  I just started it again 3 months ago, but the addiction seems worse this time.  I used to be able to come off myself, but i'm noticing the withdraw symtoms just missing a dose are awful.  I just moved to a small town, will find out today if there is a pain doc in town to help.  If there isn't, what about the buprenorphine and clonidine I read about in the old posts?
An interesting twist....my husband is a doc, which is a blessing and a curse as far as prescriptions.  I've been very open with him about my struggle, and I know it's helping him in dealing with his own patients.  He sure doesn't take prescribing these meds lightly anymore.  When I started talking with him about what I was really dealing with, he thought I was 'only dependent, not addicted'.  He 'gets it' now.  
So I'm as ready as I'll ever be.  Please share your advice on how to make this as easy as possible physically.  
I feel like this is the only place where other people understand.  
thank you, thank you, thank you...  Kelley

[kelley43]

I'm doing some research on line...tell me if i'm on the right path. the bupreorphine is only available for detox programs? Do you think clonidine alone will help if I'm doing it at home? I have taken ambien 10mg every night (thankfully never more than one), will that mess with anything?  I have valium and xanax available (don't abuse those either, just love the high from the hydro).  
yes, i'm blessed with my hubby.  he's an orthopedic doc, unfortunantly it was my first knee surgery many years ago that exposed me to my now drug of choice.  I've been on and off for years, and thankfully I know how good I feel when i'm off.  I'm at that crossroad right now that a bunch of us can relate to when it's not giving me the high we 'like' (crave?) unless I take more.  I know where I'm headed, and I want off the ride before that happens.  
Knowing it's temporary is the most helpful thing.  And knowing I can come on here for support means more than I ever imagined.
Another drug question...I have taken Cymbalta for 2 yrs for anxiety and klonopin at night for the side effect of restless legs.  As far as the ambien, cymbalta and klonopin i don't abuse, will the withdraws mess with those?
And a start date....uggg.  It has to be soon, within a week.  Luckily I don't have kids at home anymore, so I can suffer without having to take care of anyone.  I feel for everyone out there that has kids or responsibilities that they HAVE to function, can't 'check out' for awhile like I can.  

[Jambo62]

Well this is your first step.  I am 13+ days clean off a 2+ year habit I took between 5 - 8 7.5 hydros per day....ocassionaly i would take 9 or 10.. I finally quit on Dec 5th, 2008.. The way i did it was for about 4 or 5 days i took only 4-1/2 per day then the next day i took 3 the next day i took 1 the next day i took 0 then0 and so on...

From my experience i would strongly suggest before you start make sure you have NONE in the house available to you....I had 48 left (i always counted them) when i quit day 1 and 2 were not that bad for me for some reason.....maybe i was just mentally prepared.  then days 3-5 were AWFUL..no sense to sugar coat it.  In an earlier post I describe how i had to either give in and take some or FLUSH them all...after reading a post on this site I grab the bottle went in the bathroom and flushed em all...It was actually quite liberating.  I was now committed....if i hadn't flushed them as another member told me thry would have been singing to me and i am quite certain i would have relented.  So inmy opinion get rid of any available pills before you start...

My biggest problem was staying hydrated.....I wish i had prepared alittle better for that and also the sleep issue is still a problem but i am feeling better today... Other members can give you a better description of a proper preperation...i now know it would have been easier had i done that...

You can do this.....the support i have recieved here has lifted my spirits in the times i needed it badly..  Please do this for yourself and your family....i wish you much success andmy thoughts are with you.  keep posting.

Jambo

[Crinkle78]

Look up your local N.A. meetings- the meetings have helped me so much. Its amazing how many people out there have been there and can help you.

[GabbersMommy22]

I agree with the tapering method if you can actually do it. For all of us its really hard to do the tapering. I personally taperd down but only for about a week then I felt strong enough to go cold turkey. I know the withdrawls suck really bad, but they are only TEMPORARY. Thank God! :) If you are able to taper down the withdrawls wont be as bad once you are able to stop. A few things that REALLY helped me through was the clonidine, hot baths (as hot as you can stand) and tylenol pm. After I taperd down my withdrawls only really lasted for about 3 days then I felt alot better. Keep at it you sound like you are ready I cant stress to you enough how much better life is once you are off of them. For me my DOC was oxycodone, I would take anywhere from 6-10 per day depending on how many I could get my hands on. Once you get through the WDs EVERYTHING is sooooo much better...... You will feel like you got a second chance at life..... Keep working on it and keep posting this forum is amazing! And everyone on here is so helpful and kind. Good luck hun and God bless!

[worried878]

the sub/bupe would not be my first choice unless u r a very heavy user and even then not sure i would....clonidine will help and so with sumpin for sleep and anxiety..exercise and the thomas recipe..a plan helps to quit..a written taper with a QUIT day or just CT...lots here to help u (:

[tanglewood]

I know what you mean about cutting back and "getting it over with" I just can't take the severe wds. I'm new to this list and don't know half as much as probably most people on here. I'm not familiar with buprenorphine and clonidine. I hope someone will give you the answers; I'm curious to know, too. If there is an easier way... I'm all for that. :)

[steveo30]

sounds like you have a supportive husband,that helps alot.buprenorphine and clonidine helped me tremendiously when i was in rehab.what kind of doctor is your husband.

[kelley43]

Over the past few weeks I actually gave my pills to my hubby and had him leave out my doses for the day before he left for work, he's hide the bottle.  Well, it turned into a hide and seek game, and if I found the bottle in the house (which I usually did) I would take more.  That's when i realized I was getting in trouble, digging around my own house for my pills.  Anyway, cutting back makes me miserable, and the thought of dragging that out for weeks is kinda suffocating, if you know what I mean.  I am doing 7 or so 10's a day, but if I decrease a dose, I get the withdraws, so just want to do it and get it overwith.  What do you know about clonidine?  i asked my hubby to put me in a drug induced coma for a week while I go through withdraws (TOTALLY joking), but he wouldn't go for it.  Party pooper...lol  

[tanglewood]

I have been on and off of Hydrocodone; right now I'm trying to use Hydrocodone to get off of Methodone - not sure it's working - I feel like ****, plus my pain is starting to come back. But, to stop the Hydro I would cut them in half and take a half instead of whole tab how ever many times a day; then cut the  number of times I took the half tab in half. Then when I get down to taking a half a tab twice a day I'd stop cold turkey. it helped if I had something else to ease the wd like an antidepressant, but then they can be hard to get off of, too. I guess, just try the reduction method. I hope that helps!