i want to stop using norco.....how do i do that?

[mendray]

I being taking norco for the last five years, I know this is wrong and I need to stop, but my body is telling me no, do not stop, I took my last norco last nightn novemeber 15, and today is the 16th, I am starting to feel the w/d's. I being having stomach pains for the past 6 months and they doctors tell me that there is nothing wrong with me, I have a need to take pain medicine for this horrible stomach pains but I have a feeling deep inside of me that the reason of my pain is because of the norco....I want to stop, can anyone, just tell me that everything is going to be okay that my stomach pain is going to go away and that I will not need anymore norco? I need your feed back.....
thank you

[salsinator]

Hi Mendray - welcome to the forum.  I don't think that anyone here can really tell you that your stomach pain will go away, but we can tell you that you can quit and you will be OK.  Withdrawal will not kill you, although it can be very uncomfortable.  How much norco were you taking at the point that you ran out?  Typically, withdrawal will last for about a week, but most people start to feel better after about 3-4 days - and each day after that does get better.  I have a friend who just detoxed from opiates and he also had pain, but knew that the reason he started taking the pain meds for was already healed.  Once he quit and detoxed, he no longer had any pain issues, so it is entirely possible for phantom pain to exist from taking pain meds.  Best of luck to you, keep posting, you will get lots of support here.

[Cindy5574]

I had taken them for medical reasons also but soon realized I was addicted after 5 years. There may be other options than norcos. When I did not take as many a day I felt like my body hurts and I needed them but soon found out that it was just wds. I quit cold turkey three weeks again it was hell. But I'm feeling much better. I took them for hurt knees ankles muscles im a runner. Good luck!

[NorcoQueenoftheUniverse]

I got up to 8-10 Norco's a day (after 3 years)  for 2 back surgeries, spinal stenosis, DDD and Fibro) and I found that AFTER I QUIT taking the Norco.. my pain got BETTER... I found that the more Norco I took.. the worse my pain got...
Now I have 109 days clean and have very little pain....

[WannaBeFree79]

I have withdrawn a few times, granted I never make it past day 3-4 (I will someday) but I know the vicodin causes me pain.  My bladder misbehaves worse when I take them (I have IC) but its far worse while I am on pain killers. My lower back hurts chronically.  Even when going through the withdrawal my lower back stops hurting.  I know that pain killers make us more sensitive to pain.  I think we feel things while on pain killers that we wouldn't otherwise notice if we weren't taking them around the clock.  You may be pleasantly suprised, it may go away.  Only time will tell ;)

Good Luck!!! Best Wishes

[Newpower]

I have been to the ER with upper and lowe abdominal pain  twice in one week. My first time in the ER on 10+. yrs. I think also from narcotics.

[mendray]

Today is the 17th and is another day, this is my 48 hours going to my 72 hour, I am just taking a minute by minute and an hour by hour, after my 48 hour without the norco, by the way I was taking 10/325 4 tablets at the time two and sometimes 3 times a day. I had it, I knew in my mind that I dindnt want to take it anymore, so, I prepared myself, and I still have refills as my doctors seems to think that I do need them, I am not going to get anymore refills, no way, today I woke up without my stomach pain that I had for months, and it seems that was getting worst as I was taking more and more norco....It is making me think that my body was telling me something, and I am glad I listen, I feel much better right now, I do not have cravings, I do have the leg pain and my head feels empty, I feel like I am losing my mind, but at the same time, I am starting to get some sence, I know tomorrow will be better, and the day after and so on, thank you all for all your support, I also spent at least a couple of days reading all kinds od stories on this forum, it did help me at lot.....I will keep in touch, and God bless everyone.....

[sunshinegal76]

Keep posting and stay with us! You are not alone through this journey!

It sounds like your mind is in the right place, that is something to be happy about. You can and will make it through this.

Fight!

[mendray]

thank you very much for your support, this really helps, and I know I am going to make it for myself, and to show others that this can be done, I feel in my head that my worst is over and I want to keep telling my body that and it is working for me, but what helps me the most is all of your comments stories, that is the extra push that many of us need to take the extra step and stop all pain killers. God Bless You.

[freedom007]

48 hours is huge...keep going, you do not want to undo the good that you have done...trust the posts, these folks know what they are talking about.  This **** is temporary...the rest of your life is forever.

we are here for you...on day 4 myself...and could not be happier...even though I am still feeling crazed...I have a clear head...can't wait to spend this money on something of substance!!!

Get mad...get better...get to livin!!

[mendray]

I am glad on hearing from someone that is just a little be ahead of myself, and to know that you are doing good and have a clear head, I am very happy for you, I cant wait for my third day, my fourth, my fifth day and so on, I know I will do this, specially when I see a lot of people fighting the same battle and a big porcentage of us are winning it.....Thank you again, keep up the good work.

[mendray]

I made it to my 72 hours, day 3 with out norco in my system, I had a very weird night, but is over and I am glad, I am pushing to have a better day on my 3rd day, I feel this is a huge step, and I just want to push forward, and most of us feel that time goes by very slow, but hey, we have to learn some how that being addictive to a drug is not easy, best of luck to all of you and lets keep the good fight.

[mendray]

right now is 3:11 pm still oin my 3rd day, I havent had such a good day as i expected, I started thinking if I should just go back and take some pain killers, I had all the w/ds symptoms there is since last night, and all day today, very weak, my head is playing games with me, and I know that this is part of the deal, but at the same time I understand, why people just want to continue using, sometimes it feels like these substances are part of you, but that is not the truth, I am just putting me head up high and will continue the fight, this is my 3rd day going on my 4th day and I know in my heart that everything is going to be okay, tomorrow will be a brighter day.....

[newstart730]

I understand that you are having a hard day-- it *****. I'm on day 4, and I am having a rougher time than days 2 and 3.  Funny how it sneaks up on you.  I forced myself to go for a bike ride and I felt much better (although I did cry for the first couple miles).  After 25 miles, the cravings have subsided and my head is clear.  Try getting out and moving- it may help!  Good luck

[freedom007]

Mendray,

DO NOT TAKE ANYTHING!!  Please.  I am having a similar experience.  Although today is better...it is not the JUMP I expected from 3 to 4 as it was from 2 to 3.  I am having doubts, cravings, etc....but I know that I cannot give in and ruin the past 4 days of fighting.  You are almost there...keep fighting.  The pills are not apart of you...although they seem to be.

Stay strong...you will win...

[mendray]

Thank you very much for your comments, and I also went outside, and did some of the gardening and outside chores, it made feel a little better, and I am glad there is people outthere that are in the same situation as I am, and that are feeling the way I am feeling, I will keep it up, I cant wait until day 10 then day 30 and so on and still post my comments for others, thank you again, God Bless.

[mendray]

thans for responding on time, and no I am not going take any pills, my mind is set, but my body is telling otherwise, so as long as I have my mind on my side, I know I will be okay....thank you for your support, keep up the good fight...and take care.

[mendray]

day 3 going on my day 4 without taking any norco, is now 5:10pm and I am feeling a little better than a couple hours ago, I am still pressing forward to freedom without narcotics, I am looking forward to tomorrow.........Everyone, please keep going!
God Bless us all.....

[broknbck]

hope your stomache is feeling better. my digestive was all jacked up while i was taking pain meds. after i quit i started taking probiotics everyday. the good kind that has to be kept refrigerated. they are the good bacteria that usually gets wiped away from all the perscriptions we take and poor food habits.
wow what a difference. it did take a whole bottle (a month) to notice. but i can eat really hot spicy food now , or have an empty stomache without it hurting anymore.

so what i am getting at is if you still have pains after quitting , you need to find out why and try to correct it. the stupid pills we get from these doctors do nothing but make it tolerable for things to get worse and worse.
best to you, you are doing great!

[mendray]

Yes you are right, guess what? my stomach pain its a lot better, if not almost completely going, this is amazing!!! and I am only going on day 4 without pills, I still have 5 more hours to day 4....but i am hanging in there.......thank you for your support and your comments....and I know soon I will be telling others about my complete experience.....and no more stomach issues.......very good!!!!!!

[mendray]

Today is a new day, this is day four without pain killers, I had some few hours sleep last nigh, I feel week, just wanting to stay in bed, I feel like if everything is getting better mentally, but my body still aches, I am eating healthy and drinking tons of liquids.....TODAY is day 4 for me and very proud of myself, I just want to keep wanting to do that, get clean once and for all, I thank God for his love and compassion, and specially to all of you that are posting and making this journey easy.
Thank you all

[freedom007]

Good work..on Day 4 and, for me, there was a big transformation between 4-5.  Keep up the good work...we are all going to be better for it.

[mendray]

By the way all my stomach pain that I had for many months if not years its completely gone!!!!! must to been the norco, I had a feeling that my body was telling me something, but when you are hooked to a drug, there is no reasoning, and guess what?  I dont know but I am stomach pain free.....Amazing!!!!!!!!

[mendray]

This is my nine day with out narcotics, pain killers, I am feeling much better, I am at 80% of being myself.....I still have a way to go but I am just taking day by day, I do not want to get ahead of myself....I spoke to my doctor yesterday and I explained to her about all the symptoms I had while taking norco and how most of them including my abdominal pain is completely gone, she was amazed!....as for that I am not getting anymore refills which I am very happy about...I made the decision to tell my doctor to just stop it......I was a little scare, because I still had in my head that I might be able to need the norco someday, but as of today I know I am not going to use or abuse any medication at all, my body was screaming for a while that I needed to stop, that my body was getting sick, but I refused to listened, but I thank God that he gave me the strenght to just say enough.....And as for you, I know you will be able to just do it and stop......but that is going to happen when you are ready, and only you know when you will be ready, I am just hope that you hdo it soon.....if you need to chat, do it, posting helped me a lot and is still helping me....I know the journey is far from over, but it is okay, I have plenty of time.....take care and dont let anyone put you down, not even these pills, you are more than a couple of pills....believe me!....Take care, God Bless You

[needtobeclean]

So I have been determined to stop using for the past couple of months, I weaned myself down from 6/7 10 325 a day to 1-2 a day before deciding it was time to be done completely. My last 1/2 pill was more than 48 hours ago and besides not being able to sleep a wink and feeling like my skin is crawling, I feel relatively good. I so badly want a good night sleep and just keep telling myself "Tonight will be better" I quit while still having over 200 pills left, so I know I am doing it for me and my family, not because I am out and can't get more. Physically and Mentally, I fell clearer than I have in years. I just want normalcy to return. Everytime I consider going back, I just read these posts and think to myself that the worst of it is over. Thank you all for being so honest and sharing your journey to freedom from pain meds.