needs support and motivation - addicted to norcos

[Bug838]

I have been taking norcos on and off for almost a year now. I have got to a point where I am taking about 6 a day. I am done, or at least I want to be. I no longer want to feel this way. But, I am so scared to quit. I am scared of the withdrawals. I am scared of relapsing. I am scared of being sick and someone finding out. I have never been addicted to anything before, especially like this. This is not who I am, nor is it who I want to be.  The worst part is I am embarrased by it. I have no one to talk to or motivate me. I can't tell anyone because they won't understand. The only person who knows has a dependency himself. I sneak off and take them. Or I will put them in my pants pocket if I know I will be out an about without my purse. I look in the mirror and am ashamed. I told my self when I first started taking them that I didnt have a problem and that I could quit whenever I wanted. Well, its almost been a year... and that has not happened. I don't know when I lost control. I need advise, support and a FRIEND to help me make this positive change in my life.

I have so many questions. Is it possible to slowly ween yourself off of it? Do I have to stop cold turkey? What are the withdrawals like? How long will it take for me to get my energy back? I use to run 4 miles a day... now I am lucky if I run that in a week. I hate this. Sorry I know this is a lot of writing... I just have had a lot built in. I am so happy I found this site. Any bit of help is greatly appreciated.

[Bug838]

Well it's been 24 hours. Last night was okay... I just couldn't sit still or get comfortable. I got some sleep last night though so that is good. Still in bed this morning ... Although I'm comtiplating going for a light jog or walk. The stomach pains have started. Feel like the stomach flu :( ... Not looking forward to today or tomorrow. had to take work off today hopefully can go in Monday. I have been taking benadryl .. Drinking lots of Gatorade and taking Tylenol ... Any other suggestions to get through my next 24 hours?

Also, some people on other forums say to go to a doctor. Is that a thing I should look into?

[reallyneedhelp76]

Well i found that if i sat there and thought about how crappy i felt than i would feel worse.  but when i forced myself to get up and move i felt better.  so i literally went like the energizer bunny until i could finally relax.  i forced myself to eat small stuff.  and really i think that its in your head alot too.  I mean you just need to accept that this is what im doing and its not fun. if you accept that than you'll be ok.  someone said that you get what you put into detox and im a firm beleiver in that.  if you think itll be horrible it will be, if you think that its gonna b ok and over soon, it will b.  good luck!

[becky_33]

Our stories seem really parallel. I too was up to 6 a day of norco, and just stopped taking them on Monday. I used to be very active, and after starting on vicodin (then eventually, norco's), I don't exercise as much as I used to. The little exercise I do is really low impact since I fee loopy when high on norco. I am on day 4 of no drugs, and it's been really tough. I did taper for 2 days, but then just decided that I needed to stop completely. The symptoms are bad, but knowing that I will feel better soon is worth it. I also agree that exercise while detoxing is key. I take my dog out for a walk/run, then when I get back, I sit in an epson salt bath.

The other posts are correct.. just keep coming back to this site for support. I don't know anyone on here personally, but it helps to have their kind words. Good luck!!!!

[Bug838]

How were you able to run and work out when you were feeling like crap? I heard that the you feel super queezy and cannot eat anything.

[Bug838]

thank you so much for everyone's responses!!! I am sorry i have been out of touch the last week. I had a family member from out of town who i havent seen in 4  years come to visit and i didnt want to be sick the whole time. I am going to start this dreaded cold turkey today. I have to work today... at least most the day.. so i am planning to take one to get me through the morning... and hopefully I wont be too sick until I get home at the end of the day. Tomorrow I am planning to call in sick. I was told that it takes a good 3 to 4 days till the withdrawals are bearable? yikes!

[therealmattj]

@Bug, Like everyone else said, "congratulations" on figuring out and coming to terms with having an addiction. I lost 4 years of my life because I thought I was never and could be never that person until I realized I needed help. Up until 3 months ago I was taking 50 Norco a day! I would start getting sick if I only took 48 of them. It was an insane insane insane way of living. Just like you, I stopped exercising and every time reality would come knocking I would pop a bunch of yellow pills to make it all go away. Here are two FACTS down the road of Norco. We either will die, or go to jail. There is no way around that, yeah time will give you a few years to have a good run but sooner or later you'll get cut down. My point is you are doing the best thing you can possibly do for your life right now, just chalk it up as a good opiate drug year phase and move on with your life and dont look back. As far as DETOX,, Direct message me and I will tell you what worked for my addiction. I know exactly how you feel, you are so not alone, everything is going to be just fine.

[cnoel623]

Good for you!! You have come to the right place!! I have NEVER met any of these people, dont know em from the next person, but they have helped me more then my best friend ever could!! First, if its possible for u I'd say c/t is the way to go. Just cause for me tapering, I wd everytime I went down. 2nd post post post on here. Read others stories as well. That has helped me so much. Lastly, u were saying what ur life was like b4....u will be like that again. There will be struggles. But u'll overcome them!! Another thing that has helped me tremendously, getting OUTTA this house!! When I am alone at home, that is one of the hardest things cause I'm constantly thinking bout it. Even if its just going outside for 5minutes, do it!! Congrats on getting ur life back!!!

[reallyneedhelp76]

hey, i was right where you were three months ago.  hooked on norco's scared and alone and clueless.  so, here what i say.  good for you for finally taking that awful step and admitting your addicted, talk about a hard pill to swallow, right?  yeah i almost died when i admitted it to myself.  i was taking a lot more than you so know yes it can be done.  i tried tapering but the problem was the at least for me, the withdraws were just drug out and i always caved and took more pills.  so for me i had to quit cold turkey because i couldt have the pills and not take them.  you need to do some soul searching and figure out if you r strong enough for a taper or if going thru a few days of crappiness is better.  do not feel alone because i did it alone and this site was a godsend. the people here do care and will give you the best support.  you said that you used to run 4 miles a day, well for me exerciise was what got me thru the worst symptoms, by exercising your body will produce endorphines and make you feel better and let me tell you i think i lived on those endorphine for the first few weeks.  the exercise will also help you process out the drugs faster.  so please, dont be scared come back and talk and we'll all help you get thru this! good luck

[dominosarah]

Hi and welcome to the forum.  You are not alone here as we understand what you are feeling.  Getting off these pills will be the best thing you will ever do.  There is no happy ending with this.  Yes you can taper down and that will minimize the wd's but tapering is sometimes hard to do as it takes alot of strength and determination.  Energy and sleep are hard to come by in the beginning.  The more you are up and moving the quicker you will feel better.  Our natural endorphins have to learn to work again, drug free.  You dont have to be a prisoner to these pills anymore.         sara