norco addiction

[quitting2012]

I've been battling a secret addiction to norcos. No one knows, not even my boyfriend of a year. This has gone on for almost 3 years and I'm ready to quit. I take up to 40 in any 24 hr period. I feel like I can accomplish more, have energy and can function. But then I think back and I was quite happy before all this. I need help. I can't do it cold turkey I need to taper. I need to know how to taper, and how to keep withdraw symptoms controlled. I need all the advice I can get right now.

[quitting2012]

Ok well haven't had internet so haven't been able to post. So far I've been taking my usual 5 at a time, but only 2-3 times a day as opposed to 5-6 times a day. It's hard, but I know if I'm able to cut down this fast then I can do it. Due to my extreme amount a day, it is dangerous to stop cold turkey. And i promise my full story is coming. I'm hoof to try to post it tonight. I want mt full story out because talking about it makes me realize how insane and ridiculous this addiction is! Thank you for the support!

[quitting2012]

I'm going to list my story in a bit.

[kk1303]

That is so awesome u want to quit! That is the 1st step...wanting to quit more than wanting the pills! Your best bet is to contact your doctor and be honest with them. Tell them your situation & they can give u the safest tapering schedule. They can also prescribe clonidine. Its a blood pressure med but is used to help with opiate withdrawals. I used it during my detox. (I'm on day 21 clean after taking norco & oxycontin daily for almost 2 years.) I chose to quit cold turkey, but however u choose to quit (cold turkey or taper) doesn't matter. The only thing that matters is that u ARE quitting!

[IwillDoThis]

Quitting:  keep talking, how are you doing?

[IwillDoThis]

You made the first step by reaching out.  I am addicted to Hydro/Soma, I wasn't taking a high dosage but long term and I tapered.  Everyone is different but do what you can to set yourself up for success whether that is decreasing yourself or with help of your doctor.  This is a hard first step, especially when you are in chronic pain - pills were my security blanket (even though I knew they were no longer working for my pain), it's frightening to imagine the pain and not have something to reach for but as lulu said there are many other ways to holistically manage the pain.  I was numb to life, I was numb to my sex life, I didn't want to do anything any more.  I want the old me back, I made the decision and took steps to taper and then jumped off last Monday afternoon, I didn't plan it - just happened.   Make a plan, set your mind to it and DO IT, otherwise you are just "trying" to get off.  I wish you well on your journey and know that if I can do it, so can you.

[kyle505]

quitting:
Question - did you mean you were taking 40 pills a day? And are they the Norco 10s? If you've been taking that many, then tapering will probably be the safest way for you to stop, and absolutely the easiest on your body.
As you'll read on this forum, we can't give any medical advice, including how to taper, however if you look through the posts you'll discover many others who've tapered, and you can read what worked for them. If a doctor is in the picture, you should talk with him / her, especially if you were using up to 40 a day. You are in the right place; we are all different in our approach to getting clean, but one thing is the same - it can be done. And it does get better, that's a promise.

[charliej41]

Well u made the first step whant to quit tapering down one way I could not do it that way I eat all my pills up if I got them  but there people that do it that way I went cold turkey from a 5 years of taking oc and it was hard but u can do it there b people that b by that know a lot more then me I still new 13 days clean if u whant to quit u can