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Avatar universal

trying to get off vicodin

okay, i need help here.  i just found this site today and it has me motivated!  i have been abusing pain medication for the last 7 years.  lately i have been really abusing, meaning i have taken more than i ever have because i was prescribed a lot.  found the "mother load" doctor!  it seems the more i have the more i take.  well, i'm sick of it!  i want so badly to be off this stuff, it has control over me.  many times i have quit cold turkey, basically when i ran out of pills.  i know about the flu like symptoms and the sleepless nights, they suck!  i'm really concerned as i have been taking more pills lately, over the last 2 months so i'm sure the wd are going to be worse than in the past. when my last large prescription ran out i swore to myself i would not go through the horrible wd's again, i would try and taper off.  last time i experienced a lot of anxiety and depression, i couldn't wait to get some pill in my system to take that feeling away.  i can live with the flu like stuff but the depression was unbearable.  is there anyone out there who has tapered off with success?  and did you experience depression and anxiety.  (probably reasons why i abuse in the first place.)  i have paxil, i use to take antidepresents many years ago and i have a bottle a doctor prescribed for me less than a year ago which i never took.  i'm thinking of starting on that when i start to taper off.  any suggestions.  i just really need some support because absolutely no one in my family or any of my friends know of this addiction.  silly i know but true.
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Avatar universal
I personally would recommend to not take an AD while withdrawing especially since you have not used this AD in past.  AD's are meds too and come with side effects that are not pleasant..when I was on ADs in the beginning they gave me serious headaches and tiredness and my depression became worse as I chose to take them when I hit crisis mode..which IMHO is where you are at.  Unless this is an AD you have had good experience with in past I think it would make your withdrawals worse as your body and mind will be processing getting used to one heavy head med and getting rid of another...why complicate things?  I also believe unless you get the right AD it can worsen your depression.  

I would get some time clean then go on them atleast after the first couple weeks. That is my suggestion.

What I would suggest is go to NA or AA meetings. They are great and will help you more deal with life than any pill can.  I strongly suggest a good support group.  These meetings are autonomous and readily available.  Look up intergroup meetings on the internet..I go to an AA meeting and more than 50% of the folk's in there are drug addicts too.

Learn to cope with life on life's terms.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
thanks for your advice and support.  my huge problem is that my husband doesn't know of my addiction so he can't dole out my meds.  i know that this is ridiculous, my secrecy is something i was taught growing up, deep seeded mental conditioning.  anyway, i am so prepared (today) to get off these!  i think i just may be able to do it on my own.  everytime i take a pill i look at my 17 month old twin daughters, they are one of the reasons i'm trying to kick the habit.  i do not have time to lay around and go through the wd's, i am usually on my own with my daughters.  they need my attention.  i wish so badly i could just hole up for a week but that's not an option.  i really just need support, people telling me i can do this!!!  i will look at the thomas withdrawl ingredients and stock up.  if i can't do this, i have promised myself i will tell my family so i can possibly check myself in.
you are so right about finding out why i do this.  i use to be in counseling and i think i will start that back up again.  i need to slay the demons that make me want to stay high!!!
thanks for you support
Helpful - 0
536882 tn?1225512859
worried is right.  It is doable and many here have successfully tapered.  I was using extremely large amounts during my last relapse and trust me, it only gets worse. You have to have great willpower to taper. You will need someone who can distribute your pills to you, otherwise you'll end up using more than you planned.  Tell them under NO circumstance to give you more pills.  You will beg, cry, lie, cheat, steal, and sell the family dog to get rid of the w/d so find someone who won't give in to you.
Do it right this time, and continue working hard on recovery after you physically detox.  Using drugs is only a small part of addiction.  Find out WHY you use the way you do.  Have an aftercare program in place (meetings AA/NA, counseling, this site is good too) otherwise, you will just be back in the same spot again sooner or later.

If you start your AD, just keep in mind that they usually take 2 weeks to reach full effect so start now.  You will still have the anxiety, depression, remorse, guilt, shame....yes you will still have to deal with them as you w/d.  Having someone to talk to about what is going on will help, so stay close to this site and ask questions and get support.  
Helpful - 0
401095 tn?1351391770
it is a good idea to start an AD prophylactically to heklp with detox..i did 2 weeks before....u need a plan...read thru the health pages and be sure u have an exercise regime..stock up on the thomas recipe as well....this is do-able it is just a positve attitude and "being sick and tired or being sick and tired" that will get u clean....the only place left to go for u is down...take this chance and get clean so u can live life to the fullest
Helpful - 0
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