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wanting to get off hydrocodone

I have been reading aot of these post off and on for the past few monts and decided to join today.  I have been taking hydro for a little over a year for migraines after my mother who has a drug store for a medicine cabinet saw how much pain I was in.  It took her a long time to convince me to take it since I had never tried anything other than tylenol. But after doing a little reasearch found out that tylenol was more damaging to my liver than the hydro so I took it and oh my god did I feel wonderful. Not only was the migraine gone but it relieved my stress and picked me up like I hadn't felt in a long *** time.  During the year I went up to taking 8 pills a day but when I noticed I dropped down to 4-5.  Right now I take 2-4 a day and still somewhat feel the pick-me-up but am growing tired of popping pills. I have tried cold turkey but I become a ***** and I have two teenage boys and two smaller children and I don't want to lash out on them.  So finnaly my real question is how dangerous is this drug really cuz I don't want to give it up completely if I don't have to but if it is harming me more than helping me then I will know what to do.   Sorry this is a mouth full I just haven't talked about this to anyone even my husband doesn't know so thanks for reading this for me.
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Avatar universal
Thank you, and to all of you who have commented on this newbee. I have decided that I am getting off these darn pills. I lived my life without them before and I can do it again. But please beware I have no support so I know I am new here but I am going to need as many of you guys as possible to help me through.
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Avatar universal
As a side note I'm prescribed adderall 20mg IR once every day but i find that taking 5mg four times a day helps a lot with the fatigue, though a lot of people don't prefer it, it's worked wonders for me.
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Avatar universal
"I think the thing that ***** you in is that it feels so harmless and wholesome at first compared to other drugs.  But it slowly gets it's teeth sunk into you so subtly that you do not notice."  Couldn't have said it better myself.  I started off a couple years ago taking morphine / vic / dones and was able to take them on and off once or twice a week until I lost my job at the end of June.  After that I started taking 20-40mg of hydro everyday until a couple weeks ago when I came across some norcos and skyrocketed to 120-200mg a day and realized I had become a slave to pills.  Went through about 150 or more of them in two weeks flat.  Now I'm quitting cold turkey day 2 and it isn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be. Ibuprofin and immodium work great for the back pain and runs that come with w/d.  In my opinion the two worst parts of it are the lack of energy and depression.  And yes a lot of people are afraid of w/d but unless you have a methadone habit they will be over with in a few days and you will be really happy you did it!  I believe in you you can do this!!  Good luck.
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Avatar universal
Thank you I will. The last time the doctor gave .me something for the migraines which was sumatrriptan it interfered with my breathing. I told him and he said that was one of the best meds out there. And for stress the pills made me sleepy and again he said it was one of the best meds.  Hydo works for both with without any side effect but feeling better. This is my problem not feeling good and scare of the migraines. I guess cuz I am not really stresses I haven't been getting any migranes just little headaces here ad there but manageable. I am just so scared of the pain
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Avatar universal
Migraines are awful.  So much more than a headache and unless you've had one, you really don't know.  I had them for years but they went away when I got pregnant with my first baby.  Since then I only get visual ones (no pain) and it's not often.

If you're concerned about Tylenol, well, hydrocodone has acetaminophen in it.  You need to make sure you don't go over the daily recommended dosage of acetaminophen.  And lots of other things have it as well.

I don't think your withdrawals will be all that bad, but if you're really concerned about it, taper off the 2-4 pills your'e taking.  Just cut back a little every few days.  Do it slowly and you shouldn't have much withdrawals.

You're going to have to see a specialist for your migraines.  There are loads of things to treat them.  My daughter gets them and what works for her is Excedrin migraine, but she has to take it at the very start of a headache.  It doesn't work if she lets it get too bad.

Are your migraines triggered by anything other than stress?  Have you kept a food diary to see if there's anything that brings them on?  Lots of things can bring them on:  chocolate, red wine, some cheeses, artificial sweeteners, etc.

I'm sure you've tried ice packs and ibuprofen for your migraines.  Does it help?  I'm concerned that you like the way you feel with the hydrocodone.  It doesn't sound like you're really willing to let them go ... I hope you are.  Addiction is a progressive disease.  It will only get worse.  Read through some of the posts here.  Maybe it will help you decide to stop what you're doing.

Medicating with someone else's prescription is never a good idea.  I hope you'll stop and seek a specialist for the migraines.
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Avatar universal
Thank you for your advice you have been very helpful. I will try that.
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1827057 tn?1397520277
You don't sound like a baby.I have done my share of whining throughout this also because the pain pills believe it or not causes way more distress and depression than anything I have ever been involved in and I have been involved in alot.I think the thing that ***** you in is that it feels so harmless and wholesome at first compared to other drugs.But it slowly gets it's teeth sunk into you so subtley that yuo do not notice.That is why so many never can quit I think.You may want to post a new question and ask about amino acids and other supplements that you can take that will help precipitate a faster recovery.
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Avatar universal
Thank you I will try a cold shower to see if that works as far as exercise I do yoga daily but running a business and two small children it doesn't take long for the pressure to build up in my neck. And then the migranes come. I know the pill is just a quick fix but it is such a relief. Sorry if I sound whinney and childish but this is the first time in my 38 years I have been addicted to anything. I have always tried to take care of myself no drugs no drinking, exercising and eating right which has helped me out so far I don't look my age. I have been told late 20's early 30's so I don't want to ruin myself now. Even in 05 when I was severely depressed I took nothing. I just have never been in this situation before so I don't really know what to do. Sorry for sounding like such a big baby
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1827057 tn?1397520277
This is not a comfortable thing but I have heard that alot of people take cold showers for migraines.I don't think that your withdrawals will be too terrible,though they will be uncomfortable.You are on a fairly small dose.I was on 150+day oxy after a severley broken arm.I was on for eight months and quit cold turkey.It was very bad for several days.I am just now feeling some relief at 22 days clean.If you could try and exercise every day it helps alot.Is there a way you could taper down further to 1 per day?Exercise is also good for stress and releases the same kind of chemical that the pills provide.It also helps your body to become regulste it's sleep pattern.
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Avatar universal
I know deep down I should stop but my real fear is the withdraws people talk about I am so scared how I will be around my family that this is part of the reason I keep taking them. They relieve my stress almost instantly. I went to the doctor to see if he could give me something else for the migraines and stress but they didn't work. The one for the migranes interfered with my breathing and the stress pills made me very sleepy.  Does anyone know of anything that works great for migranes and or stress.   Again thanks for reading
Helpful - 0
1827057 tn?1397520277
Hi angel,glad you cut down to 2-4 a day but since it is giving you that great feeling then it is not a good thing to take.It is harming you and sooner or later it will take over your life.Noone that I know has ever gotten away with using this drug everyday.Even people who strictly take this for the pain become dependent on it.I hope this helps you.If you keep taking this it will soon stop providing that pick me up and you will have to take more and more to just keep from becoming sick.
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