Vicodin withdrawal/tapering

[Jb456]

Hey his is my first time posting I'm 29 I've been taking vicodin 10mg for almost 2 years off an on but worse in these last few months.  I was taking 5 a each day up until recently when I got completely tired of takin them an them just doing nothing good for my life so with the few I had left I cut back very quickly from 5 to 3 to 2 to half a day all in one week an I definitely had withdrawal symptoms my question is I'm 2 days now with out taking any I still have chills an can't sleep because I get an overwhelming frustration i believe u guys call that rls well any way since I had started feeling withdrawals while I was still takin small doses will this almost end since I'm already on day 2 of not taking anything?  The overwhelming fustrations at nigh when I want to sleep is what I really want to end everything else being cold chill all that I can handle it's not sleeping

[Jb456]

Well it's day for everything has seemed to stop the chills have stopped I'm still a little unmotivated an my strength doesn't seem to be at its normal otherwise i feel 10x better than the last few days.  I did get my hands on some ambien an that got me the best nights sleep I've had in the last 2 weeks....i don't have many ambien I'm ok I guess with not getting to bed as long as I don't feel that crazy frustration that only would come when I get to bed like I said the ambien did the job but when I don't take then how long will I still get this fustrations at bed time that would make me toss an tine which I guess is rls????

[Julia M Aharonov, DO]

You should be very proud of yourself. What you did took a lot of inner strength and fortitude.  The acute withdrawals after tapering Vicodins should not last longer than a week or so.
See if a  doctor can write your friend a prescription for some Requip for restlessness, Neurontin (gabapentin) for anxiety and malaise, some Flexeril or Soma for a few weeks for muscle spasms and maybe some Seroquel low dose, for sleep and Klonopin which will be helpful for sleeplessness and anxiety. It will make his withdrawals easier.  Valerian and Magnesium is sometimes helpful remedies over the counter.
The residual symptoms of insomnia and depression can last another few months. Thus, it is not easy, but it gets better and better over time and you can look forward to a drug free healthy energetic you in the future. When you take opiates for a long time like you have, your body's physiology has been altered. Your central nervous system has created a multitude of opioid receptors that all are screaming for endorphins (opiates) to fill them, but your body has now forgotten how to make them by itself.  It will take time - two to four weeks at least, for your receptors to down-regulate (for the brain begin to heal) and to start making its own endorphins. Brain heals pretty slowly, so it may take you as long as a couple of months to get rid of feelings of sluggishness, restlessness and depression. The best thing you can do is take good care of yourself, eat healthy food, stay hydrated, keep active and busy. Stay away from sugar, soda, and simple carbs. Do not consume caffeine at least 6 hours prior to bedtime. As to what to do with the pills that you will have left over, you are right, take them to the local police department after calling them first. Take care of yourself and look ahead.