narcotic vicodin

[faith.77]

Hello everyone,
First of all I want to say that I have so many friends/family that I have seen ruin their lives, and almost die because of drug abuse. I pass no judgement on anyone. I have always been the one to go and reach out to those people and help or listen to them. I am an artist,and a lot of my paintings are inspired by drug addicts. So that is a little info on me.
I have always had stomach pains, since I was a little girl. I just recently over the past year started having procedures and tests ran on me, went through a bunch of different meds, not too many of them working. My intestines are all messed up to the point that I had to practically become a vegan because it was painful after every meal. Endometriosis also runs in my family, and last month I had to go to the ER because the pain was so bad. I seriously thought I was going to die. A lot from what I hear, doctors take FOREVER to help endo patients or even surgery to see if they can remove it. So in the hospital they gave me morphine and vicodin for the pain. Then the doc gave me a RX for the vicodin. well it was hydrocodone, not sure if that makes a difference. But anyway, I had taken vicodins in the past, starting out for my endo pains (my friends mom has an RX and would just give them away) and then I started taking them when I didn't have pain. This was about 6 months ago. So when I got the rx I was aware of what it was and all that, and I didn't exceed more than 4 a day. After being on them for almost every day for a month, I really think I should try and stop. Just because I know what it can lead to. I know I can end up just buying them from people and eating up to 15 or so a day, who knows. But the point is, I don't want to be dependent on this, or anything. So I tried to just stop a couple of days ago, and just got immediately moody, angry and burning blood like....similar to trying to quit smoking I guess. But I hate being mean, moody or anything like that. So I call my friend, tell him I had some pain and needed 2 vicodin....weeeak I know. So i am out of my RX, and I could call ( i have 3 times since being in the ER, each one has 15 per script) and get more but I am reeeeally trying not to. My surgery is Aug 27th, and hopefully then they can see if they can remove some of the scar tissue so Im not in pain. That is also a hard thing to deal with, I seriously have pain every single day. But I just deal with it.
So this is day one and half with none at all, and I am trying to get some supplements, teas, whatever to try and help with any wdrawal symptoms or moodiness!!!
thanks for listening, and thanks for any help!!!!

[Ga Guy]

Below is the preprinted response I've begun to post when people start their cold turkey withdrawals. Maybe there's something in here than can help. If you have any specific questions, please post and ask.

This is a work in progress...something I've been working on off and on for the last couple of weeks. It's not considered complete, but has lots of info from lots of sources. If any of the "old timers" have anything to add, let me know and I'll add it to the document. I hope to use this to post a general "how to" every couple of days or so.

Listed below are suggestions for detoxing and quitting an opiate addiction. They are just suggestions compiled from the detox plans of people that have gone through cold turkey detox before. They are just that, suggestions, and any detox plan is best when done under a doctor's care. Consult your doctor before trying any of the suggestions below.
This is prewritten for anyone who is beginning or planning on beginning a colt turkey withdrawal to opiates. This includes drugs such as tramadol (Ultracet and Ultram) codeine (Tylenol #3, #4), Darvocet, Hydrocodone (Vicodin, Norco, Lortab and derivatives),  Oxycodone (Endocet, Percocet, Oxycontin), Morphine, Demerol. Fentanyl, and Dilaudud. There are many other opiates not listed, so if you don’t see it listed, you can still use these suggestions if it’s an opiate based addiction. None of these apply to benzodiazepine based addictions. These addictions should never be dealt with by going cold turkey. Always consult a doctor for a detox plan for benzos.

First of all, opiate withdrawals are uncomfortable, but rarely life threatening. You may think you’re going to die, but most of the withdrawal symptoms are just very uncomfortable. Opiate withdrawal symptoms usually start 12-24 hours after your last dose. But, the timing of withdrawal symptoms depends upon the drug taken, length of time you’ve been taking it, and how you react to medications. The physical withdrawals usually last 3-7 days, with days 3 and 4 being the worst. Once again, this is all dependent on the person. You can expect these symptoms. Dilated pupils, diarrhea, runny nose, goose bumps, abdominal pain, stomach cramps, sweating, agitation, anxiety, nausea, vomiting, leg cramps, general aches and pains, and sleeplessness. This list is not absolute. You may experience all of these symptoms, only some of them, or other symptoms. Again, we are all different. Below is the famous Thomas Recipe. It gives some general information along with supplements that help with the withdrawal symptoms. The only thing I would add to this list is a blood pressure drug named clonidine. It effectively lowers the blood pressure and lessens many of the withdrawal symptoms. Most any doctor will prescribe it if you’re honest as to why you need it. Discuss dosages and frequency with your doctor.

Thomas Recipe:

1. Valium (or another benzodiazepine such as Klonopin, Librium, Ativan or Xanax). Of these, Valium and Klonopin are best suited for tapering since they come in tablet form. Librium is also an excellent detox benzo, but comes in capsules, making it hard to taper the dose. Ativan or Xanax should only be used if you can't get one of the others.
2. Imodium (over the counter, any drug or grocery store).
3. L-Tyrosine (500 mg caps) from the health food store.
4. Strong wide-spectrum mineral supplement with at least 100% RDA of Zinc, Phosphorus, Copper and Magnesium.
5. Vitamin B6 caps.
6. Access to hot baths or a Jacuzzi (or hot showers if that's all that's available).

How to use the recipe:
Begin your detox with regular doses of Valium (or alternate benzo). Start with a dose high enough to produce sleep. Before you use any benzo, make sure you're aware of how often it can be safely taken. Different benzos have different dosing schedules. Taper your Valium dosage down after each day. The goal is to get through day 4, after which the worst WD symptoms will subside. You shouldn't need the Valium after day 4 or 5. During detox, hit the hot bath or Jacuzzi as often as you need to for muscle aches. Don't underestimate the effectiveness of hot soaks. Spend the entire time, if necessary, in a hot bath. This simple method will alleviate what is for many the worst opiate WD symptom.
Use the Imodium aggressively to stop the runs. Take as much as you need, as often as you need it. Don't take it, however, if you don't need it. At the end of the fourth day, you should be waking up from the Valium and experiencing the beginnings of the opiate WD malaise. Upon rising (empty stomach), take the L-Tyrosine. Try 2000 mgs, and scale up or down, depending on how you feel. You can take up to 4,000 mgs. Take the L-Tyrosine with B6 to help absorption. Wait about one hour before eating breakfast. The L-Tyrosine will give you a surge of physical and mental energy that will help counteract the malaise. You may continue to take it each morning for as long as it helps. If you find it gives you the "coffee jitters," consider lowering the dosage or discontinuing it altogether. Occasionally, L-Tyrosine can cause the runs. Unlike the runs from opiate WD, however, this effect of L-Tyrosine is mild and normally does not return after the first hour. Lowering the dosage may help. With breakfast, take the mineral supplement. As soon as you can force yourself to, get some mild exercise such as walking, cycling, swimming, etc. This will be hard at first, but will make you feel considerably better.

[C5 to C7 pain]

Thanks for sharing...I am new here too...have 2 herniated disks in my neck.  take 5  hydros (10s) a day.   I hate it...i feel like i am a slave to it, even though i need it...but take it when i don't too.  I get my legit, my dr. likes me...honestly i think he'd give me anything i asked for...I am one of his younger well dressed patients and i catch him looking at my chest instead of my eyes sometimes.

It sucks to have the physical issue, and yet be a slave to feeling better.  Hope we can both find some answers and that your surgery is successful!

[Soonerdean]

What you are going through is normal for withdrawals.  Keep in mind that there is nothing wrong with taking pain meds for the right reason...but that reason can QUICKLY turn into an addicition.  Another thing...dont let docs tell you "your dependent" that is the same thing as being addicted.  

I too have cronic pain in both legs and feet and take at least one 10/500 hydro a day.  I seem to be hypersensitive to this so I break the pill in half and take one in the morning and one in the afternoon.  Last year I was taking them for the high and this is when I realized I was addicted...up to 5 a day.  The withdrawals SUCK so be careful.  I also tried both ways of quiting..cold turkey...and tapering.  I found tapering to be best for me.  

Again...there is nothing wrong with taking them when you are in pain...there is something to be said for quality of life.  Be strong enough to know when to quit.

Hope this helps and good luck with your surgery.  

[C5 to C7 pain]

So you were taking 5 - 10s a day?   That is exactly my deal...trying to see if i can stop taking them.  My dr prescribes me 150 a month.  Can u tell me what your tapering schedule was?

[FLaddict]

Not to scare or discourage you. But I will warn you that the surgery does not always work... one of my friends has endo and had two surgeries to remove it and as they say "look around" and she is still in pain at least 2 weeks out of the month... she is a very strong person though... she will only take narcotics if she is in tears.. they have given her very few options as far as the endo goes.. she thinks the surgery made the scar tissue worse..
I feel for you in this situation.. I watch her go through so much pain