Trying to quit Darvocet N

[wannaquit]

I've been taking Darvocet N  off and on for 8 years now.  For about 6 years it was one a day only because it helped me get rid of my morning aches and pains and helped the first half of my work day fly by.  That satisfied me for so long, but mostly because I knew I had to conserve or I'd run out.  Two years ago, I found a "source", and started taking two and three a day.  One in the morning, one in the afternoon, and sometimes one at night.  Any time I'd have a medical problem (mouth surgery, head injury, anything that caused alot of pain) I'd have to take two at a time to get relief because my body was so used to the drug.  

The three a day habit lasted for a year, and then one year ago, I had 4 wisdom teeth extracted, and had complications.  I was taking two at a time 4 times a day, so that's 8 a day for 6 weeks.  When the pain was gone and I tried to go back to my 3 a day habit, of course, that didn't work.  One pill at a time felt like NOTHING.  So I've been stuck doing 8-10 pills a day for a year.  A few times when I've gone out, I've taken two and then an hour later taken one more, then an hour later one more and then two hours later I've taken 2, so within 4 hours, I'll have 6 pills plus a few drinks.  It's gotten where I have to take 2 immediately when I wake up in the morning, and then I just take two every time I feel the high starting to wear off.  I don't think I've been completely "sober" for two full hours in a year.  I function okay, but once in a while instead of a euphoric effect, they get me all cranky and angry...and I know that it's just a matter of time before my 2 at a time habit climbs to 3 at a time, then 4, and before I know it, it will be even more out of control than it is already.

I want to quit so bad.  Yesterday I took my 2 when I woke up, but then I decided that I wasn't going to do this anymore.  I didn't take any for the rest of the day.  I slept for several hours in the afternoon, and woke up feeling okay. Just some mild anxiety and a mild headache. I took two advil and went to bed.  When I woke up this morning, I felt strong, like I was going to do this for sure, but I was hurting pretty bad (headache and lower back pain, racing heart, anxiety; I had mild stomach cramps too).  I took 2 advil and one darvocet, and didn't even feel like I had taken it.  The high didn't come, but it leveled out the withdrawal feeling.  

I don't want to be stupid and quit cold turkey because my husband and children don't know about this.  NO one knows about this.  I haven't ever told anyone, and I'm afraid if I did tell my husband, he would never trust me again.  We went through 3 years of infidelity (on his part), and I was completely failthful, and that was part of what helped him through it was knowing that he could trust me no matter what.  Now it's been 3 years that he's been faithful, but I feel like I've been cheating on him with these pills and he won't be so understanding even though I'm trying to end it.  So, again, I don't want to quit cold turkey, or it will be obvious that something's WRONG.  

My question is: is it possible for me to do this alone?  How often should I take one pill to taper off, and for how long?  I'm not feeling any real physical symptoms right now.  Keep in mind, up until yesterday I was doing 8-10 every day, and yesterday I had two at 8 in the morning, and didn't have another one until 9am this morning, and haven't had one since.  And once the physical symptoms of withdrawal are gone, how do I kick the psycological symptoms (I have a feeling they will be worse than the physical symptoms)?

Anyone?

[lurker]

Welcome - you can do it but it will take a lot of dedication on your part.  Do a lot of reading here, search for the Thomas Recipe which had a lot of OTC things you can use to help with the withdrawals.  FLaddict can offer a taper schedule that will help.  Post, read and Post- you can get a lot of support here.

[IBKleen]

Hi Hun!

If you want  good taper schedule, just ask. You are right though..the physical symptoms are the easy part. I also knew how to GET clean..I never knew how to STAY clean. That is the stumbling block that causes relapse.

First things first...Again, you are taking 8 a day, or where? Now you are taking 2? Is that right? How many do you have left? I will work with you on taper, or someone else can. Just provide a little info.

Hope to hear from you.

[wannaquit]

Thanks.  I'll do alot of reading.

To IBKleen

Yes, I was taking 8 a day for a year, and just yesterday took 2 only (at once).  Today took 1 in the early am and just took one, and that will be my last one today, so 2 today.  This is only my second day into tapering.

I have over 150 pills left.  It's not the supply that's the problem.  I want to quit because I want to be done with this, so whatever suggestions you have, I'd be so appreciative of, and I am very willing to listen, so be sure that I will do everything within my willpower to take your advice.  (also praying alot and I know that sounds dumb, but it's helping so far).  Anyhoo, thanks so much.

[lurker]

Generally when you taper, you start by taking the total you were using for the day, in this case 8 and spreading it out over a day.  Then each day, begin to spread them out farther and farther.  Your body will tell you if you're going too fast.  You have a good supply so should be able to slowly taper down to zero.  Of course, you did only 2 yesterday and today so how do you feel?

[wannaquit]

Like poo poo.  My head hurts, my back hurts, I have the sweats and racing heart, dizzy, mild stomach cramps...everything mild and just above the level of tolerable, though...I may have to take a number three before the night's over.  Thanks for the advice.  Maybe I am trying to taper a little too fast.  I am just scared.  I don't want to feel the euphoria and remember how much I liked it.  You know?

[wannaquit]

My nose has been clogged since last night.  No sinuses or snot, just can't breathe through my nose.  Is that normal?  I never snorted the stuff; always swallowed the pills...or is this nasal thing totally unrelated??

[lurker]

I'm tapering too and have that same clogged nose thing - I think it must be related somehow too.  I've never snorted either.  I've tried a few different things, saline spray, Flonase - but have to use Afrin every now and then when it gets really bad.  Be careful with Afrin though because you can get rebound stuffiness if you use it for more than 3 or 4 days.

[lurker]

also - you're tapering too fast.  If you were at 8 per day you should drop to 7, then 6, etc. And spread them out.  Instead of taking them all at once, divide the dose evenly between your waking hours.  You won't get the high, which you shouldn't if your goal is to quit.  So if you took 8 pills and are awake 16 hours a day, that's one pill every two hours.  Then in a few days, go to one every 3 hours, and eventually every 4, etc.  It should work, especially since you have a large supply.

[FLaddict]

Aw, you made me feel like I have passed the torch... reading what you wrote about tapering made me warm and fuzzy... someone has been paying attention..

XOXO

[wannaquit]

Thanks.  I was getting discouraged that I ended up taking 4 today, but I only took them one at a time, so I suppose that's what counts.  I'll shoot for your tapering plan and see how that works.  I've also had to break out the afrin; I'm careful with that, tho. I've had the rebound stuffiness before, yukky stuff.  Anyway, thank you so much.

[lurker]

I did learn and pay attention - thanks for your help Stephanie!

[troubleinohio]

wishing you the best of luck. IMO darvocets are worse to be addicted to because they have such a higher amount of acetominophen in them compared to normal hydro formulations (most have 500 mg, though some have 750).  ANyhow, just keep focusing on how much healthier your liver will be when you stop taking the Darvs.   I used them for years too and also took too many, about the same as you, 8 a day was my limit (which is way over the 4000 mg daily cap of aceto!). I did have liver function test done about.....a year ago or so and it was ok then. Im supposed to have another one done now and am nervous about it.    good luck to you and keep us posted.  

[wannaquit]

Thanks for the well wishes.  Yeah, I had liver function tests done last year, and everything was completely normal.  Then again, I had only been doing 1-3 Darvos a day for 7 years up until that point; this past year is when I've gotten out of control and even started mixing the Darvos with alcohol a handful of times, so I'm nervous about what it's done to my body.  I think one of the things that made me wake up and realize that I needed to stop doing this is the fact that for a solid week, every time I feel myself coming off of a "h