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Addiction: Substance Abuse Community
This community is a place to share information and support with others who are trying to stop using drugs, prescription drugs, alcohol, tobacco or other addictive substances. Discuss with others, the symptoms of addiction, addiction recovery, ways to quit like tapering and cold turkey, and withdrawal symptoms. If you are interested in general "chat", please visit our Addiction Social Community.
Please help me taper off NORCO
by Mandapanda17, Jul 17, 2008 12:03AM
I need some advice on what to do about my norco addiction. I have been taking anywhere from 7-15 pills a day for about 4 years. Originally due to 2 shoulder surgeries. I'm now healed from the surgeries and still addicted to the pain meds. Mentally and physically. I am very afraid of the withdrawals, been through them before 3 times and each was just as painful. Last year I was clean for 65 days and then had to have another surgery. I have no choice and must continue to go to work 3 days a week, which isn't bad, but can still be REALLY overwhelming when going through withdrawals from opiates. Thought about going to see a suboxone doc, but I realize that it could put me in this same situation when I discontinue those meds as well. Any advice on how to taper off this addiction would be very helpful to me. OR should I just cold turkey it again? Should I taper? if so, how? I do have help from my fiance and my roomate to hold and dispense pills for me if necessary (which it probably is). Thanks to anyone with some words of wisdom :)
Member Comments (14)
by dominosarah, Jul 17, 2008 12:17AM
Hi I am not sure how to taper as i just went CT when i quit. It was all or nothing for me. Do you have any vitamins? They help so much. Hopefully someone will be on yet tonight that can help you with a taper. Sounds like your fiance knows what is going on and will hold the pills for you. That is a good thing. Stay on the forum and keep posting. We are here to help you get thru this. Dont panic.....you will be okay. sara
by Mandapanda17, Jul 17, 2008 12:25AM
To: dominosarah
thank you for the encouragement. I've taken only 7 1/2 pills today, which unfortunately is good for me. I do have some multi-vitamins. Should I start taking those now? It is a good thing that my fiance AND my roomate both know whats going on, I've been completely honest with both of them over the last couple months. Did you still have to work when you went CT? I did go CT last year but I still had two months off work post surgery. Thanks for responding. Anything makes me feel better at this point! ;)
by dominosarah, Jul 17, 2008 12:34AM
I was one of the lucky ones and didnt have to work during my w/d. We deplete our bodies while we are using and getting clean so i dont know why taking vitamins would hurt. I know this is tough but you can do this. If you want to go c/t then just toss the pills. I went from 18 a day to 0. That was 80 days ago. I was sick and by day 5 i was starting to feel better. I wish some others were on right now and could also give you a taper schedule. I know that works for some. Life is so much better now being clean and not being a prisoner to those pills. Support from others is so important also and you have that. We are here for you whatever you decide. Stay strong sara
by Mandapanda17, Jul 17, 2008 12:44AM
To: dominosarah
well I have until monday before I have to go back to work ...4 days...monday would be day 5. Its definitely something I'm considering. I guess I'll have to see how strong I'm feeling when I wake up in the morning. Thats so awesome you've been clean for 80 days. That really is a huge accomplishment!! Its strange because I've done it before and this time I feel even more scared to do it CT. I guess maybe because I'm already anticipating what the withdrawals are like. thanks again for the support!!
by dominosarah, Jul 17, 2008 12:50AM
Hopefully Monday will be day 5!!!! Just think no more chasing a high....its such freedom to be off them. I will check on you in the morning so please post and let me(us) know how you are doing. Most of the people are probably in bed so check this in the morning. Keep telling yourself you can do this cuz you can. Stay strong sara
by Mandapanda17, Jul 17, 2008 01:04AM
To: dominosarah
I will definitely come back on here in the morning, in the meantime I'll try and get some rest ;) thanks so much again!!
by sadinmichigan, Jul 17, 2008 02:05AM
hey girls...I would say if you have enough to taper with you might want to. I prefer cold turkey myself as i have no self control to taper. I think if you establish right now the amount your on..lets say 7..and decrease a pill every few days. Whatever you decide we are here for you..Good luck..Hope to talk to you tomarrow..
by Mandapanda17, Jul 17, 2008 01:50PM
Its 11:50 AM here and so far only taken 1 norco today. feel ok, I'm sure I'll need more today but its a good start. Also put in a call to a suboxone doc this morning and hes going to call me back during his lunch hour. We'll see how that goes!! thanks sarah and sad!! :)
by worried878, Jul 17, 2008 09:59PM
working thru wds is a challenge..i had 4 days off and made it off a 80 mg a day habit....sub at ur dose...u may could do 2 mg a day or even 1 mg and cut out the wds in a weeks worth os use.....tapering is hard working but can be done....just be careful with the sub...dont want to end up on a more powerful narcotic than u r on now..keep it short and sweet...seek aftercare if u can...taperin 1/2 a pill every fes days can be a bit easier....4 days u could ct and be back to work but would be fatigued....get the thomas recipe and read the article on sub and on tapering....make an educated decision as u know ur self and what u can tolerate
by Mandapanda17, Jul 17, 2008 10:42PM
To: worried878
thank you for your advice. I'm seeing a psychiatrist a week from mon. that does suboxone treatment, haven't decided if I'll go that route or not. MAYBE if its a short treatment for only a few weeks, but if it were any longer than that I don't want to make things even worse for myself in the long run. So I probably only need a small dosage of sub. if I do go that route? I'm hoping the psyc. WOULD know that :) If HE doesn't seem to be educated enough about it I'm going to try a different doctor. congrats to you though, I know how difficult the wds and the paws can be. thanks again!
by MzLoLo, Jul 23, 2008 11:23PM
To: Mandapanda17
The way that you go about quitting is a very personal one. Some people need to go to the doctor and do suboxone, some have the discipline to go cold turkey or taper. I am in the same exact position as you are with the Norco and to top it off I am also abusing Soma and Flexeril which does not make matters any easier. You know what is going to be the best for you. If you decide to go cold turkey then you have to make sure you have absolutely no meds to access, period. If you taper which I think is more painful than cold turkey then you need to get an average of how much you take on a daily basis and cut it down by a pill or two every 2-4 days. That taper system worked for me; I did relapse 2 months later because I had to have another surgery. Anyways, if you do decide to go that route I recommend you telling someone you trust...someone you REALLY trust and can confide in so you have someone to talk to. Let me tell you it's easy having the addiciton and popping pills alone but getting off them alone is another story. As a few others have said along with having a trusted bud you should definately see a psychiatrist (not a psychologist) so you can get some proper meds for depression/anxiety (if you have or are diagnosed with that). Once you are able to get yourself off the wrong meds and on the right ones you will be able to face what is REALLY going on. I have been through this once before and I know I can do it again as I know you can definately do it to. You just have to make sure you make the right decision for how you are going to quit and stick with it. You will do well. Keep us posted with how you are doing! I know you will do well. If you go the Suboxone route let me know how you feel because I am 150% scared of taking that. Good Luck! =D
by Mandapanda17, Jul 24, 2008 03:41PM
To: MzLoLo
I too am scared of the suboxone route. I'm trying to follow a taper schedule that I have made for myself, if it doesn't work then it'll be CT for me! I don't want to be put on another drug in place of the one I'm already on. How bad were your withdrawals after tapering completely off? Thats what I'm worried about the most, if I'm just wasting my time and should just CT when I get a few days off work. I went CT last time and then had surgery again 2 months later, right back on the addiction again! Sounds like what happened to you also. thanks for the help! :) and let me know how the taper went for you as far as the end of it...
by SFgirll853, Jul 24, 2008 05:54PM
I am on day 4 CT from 8 to 10 norco a day and feeling pretty crappy. Yesterday was the worst day and I think the L-Tyrosene and multi-vitamins have helped. Hot showers and getting out of the house!! If I can do it with 3 children under 4 at home with me, you can too! I think keeping busy even though I feel like **** has been the best thing for me. I HAD to go CT as I have tried tapering and it didnt work. I also had to go through ALL of my refills. Basically I had to get to the point where I had no more. You can do it! WE can do it!!!