New here.... vicodin addict. Question about tapering and W/D

[lady_m]

Hi all,

I have been reading your posts for a week and find the very encouraging.  I figured it was finally time to post.  A little about my past - I have abused narcotics off and on for 3 years, with my worst taking countless oxys (I really have no idea what I was up to per day).  I quit and stayed clean for several months.  Like many others, after undergoing a procedure/injury, etc. I started taking narcotics again.  At one time I took 100 vicodin in a 24 hour period.  Yes, 100.  

So I am finally to the point where I am ready to quit.  I am sick, disgusted and down right angry at myself for getting to where I'm at.  I am trying to put the anger behind me and realize at least I am doing something NOW.  So anyway, I have been tapering and as of yesterday was down to 2 1/2 vicodin 5/500 for the day.  Today I am shooting for 1 1/2.  I have had some WD but nothing unbearable.  Well maybe besides the depression, that has been hard to handle.  A week ago I tried to quit CT (I had gone through a vicodin eating binge right before that) and I thought I was going to die.  I have been through WDs several times and this was by far the worst.  I was hoping tapering would help.  Some people says it lessens the WDs at the end, others say it doesn't.  It seems like it has to be at least SOMEWHAT better going from less to none over a period of time.  My husband is helping me do this.

I have had temptations, but I have been strong.  I actually have 180 ES vics in the house and haven't slipped off my tapering schedule.  I am just using the 500s that I have and once they are gone I am done.  

I am also a recovering alcoholic that has been sober for over a year.  I started popping pills thinking it was ok because I could still function and live a "normal" life.  I justified it with my back problems, migraines, you name it.  Simple fact is I was taking them for the high.  And I had traded one addiction for another - which isn't okay or justifiable.

Anyway, I am hoping going to this lower dose will help.  Any advice?

Thanks,
Jen

[pacnwgrl]

Hey there;
  You are doing amazing, considering.  I'm on day three of my w/d, c/t.  I am like most others who have posted.  If I had 'em (and I did, just get a refill for 180) then I used 'em, but only up to maybe 20  50/500 a day.  The last few days I went to 12, then  6, then 3, then nothing.  I made the mistake of  thinking I could take some trazodone (to help me fall asleep, since I was  having the WORST restless legs, creepy-crawlly thing all through my body).  Well, I ended up in the ER 'cause my heart was racing so bad but I couldn't move my arms, legs, etc.)  Scared myself, scared my husband, who didn't know what I was doing/going through.  I had to admit in the  ER  that I knew I was an addict and was trying to go cold turkey.  Thankfully my blood work came around OK and my heart rate subsided, and I was sent home. (They called it a bad reaction)  But I hate knowing that come September I can ask for (and probably receive) another 3 month supply at 180 pills per month.  IF I get them they'll be gone in 2 weeks.  I am WEAK.  
  Give yourself credit for tackling this head on.  Honestly I think we're all the same and yet different in what we can tolerate.  I dreaded this withdrawal the most (yeah, I've been through it before several times too).   Admitting the weakness to family is maybe the hardest, and your husband is supporting you.  I am not sure what my family thinks of me but they 'support' me outwardly.  
  I'm feeling like a wet noodle today, but the wierd hallucinatory dreams are lessening and the RLS seems to be gone.  
   Good luck with your attempt and I wish you success.
  
  

[TimH2]

I was never very good at tapering. If I have them, I take them. It can be done and I am rooting for you. I do have a taper schedule that I will post for you. You sound like you are ready to do this and that is most important. Keep on posting and welcome to the board.

Tim

First, you need to figure out what kind of schedule you have for
taking hydros.

1. How soon after you get up in the mornings do you take your first
dose and how many do you take then to feel "normal"?

2. When do you take your next dose, and other doses throughout the
day? And, how many each time?

3. When do take your last dose of the day and how many that time?

Stage ONE:

Take the same first dose as you normally do - same time, same amount.

Cut the rest of your days' doses in half.

If you normally take your last dose prior to 7pm, ADD one tablet about
an hour before bedtime. This will help you sleep and stay comfortable
through the night. If you normally take your last dose after 7pm,
consider moving it back so you can do this bed time dose or adjust it
down in amount and move it later so that you take it as close to
bedtime as possible. The bedtime dose really, really makes a huge
difference.

You should feel NO physical discomfort at all during this, or any
stage of the tapering plan. You really need to listen to your body
when tapering, not your mind. Remember, opiates work on the brain,
not the body. The acetomenephen in the drug is the ONLY thing
providing real pain relief, the hydro is working on your brain. Learn
the difference between a physical withdrawal symptom and a mental
craving. Do NOT trust your brain with this.

Stay on stage one for about 4-5 days. The length of each stage
depends on you. There is no right and no wrong. Once you have
stabilized on stage one, so that your brain is no longer telling you
that you need more, you can move on to stage 2.

Stage TWO:

Cut your morning dose by 2 tablets, so if you were taking 4, take 2.
If you were already only taking 2, take 1. If you were only taking 1,
take 1/2. If you were only taking 1/2 already, are you sure you need
a tapering plan? :-)

For the rest of the days dose, the objective is to cut down by 1-1/2
to 2 pills total (for the rest of the day). Keep that extra bedtime
dose of 1 pill going.

A good time frame for stage two is again 4-5 days, but just like stage
one, do what feels best to your body. Stay on it a week if you need
to. Just don't move to stage three until you feel completely
comfortable on stage two. Also, just like on stage one, you should

[lil_addict]

Wow, I could never taper down.  Whatever I get in my hands unless it was a month supply was gone that day.  You are doin' great by just taking 2 1/2 5mg's a day but don't try to taper too fast.  It will only make you want more.  Maybe go down in dosage every 3 days or so instead of everyday.  I give you alot of credit for tapering.  My brain is all or none.  I wish you luck and you will be in my thoughts and prayers.  I started taking oxycodone 30mg about 3 years or so ago and I was up to around 16 - 18 or so a day, which is about 500 or so mg a day.  Plus if I had 10 mg i would take those in between, total approx 500-600mg a day.  I don't know how i didn't kill myself.  I tapered down about 4 months to where i would only take 120mg or so, now i'm tryin to quit again for the millionth time.  I'm on day 2 of nothing.

Take care and I'm here for ya on and off today if ya need me.

God bless hugz,

Lil. :)

[lady_m]

I understand the eating the pills as fast as you can get them... boy do I ever.  Several doctors, urgent care and ER trips, buying off the street - just to basically have enough to last a day.  I couldn't ever have them in my sight without taking several every hour.  This is the first time I have ever been this strong.  I hope and pray that means I'm truly ready to quit...forever.

[RCSLADY]

For me there is no such thing as tapering.  Plus there is no way I would even attemp detoxing with all of the pills you still have in your house.  I found that for me cold turkey works the best and the fastest.  The first few days are the hardest but things do get better.

I am in day 3 of my detox and I feel crappy most of the time but it is not as bad as I prepared myself for.  The last time that I detoxed it was off 90mg of methadone and that was pure hell.  This is alot easier.

So, if the tapering is working for you than God Bless.  It will never work for me because I eat pills as fast as I can get them.