Addicted to Norco and want my life back!

Question

I've been taking Norco for years now, sometimes up to 14 a day but on average 8 a day, two at a time... At this point it's just because I'm addicted and literally am only in a good mood when I have pills in my system. I feel so pathetic that I've allowed a pill to take over my brain like this! I have to take two in the morning just to get going and have the energy to get my kids ready for school and start my early long days. I can't go on like this and I need to quit. I ran out today so I have no choice but to stop and I'm having such bad anxiety and I'm sick to my stomach. If I could stay in bed the next 4 days that would be great but I have kids I need to take care of and no one knows about my addiction. I might have to go to the hospital for meds to help me through it. Advice and support would be appreciated, I don't know how I'm gonna get through this.

Wantadvice59 · Answer

Thank you! Yes i realized that i've been dependent on these and i dont want to be anymore. I wanna break free. I just need to be strong and do it asap..

WalkTall · Answer

Hi, and welcome to the forum Wantadvice59.   Most of us can relate to everything you're going through.   I also needed 2 to 4 Norcos first thing in the morning, just to function.  The wicked paradox of opiates is this: First, the man takes the drug (it provides euphoria and relief); then the drug stops working - more is needed just to prevent withdrawals, so "the drug takes the drug"; finally, unless the cycle is interrupted, the drug takes the man (by death, or jail, divorce, bankruptcy, etc.). 

Congratulations on your epiphany; this realization and admission of addiction is likely the genesis of your recovery, and your path to freedom.  

Nothin' worth havin' comes easy.  You'll get through the withdrawals within a week.   (Be glad you're detoxing from Norcos, other opiates are worse.)   I've detoxed cold turkey from 14 Norcos per day; it's not fun, to say the least, but very doable.  (Note: Gabapentin a/k/a Neurontin can really ease your discomfort.)  Embrace the withdrawals as a rite of passage to sobriety - what you're feeling is your body healing itself - and use the memory to protect you, from you, when you're tempted to relapse.  

Vector your thoughts, your energy, your entire existence into your long-term plan to stay clean.  This, my friend, is our greatest challenge, and paramount objective.   Ask questions of those who have managed to stay clean, so you can learn from, and mimic, those common traits.  Although there is no paradigm for recovery, there are certain undeniable "truths" that we, as addicts, must recognize and respect, in order to stay clean.

motye51 · Answer

Someone (I believe it was DominoSarah above) told me to be prepared for about 5/6 days of crap.  Days 2/3 being the peak, then slowly, progressively better after that.  I would suggest the following - 
Immodium (for the stomach)
Epsom Salts (take long hot bathes as often as you want for aches and pains, it really does help!)
Motrin 200mg (I took 3/4 at a time, for a couple of days it won't kill you)
Multivitamin - high in Potassium, Magnesium and Iron.  
Eat foods HIGH in amino acids as this helps with the head "issues"
Stay hydrated!!!!  I can't stress this enough!!!  My husband was forcing me to eat and drink b/c I didn't want to.  It helps b/c your appetite is gone, to get some of those meal replacement shakes.....like super high in vitamins, minerals, etc...
Water, Water, Water.....WATER!!!!
I used a supplement called GABA that I purchased from GNC....I used Bee Pollen granuales (not sure if they did much)....
I will suggest to get come to terms with not sleeping for the next few days....and I wouldn't try to take anything pharmaceutical to try and bring on sleep.  I found that nothing works, and it will make you feel worse, more dragged down.
Sit in the sun as much as you can....I kept earbuds in my ears with motivational, anthemic type music to keep going.  Punch a wall, scream all you want, curse like a sailor.....just push your *** through it!  There is another side.....I will also suggest.....as soon as you can walk and talk at the same time............get yourself some aftercare!  It's almost impossible to STAY clean without it!  Keep posting when you need help............we will be here!

dominosarah · Answer

I agree with motey.  You need to share this with someone.  This is a we thing, not an i.  The pills give us a false sense of security.  We are here to help so reach out.

motye51 · Answer

You fall in well with the thousands of people on this site that are in the exact same boat (or have been).  
My 1st suggestion would be....tell someone!  Having someone to help is always a plus.  There are things you can do to make it through this process....,is this something your willing to do.  Honestly, you need someone to help with your children for a few days until you can get through the worst of it.  Let us know as we will be more than willing to help with giving you advice on what worked for us...