need help

[tgarrison]

i have been on the pain meds for 6 years i am taking 4 a day 7.5   i have to wean myself off   what is the best way, i am trying to cut back to three a day for a month then 2  i am scared because i dont want to end up at the hospital

[Yesidid]

Insanity! Tgarrison you will be hard pressed to find a fan of pain medication on this site but like so many social problems, when the bureaucracy first reacts, it over reacts! It is no different with the epidemic of opiate addiction. The fact remains that some people need pain medications just to live a comfortable life and some people, apparently including you (but definitely not including me) can use them responsibly.  I would suggest that you use this opportunity to personally evaluate if your pain is manageable without the meds. If not, seek care and advice from another doctor.

[tgarrison]

i have cronic pain    i have degenerated disc in back and degenerated bones  i have bursitas in both hips     but last month when i went to get meds refilled my doc said they were taking pain meds away from people and she could not guarantee that she would fill them next month

[momwithnosleep]

Cant tell you what to do but I was on Norco 4/day for 4 years. I took 2 the first day. 1/2 the 2nd day and flushed the remaining on the 3rd day. Anxiousness and restlessness was the worst. Day 12 now & still trying to figure out the sleep thing. I have been taking the supplements from the "Thomas Method". I thought it would be harder since I am a stay at home mom & my 3 kids are in school but it hasn't been that bad.
Good luck

[Yesidid]

Friend if you have been taking 4 a day for six years consistently and on schedule, follow the taper plan that's suits you and that is approved by your doctor.  It has been our experience that you would not need to end up in the hospital from withdrawal symptoms alone even if you stopped taking them completely today - assuming all else is okay with you medically.  As previously stated, your pain management and any other medical conditions you might have should be discussed with your doctor first however.  Why do you feel a need to stop taking your medication? What brought you here to the addiction forum? Certainly after 6 years you absolutely are physically dependent on the medication but the fact that you have been on a steady dose for so long is not "typical" "addict" behavior.

[kyle505]

Acting asks some good questions...Why are you taking the meds? Do you have legit pain issues, and why do you fear ending up in the hospital? As Acting said, we can't give you specific advice on weaning. What I can offer is this - most of us, addicts or abusers, are not able to wean without help. Knowing that there are pills down the hall eventually undermines even the best intentions. As Jinxie said, get someone you trust to help; have that person give you the exact dose per the taper plan, then hide them. Very important. If you don't the odds are that you will not be able to stick to whatever plan you decide on. And if you are under a doctor's care, have him/her set the weaning schedule.
K

[Jinxie_W]

I believe norco to be the easiest of the opiates to get off of.  Everyone is different.  It is the mental part that will be the hardest.  Honestly, you could probably just stop taking them with very little physical withdrawal.  Most people who have this 'habit' find it very hard to taper on their own.  If you have a mate who can give them to you at a scheduled time and NOT give in to you if you beg and plead for them, that would be the best thing to do.  You could start by taking one less a day, do that for a few days and then drop down one more, etc, etc..  I usually would not offer any tapering advice because I am not a dr, but the amount you are taking and what you are taking is so minimal, I feel comfortable suggesting that to you.  
For me, it is always about switching a bad habit for a good one.  For example, instead of watching the clock to see when it is time for you to take another one, go for a walk, etc.   Your mind is going to try and make you give it the drug it wants, but just don't listen to it.  good luck

[ActingBrandNew]

We cant give specific weaning advice here. I will tell you that you are already taking a low amount so the process should be fairly fast. Have you considered trying to go cold turkey? Are you under a doctors care and if so, why not get on a weaning plan from him/her?

A lot of people have trouble weaning because once they start feeling a little bit of withdrawals they give in and take more. If you do wean then having someone be in charge of your pills is ideal. It can be done but I think its harder than cold turkey because of the mental battle. Flushing them and then treating yourself like you have the flu for a week will be the fastest way to put this behind you.

Good luck