Am I going to go through withdrawal?

[sandstone27]

Hi, I have a pretty basic question.  I've been taking Hydrocodone (10/325) for about 2 years.  (I can't believe its been that long).  I've always kept my dose low - most days only 1 pill, occasionally 1 1/2 and  very rarely, 2 pills.  I really don't want to take them anymore, as they've stopped having any effect on me, and I could never bring myself to take more than 2 in a day, because I was afraid of what it will do to my vital organs.  (I know, I still took them for 2 years anyway).
I took 1/2 pill on Saturday, then 1/4 on Sunday and 1/4 today.  Before I took the 1/4, I was feeling kind of bad, sweaty, diarrhea, and a bit of a cramped stomach. I was able to eat normally though.  What I'm concerned about is, based on my history, is it going to get aLOT worse once I stop altogether tomorrow?  I'm not sure what to expect and I admit I'm kind of a wimp about going through anything really bad.  Is it possible that, after 3 days at a very low dose and feeling fine, I may NOT go through withdrawal?  Its been about 12 hours since the last 1/4 pill dose. Thanks for your opinions.

[sandstone27]

I'm on day 3 now with no vicodin and the withdrawals have minimized - the only one that is being stubborn is the diarrhea - but the immodium helps with that so I'm able to eat and stay hydrated.  With the weak spine issues, what's helped most is stretching out my entire body and flexing it as much as i can and then doing push ups to the point of exhausting my back - its painful, but its better than that creepy weak rubber bandy feeling. One thing that I am very happy about is that my mind is calm and I feel at peace mentally. Maybe someone can explain this to me.  From all the posts I've read, the mental anguish of detox is the worst part, yet that seems to have escaped me (so far anyway).  One poster said that vicodin kills the dopamine naturally occurring in your brain, so I would imagine that over time, dopamine levels will return to normal - but after 3 days?  Maybe it's because 2 weeks before I completely quit I was down to 1/2 a pill a day, and then 1/4 of a pill. I'm just trying to figure out if my brain is already healing or if I'm just happy with myself that I'm no longer taking the vic's.  Any words of wisdom are appreciated.  Thanks.  

[TryingItAgain]

you will be ok, just don't take anymore.  It really don't matter the amount of intake... your body is gonna look for that missing link.  Just remember that you are actually healing and getting back to normal.  taking 1/2 pill to feel ok isn't normal, nor was my 5-10.  don't look back and be happy you made this decision.

[Ashelen]

I think you're starting to get into the worst of what you can expect, based on my experience. I was taking 15mg of norco a day, (5mg 3x a day) and when I stopped I definitely had withdrawals, but the worst parts for me were sweats, nausea, and restlessness during the day. I took nyquil to sleep the first night, but nothing after that. i was amazed because I slept well. I had some yucky feeling "jump" at me from the shadows for a few days, but I know I dodged a bullet compared to what else other people went through, and based on what I've gone through when I've tapered/stopped my meds in the past...this time was a lot easier.

I know that day 3 was the worst for me like everyone said it would be..I hit day 3 and went yikes..this s*cks. but I got through it and it's been about 2 1/2 weeks for me and I'm doing better. still dragging a bit and no motivation, but nothing physical lingering.

I think the dose you/I were/was on makes a huge difference. I've been on much higher doses and stronger meds before and the wd's were always horrific, so I was terrified to stop taking the norco but it really wasn't that bad compared.

Hang in there, you're about halfway through the hard part if you're like I was.

good job!

[sandstone27]

Well, I decided not to wait til the weekend to stop, so I stopped today.  My last 1/4 pill was yesterday morning at 11:30 so its been about 31 hours without any vicodin at all.  Last night I slept well, with 1 benedryl and 1/5 mg of klonopin.  The only thing I felt were tight muscles, but I'm not sure if that's due to the withdrawal or the 45 minute resistance workout I did last night. Focusing at work was not a problem.  Anyway, I don't have much else to report, just feeling good, mentally and physically.  (And still hoping that this may be the end of it and there's no sudden withdrawal symptoms lurking in the shadows that will come at me when I least expect it. Has that ever happened?   Thanks everyone.

[Virgo1722]

It's great that you are aware of your addiction, regardless of the dose! Don't ever let anyone tell you how good you have it just because your at a low dose. You nailed it when you said "When it's yours, it's a problem". I love that!!! It definately helps to be aware of yourself and you're already on top of that! Nobody knows you better than you. Hang in there....you got this!!!!

[constantbeauty]

I had that happen to me as well, so weird that you mentioned that! I also had RLS and ate bananas for that -- but everything else, I really did nothing except for take hot showers ALL the time, which helped for a little while. When it started to come back, I would get right back in the shower.

[abritt121222]

It is common to just be restless all around some people will only have restless legs but some people like me have what i would i guess call just restless joints because when i was in withdrawals i would always feel like i needed to move my ankles knees wrist elbow and yes my back felt like you say to but you shouldnt feel this way to long but i would get a good multivitamin and start taking it asap and also potassium and magnesium vitamins that will help with the restless legs and back and that stuff and meletonin will help promote sleep like benadryl does and you could also try some hyland restless leg med and it might help with your back and legs also it never worked for me but some ppl on here swear by it so you could give it a try and all of this i mentioned can be got at walmart and it is not very expensive either but it will help get thru this and make detox faster because i honestly believe once you are detoxed you will be completely fine

Good Luck and Godspeed
ABritt

[sandstone27]

Thanks for all the comments.  The one symptom I didn't mention that I don't see on any of the posts I've read so far is what I would call Restless Spine Syndrome.  Last night I slept OK, fell asleep at 11:30, woke up at 2:30, and had to take a benedryl to get back to sleep at 4:30 - what kept me awake is my spine feeling like a bungee cord or a big rubber band that someone is pulling - it feels very weak.  I don't know if thats just my back nerves talking, but is this common?  

[abritt121222]

I understand exactly what you mean about people saying its not that bad but when its yours it is but one reason i will say its not that bad and in it i mean the whole addiction thing but it seems to me its not bad because you have absolute control over it because you say you have never took more than two and as an addict myself (i am not longer in my active addiction but will always be and addict) but we as addicts do not have the control you do because as soon as we stop feeling the effect we dont even think twice about taking more we just take it what it does to our body is not even on our minds and that is another reason i say it will be alot easier on you because you are not mentaly addicted just you are what i would call dependent on the med which in my mind is completely different because someone who is dependent in my opinion takes the med because they really need it but they also have complete control of it an addict like myself has no control even tho i did need the med because of back probs and two major back surgeries i didnt need near as much as i was taking so i think you will do fine coming off of them because of your self control you have over the med and because you obviously arent seeking the high like i used to and that makes me think that even tho you will go thru hopefully just very minor withdrawal you will not be thinking about pills pills pills like us addicts do well i hope that makes sense to you but feel free to send me a msg or anythign if you need any help

Good Luck and Godspeed
ABritt

[North2South]

Sounds to me like you are ready to start living again, good for you! You are on a low dose but for quite some time so....... Yes you will have withdrawel but I don't believe your a wimp at all. My advice is get some of the things virgo1722 mentioned and whenever your weekend off of work comes around STOP! Maybe use a sickday on ur monday,after those few days are over the worst should be over as well. Hope you do and remember to stay on this site those few days to help you out. We all got your back so good luck!

[constantbeauty]

I was prescribed Hydrocodone 5/500 for the same amount of time as well. The doctor wrote me a script for 90-120 a month [it varied] telling me to take 4-6 a day, even if I did't need it in case the pain would suddenly come on. But like you, I only took no more than two a day -- but none the less, I took it everyday. I have a weird anxiety thing with me, so I was always scared to take more than the two pills a day.

My WD symptoms were minimal, but then again at times they were still kind of unbearable. Your body has been so used to having chemicals in it all the time and now all of a sudden, it's starting to look for the pill in your system. Now that it's not there, your body is reacting. I think the hardest part for me going through what I did, was realizing that everyone is different in their experience with WD, but it sounds like you're starting out the same way that I did.

I wish ou the best of luck, and please keep posting. The main thing that has helped so many others just like me and you is posting, posting, updating and....smiling!

[sandstone27]

Thanks for the response and I hope you're right.  I know alot of people may read my post and think it's not much of a problem, but when it's yours, it is a problem  The thing I learned about vicodin is that, when I first started taking it (for back spasms) it was very relaxing and put me in a good mood.  I don't drink or smoke, so they really had an effect on me in the beginning.  In the last 6 months, I lost 2 family members, and with the exception of work, spent most of my time in my bedroom and thought the vicodin was actually helping me to deal with the grief.  In the last month or so, when I've started to really come to terms with things, and the vicodin is now leaving my body (however much there was), I've found that it was the vicodin keeping me in my room, not wanting to face life.  I thought it was the grief keeping me in hiding, but I was wrong.  It was the pills all along.  Go figure.  

[Virgo1722]

Your dose is super low so that's certainly a plus. You will probably feel some withdrawl but I don't think it would be unbearable, however, everyone is different. Your body will still be looking for what's missing so when all else fails, expect the unexpected. I would suggest trying not to overthink it. If you don't feel bad, tell yourself that. Don't let your mind manifest what doesn't need to be. It is best to be prepared though. Buy yourself some vitamins, PM meds for sleep, Tylenol or something similar for muscle aches, Hylands RSL for restless legs. It's great that you still have an appetite! Keep that up, it certainly helps with energy. Eat healthy foods for awhile though. You were strong enough to keep your dosage low so your strong enough for this!

[abritt121222]

it does sound like you are having minor withdrawal but i would just not take anymore if you do want off of them and being that you have been taking such a low dose withdrawal most likely wont get any worse and wont last very long at all

Good Luck and Godspeed
ABritt