Dangers of cold turkey

[Labonte18]

I need to know if there are any real physical dangers of quitting cold turkey (Hydrocodone) other than being miserable as hell, will it hurt me physically if i just quit and try to deal with it on my own.??????????????

[confused456]

Thank you both Cathy and Mike.
Mike...LOL...there is that sense of humor I love to see from you and you are doing GREAT!!! You made it past that 14 day mark!! I am very happy for you!!!

[Mikeinthesouth]

Don't sweat it confused I have heard and read many doctors say it is not a physical  threat permantly unless of course you start with poor health in the first place. It all depends on the individual and your comment was your opinion and that as you see it. It is some of your posts and replies that have gotten me through many of minutes of this the last two weeks.  From a heavy user for a long period of time going clod turkey. Hope I don't eat my words and drop dead. Keep up the good work. My Love to you, Mike

[cathy5841]

basically confused is correct.  as far as ppl dieing from w/ds there is no danger in it.  research it and you will see.  yes there is a danger of high blood pressure...but not deadly.  the DANGERS of w/d from cold turkey are no greater than taper.  the difference is in the severity of the symptoms.  if you google withdrawals from opiates, you will see it says there is no danger to w/ds.  the symptoms may make you want to die...but it dont happen.  thats being said, it is always good to see your dr, if you have that option.  they can prescribe certain meds that make the symptoms more bearable.   good luck.
cathy

[cocobeanlisa]

I just want to add one last thing and than that's it from me...

I do not know about anyone else and again I am not a doctor (I just play one on TV)

After all of my years on hydros and after all of the years drinking (iam a 11years sober now) I did not know my body was in bad health, I thought I was in perfect health when indeed I was not..
That is why I do not like to give any medical advise besides saying that if possible people should see one.

I work with alot of Doctors on a daily basis now and have been around alot of detox centers and hospitals and you would be surprised in the things I have seen..I also am very close to a place here in Fort Lauderdal called the Broward House.  They work only with people with HIV and other serious health issues, and each case is different and when it comes to detox from anything they are handled on a one by one case.

That's why I say Never say never...And I think it's great that we can disagree, that's just look out for the new comer..

cocobean

[confused456]

Thank you Cocoa and I have and will apologize again. I have no shame in admitting where I am wrong and I fully understand your point of view. Thank you so much! I am sorry that you had to endure that. I hope you are doing well now.

Addictedme.....she didn't need to direct it to me, I was the only one who responded and she did direct it at me, read the entire thing, she repeats what I had wrote. That is not something that bothers me anyway. I just had already seen the other post and talked to her in a PM and so I had the info. that I needed but I agree that I should not have said that on the open forum for others to see that are taking much more. THAT is why I am apologizing. I hold NO bad feelings towards Dove or anyone else that had responded to this post. Thank you.

[VicUser]

After taking vicodin for 7 yrs at a dosage of 3 5/500 a day I found that going c/t had no more adverse affects on me that a mild flu. The only exception to that was the lack of energy and restless sleeping for a while after the drugs were out of my system.

[addictedme]

Any input meant to help is good input. They put dangers on all meds even though the dangers may be unlikely its still good to know,,thank you

[addictedme]

The reply wasnt addressed to you. Dove said never say never and in a good way.

[cocobeanlisa]

I am sorry, I am very sensitive to this subject because of what I went thru, and I must say
I did/do not see her post regarding the amount she is on..yes you are right in most cases there is no lasting physical danger.

So please I did not mean any disrespect to any one......I just
want to make sure no one
suffers more than they have to in detox....

I must add that I think this thing they call recover is a great thing where people can share their feelings/thoughts and such and have different views and share them without hurting others and in a kind respectful way..thanks for letting me say my peace so enough from me.

cocobean

[confused456]

I didn't say NEVER! I said nope, none! AND I had known already her amount. thank you

[addictedme]

A person would probably have a better chance of getting hit by a bus then dieing from opiate wds,,,if I took 40 to 50 pills a day for 6 yrs I"d be far more concerned with my liver then wds.

[confused456]

Cocoa and all....I replied the way I did cuz I had already read her first post and knew she did not take over 10 a day for only 6 months. Sorry for jumping off like that but I was happy to see someone trying and wanting to get clean and at her dose, I think there is NO harm. Again, my apologies. To different ppl at different doses, there could very well be a concern if taken in LARGE amounts for a long time.

I AM SORRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[cocobeanlisa]

AS shared in here many times it all depends on how much/how long you where using.


Most people are not taking 40 to 50 pills of norco a day, that was a very high amount for a long period of time.  MY body did go into shock and I had blood in my urine which led to kidney biopsy and much much more...I have learned I am NOT A DOCTOR so I do not give medical advise.  I will how ever say to people that yes if possible please check with your doctor.  If you are in good health and like i have said before are only on 4-5 even 10 pills a day for a short period of time 1year-2 years NO You will not be in any danger from c/t and
yes I do believe that c/t is the best way to detox......

Never say Never..

cocobean

P.S. I am sorry to disagree and I do not wish to upset any one, however my interest is for the newcomer.  And everyone is differnet in body and mind, I just know that had I listened to others and not taken my advise from a man on TV who did not even know me I would not have the health problems I have today..

[traveladdict]

When I detoxed the first time back in Dec I felt like I was going to die for 4 days. I also would have paid someone to throw a toaster in my bath water.lol  Like cocabeanlisa says watch your fluids and minerals and you will more than likely be fine.

[Crispy]

With hydro since its so short acting your body would be out of the serious w.d before it even thought about shutting down on you. Unlike heroin your body wont vomit and #2 so much that you die of dehydration or kidney or liver failure. But not saying dont fight the dehydration just the doc said its almost impossible to die from w.ds from hydro even though it feels like you are :) You do your body more harm then good staying on them for so long but idk your medical history so take this with a grain of salt and always consult a physician possibly a rehab physician as there major focus is with addicts

[poetrygirl1960]

Because of the nature of opiates yes w/d can be physically dangerous.  Not because it's uncomfortable, but because your body is use to this chemical in your central nervous system.  Shutting it off suddenly could throw your body in to a form of shock causing  BP, digestion, and nerve impulses to go out of control.  It can be done, but I personally think it's so much safer to see a doctor.

Good luck!

[addict3]

I am on day 14 of cold turkey, it IS doable however, I might suggest you check with your Dr. before doing so.

I do not want to discourage you at all, but it is not pleasant in any way shape or form, and I am still feeling effects. I was taking the same drug' 10 mg 10 daily, for more than 10 years, your body may be different than mine so that is why I caution.

There are a lot of GOOD people to talk to here to get you through this.
You HAVE to make up your mind to stop and this site can help.
Best of luck in what you choose.

[confused456]

TO ALL:
My apologies. I have read up on this and maybe I was reading whatever Dr. Phil was reading, but in MOST cases, as Mike stated, there is NO harm in it.

[cocobeanlisa]

I am so sorry to disagree with you there can be very serious side effects to going c/t.

And YES IT CAN REALLY HURT YOU>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

It all depends on the amount and how long you have been using..Stupid me I was on
40/50 10/325mgs a day for 6 years and listened to Dr. Phil on TV when he said that
you can never be in any physical danger going c/t from hydrocodone....Well after ending
up in the hospital from dehydration and blood in my stool and a busted throat from
throwing up I was sent to a detox center and I still suffer from HTN......

It is always best to see a Doctor before detoxing, but since that's not always possible due to money or so forth, this forum is a great place to see what other people have done.

LaBonte18
I have to ask what amount of hydro are you on and for how long ?  You can do a taper or
depending on the amount you can go c/t..For people that have been taking a lower dose of pills 4-5 a day for a short period of time, no it will not kill you to go c/t.  You will have some discomfort, but that depends on you..There are lots of other things t hat can help also,, vitamins herbs, Thomas receipe and so forth...
PLease hang in there and wait for some other post.

cocobean

[Mikeinthesouth]

I have heard that dying through dope wds are not a thing that is seen on a normal basis. Alcohol yes not drugs though. I would think to tell you heck no you won't die if you are in a decent health and if you are concerned than see a dr before doing so but if you want to do this coldturkey they might try to make you go other routes. Mike

[dove3053]

Never say Never---In a perfect world we would all be able to see a dr. before going cold turkey. I did a slow taper that ended up just really going ct and my blood pressure started getting real high as wd's set in. So, I would never go as far as saying NOPE!!! NONE!!!

dOVE

[confused456]

NOPE!!! NONE!!!!