Does the vicodin withdrawls get better after day 4?

[nic374]

Ive been toying with the idea of getting off vicoprofen for a long time now, well I think I finally hit my all time low about a week ago that I just wanted to live normal again. Ive been on vicoprofen for about 4yrs now, about 4 days ago I finally decided this is it, in my whole time taking vicoprofen ive never have gone so long with wanting to give it up, I was taking probably over 30 7.5/200 per day, well maybe I went at this qutting thing a little to hard and in the past four days I have only taken 7 from morning to evening, I feel like S****T I have not been able to do nothing with my house or even been able to get myself dressed for the day in the morning, It really feels like I have had no pills, will tomo morning i feel better? I read old post about vicodin from 2000,01,02,03,04,05 and it makes me want to cry my heart out because in those yrs I didnt even know the word vicodin let alone take one, like some many people on this forum u just want to leave it behind u and move foward, I know 7 a day is not good and I hoping when i do quit I wont have to redo day one again, this is so horrible! and so very, very painful but I know that it has to be done, will my suffering continue or will I start feeling better and I hope I do real soon, thanks for the help

[loveJwhite]

I've been thinking about you-how are you doing? Have you thought about just tossin them yet? If not keep on truckin by decreasing like you are...hang in there. I'm on day six-the sun is out and I actually notice for once. I'm pulling for you!

[nic374]

thanks for the message it helps, and yes we have alot of rain!

[bmdad]

I agree with the above, dropping from 30 a day to 7 is not really worth it. Most taper programs go way slower than that. If you didn't plan on a slow taper you would be better off to just go cold turkey. You are dragging at the withdrawals. You will continue to feel miserable until you are completely done taking them and then you will have a few more days of feeling uncomfortable. I'm sure those 7 pills a day are just a mental crutch. You can fight through the mental aspect and be done with the pills for good. I understand what you are going through as I have been there myself.
Have you checked in to the amino acid protocol? You can find it in the health pages. It lists a bunch of vitamins and supplements that will help combat the withdrawals. Also be sure to eat healthy, push the good fluids, and exercise. I can't stress exercise enough. It will a world of difference. I know it can be hard to muster up the energy to do so but even a walk around the block is great for starters. You will soon find out that a walk around the block will turn in to a few miles. I was jogging over 3 miles a day 3 days in to cold turkey. I day one I never would have thought I would be doing that!
I know the appetite is very strong during withdrawals. You have to try and eat. I drank protein shakes to help make up for the lack of food. It did help a bit with the energy level. There have been other members that also benefited from protein shakes. I know Gnarly1 swears by them and even though he's around 300 days clean he still drinks them. You also want to stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water and gatorade/powerade. Even slight dehydration will cause some pain.
Stay busy is huge. Do not lay around and feel sorry for yourself. It will just drag out the withdrawals. I've worked 12 hour days, 7 days a week while withdrawing. It was tough but it made the withdrawals seem easier because I stayed busy which kept my mind off of it. I think it also helped from moving around. The times I've laid around during withdrawals seem to drag them out by a week or more. Try and keep your everyday routine. Rent some funny movies, do a jigsaw puzzle, pick up a good book, anything to keep your mind from thinking too much about how you feel!
Also be sure to get on here and post often. It will give you something to look back at if you ever get the urge to take the again. Be sure to answer other people's posts. It will make you feel good knowing that a encouraging words that you said may have been what it took for that person to get clean. It also helps because you will make some wonderful lifelong friends on here that will always be here for you to keep you from going down this road again. We are like one big happy family!
Most importantly, stay mentally strong and focus on your goal. Many have been in your shoes and many came out on the other side. I was taking over 25, 10mg norcos and eventually got to where I was taking around 5, 80mg oxycontin a day. It took some fighting but with support from all of the wonderful people here and some hard work I made it through. You will make it too!!! Keep fighting and tell yourself every second of every day that failing is not an option. You will make it through! If you need anything, please let me know!
Is it raining up there? I'm in Central IL and its been raining since around midnight and is still raining now. We sure needed it! I haven't had to mow in over two weeks!
Best of luck!

Brian

[bucksfan]

You were on a pretty hefty dose but for about the same amount of time I was. I can tell ya that my average dose on most of the times I tried to quit was 40-50MG of hyrdo's a day. The WD's are not fun but are I was able to manage them each time and they would be gone by day 3 or 4. I would look up Thomas Recipe if you havent. I promise the physical's do go away! Be proud of yourself for already weening down so much.

[nic374]

thanks for your post I know Im just dragging thisl agonizing process, Ive been up since 4 Am, and felt everybone hurt last nite not a good slleep, I have been using xanex very very short term just to sleep at nite, but i didnt have any lastnite so no sleep, I cant say that even 7 help me thru the day i was so high on vicodin for years at 30 some pills a day for serveral years even looking back at some my old post from 08 i was still at 30 some pills at that time, idk maybe ive was at 40 this yr , i just took and didnt even count them out, I always had my doctor to go to if I ran out it didnt mean anything to me to take handfuls of pills a day, and i thought it was helping me with the day, but looking back it didnt do anything but made me go nite, nite.  and for loveJwhite its good u came along way, I know what ur saying the only reason im in this mess because my mom gave them to me a long time  ago then i helped it along by just taking them with no regret,

[Storme]

Your getting down to 7 from 30 a day is awesome but honestly, you are just prolonging your agony. Dump those pills hon and get the withdrawals over with if you can. I realize being able to sleep is wonderful but you still need to get off the pills completely. I know this feels awful, it is going to get worse for a little while and then I promise you, it will feel so much better. You will have control over your life again! Please try to get rid of those pills and do the Thomas Recipe (found in the health pages) to keep hydrated and to help with the withdrawals. And keep us posted please!

[Newlife58]

I was able to sleep 5 hrs straight last night what a relief was wondering if sleep would ever return.
Begining day 7 with no pills and 44th day of my tapper plan. With this forum I was able to see what was in my future if I did not change my ways. I feel a little guilty benifitting from others misery . All I hope is that someone will read my words and see it can be done. You just have to read all the post and find out what works for you. 44 days ago 10 -12  lortab 10/500  a day. Today 0

[gnarly_1]

HI and welcome to the forum....your doing great for tapering off but your going to feel it wile you keep reducing your dose...my advise is keep droping till it seams unbearable then it time to just jump ship and get it over with..your doing a lot of damage control by tapering but your also prolonging the agony your at a safe enough dose to jump now and just bit the bullet and get it over with...it up to you..your talking to a guy that had to taper for 8 1/2 months off of methadone and I did it fast..going in and out of withdrawals along the way so I feel you pain...hang in there get comfortable with the saying ....''you just got to be ok without being ok for a wile""...the misery is only temporary try not to let fear into the equation it is always worst in our minds then it actually turns out to be...it 1/3 physical 2/3 ments be ready to fight on both fronts...keep posting for support where all out here for your help ask any questions you have we can get you threw this good luck and God bless....Gnarly  

[loveJwhite]

Down to 7 from THIRTY is a HUGE jump.....YOU keep going too. Maybe soon you can talk yourself into throwing them away completely. I know that is hard and scary, but keep that in the back of your mind. If I did it cold turkey, anyone can. Pills have ruled my life for too long. I am such a wuss, believe me....and I'm doing this while taking care of a 1 1/2 year old and a 13 year old....it is the hardest thing I've ever done. My husband owns a business so he is gone all day...it is rough. I will keep in touch and keep thinking of you.

[nic374]

I appreiciate the nice words, I know this is very hard and Im not even off of them yet, so I cant releate to how u most feel with no medicine, but look at this way your on your way to day 5 dont stop now, then u go back to day one again, and no I dont have anyone Ive can talk to my husband doesnt even know I have a drug problem I never had anyone see me take my meds its alot to hide at 30 some a day especially when u have to make excuses on why ur gone for some many hours in a day that would be the time that I would see my doc and go the drug store to get them filled, I know it doesnt even make since to take them, Ive always been the type of person that would need the pills to be close to me just in case, I just keep on thinking that if Im down to 7 from over 30 i can keep tricking my mind to go lower and lower, probably if i didnt have them it would make it better so I wouldnt have any reason to take one, ur doing good! God do I know ur pain but I think u will be ok just keep thinking how nice it will be not to think of them ever again, this cant be any different then qutting smoking right? or maybe im kidding myself, keep in touch Ur well on ur way to recovery at this point, dont go back no matter what gets in ur way!

[loveJwhite]

Hi! Today is the end of day four for me after quitting cold turkey...I've taken 7-15, 7.5 vicodin for the past 3 years, but on and off for over seven years. I may be wrong and somebody will correct me if I am, but I think if you are taking seven a day still, then you have a hard road ahead of you. I'm happy you are trying to quit and I hope you do succeed. I know if I had pills I would take them, so tapering would never work for me. Some people can and some just can't.....I hope you are one who can. Is anybody helping you? You are in my thoughts tonight....I'm feeling awful too, just trying to make it to day 5.