vicodin addict

[scaredbutdetermined]

I am just beginning this god awful journey and could use any help at all.  been taking 20 or more vicodin a day,depending on strength i can get my hands on, for almost ten years following a severe back injury.  back's pretty good now but have convinced myself that meds are still needed.  I have three beautiful grandchildren and really want to be there for them.  my question is:  since i have been taking so many for so long am i in any danger if i try to do this on my own?  i think i can deal with whatever happens as long as i know i'm not gonna die. its only been 11 hours and already getting pretty rough.  i'm a single mom and cant afford to not work to go for any type of treatment.  is there any way i'm going to be able to work while going through this or am i fooling myself?  any suggestions would help.

[sunshine521]

I'm in the same shoes as you so don't feel alone. This website is really making a difference for me. I'll suggest to you what someone told me, read the litt. on PAWS in the upper corner tabs under health pages it is full of info and tips on how to maintain w/d and what to expect! We are all here for you. Keep up the good work! As long as your are trying it will turn around and you will feel so much better!

[ANDY1952]

HI,I ALSO AM AN HYDROCODONE ADDICT.I HAVE BEEN ON SUBOXONE FOR 20 DAYS NOW AND AM DOING GREAT.I WENT TO A FETOX CENTER FOR 4 DAYS BEFORE AND THEY ONLY KEPT ME ON THE SUB. FOR 4 DAYS AND BELIEVE ME,IT WAS NOT LONG ENOUGH.I FELT GREAT WHEN I GOT OUT,NUT AS SOON AS THE SUB. GOT OUT OF MY SYSTEM I WAS GOING NUTS.I MADE IT 23 DAYS AND THE WITHDRAWAL NEVER LET UP.SO I STARTED USING AGAIN..I FOUND A DR. ON-LINE THAT PRESCRIBED THE SUBOXONE FOR ME AND I WOULD NOT ADVISE ANYONE TO GO COLD TURKEY.IT JUST IS PURE HELL.I WAS ON THE HYDRO. FOR 15 YRS DUE TO 11 BACK SURGERIES.LOOK ON LINE AND YOU WILL LOCATE A DR. THAT WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU.GOOD LUCK.

[VicodinHelp]

havent seen any posting here for awhile so hope folks are still around.

i have a LOT of upper back, neck, can chest pain and have been prescribed two 500 mg Naprosyn and two Vicodin 5/500 to be taken    daily -- one of each morning and evening.  after reading up on vicodin and particularly this forum i became concerned that perhaps i was addicted since i have been taking these for about 6 months.  so... i detoxed which only took about 4 or 5 days and only had problems sleeping during the nights - days were OK.  after about 12 days my of feeling my body w/o the vicodin i am back to aching esp at the end of the day.  the last 3 days i have taken 1/2 a vicodin and it helps a little - not quite the relief that i get from a whole one.  

my question is what the long term side effects would be of continuing to take vicodin at that dosage - ( i.e 2 5/500 per day)???

bottom line -- if that dosage isnt going to have major long term side effects im thinking to resume them.

advice appreciated.

[shelby74]

I have never been judged, not once here.  So no need to worry there and if someone says anything negative about anyone anyway - they pretty much get trampled by the rest of us.  So no worries! :)

I will be honest with you, the next few days will be hard.  I am sure it was mentioned but the symptoms to expect are leg pain (restless leg syndrome), sore all over, sleeplessness, stomach upset (hard to eat and you go to the bathroom a lot), sneezing, sensitivity, you pretty much feel like you have the flu.  You have to remember though - it is temporary.  It depends on the person.  The first few days are usually the worst.  Slowly you will improve.  Please see the Thomas Recipe - it helps with a lot of the symptoms.  Something else that helps me is eating banana's - helps with the leg pain.  Warm baths for the aches - trust me this is one thing you will be doing a lot these first few days - it really helps.  Someone recently suggested I listen to my ipod in the bath and I did that last night.  Helps to take your mind off the withdrawals.  Another thing and I think the post important is posting here.  The moral support has helped me so much - I can't begin to tell you.  I have gone through this before but never had any kind of support system.  I think about the people here a lot - wondering how everyone else is doing and so I am not dwelling so much on myself.

If you need to vent or just talk about anything - do it here.  I was feeling very bad the other night and I posted and you get the positive feedback from everyone here - it helps so much!

My email is ms.***@****.  I check it everyday and I will help the best I can.  Email me anytime - don't hesitate!

Shelby

[shelby74]

Dear Scared,

First let me say we know what you are going through and will be here for you.  There are a lot of very nice people here - obviously you can tell from those that have responded to you already.  I was up to around 15 - 10 mg Vic's a day.  I was clean for 3 months recently and I took just one - the cycle started again.  I was back up to 4 in a month.  I have been clean now for 8 days.  It has been hard but adventually each day gets better and better.  Today is my best day yet.  I did it cold turkey.  I did not taper at all.  I don't taper well - there is too much temptation for me.  Going to your Doc though and just being honest with him is great advice as long as you get a Doc who is willing to help you.  I wish you all the best!

Shelby

[scaredbutdetermined]

thanks to all who responded so quickly to me.  it really does help just to not feel alone or judged.  i sat and read everyone's comments and just started crying but it was a good cry.  i haven't learned who's who yet so i'll just post my comments in general.  to answer someone's question i've been taken between 18 and 20 vics a day for over 9 years. when i get the "10s" i only take 8 or 9. and yes i'm doing it cold turkey on my own.  i have called a place locally and asked some questions and they said they are there if i need them. when does it get real bad? its been about 16 hours and i'm doing alright. not great but way better than i expected.  isn't soboxone just another opiate that you have to try and get off of?    thanks again cause you have all helped already.  

[Tim2H]

Welcome! I was on 12-15, 10/325 hyrdro a day. I went c/t 14 days ago and it wasn't easy. My wife is in the medical field and brought home some valium, neurontin and codeine 2. This medication was for one week only. I didn't take the codeine and only took a few valiums and neurontin. I have been abusing hydrocodone for about a year and took them because of an accident I had been in. I liked the way they made me feel back then and had to keep upping the dose to get the same effect. The pills started to make me feel sick, I was getting sweats, shortness of breath and really had no motivation at all. You will feel so much better when you get off of them. I know I want to see my grandchildren get married someday. My children are quite young now and they deserve a Dad that is not hooked on pills. I keep them in mind when I really want a pill. I understand the suboxene is a good drug to ease the withdrawals. I wish you the best and hope you make the decision that will fit your needs.

Tim

[L's R Misery]

yeah you can do it trust me. i'm having trouble myself so maybe we can support each other as much as possible. i've been 10 hours in and already feeling rough craving badly.....cuz i was taking 10-12 a day then cut in half to 6 a day now down to 0!!! (10mg lortabs) feeling awful but looking forward to a normal life again :) i'm sure friday and saturday will be rough.....i wont even feel like sitting at my computer i wont feel like getting out of bed and i have to work sunday night so if it isn't over by then i'll lose my job if i miss work....and i wont miss work because unlike some people i think work helps to get your mind off of sickness......somehow it heals me even if it's a bad day at work at least it's better than a bad day detoxing lol ......take care we're all here for ya

good luck, B

[Jules1974]

I am on day 5 of no Norco (10/325) and just started feeling crappy.  I couldn't sleep last night very well and was very restless. Today I'm tired and anxious.  Has anyone ever tried taking Buspar for the anxiety aspect?  No one in my house or workplace know so I'm doing my best to hide it!  Help!

[scaredbutdetermined]

i cant imagine trying to do this without letting anyone know! its all i've talked about all day to anybody who will listen.  i think i do that so it pressures me not to fail.  i have wonderful supportive family although they cant comprehend what i'm going through they really try to help. i would go insane if i had to try and hide how i feel.  i am so sorry for you. it makes me realize however bad it is it could be worse.  i dont know what the heck i'm doing but if i can help let me know

[liscamdave]

Welcome to the Forum...Stick to this site...it will help you tremendously.
There is a way for you to work and detox yourself. It won't be easy, but it can be done, if that is how u have to do it. You can try to find a Suboxone doctor in your area. Suboxone is a med they put opiate addicts on to help get them off the opiates and through the withdrawal. There are other alternatives, Methadone, Naltrexone, Burenorphine..Google all of these and find Dr.s that administer these programs..Most are all outpatient.

It will be much harder to detox yourself. The chances of relapse are high..You need all the help, love and support u can get right now to come out on top. You can do it. Kepp loggin into this site. We will all help you...

Good Luck...If u need any info, let me know...

Lisa

[lonote]

hi hon. i too am a grandma and i got to feeling sooooo guilty
about this addiction and that i wasn't going to be around for
long unless i did something right now, which was two weeks ago.
i saw the doc and was completly honest with him, told him i had
been  abusing my meds, and i had an occasion to go to and i was
scared to death i was going to havd with w/d while i was in chicago
at my sons graduation from bootcamp. (Navy)  anyways he put me on
suboxone which isn't for everyone, but it sure made a world of
difference for me. i urge you to see your doc, be completly honest
with him and the two of you can come up with a  plan for you.    the
longer you wait, the worse you will feel. it definately took the edge off
for me and right now i feel pretty damm good.

[tztlady]

Hello and welcome to the forum.  Are you doing this cold turkey?  Are you completely out of pills or are you trying to taper down?  If you are going cold turkey you will have pretty rough withdrawals for about a week, the worst for me when I did it was days 4 and 5.   Is there any way you could take either tomorrow or Monday off?  Just pretend you really have the flu and call it that.
Also, what mg are/were your hydros?  
You are a very wise woman who loves her family, I can tell by your post.  I am sure you mean the world to your children and grandchildren, I am happy that you are getting clean so that you can have not only more years with them, but better years with them as well.
Keep posting, people are online all during the day. I'm off to work but will check back tonight (I'm on Pacific time).