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Helping a family member off Hydrocodone...
My elderly aunt (85) fell and broke her hip, needed rods and pins. They put her on 2 (two) 10-325 hydro (Norco) every 4 to 6 hours while in the hospital and rehab...she took them every chance she got so very very scarred of the pain of the fall/break (she laid there several hours before she was found).
Now her doctor has been trying to help her taper off of them. He gave her a schedule and she was suppose to be taking 1 (one) 5-325 pill every 6 hours (according to her taper schedule)...turns out she hasn't been following the taper and has been taking two pills every four to five hours sometimes as close as three hours...as soon as she feels the slightest withdrawal symptom she pops a pill then the second one because the first one isn't working fast enough to "stop the withdrawal". I just found out because she called me in a panic that she would be out of pills tomorrow and they will not refill her prescription it is too soon. So she admitted what she had been doing.
So, I guess my question is so my uncle and I take charge of her pills, so she has to go by the schedule? I plan on writing out a taper schedule on an actual calendar for all of us to be on the same page. Do we need to take her back to the doctor and get a new schedule? (Previously she would not let us in the room with her and the doctor...but we would now insist on being in there...I am on her HIPPA waver form, so I can get information and be in the room).
How to I tell my elderly aunt she is going to have to go through some withdrawal symptoms that there is no other way to get off these pills...???
I could use any advice I can get...Thank you!!
Now her doctor has been trying to help her taper off of them. He gave her a schedule and she was suppose to be taking 1 (one) 5-325 pill every 6 hours (according to her taper schedule)...turns out she hasn't been following the taper and has been taking two pills every four to five hours sometimes as close as three hours...as soon as she feels the slightest withdrawal symptom she pops a pill then the second one because the first one isn't working fast enough to "stop the withdrawal". I just found out because she called me in a panic that she would be out of pills tomorrow and they will not refill her prescription it is too soon. So she admitted what she had been doing.
So, I guess my question is so my uncle and I take charge of her pills, so she has to go by the schedule? I plan on writing out a taper schedule on an actual calendar for all of us to be on the same page. Do we need to take her back to the doctor and get a new schedule? (Previously she would not let us in the room with her and the doctor...but we would now insist on being in there...I am on her HIPPA waver form, so I can get information and be in the room).
How to I tell my elderly aunt she is going to have to go through some withdrawal symptoms that there is no other way to get off these pills...???
I could use any advice I can get...Thank you!!
I just got home from her house. The doctor's office called and prescribed her EIGHT pills a day, which I guess is good in the since she will stop having an anxiety attack about having enough pills.
The nurse (didn't get to speak with the doctor) said she could work her way down however, she feels like it....gee, thanks!!
Anyways, I looked at her doctor's original tapering schedule and she is over a month behind in tapering. So, I printed out a calendar and then in large print put the exact times she is to take her pills...at every four hours through the end of this week, that is where she is claiming to be now, so the next few days will tell if she really is at every four. Then moved it to every five hours for two weeks, then every six hours for two weeks...then we need to see the doctor before then because that is as far as his tapering schedule goes.
I spoke with my uncle and we are not allowing her to have access to the pill bottle and we are going to see if she has any hidden away for ("just in case"). We are actually going to go out to breakfast tomorrow and have a meeting about how we are going to handle the next few weeks.
Thank everyone so very very much for responding and just the support and advice is wonderful. I love her very much and want her to be able to get off of these and not let them rule her every waking moment like they are right now.
The good thing is that she isn't in any pain from her injury...so weaning her off won't leave her with pain in her hip...the surgeon says it maybe achy from time to time, but OTC should be enough.
Thanks again!!
The nurse (didn't get to speak with the doctor) said she could work her way down however, she feels like it....gee, thanks!!
Anyways, I looked at her doctor's original tapering schedule and she is over a month behind in tapering. So, I printed out a calendar and then in large print put the exact times she is to take her pills...at every four hours through the end of this week, that is where she is claiming to be now, so the next few days will tell if she really is at every four. Then moved it to every five hours for two weeks, then every six hours for two weeks...then we need to see the doctor before then because that is as far as his tapering schedule goes.
I spoke with my uncle and we are not allowing her to have access to the pill bottle and we are going to see if she has any hidden away for ("just in case"). We are actually going to go out to breakfast tomorrow and have a meeting about how we are going to handle the next few weeks.
Thank everyone so very very much for responding and just the support and advice is wonderful. I love her very much and want her to be able to get off of these and not let them rule her every waking moment like they are right now.
The good thing is that she isn't in any pain from her injury...so weaning her off won't leave her with pain in her hip...the surgeon says it maybe achy from time to time, but OTC should be enough.
Thanks again!!
Well, she hasn't been taking them that long but given her age and the fact that she may have been on some pain meds before this...it's possible she may be experiencing some slight withdrawals. Is she dramatic to begin with?
Anyway, tapering is the best, with you or your uncle In charge of the pills. She sounds like she's pretty alert and she may not like giving the pills over to you but the flip side is having her dependent on the things and that's not good! Good luck with this and stay in touch so we know how you're doing-
Anyway, tapering is the best, with you or your uncle In charge of the pills. She sounds like she's pretty alert and she may not like giving the pills over to you but the flip side is having her dependent on the things and that's not good! Good luck with this and stay in touch so we know how you're doing-
yes alot of people depending on amount of meds be taken can begin withdrawl as little as 6 hrs after last dose
yes she's been taking way more that presecribed....for quite a while....you need to do what you're doing and be more stern with her, and my guess is
she's 2 weeks early...she is going to be in bad shape due to her age
and call the doctor imediately and explain what's going on and you want his help to help get off the meds, he may stop all together.... alot of docs do
that, so be aware of not to alienate the doc...and really be supportive and ask for help.... good luck....
she's 2 weeks early...she is going to be in bad shape due to her age
and call the doctor imediately and explain what's going on and you want his help to help get off the meds, he may stop all together.... alot of docs do
that, so be aware of not to alienate the doc...and really be supportive and ask for help.... good luck....
She has been taking pills since the first of November...so three and a half months.
She could be taking as many as twelve of as few as six...I have a feeling it is somewhere inbetween...
I am pretty sure her doctor will call in more pills...she has called his office. He is aware of the situation, but not that she isn't following the schedule (well, I guess he is now that she is calling in for more pills).
She literally will tell us she is having withdrawal symptoms and that is the reason she needs the next pill. Anxious, shaky, runny nose, nauseous...
According to my reading on the topic she shouldn't be feeling so bad so soon. But one day she over slept by a couple of hours and woke up really really sick until she took her pills.
Can the symptoms come on that fast?? Like suddenly needing a pill 3 hours after the last??
She could be taking as many as twelve of as few as six...I have a feeling it is somewhere inbetween...
I am pretty sure her doctor will call in more pills...she has called his office. He is aware of the situation, but not that she isn't following the schedule (well, I guess he is now that she is calling in for more pills).
She literally will tell us she is having withdrawal symptoms and that is the reason she needs the next pill. Anxious, shaky, runny nose, nauseous...
According to my reading on the topic she shouldn't be feeling so bad so soon. But one day she over slept by a couple of hours and woke up really really sick until she took her pills.
Can the symptoms come on that fast?? Like suddenly needing a pill 3 hours after the last??
How long has she been taking the pain med?
If you do the schedule you have described, she won't really have wd's between doses, unless she's been taking over 12 pills a day or more. In that case, dropping to 4 pills a day may be too much.
Determine how many she's been taking per day and give the doctor a call to re do her schedule. What is going to happen now that she's out of pills?
If you do the schedule you have described, she won't really have wd's between doses, unless she's been taking over 12 pills a day or more. In that case, dropping to 4 pills a day may be too much.
Determine how many she's been taking per day and give the doctor a call to re do her schedule. What is going to happen now that she's out of pills?
Hi & Welcome,
Keep her on the same schedule as the doctor gave her. If you feel close enough to the doctor and feel that he will do the right thing then get honest with him. Tell him you will be holding her medication. The more people involved the lesser chance she has to obtain pills on her own. Talk frankly with her and tell her how you feel and that you are willing to help her.
You are special to be helping her like this and I commend you. Please let us know how she is doing and if you have any more questions--by all means ask away.
Keep her on the same schedule as the doctor gave her. If you feel close enough to the doctor and feel that he will do the right thing then get honest with him. Tell him you will be holding her medication. The more people involved the lesser chance she has to obtain pills on her own. Talk frankly with her and tell her how you feel and that you are willing to help her.
You are special to be helping her like this and I commend you. Please let us know how she is doing and if you have any more questions--by all means ask away.
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