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How long does butalbital withdrawal last?
My wife has been on butalbital w/codein/APAP/caffeine for over 6 years and naturally, she has a dependency. Suddenly her doctor closed up shop and stopped prescribing. So, now she is off the butalbital - cold turkey and says the withdrawal is hell. Does anyone know how long the withdrawal lasts? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Best Answer
The Withdrawal from Fioricet with Codeine: My Neurologist told me that the worst part of the withdrawal is from the butabital, which can cause seizures. The codeine is also another component of the withdrawal causing nausea , vomiting, diarrhea, agitation, depression, strange dayz!!!! I would recommend to wean yourself down and/or add xanax or a benzodiazepine to avoid seizures. It will take a few weeks to start coming around and you may experience depression. Good Luck to All.
The Withdrawal from Fioricet with Codeine: My Neurologist told me that the worst part of the withdrawal is from the butabital, which can cause seizures. The codeine is also another component of the withdrawal causing nausea , vomiting, diarrhea, agitation, depression, strange dayz!!!! I would recommend to wean yourself down and/or add xanax or a benzodiazepine to avoid seizures. It will take a few weeks to start coming around and you may experience depression. Good Luck to All.
Hi there! The question of whether you are addicted or not is one that only you can answer. After taking this med daily for 30 years, you are most definitely physically dependent and it would be very dangerous for you to abruptly stop taking it. If you are considering quitting, you really need to talk to your doctor about it and have him/her set up a taper plan for you. This is an older thread, so try going to the top of the page and hitting the orange 'post a question' link. You can ask your questions, tell your story, and start your own thread. This will allow more people to see it and you will get more support and answers. Please stick around. This is a great place to get advice and support. Good luck to you!
I have averaged 3 Fiorcet with Codiene per day for about 30 years.
I am unable to take N-Saids.
Sometimes my doctor and I try the newer ones (Celexa, etc,) and I invariably end up in endoscopy with an ulcerated stomach lining.
I cannot stand Morphine, Lortabs (and equivalent).
Oxycodone does nothing for my pain.
Tylenol #3 and #4 work IF I can find a pharmacist who will grind them and transfer them to capsules; (Nuts, huh) otherwise I experience severe stomach cramps.
IF I have to have any kind of major surgery, or when my interstitial cystitis acts up, my doctor gives me dilaudid and valium.
I have half a bottle of 4mg dilaudid left from the last time, and about 60 valium. The Fiorcet is used to treat any pain that tylenol won't take care of.
We tried plain codiene and ativan, valium with codiene, but they didn't give the same pain relief.
So am I addicted to the Fiorcet?
I smoked for about 7 years and stopped one day.
Never smoked again.
I don't crave the Fiorcet; I only take them for pain.
I don't drink very often...1-2 glasses of wine every 4 to six weeks.
In 2001 I lost 80 pounds and didn't drink for 3 years.
I don't do illegal drugs.
I don't think I have an addictive metabolism.
I cannot find another way to relieve my lumbar and cervical disc pain, the discs are damaged, while I am waiting for my yearly epidural steroid injections; the 1-2/ year migraines (I've tried the newer drugs, and beta blockers are out bcs I have hypotension); and the pain of interstitial cystitis.
I would like to hear anyone's thoughts.
If anyone has another pain med that I might substitute, I would be thrilled too hear about it.
Many thanks for listening to my concerns.
I am unable to take N-Saids.
Sometimes my doctor and I try the newer ones (Celexa, etc,) and I invariably end up in endoscopy with an ulcerated stomach lining.
I cannot stand Morphine, Lortabs (and equivalent).
Oxycodone does nothing for my pain.
Tylenol #3 and #4 work IF I can find a pharmacist who will grind them and transfer them to capsules; (Nuts, huh) otherwise I experience severe stomach cramps.
IF I have to have any kind of major surgery, or when my interstitial cystitis acts up, my doctor gives me dilaudid and valium.
I have half a bottle of 4mg dilaudid left from the last time, and about 60 valium. The Fiorcet is used to treat any pain that tylenol won't take care of.
We tried plain codiene and ativan, valium with codiene, but they didn't give the same pain relief.
So am I addicted to the Fiorcet?
I smoked for about 7 years and stopped one day.
Never smoked again.
I don't crave the Fiorcet; I only take them for pain.
I don't drink very often...1-2 glasses of wine every 4 to six weeks.
In 2001 I lost 80 pounds and didn't drink for 3 years.
I don't do illegal drugs.
I don't think I have an addictive metabolism.
I cannot find another way to relieve my lumbar and cervical disc pain, the discs are damaged, while I am waiting for my yearly epidural steroid injections; the 1-2/ year migraines (I've tried the newer drugs, and beta blockers are out bcs I have hypotension); and the pain of interstitial cystitis.
I would like to hear anyone's thoughts.
If anyone has another pain med that I might substitute, I would be thrilled too hear about it.
Many thanks for listening to my concerns.
Hi- Yes, your other post is on the forum and I just read it. I'll respond to that one so watch for it...
Hi sorry to bother you I posted my question a few hours ago this afternoon but I am not sure if I have done it right , I myself can see it but I am not sure if anyone can? Having a difficult time if you by. Chance see this if you can let me know if it's posted for other to see thanks so much
Hi there! This is an old thread. If you go to the top of the page and hit the post a question link you can tell your story and/or ask a question. You will get a lot more responses if you do it that way. Fiorcet can be dangerous to stop abruptly. It's important to slowly taper under the care of a physician. Please start your own thread and I' m sure lots of folks with experience with this med will be along to chime in. Good luck to you!
Yes I am in a middle of a nightmare right now,had been taking F for my migraine headaches for years kept going up on my doses / causing rebound headaches not knowing this kept taking F stopped taking it altogether 5 days ago and started to have all these crazy things happen severe headache! Shaking, blurred vision, dizziness, racing crazy heartbeats,seeing and hearing things,sweating, and more I feel ok one minute then it starts again, I looked this up and found this forum . Didn't know it was so dangerous to juts stop any suggestions what I should do I am on my 5 day on this Hell. T
Hi Res, the dr gave me phenobarbital to help ease me off. I was taking araround 16 a day. W/d included shakes, head zaps, stomach pain, diarrhea, and horrific rebound headache pain. They likened it to w/d from alcohol since it too is a sedative. You can have a seizure going cold turkey off this stuff, so please get some help. It was the hardest thing I ever did, asking my dr for help, but he was understanding and very helpful. His number one concern was my health, not that I had gotten to the point I was at. Please check back, im worried about you.
Hi-
You are definitely going to need help with this. 24 pills is over the top but, I promise you, getting away from these things is possible.
Post back-
You are definitely going to need help with this. 24 pills is over the top but, I promise you, getting away from these things is possible.
Post back-
Res, could you start your own post so we can all try to help you on it. I was severely addicted to fiorcet and needed medical assistance to get off it. Going to go look up what it was they gave me to help.
I have been on butabital for over 30 years. I cant seam to quit. i am taking 6 tablits 4 times a day
It's a vicious cycle with Fioricet. Actually, it's the drug that contributes to the anxiety in many cases. We all have a little anxiety and that's a good thing! But,after using Fioricet for a period of time,we begin to take more because we have a tolerance built up and one or two does nothing for us. The anxiety of going without it is very physical and mental! We begin to use the drug just to feel normal! That's when it becomes scary...
Barbs by their very nature,if you will, are a great med for anxiety or tension relief. That's why we loved them so much. It was just a "happy" place to be. So pitiful...
Barbs by their very nature,if you will, are a great med for anxiety or tension relief. That's why we loved them so much. It was just a "happy" place to be. So pitiful...
mayberry,
In addition to what I wrote to Vicki (above) she does have anxiety issues and thankfully she has decided to seek counseling for the anxiety. Yes, I'm glad she saw the doctor too. It helped me as much as her by putting my mind at ease.
Why though, does anxiety contribute to the over-use/abuse of this particular drug? I'm curious.
Thanks - very much - for your help.
In addition to what I wrote to Vicki (above) she does have anxiety issues and thankfully she has decided to seek counseling for the anxiety. Yes, I'm glad she saw the doctor too. It helped me as much as her by putting my mind at ease.
Why though, does anxiety contribute to the over-use/abuse of this particular drug? I'm curious.
Thanks - very much - for your help.
I don't know that she's "turned the corner." All I know is that she is doing much better now and each day gets even better. WHY she abused them I believe is because she gets really bad headaches and when they seemed not to be working she would take another. Over time she had to increase because that would be the only way to control the headaches. I know, they're rebound headaches, but that's how it got started and continued. Now she can't take them because she can't get them anymore.
Yes, I can see that it does not like to let go.
Thanks for your help Vicki.
Yes, I can see that it does not like to let go.
Thanks for your help Vicki.
no it doesn't. a lot of times, there are anxiety issues underneath that cause the over-use/abuse of this drug. if that is the case, she may benefit from getting help for that too. i'm GLAD she saw a doc. it seriously makes all things during withdrawal easier.
I don't mean to hang crepe here but I doubt she's turned the corner already...There's still the issue of WHY. She needs to get to the reason she abused this drug for 6 years.
This particular addiction is so insideous and it doesn't ever go away. She's going to need
to get some help with this because it will call her name and she'll give in.
Believe me, Mayberry and I could write a book about Fioricet!! It does not like to let go!
This particular addiction is so insideous and it doesn't ever go away. She's going to need
to get some help with this because it will call her name and she'll give in.
Believe me, Mayberry and I could write a book about Fioricet!! It does not like to let go!
"but hey, what do i know. i've only spent the past 20 years of my life learning about barbiturates."
Well, why did you say so?
We went to another doctor today and he did give her anti-seizure meds. Thanks for the info!
BTW, she seems to have turned a corner and seems like she's doing much better.
Well, why did you say so?
We went to another doctor today and he did give her anti-seizure meds. Thanks for the info!
BTW, she seems to have turned a corner and seems like she's doing much better.
odds are a doc wouldn't even put her back on the drug. there are other drugs to prevent seizures that are typically used for this in a detox setting.
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Barbiturates may be habit-forming: Tolerance, psychological dependence, and physical
dependence may occur especially following prolonged use of high doses of barbiturates. The average daily dose for the barbiturate addict is usually about 1,500 mg. As tolerance to barbiturates develops, the amount needed to maintain the same level of intoxication increases;tolerance to a fatal dosage, however, does not increase more than twofold. As this occurs, the margin between an intoxication dosage and fatal dosage becomes smaller. The lethal dose of a barbiturate is far less if alcohol is also ingested. Major withdrawal symptoms (convulsions and delirium) may occur within 16 hours and last up to 5 days after abrupt cessation of these drugs. Intensity of withdrawal symptoms gradually declines over a period of approximately 15 days. Treatment of barbiturate dependence consists of cautious and gradual withdrawal of the drug. Barbiturate-dependent patients can be withdrawn by using a number of different withdrawal regimens. One method involves initiating treatment at the patient’s regular dosage level and gradually decreasing the daily dosage as tolerated by the patient.
http://www.pharma.us.novartis.com/product/pi/pdf/fioricet_codeine.pdf
I know this is alot of info, but I thought it may help you. Looks like your wife will be going through this for about 15 days. This drug seems to also be very dangerous to W/D from and the experts say tapering would work best, but since your wife can't do this, I guess she will have to tough it out for a few more days. I also have a problem with depression and I had to be put on an antidepressant called Celexa and it has been a life saver. Your wife might want to check into this if at all possible!
I know you said you have never heard of Opana but you said it sounded good right now. It's not!! Stay away from Opana or Oxy's!!!!!! You said you take 15-30 lortabs a day. Well, Opana or Oxys are probably 10 times more powerful and VERY addictive!!! Please, please, please dont EVER take either one of these. You think it's bad now?? Trust me, it can get worse!! Anyway. sorry for that 'lil vent. I hope the info helps and just continue to be there for your wife even though she's angry and moody it's part of the process!