How long does it take to withdraw from vicodin? Is this feeling normal?

[Bootiemang]

How long does it take to withdraw from vicodin?  I have been taking vicoprofen 7.5/200's for roughly 10 months after a slip and fall where I herniated a cervical disk in my neck.  I normally took 3-4 only in the evening which was when the pain got to be its worst.

I took 2 six days ago.  two days later, I woke up and had a REALLY nervous, chest- tight feeling and vomited quite a bit before I finally passed out and got sleep.  The next day, I felt nauseous, but OK.  By that evening, I was feeling VERY anxious, like I had just consumed 40 cups of coffee.... I couldnt think straight and even took 1/2 of a pill to see if I was withdrawing and maybe it would help a little for relief.... it didnt.  I went to the urgent care and they called an ambulance when I complained of chest tight nervousness.  Long story short, they ran every test they could and found my heart to be fine.  Blood tests from THREE different ER visits show normal liver, kidney, heart, everything.

I am 33 years old and have had pretty good health and no family history of heart problems (other than diabetes induced issues my grandfather had).  Is this chest tight nervousness normal?  I feel like a switch has been flipped and am deathly afraid that I will live the rest of my life like this.  I have been prescribed xanax and am afraid of becoming hooked on that too,... how much longer?  Am I withdrawing?  I only took the meds for 10 months and only 3x a week for the first few months...  HOW do I make this nervous chest feeling go away?  Will it ever go away????!

I see many people talk about RLS, etc, but how about panic attack like symptoms???  PLEASE SOMEONE HELP!  

[Bootiemang]

Thank you for your help!  I have taken Xanax .25mg as such:

Friday: 2x.25 mid day, 2x.25 evening
Sat:  2x.25 morning, 1x.25 mid-day, 2x.25 evening
Sun:  1x.25 morning, 2x.25 evening
TODAY:  None.

I have 8 pills (.25mg) left.  Should I worry about withdrawals or seizures if I quit?  I only took some last night to help with sleep, but can substitute Ambien tonight if I need.  I only take a half of a pill.

I do pray.  I normally have a confidently strong willpower, but this is like a sandcastle trying to weather the incoming tide...

Do you feel like everything is mechanical or surreal too?  I've tried to go for walks and ride my bike around the block, but i constantly carry a sour stomach with me and it makes it hard to get my mind off of the anxiety.  How do you do it?  How do you get rid of the anxiety??!

[Bootiemang]

Thank you for your help!  I have taken Xanax .25mg as such:

Friday: 2x.25 mid day, 2x.25 evening
Sat:  2x.25 morning, 1x.25 mid-day, 2x.25 evening
Sun:  1x.25 morning, 2x.25 evening
TODAY:  None.

I have 8 pills (.25mg) left.  Should I worry about withdrawals or seizures if I quit?  I only took some last night to help with sleep, but can substitute Ambien tonight if I need.  I only take a half of a pill.

I do pray.  I normally have a confidently strong willpower, but this is like a sandcastle trying to weather the incoming tide...

Do you feel like everything is mechanical or surreal too?  I've tried to go for walks and ride my bike around the block, but i constantly carry a sour stomach with me and it makes it hard to get my mind off of the anxiety.  How do you do it?  How do you get rid of the anxiety??!

[donewitis]

I hear ya but it is not so...you can get better and be "normal" once again. The best thing to do is get off these pills! I also was taking opiates due to a very long unorthodox medical treatment and then had anxiety..was prescribed xanax and ended up here....a wreck. I undestand that during the worst (2 or 3 days) of the w/d, some take xanax. Then they stop. It is highly addictive and unlike opiates, (If taking over a prolonged period) one MUST taper them or the possibility of seizures are very real. That is what I am doing now..tapering. I have 9 days clean of opiates but still have to get off the anxiety meds...oy. Thankfully, I am now on a low dose and  looking forward to being FREE of all addictive prescriptions. So many Dr.'s are unaware of the dependency issues. There is no doubt in my mind that after 10 mos., you can become dependant..it'sa  no brainer to me, but then I have walked in these shoes. Prayer helps too, walking outside in the fresh air helps as well. Drink lots of liquids, flush your system. In your mind (which is 2/3 the battle) try to accept whatever comes..knowing that you are fighting for the life you once had. It is within your reach.
God Bless.

[Bootiemang]

This is a nightmare come to life.  I feel soooo despairing that I broke something inside by taking these pills and I will never be normal again.

[Bootiemang]

I slowly progressed from taking it about 3 days a week to almost every day.  I would have feelings of anxiousness on the nights i didn't take it, but nothing compared to what I'm going through now.  I would use Ambien to help me sleep through the anxious feeling then be ok the next day.... but its NOT ok the next day anymore.  It won't go away!

I told the ER doctors that I was regularly taking the vicoprofen's and wondered if they knew if it was anything to do with withdrawals as I didn't like taking them when the pain from my herniated disk wasn't as bad as it once had been.  They said it shouldnt be a withdrawal after only 8-10 months.... so here I sit and panic.  I asked if they could give me anything for the panic and none would help.  I've read post after post about Clondine or somesuch and wonder if that would help...

I have taken xanax the past two days once in the morning and once at night.  I hate feeling like my head is foggy, but understand it may be part of the process.... but the anxious chest tightness like ive had 40 cups of coffee,.... I cant stand it!   I don't know where to go or what to do.  I've tried walking outside or riding my bike, but it all feels mechanical and like my head isnt attached to my body.

I just had my wife get some Imodium for my abdominal issues, so hopefully at least one thing will be better... all I want to do is lay in bed and sleep.  When I sleep, I'm not feeling like this!

[vicki595]

Hi there!   Many people complain of anxiety after stopping opiates. This really sounds like panic and it passes so just be patient.

When you get this feeling just tell yourself you're going to be okay. It's part of withdrawal.
Are you saying after 8 months you took the Vicodin every day?

If your doctor gave you Xanax you could try that and it should help. If it doesn't,make an appt. I agree about the Xanax being addicting so be careful. Does your doctor know about the abuse? Did the folks in the ER know?

You should begin to feel better. I wouldn't test this out by taking any Vicodin...it may have helped you the time you took that 1/2 but it just wasn't enough.  

Keep taking in fluids,eating well,and get your b/p checked. Keep posting...