How to withdraw from long-term hydrocodone use

[Hydrocophobic]

I've been taking hydrocodone for the past five years, and at maximum prescribed levels (1-2 tablets every 4-6 hours - - which, naturally, means 2 every 4 hours) for the past two.  How do I get off this stuff?  Cold turkey?  Phased withdrawal?

[Cletus80]

What is the Thomas Recipe?

[AnShiloh]

My name is Shiloh and I can ditto every thing you have said.  I am 74 years old and did not know I was getting hooked on hydracodone after two knee, and1shoulder totally replaced plus 2, 8 inch rods in the full lumbar section of my spine pluss a serious roll over totaling my pick up with serious head and kidney injuries and cuts and broken bones plus a stupid move of running my left thumb thru my table saw which left it without nerves or a tendon even after full surgery it is useless.  All this over the last 8 years.  I am not looking for sympathy I just want to say why I have been on hydracodone and tramadol excessively under doctors orders for all this time.  I was in rehab for 7 days where they doped me up more and I thought I was ok until I got home and did not have what they were giving me and fell to pieces at the cost of $1,700 above my insurance.  I then went to rehab at VA and was there for  9 days.  They sent me home with a few gabapintin pills and said get over it but they did more for me than the civilian rehab.  I am still falling to pieces and feel like I can not make it the next 5 minutes.   All this to say I need some kind of hope and reading what you said helped me some.  I hope you are feeling better and also  might give me some advice.  Your new thoughtful and understanding friend.  Shiloh

[AnShiloh]

My name is Shiloh and I can ditto every thing you have said.  I am 74 years old and did not know I was getting hooked on hydracodone after two knee, and1shoulder totally replaced plus 2, 8 inch rods in the full lumbar section of my spine pluss a serious roll over totaling my pick up with serious head and kidney injuries and cuts and broken bones plus a stupid move of running my left thumb thru my table saw which left it without nerves or a tendon even after full surgery it is useless.  All this over the last 8 years.  I am not looking for sympathy I just want to say why I have been on hydracodone and tramadol excessively under doctors orders for all this time.  I was in rehab for 7 days where they doped me up more and I thought I was ok until I got home and did not have what they were giving me and fell to pieces at the cost of $1,700 above my insurance.  I then went to rehab at VA and was there for  9 days.  They sent me home with a few gabapintin pills and said get over it but they did more for me than the civilian rehab.  I am still falling to pieces and feel like I can not make it the next 5 minutes.   All this to say I need some kind of hope and reading what you said helped me some.  I hope you are feeling better and also  might give me some advice.  Your new thoughtful and understanding friend.  Shiloh

[iinsanitee]

Sooo, what I'm picking up on is to stop the insanity because its just causing MORE depression!

[lolo0894]

well this is my first time on here i don't know who actually will read this but just felt the need to talk. i started taking vicodin 10 years ago after a bad car accident..here i am 10 years later still taking 5 to 6 vicodins a day of 5mg. i can't take anything higher cause out will them make me sick. I have always found a way to get them. i have a herniated disk and can't sit or stand for to long BUT i knowthe pain is not bad enough to take the pills the way i do. i'm sick of munipulating the situation i'm misruble i want to stop i'm running out of time and getting older there's so much i want to do but this addiction has taken over my life! constantly counting my pills to make sure i have enough for the week.out consumes my day-weeks-months. i have suffered om depression since the age of 15 yet i refuse to take depression pills due to the side effects. out seems the vicodin takes that anxiety and depression away but at the same time for only 4 hours until i take another one. i just want to know is it to late to stop? i'm 37 and Jane been taking them for 10 years.

[littlebit667]

hon, to make sure your question is not missed..start your own thread. Go to the top of this page...click on the orange icon...copy and paste your post.  It will start a NEW thread that everyone can see.  Don't go away.  Post again and you will get help.  The weekends can be slow so be patient.  Spend time reading some of the other posts.  A lot of people do that and find help as well while waiting for a response.  Good luck.