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?

[hopewea]

I have been having headaches for years. My wife made me go to doc a couple years ago and it ended up being caused by bone spurs and I tried the shots through the side of my neck and they made the pain worse.They did a disc fusion last April and I don't have to turn my neck at my hips anymore but I still have a lot of pain especially when it's cold.Since I am a cabletech there is no hiding from the cold. I was taking four oxycodone 10/325. My wife told me to stop taking them or get out.I was not over taking what was prescribed.I tapered down to one a day but I break it in half. I am still in a lot of pain.Is there an alternative to opiates for pain?

[hopewea]

I have been having headaches for years. My wife made me go to doc a couple years ago and it ended up being caused by bone spurs and I tried the shots through the side of my neck and they made the pain worse.They did a disc fusion last April and I don't have to turn my neck at my hips anymore but I still have a lot of pain especially when it's cold.Since I am a cabletech there is no hiding from the cold. I was taking four oxycodone 10/325. My wife told me to stop taking them or get out.I was not over taking what was prescribed.I tapered down to one a day but I break it in half. I am still in a lot of pain.Is there an alternative to opiates for pain?

[did_bad]

going through withdraws right now.....isn't fun. I went 5 days straight with nothing at all and I was very proud of myself.  I have been taking any type of pain killers from loratabs to straight oxycotins for on and off 4 years.  I was clean for a year from may, 5th 2012 - april 27th 2013. man I was so proud of myself.  but I was also traveling around from grand Teton Wyoming to vail Colorado for seasonal work.  I moved back Kansas after the last winter season and was bored out of my mind.  my friend came over and had percocets and he gave me a few to take. knowing that I would jump right back into the same routine I had I did it.  that was the worse choice I ever made.  things weren't bad at first but then stress and depression came onto me.  so I started buying more and more everyday.  I couldn't stop myself.  and then I became addicted again.  starting watching my money go down the drain.  the first time I quit it was hard but I went to the doctor and told them I hurt my back and I didn't want narcotic medication.  and they gave me two types.  they gave my tramadol and gabapentin. I was lucky that I got these cause I kicked the habbit alittle bit easier.  I took 6 tramadol and 6 300mg gabapentin.  within 2 weeks I was feeling a lot better and signed up to get the hell out of Kansas.  now this is the worse I've ever done.  my girlfriend moved to Kansas to be with me and we had a plan to move back to Colorado together.  but since I have no money and she has no idea about me taking pain killers she always wonder where my money goes.  so at the momentshe is moving back to Colorado and I'm staying here.  she couldn't afford to bring me out there with her.  so with no money,no job, and my girlfriend leaving, I'm back on my own.  its ruined my life.  I have to sell my TV, my computer and my xbox one I just got in order to pay the bills.  I feel like this really screwed up my life.  so as of yesterday I was 5 days clean.  well I had people call me and tell me they had an awesome deal for me.  and I broke my 5 days clean.  but I decided to use this to my advantage and take less and less everyday.  will that work?  if anyone has any advice for me on how to help the pill sickness go away please help.  I need to get my act together and be the person I was and save up money to buy an engagement ring.  I just want to feel normal again and happy.  

Thank you for taking the time to read my post

[johnny620859]

        Britt,I  like willing addict that just had a multiple disc repair other's are either u are just drug addict, just taking them to get high. I'm waiting to get high; Lucky to control surgery Just done Monday at 6 levels, I've finally learned that it's without choice and I need never explain,
        Now I have learned to start tapering down on my own. Rather than going to Detox who is ready for your speedy get out of here attitude 4 to 5 days in, meetings every hour, and a lot of head counting not dealing with the real reason you felt you needed to go as follows; I sick of being sick, I'm hurting from head to toe, I need to feel better self worth, I want my family to feel better about me and trust me, everyone thinks I need help, I can't stop, etc. Any ring a bell?
         Well let me try to give you my help and advice, if you feel any of the above is why you went, you shouldn't have went. I went on 9-11-13 9 days, Nov.13, 14 days effort to avoid surgery, which means more pain meds, In short I found out in both cases if I didn;t have name tag they didn't even know me. I turned it around and it floored me. $1,400.00 a night, I had real issues, and couldn't say I'm so terrible for stealing, being abused, or I'm just sick. My real needs went unanswered and was not a person there to help me deal with head injury, lost of family member, in constant pain from a 5 level d

[Rgvsr]

you sound worse off then myself, i have had 2 disc fusions, and been diag... with ddd,and authorize , and 6 years now on Vicodin, and the latest they gave me  gabapentin also,but started noticing more anxiety and depression from it, and bad thoughts,so i could turked the gabapenten   now im working on the hydrocodone i have been taking for 6 years, but i have never missed used them,took 3 a couple of times, but mostly 2 a day 7.5/acetaminophen , now i am trying weaning myself off those,just wondered if you new a time frame, ill be praying for you and hope you feel better, prayer does help me and staying busy with walking and light house cleaning exercises helped pretty good today, hope this helps you a little God Bless.

[wendiwa]

How you doing? Im on day 12 no energy its been hard