Hydrocodone, oxycodone addiction

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I have five herniated disk, and carpal tunnel in both of my hands. I have had one surgery on my back(laminectomy/disktectomy), and carpal tunnel surgery on my right hand. I am still waiting on my left hand to be done. As you can imagine I have been taking hydrocodone, and oxycodone for about a year now.I am now up to 12 to 14 hydrocodone per day. I dont know how or when this got out of hand. I am very scared, and I dont know what to do to get off these drugs. I do not want to shame my family, so there is a strong pressure to keep this quiet.If there is anything you can tell me that will be a help, I would be most grateful. I feel like I am a horrible,and dirty person for this addiction. I MUST GET CLEAN! PLEASE HELP! Should I stop cold turkey, or should I taper off?

[MichiganJock]

I can say my drug of choice was oxys.  I went to detox and comiong off them after 4 years was a B*****.  I also work in the healthcare field so it was easy for me to get my scripts, but let me tell you.  Get off them now and get help now, it will only destroy your life, it did mind.  My life is just starten to reshape. I tried cold turkey and klonopins that worked for me, but day 3-4 is rough, like someone said earlier you will have cold chills, night sweats, can't sleep, irrittiable, but try to take a vitamin and plenty of fluids and you'll be fine.  If you chose to go detox like I did it is expensive and you better have great insurance, they detoxed me with methodone and Tranzinefor a week, after thast I was fine.  Just stay away from the crowd that carries them or uses.  It's easy to get back on them and even harder next time  to get off.  I'll keep all you guys in my prayers, one love.


AJ(Michigan)

[RCSLADY]

I also agree that the cold turkey method works best in the long run.  If I had any pills I would take them even if the were covered in horse sh##.  I am in day 3 of c/t and tonight is not as bad as I anticipated.  I still have no energy but managed to wash 4 loads of laundry.  Folding it was a ***** since each item seemed to weigh at least 50 pounds.  I also died my sister hair.  I listened to music and my "detox" song which is Everybody Hurts b y REM.  You've got to hold on.

[Soonerdean]

I took 2-4 5/500 Lortab for 2 years.  At first it really was for chronic pain in my feet..then it turned into a full blown addiction...I like the way they made me feel.  

To limit the withdrawals I would recommend a taper regimen.  If you are at 14 a day now..tomorrow go to 13 for a few days then go to 12 and so on. Dont get in a hurry and prepare yourself mentally for this.  

I have tried cold turkey and I will be honest...it is a BITC*!  If you go cold turkey I would recommend taking a week off of work if possible.  You will get flu like symptoms, muscle cramps and you will feel like death warmed over.  Day 3-4 is usually the worst but it tends to go downhill from there.  You will experience anxiety and depression also.  I'm not tellin you this to try and discourage you...I feel you need to knwo what to expect.  I did not know what to expect until I came to this board...my doctor neglected to inform me what would happen but that story is for another day.

You will need help.  If your spouse is able...let him/her know what is going on and what to expect.  This will be difficult but YOU CAN DO IT!  If you can....I would get some xanax to help with the anxiety.  For me the anxiety/depression was the worst part.  I'm on day 4 without any hydros and it is taking all of my strength not to take one.

That brings me to another point.  Give your pills to another person to hold with strict instructions not to give you any pills.  Just remember YOU CAN DO THIS IF YOU REALLY WANT IT....but keep in mind it wont be easy.  Hope this helps.

[tomanypills]

every day in this forum we hear horror stories about what weve done to get drugs, lie, cheat,steal yet someone always gives the advice to taper and have someone hold their drugs. this may work for someone who is physically dependant but tell an addict to smoke just half his rock today,shoot half is heroin today or to take just enough pills to hold of wds. if a person could do this then they probably are not an addict. beachtowel always suggests an in house rehab and i agree in as much as if you cant ct then you cant taper without pro help. not a family member who you can manipulate thru love but with pros that have no personal ties to the addict. substitutions? as an addict they sound great,no wds and just maybe i"ll feel a little bit of what drives me to use in the first place. count the number of posts relating success with subs then count the posts of people trying to get off those very subs months and years later. i believe any one who makes the decision to stop using and a week ,a month later your physical system is free of drugs then that part was a success no matter how you got there but if your still using ANY kind of drug then you havent started the process of recovery and its the mental part that needs the daily maintanance,not the physical,,

[fishmeal]

Sounds like you need a serious detox... I know it's a *****... the way it got out of hand... Please look at the post below about the different meds and there is always Suboxone.... which is replacement therapy... kinda like "methadone lite"  You can look that up at suboxone.com

best fish

this next part is for doing it without the "heavier" suboxone.


It

[awakan]

You have some good info here you have to quit to quit anything less is still using..Sorry if it seems harsh but it is still true..a-wakan

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I didnt expect to get so many responses so quickly.It is so good to know that there is support out there, that many people would not understand. I will start right now, and hopefully make it through. I have never written to a forum in my life. So I am not sure what to expect. I most certainly would love all the help, and comments I can get. I guess after all I have heard I will try to go cold turkey.Dont know what to expect coming off  this drug, so I am trying to prepare for the worst. I am currently off work with my back right now, so I wont have that to worry about. Say a prayer for me, I know I will need it

[techmer]

I believe any drug that is mind altering should not be used by the addict..........

Suboxone is not mind altering and has been a godsend for me.

I am now taking 1 or 2 mgs 2 or 3 times a week.

I have been on sub for almost 2 months, and hope to be done with it soon.  But i am in no real hurry..................took time(25 yrs) to get where i was and it's gonna take time to get back to "normal" (whatever that is?) maybe the rest of my life? dunno.............so if i have to take a mg or 2 at times, then  so be it.

In no way do i get a HigH, BuZz or any thing else w/ sub.

  AJ

[awakan]

I am sorry to hear about your back situation ,I too have a bad back if I was you I would consider cold turkey only because I know that their is no guesswork you don't have to wonder if you will be sick you will..You don't have to wonder if your detox meds will give you a worse habit their are none . And you will have all the memories of your detox to draw on if you think you may want to use again. Start going to N.A. and take responsibility for your addiction and believe it or not you will heal and this will be behind you much quicker..Some people like detox but for me it just drags out the inevitable. Good luck to you and use this forum when you can't go to a meeting and I will say a prayer for your health...a-wakan