Hydrocodone Abuse

[mgrace00]

Hello. I have a question for current or former hydrocodone addicts. I have been taking this medication for about a year now and have turned myself into a monster when it comes to the drug. I have 10/325s. I am to the point of wanting to stop, and I have made a plan to do so. But I have a question about something that concerns me. When I take this medication, I obviously do not take it as prescribed. I am an over-doer. I will take as many as it takes for me to feel the high that hydrocodone gives. Since I have been taking them for a year, that is about 6 at a time. Sometimes I will take 6 then I will take another in 45 min-1 hr, and another again in the same amount of time, to keep the high going. I have been doing this for about 2 weeks. I need to know about overdose. This may seem like a silly question to some, but it is a very serious one to me. I know that overdose can occur within a certain amount of time after one takes the medicine, but can it occur after large amounts have been taken for an extended amount of time. For example, since I have been taking 12+ per day, for about 2 weeks, will my body give out and something bad happen to me out of the blue?  What I am worried about is respiratory depression. I have been feeling a little more anxious than usual, but my breathing is ok. My blood pressure is ok, but my pulse was a little low earlier, at 61. I need real answers please. Answers from experience of taking high amounts for long periods of time, every day, without pause. Please do not try to scare me by giving me exaggerated answers. Please do not do this. I am already scared, and I know that the only way to not be worried is to not take the mess. I am truly working on stopping.  Thank you.

[Ann2497]

I don't think you need to go cold turkey.  I would taper if I were you.

[VICourageous]

Hi. If you can go to the Dr and be honest with them they can give you a Med called Clonidine. It is a BP med they use to help withdraws and they also can give you Buspar for anxiety. These are all non-addictive meds. If you stick with us we can help you get through your w/ds on what we did or still do as far as vit/min and such. Just make sure you drink LOTS & LOTS of water to flush out the poisons. These type of meds also mess up the Brain Chems and they take a while to get balanced out too. It takes awhile for the Brain and Body to re-adjust from the removal of these Stims.
Your story hit home because back in the 90s I would take tons of hydo/oxys at the same time. This only led me up to the Methadone because I thought i could take less and get more out of it..OMG what a joke that was. AND yes I have had some respiratory experiences that scared the crap out of me. I went c/t from 3 drugs at once and I am no young chic so it took me a while. I have almost a year in and my brain is starting to finally feel it..Good Luck stick around and we will Cheer you on and help you.
Bless

[mgrace00]

Thank you, everyone! I am really having a hard time today. I've already started getting hot, and I'm sweating. I have a headache and I feel little bit dizzy. I will not lie to you all, I am probably gonna break. I hate being weak minded. I will just take one. Just to get the anxiousness to go away. I have always had a problem with anxiety. I hate the feeling of it so much.

[ROSYouralright]

I just read your post and my heart goes out to you. My initial reaction was "look at how many people people who have overdosed accidentally." The amount is different for everyone but why take the chance.? I feel like I've been there before. Maybe a pill or two away from death? Its a scary reality.... I could never taper. If I had the pills I was going to take them. NO part of me could hold back as required for a successful taper. My thoughts and prayers go out to you and I wish you every success with recovery! Please keep posting and keep us updated!

[vicki595]

You can do this. Often the withdrawal is not as bad as we think it may be. Give it a chance, try to taper a bit first, and work on getting support for the head games which I think are the toughest to go through...

[mgrace00]

Yes, I plan on being one too! I will definitely talk to my doctor. Thank you for that information! =)