Hydrocodone Addiction -HELP ME Get Off the Drugs

[tanyathr102]

Hi, I am 50 and this is not my first rodeo with getting off prescription narcotics. I have a question I hope someone can respond to pretty quick. You would think I know better by now.
I have been on a compounded hydrocodone medication for over a year. Due to a spinal cord injury and Dystonia. The doseage is now up to 30mg Hydrocodone and DM four times a day. After a while. the dose was not enough to ease the pain so as addicts do, I upped the dose myself. Stupid idea but for a year I actually had a life and got out of my house - until the addiction took over and I became a hermit as often  happens.
I am trying to stop using the compound. I think at one time, I could take as many as ten of the pills in one day. I have set up envelopes with different amounts in each one. I start today - 6 pills, then go to 5 pills for three days, 4 pills for three days, 3 pills for 3 days and so on until I have only one per day.
I went thru a terrible detox at home from pain management prescribed Methadone. I spent an entire month in  la la land, not able to even produce a sentence, or do anything but sit and shake and make no sense.
How bad do you think this one will be - and would it be easier to just stop cold turkey and let things rock and roll. I am terrified this will be like the methadone, which was not tapered down at all. Is someone out there who can give solid advice. I am up a creek without a paddle, plus the pain I took the meds for is going to return with a vengence. I do have tramadol to take if anyone thinks that will help.

[worried878]

agree with above..not near as bad..what was ur dose of methadone when u quit?  u r at approximately the dose of hydro i was at when i quit...for me it was 3 days of feeling real lethargic, a slight headache, nausea and the runs were bad..nothing an imodium wouldnt stop tho..day 4 i felt better and went back to work day 5..i slept alot and posted alot..i went to the gym each day but day 1 i only stayed on the treadmill 20 minutes...30 minutes day 2 and longer and longer from there on out..then i stared yoga classes and it helped me mentally alot..i went to meetings almost every night and followed the thomas recipe..but not in the recommended doses...when a wave of fatigue that i could not shake hit me a few weeks later..i studied the recipe and upped my doses..and it worked...hang tight..this gets so much better..keep posting

[joshin]

rock and roll it cold turkey! I do it a couple times a year to give my body a break.  I figure ill be taking pills for life because of my back surgery and DDD.  Anyways after living in a fog for the majority of a year, I really feel alive when I go through w/d.  Im not trying to say is easy.  Hell no, its the worst feelings in the world.  Everything in your body hurts at the same time.  Most of the time i spend in the restroom and by day three I usually have nothing left in me.  I just try to stay hydrated and eat healthy.  You just have to sort of force yourself to deal with it.  Sometimes I try to think of other people around the world with much worse situations than me.  Poor me in the comfortable bed with a/c for the sweats and heat for the chills.  I can jump in a tub and take a nice hot bath when I get to sweaty and jump on the internet to talk to other people going through the same exact thing. I am sort of smiling right now b/c I am watching 'House" on tv and can relate to him.  Its sad and funny at  the same time.  I know tomorrow i will feel better than today.  I have never felt more alive and human and fragile.  Good luck all!  I must leave to go spend another miserable hour puking in the toilet.  But remember and trust me when I say that when I come up for air between heaves, ill crack a smile knowing I at least am blessed enough to have that porcelain God.  

[liscamdave]

It will NOT be like the methadone, esp if you taper. If you can successfully taper like that, dropping 10% each 4 days, your w.d will be minimal if any at all...really. When you get down to one pill, drop to half a pill after 4 days, then try to cut that half into two and take that for 4 days and you should be fine...Its the best thing any addict can do, its just most don't have that will power..I didn't. Good luck.

[road2recovery]

I agree with all the above post...I was not strong enough to taper, I was up to 20 10mg lortabs a day, I did take less the 2 days before i stopped, but that was only because i ran out, and didnt' want to get anymore, I wanted to end the Hell i was in...Although the w/d's were tough, i did take clonodine which helped ALOT.... I really think you will do just fine with that taper, and we are here to support you and help in any way we can
r2r

[cathy5841]

you have gotten some good advice here.  your taper plan sounds good, as long as you stick to it...myself i could not taper..cold turkey was my only option.  do you plan to stop the hydros too?  

[HelpinUtah]

10356 said the same things I was going to say.  Congratulations on making this decision and for your strength in coming here to reach out for help and friendship!!!

YOU CAN DO THIS!!!  I weaned myself from Lortab for about 2 days when I ran out of pills and ended up actually doing this cold turkey.  It won't be easy, but it will be worth it.  Like said above, exercise, take long, hot baths.  

We are here for you!!!  

Hugs,
Janet

[10356]

Hi and welcome to the forum.. The detox will not be as bad as the methadone detox... nor will it last as long.. It sounds like you have a good plan set up with the taper.. I myself could not do a long taper so it was very short.. I detoxed off of 300 norco a month with 90 soma just to add a lil more confusion... I think you will get through this ok.. On the bottom right of this page is the link to the Thomas recipe.. peps swear by it for help with energy and sleep during and after wd.. A lot of hot baths.. They also now sell a product called restful leg that helps with the rls I also took Valerian root for anxiety.. these can be purchased at walmart or gnc.. I would not use the tramadol as it is in the vicodin family and is addicting in its self... I personally have found the pain I was taking the meds for has eased a lot without.. now I use Motrin 800 and rest when called for.. Congratulations on your decision to reclaim your freedom.. keep posting and receive the support you so richly deserve... lesa