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Hydrocodone Withdrawal Schedule
Does anyone out there know of a taper schedule for hydrocodone? Something that is slow and works that others will not really notice the person is going through? I have found a taper schedule for benzodiazapines at http://www.benzo.org.uk/manual/bzcha01.htm but have never found anything other than the Thomas Recipe which is for going cold turkey off of the Vicodin. Any info would be appreciated.
Hey, I can't even begin to tell you how much I appreciate your post. We have different stories but find ourselves in similar circumstances. Substances have been an issue a large part of my life and I've lost allot because of it. I've gone from rags to riches now back to rags again. Not all of it because of drugs but I would have to say the majority of the blame belongs there. I'm glad you have balance and you actually sound strong despite what you've gone through. You still have what is important and that is your life and your family. I came oh so very close to losing my life and did lose my wife...but again the loss of my wife was not only because of drugs but it did have some to do with it. If I was never abusing substances I wouldn't have married her in the first place...long story. I think what we have to do it just not look back but not forget it so it doesn't happen again. If we just dwell and count the loss we can send ourselves to an early grave. Again, I am so glad you wrote what you did. You've given me strength with your words. If you need any support make sure you contact me!!!
Geez do I relate to you! I am also under major life stress issues while withdrawing from hydro...desperately looking for a job (job market s****ks where I live). I lost a six-figure career from early addiction to coccaine (clean 18 months). Still suffering the aftermath of that...lost my home and career...almost lost my family. I don't have health insurance...living off borrowed money from parents, etc. All this humbling eating crow at the age of 53 and after having been "successful" for my entire life. I threw that away with a street drug. And I've been flirting with addiction to prescribed Rx...Hydro. Whoa...that stuff is major alluring to someone with major stress...not to mention true pain from injuries. I am also a long-time insomniac. Like OVRWRKD, I take Xanax for sleep (for past 17 years...never felt a desire to abuse that drug). I am doing so much better since I started taking anti-depressant "Wellbutrin". My doc tried me on others, such as Lexapro and Cymbalta, both of them were bad experiences for me. Wellbutrin is perfect for me. Sometimes we have to go thru more than one attempt to find just the right anti-depressant for our own body. Wellbutrin is working beautifully for me...thank God. So at least I am able to sleep (because I have the right med for that) and I have a good anti-depressant. I don't think any of us can tackle our addiction when we are sleep-deprived. And if you are under a lot of life stress, that makes it so much harder...thus, the benefit of an anti-depressant. Whatever you do, don't think or attempt to use hydros as the solution to your stress or sleep needs. Anyway, I've rambled long enough.
I would add that with all the stress you are dealing with, could make you want to continue to take to "help" you through it all. In my experience, there is/was always a reason to pop a few.
If your physical symptoms are tolerable, you can beat it. The mental part is the hardest but (easier said than done) all you need to do is keep your will power.
Good luck with your choice on this...
Hope you can just quit.. It gets harder as time goes on..
If your physical symptoms are tolerable, you can beat it. The mental part is the hardest but (easier said than done) all you need to do is keep your will power.
Good luck with your choice on this...
Hope you can just quit.. It gets harder as time goes on..
A quick taper might be faster but you will experience some discomfort and your emotions will be higher. You will give your body more time to adjust if you do it slowly. an anti depressant will definitely help during a divorce. You experience such highs and lows, and that helps even you out emotionaly. I know its not what you want but I would at least consider it. Sadly, I'm speaking from experience.
Good luck,
Melissa
Good luck,
Melissa
I'm actually taking about 10 Norcos a day. I stopped for about 3-4 days but it was pretty bad and started back up again. The physical wasn't as bad as the emotional. I didn't get sick etc but really bad insomnia. I'm in a very bad place in my life at the moment. Through a divorce, staying with a friend that I am taking care of that is very ill, and unemployed. The stress of job hunting and interviews is magnifying everything. I get very anxious anyway and this is ridiculous. My Dr. wants to put me on prozac for the anxiety/depression issues I have but I just don't want to take anything. My abuse of the Hydros has only been going on for about five weeks but I do have a history of addiction. I want to get this over with as quick as possible. I can't believe how terrible I felt for those 3-4 days....
When I tapered I immediately droped 5 pills and then broke the remaining 5 into halves and took 1half of a pill every hour an a half. I did that for a few weeks then broke them into !/4's and then took the !/4 every hour and just let it ride.....i just did that until I found myself missing doses naturally and finally quit.
I wish you luck on your taper.
Luv,
Nauty.................
I wish you luck on your taper.
Luv,
Nauty.................
My first 2 tapers were using a 80% drop each week.
They worked for me, but faster or slower is up to the individual.
If you drop 80% of the dose you are taking each week, it should let you down with w/d's but hopefully not too bad.
I didn't see that you wrote how much you take.
They worked for me, but faster or slower is up to the individual.
If you drop 80% of the dose you are taking each week, it should let you down with w/d's but hopefully not too bad.
I didn't see that you wrote how much you take.
People taper at different paces...some have a certain amount of pills...some want to go fast and get it over with...others with alot of discipline go slowly and it should be easier but u will still feel the effects...if u drop 1/2 pill each week...that is considered slow for narcotics if u r on 10s of hydro or oxy...if u r taking 20 pills a day...it would take a long time...if u r taking 5 pills a day it would take 10 weeks....or some may do 1 pill a week...etc....i tapered in 10 days just to have time off to get it over with...key is small doses every 3 hours or so spread out thru the day..good luck...how many do u take each day?
I tapered and totally agree with wannabefree300's post. If you follow that, you should be good.
Tapering is very difficult, some people have someone else hold rtheir pills.
Good luck and message me if you need anything.
You can do this!!
Melissa
Tapering is very difficult, some people have someone else hold rtheir pills.
Good luck and message me if you need anything.
You can do this!!
Melissa
There is a wealth of info on tapering on this site, some better than others....so take it for what its worth. I also found tapering schedules on youtube. However, I am not sure if any tapering schedule works for everyone due to our social/physical/emotional differences.
Bottom Line: I had to o it CT so to speak, and it is not easy. However, I would not dwell on how hard its going to be for a few days either. You will be miserable for several days.
The best info I can give you is IT WILL END! I started the Thomas Recipe, a vitamin regimine a few days prior to stopping. I also used sleep aids and xanax to sleep through ( which is not possible completely) as much as possible for a the first few days. Try to get up and move your *** asap though ( not proven but I think it helped me ). Don't let people tell you it will be months, because that it NOT TRUE. Maybe to return to completely "Normal"... but I don't know if I remember what that is exactly. I do know this, after about four days, everyday gets better!
Also, if you can go talk to someone it helps, maybe a counselor of sorts.
I also used 1-2mg of suboxone ( which is like a tiny tiny tiny piece of one pill ) to help me after day 4 CT. This actually got me up and out of the house, and I did not have a single problem stopping it b/c I took a very small dose for only three days.
The FOG will begin to clear after this, and though it may take a few days please just do it! You can, and you will be totally glad that you have control when done!
Bottom Line: I had to o it CT so to speak, and it is not easy. However, I would not dwell on how hard its going to be for a few days either. You will be miserable for several days.
The best info I can give you is IT WILL END! I started the Thomas Recipe, a vitamin regimine a few days prior to stopping. I also used sleep aids and xanax to sleep through ( which is not possible completely) as much as possible for a the first few days. Try to get up and move your *** asap though ( not proven but I think it helped me ). Don't let people tell you it will be months, because that it NOT TRUE. Maybe to return to completely "Normal"... but I don't know if I remember what that is exactly. I do know this, after about four days, everyday gets better!
Also, if you can go talk to someone it helps, maybe a counselor of sorts.
I also used 1-2mg of suboxone ( which is like a tiny tiny tiny piece of one pill ) to help me after day 4 CT. This actually got me up and out of the house, and I did not have a single problem stopping it b/c I took a very small dose for only three days.
The FOG will begin to clear after this, and though it may take a few days please just do it! You can, and you will be totally glad that you have control when done!
You are on the right site but due to the time it is slow right now so please be patient and you will get the answer you need. I have never been able to quit successfully by tapering, I have to quit CT. But from what i have read, a good rule is 10% of your dose now decreased every so many days. So, if you are taking 50mg of hydrocodone in a 24 hour period, start by taking 45mg in a 24hr period. Try that for a week, or 3 days or whatever you decide. Then, decrease to 40mg in 24hr period. Toward the end, you will be down to crushing the pill and taking 'a fingertip' worth. The longer length of time you hold to the decreased dose, the less w/d you will experience. Now, remember I haven't ever succesfully done it but that is just me. You can if you are determined to.
Good luck, and check back frequently as people start to rise in the a.m. they will see your question and give you more help.
Good luck, and check back frequently as people start to rise in the a.m. they will see your question and give you more help.
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