Hydrocodone addiction

[Jitterbug]

Hi I've been taking lortab 7.5 or 10 now for about a year. I started this by going with a friend to her quake doctor to get scrip for soma,furocets and lortabs. I sold them at first and then started taking them. For the last 9 months I've been taking about 5-6 a day. I'm coming off because I just don't like being controled by anything and also I hate it so much when I run out. The fact to that I really can't afford to continue spending 500-600 a month buying these pills from the street.
Today is my first night without and I'm experiancing chills followed by sweats also my whole body hurts. I really want to do this I don't want to continue in this never ending cycle. Could any of you please tell me what I should expect and about how long it will take for me to get through these withdrawels? This is the worst part because I had gotten to where the pills werent fun anymore and I'm through with them. I say that in trying to  convince myself that I am done with them. I know if someone showed up at my door with a bottle of lortab's I would have a very hard time. Any help would be appreciated I really want to do this now before it becomes a worse situation. Thanks

[mrrstracy]

I know about the blood pressure thing also. Mine would go up high as soon as I dodn't take any pills. In the ER the Dr's also give narcotics to people with very high blood pressure to lower it. I've been free for about 20 days now and went through that. I do know that blood pressure needs to be monitored due to the fact that strokes are caused by it also. Sorry, don't mean to scare you, I just want you to keep an eye on it. See a Dr. if you can for blood pressure and maybe he can put you on something calld clonodine. It's for high blood pressure and will also help tremendously with withdraws. Just remember that "This Too Shall Pass!"

Tracy

[LizzyM]

Hi everyone..I really need some support.  A year ago my doc put me on Hydrocodone for Migraines during my pregnancy with twins.  He assured me that it would not hurt me or my babies.  Well, the babies are 10 months now and are very beautiful and healthy.  After they were born I quit cold turkey and my body went into shock.  I was admitted into Detox and did very well with Methadone....I swore I would never go throgh that again..it was hell.  Now, here I am AGAIN!  I had surgery 3 months ago and my doctor told me that I could take Hydrocodone for 2 weeks only and would be fine.  Well, I'm not...I'm addicted again.  I tried to stop taking them and passed out and was taken to the hospital by ambulance.  No one in my family knew (til today) that I've been taking Hydrocodone so the hospital thought I was suffering from a very bad stomach virus(dehydration, very lose bowels, vomiting, sweating, passing out..etc...) so they doped me up with Morphine and I felt great.  The next day I got a hold of more pills and felt like the Flu had passed.  Didn't realize my problem til a month ago.  So, here I am.  I do not want to have to take these pills anymore..I want my life back!  I probably will go into Detox again and go through hell again.  I am scared to death.  I just admitted my problem to my husband and family and they can't believe how I hid this from them.  I feel so ashamed, depressed and feel like a low life who doesn't deserve the wonderful supportive family that I have.  Anyone have any suggestions or advice for me?  I would greatly appreciate it.
Thanks!
Liz

[Popper46]

Good morning, and thanks Pjn for the input.  I din't mean not wanting sex after you come off them...I meant he whole time since I've been on them,II haven't had a sexual desire.  And I wont so badly to be off these suckers, but I can't function without them.  I can't even drag myself out of bed...and I have to because I don't have any days and can't take off.  I think I could probably handle that part, but what concerns me is how high my blood pressure elevates and the discomfort I feel around my heart.  I've heard of people going into seizures or convulsions from w/d's.  I'm afraid.  I do suffer with high blood pressure, but have noticed that as long as I'm on the hydrocodone, I don't ever have to take a blood pressure pill...it keeps it stable.  I hadn't take any since yesterday around 4:00 p.m and sad to say it's because I'm out.  I get frightened to keep off of them because of what I keep experiencing.  I've tried about 3 times and each time this has happen...HELP!!

[pjn]

I don't know about the blood pressure thing. But I haven't wanted sex since I went off the pills 12 days ago. But I did anyway last night. Wasn't bad at all. In fact, I slept better. Don't push yourself though. Tell us your story. We're here for you. Keep up the good work. You won't be sorry.

[Popper46]

Hello everyone,
I would like to know if anyone experiences their blood pressure elevating when they are coming down off Hydrocodone 7.5's,  or trying to stop taking it?  Also, has it affected your sex drive...like not having one?  I am so glad I found this site.  I have been thinking about looking for a while, but thought nothing like this existed!  I was determined this morning to try...I am so glad I did.  I will check daily.  Thanks, Popper46

[pjn]

Hey Everybody. I was reading c26 and I can really relate. I could tell no one about my addiction and to detox at home alone. The main thing that scared me the most was I depended on my husband to get my drugs for me and he is a recovering crack addict, still using pot. He's been in 4 rehabs and left me 4 times all in 20 years. I haven't used drugs since I was a teenager and only then pot. The last time he left I fell apart. I am so dependent on him. We have 3 children and as you know they are quite exspensive. I started using vicodin the last time he left. That was 2 years ago. Of course he's back again. All sorry and everything. Now I had a big addiction going on. I was up to 6,8,10 Vicodins a day. 7.5 or10mgs. What ever I could find.
I started realizing how much I was depending on this drug by the time I was getting into my second year. Then it took me a year to, you know, work out a right time. We'll always try to put it off for any excuse. My children were the main reason I stopped. I'm the only dependable person that have to count on. My husband, I'm sure will always use drugs, so what would they do if we were both addicted.

I know you for a fact it can be done. It's not easy. The first three days were the worst for me. I cried, felt alone, hopeless,
ashamed, and couldn't tell anyone. Then everyday was a little better. This is day 10 I'm starting to feel more like my old self
which I wasn't very proud of in the first place. But at least I wasn't depending drugs to get me through just going to the grocery store. I know it still won't be easy but I'm going to take one day at time. I have good moments and bad all through the day. They say that's my neurotransmitters trying to adjust to my old way of life again. I've been reading a book called "Addiction and Grace". It's helped me alot. Also if you stop, I strongly encourage you to confide in at least one person. I didn't really know how dangerous detoxing was until I called a hotline. Try that too. They'll explain to you what to expect and what you can do for the symptons. We're here for you whenever you decide. My husband brought me a bottle of pills on my third day of detox, and I said to myself," I can either be almost out of detox by the time these run out, or I can take them and start all over." I chose not to take them. Oh I kept them but finally threw them away 2 days later. That's how much better I felt. I'm still confused about me and my husband, but now I have one less problem.

[Sugarbeens]

Hi, I just read your post and it sounds like that you also have an addiction to vicodin as your husband does??  If I got that right.  I know it is hard, but, get off it.  As I said, I have been taking vicodin for 8 years and percocet for 3 and two days ago I flushed the percocet refill down the toilet and today I flushed the vicodin.  I took them for a total of 8 days this time, and I just know this is it.  I do have severe back pain, but, I have to find a ways to manage without these pills.  I spent the last 3 days in bed with a migraine and sleeping from taking these awful pills.  In the beginning they make you feel good, but, after 8 years they depress me and now I am done.  My problem is I am all alone.  I can not tell anyone, so will do this alone with the support of this forum.  I can't and won't tell you what to do about your husband.  Get yourself clean first and then you will make the right decision.  Try counseling and come to this forum.  They really help when you feel you can't let anyone close to you know.  And the drinking wine with the vics, I did that too for a while, your liver will be gone if you don't stop.  Please remember your beautiful daughter.  You can do this. I am praying for you.

[?]

I've just joined today also, and have been reading pjn, and sugarbeens conversations. I fell in like with hydracodone about 8 years ago, when my husband, who has always had a dependant personality, fell into a reconstuction job for 2 doctors, one, a trauma surgeon (husband) the other, and anesthesiologist (wife).
The husband (Trauma surgeon) was addicted to vicodin and began using my husband to fill his needs, he would write the prescription, give my husband cash, and then split the prescription with him. Then he (doc) went into rehab, because he came under investigation, and almost lost his license (for the 2nd time, the first being in N.Y.) While he was in rehab, his wife, (the anesthesiologist) who now had a new born baby, demanded attention from my husband, and continued to fill his narcotic needs to get it. He got to the point of forging scripts with the aid of others and taking 20 vicodin 10mg a day and being injected by the (wife/anesthesiologist) with 140mg of Demorol. He even had bruising on the inside of his arm from it when I left him. (I could actually write a book on this story)
Anyway, after reconciling 7 years ago things were looking better, until he started his own business and discovered that he could get what he wants from another physian. He is now on his way back to point A, and doesn't want to hear it. The problem with me is I now like to drink and take Vicodin and can't quit with it in the house, but depend on him for income for myself and 10 year old daughter. Outside of his addiction he is a wonderful and respected person. WHAT IN THE HELL SHOULD I DO?

[donnyt]

Hello sll,

[donnyt]

Hello all, I just joined this forum today and I am relieved to hear that many more people share my same addiction problems as I d. I am addictd to vicodin 10-15mg @ 10-15 per day. Have been for about a year. When I do run out even for a day.....I feel like I'm gonna die and have no evergy. I believe in the tapering off method of quitting, but I do not think I have the self-discipline to do that. I want to quit cold-turkey. I just needed to here that one day, not too long from now, I will be back to my old self again. It is great to hear about the physical, brain receptor stuff that you all talk about. That eventually it will get back to normal, naturally. No psychiatrist will see me unless I am off the addictive drugs. What is NA and how can I be a part of it. See, I to am totally alone with this and have no-one to push me away rom the ease of getting these drugs, so I need someone slapping my hand each time I go for it. I also want and need to hear of how much better I am going to feel mentally and physically after a certain amount of time with this out of my system. Am I really gonna feel better?? Please pray for me, I think I have a very high hill to climb in the next week or so!! Thanks for your time!!!

[donnyt]

Hello sll,

[pjn]

Hey Sugarbeen, I know it must be hard if your in physical pain not to take the pills.  Maybe your doctor could prescribe you Viox or Celebrex for your pain if you decide to quit. I was just taking them to feel happy until, you know, they make you miseralbe. I just knew I wanted to look at the sun rise in the morning and really see it again and not dread another day that God so generously blessed me with. Nothing was beautiful anymore, without it. Then nothing was beartiful with it. You know what I mean. I'm on day 8 of w/d and it gets better everyday. I did throw away my stash too if anyone was wondering. If you've been taking them for 8 years the withdrawal would be rougher and I wouldn't even try it until you've made up your mind. Withdrawal is hell. You may want to taper and get a friend or relative to help. Or maybe even a rehab.  My husbands been in 4 and they are great. He never gives up and hopefully niether will I. I hope you decide to. Remember, if you had a whole truck load it would never enough, eventually the truck will be empty. The first three days I just prayed and I got through it. After that it got better. I promise you you won't be sorry you did.

[Sugarbeens]

Thanks for answering me.  I have gone through withdrawal every month since I started taking them, so I know what it is like.  Since I don't take them non-stop, I guess that makes it a little easier.  I had just got my refills, and I realized the reason I was getting a migraine every month for 3 days is when I first start back taking the percocet.  So, for the first time, which I am through now, I flushed 100 down the toilet yesterday.  I kept the vicodin and I took them today because of the migraine.  It is about gone, and I promised God that I would not take the vics at all unless I am in pain , starting tomorrow.  I have to do it this time.  The pills make me sick now, they don't make me feel good, and I am like you, I want to see the sun rising, instead of opting to stay in bed all day taking pills when I get the chance.  When I am not taking them, I work out and feel good, I just can't figure out why I start them back.  I think because I have been divorced for 3 years, that I use them as my friend, lover, so I don't look for a mate.  I have fear of that, but, I have children who are grown who need me, and I have decided that when I take these pills that I can't be there totally for them. I want to be clear headed and not be subject to pills controlling me.  Thank you again, and keep up the good work.  You can do it.
Love Sugarbeans

[Sugarbeens]

HI all.  I have been reading pjn and others here and I am praying for you as for myself.  I used to come on here regulary as Butterbean, but, haven't for a while.  I am older than you pjn and never even smoked a cigarette.  Then for back pain my doc gave me vicodin and then percocets for the pain.  I have been taking them for 8 years and have gone through withdrawal many times.  I keep saying I won't take them when I go back to the doc for a refill.  But, I still do, even though they make me sick/nauseous and have a headache.  I do not get that good feeling anymore.  Well, I just got my refill 6 days ago, and didn't take any yesterday and then stupid me took them today for a headache!!!!!!  I know I have to throw them away, but, am afraid my back will get real bad and won't get through it.  Please come on and talk to me so I will not take them tomorrow.  My body is getting very close to the addiction and if I take a few more days than i will have to go through withdrawal.  Please say something to help. Good luck to all of you.

[pjn]

This is day seven and I feel better today. This weekened was awful though. I had some family stuff going on. It was really too much for me so soon. But I got through it without the help of vicodin. I still have a very upset stomach. I guess it will pass too. I have ups and downs all day long, but the ups are coming more regularly. Will I always be an addict to all drugs and alcohol now? I had never been before.I'm forty years old and never been addicted to anything but cigarettes. Does anybody know? My husband says I can never use vicodin or any kind of opiates again. Is this true? Even if I get very sick? I don't know what I would have done without you guys these past few days.Thank you to all of you. From the bottom of my heart. I have never felt more lonely in my life. You have been a great great help to me.

[pjn]

Thanks for commenting jitterbug.  I'm just a housewife and mother and sometimes I feel like a nobody.  I started taking hydrocodone regularly when my husband left me for the fourth time. He's a crack addict. He's been in and out of rehabs for the past 20 years.  And can you believe I stayed sane and with him through all of that except for the last one. I finally gave in. I always played around with it, but never like the past 2 years. Today is day four.  I'm still very tired and I have a fear of being tired. The drug gave me energy to do anything and everything.  Now I can barely wash my hair.  My husband has been very support. An't he wonderful? But I have to remember he's an addict too.  He hasn't used crack in about 3 years but he constantly smokes weed. He says that's the only way he can do it. I wish there was something that would at least make me feel better or more energetic. I think I'll try the remedy. I'm not going to give up, because I do know what you mean by the w/d's were so bad you could say no when they came. The same thing happened to me. But guess what? I kept them. Didn't use them. I'm still scared. I remember when I had my first child the pain was so bad I said I would never have another one. And guess what? I had 2 more. You know what I mean. I'll probably get rid them soon.  I can tell you this, the first day was sooo bad,I was as humble and humiliated with myself than I have ever been or thought I could be. The shame was intense.  Well I think I've said enough. Everyone's comment's have been so helpful. I couldn't have gotten through it with you guys.  God Bless All of you and you are certainly in my prayers.

[GOD]

Dai's Mom:

I will add your son to my prayer list... I hope he can manage the withdrawls at home with you-- You seem to be a very compassionate person, and a loving mother.... What more could a guy ask for?!

If it turns out that he cannot detox successfully at home, you may want to look at an inpatient addiction recovery program. I attended Valley Hope in O'Neill Nebraska, and I saved my life! These programs are usually 30 day programs, and they have a good rate of success. to research a good Detox and treatment facility in your area, just do a search on the internet for "Addiction Recovery Center" or similar search....

Good Luck, Dai's Mom-

I will keep you and your son in my prayers!

Jess

[daismom]

hello and I am introducing myself , I am daismom. My son is trying to come off of oxycondon, he has several friends right now they are all either going through detox or are trying to just quit cold turkey, his fiance is in a detox and is very scared. I was very scared for them all as one of their friends died in Dec. last year of an over dose of many perscrption drugs as well as heroin, they are all about 18 to 22. I am a young mom and understand as I had some problems with drugs in the 70's/ I am praying hard and know of herbal remmidies as well as the bach flower remidies that can help with the anxiety, BUT and this is a big BUT I know nothing of the f=drugs and those that they are trying for the pain of the wd symptoms. I have on hand benedrill for the night but if he is taking other meds for his pains then I don't know of drug interactions and forgive my hiperness but is there any dangerous signs that I should watch for?? I am hoping that he will come home and sleep here tonight so that I can help him. I am very sympathetic to this addiction but want to help by directing him to a very good program and not being an inabler. He seems very sick and he is tring not to worry me. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated and please pray for him and I also am praying for all of you. We all suffer from time to time with pain and depression, it is very sad that the self medicating have to hide from the world that should be imbracing eachother that we all share in this crazy world together and sometimes it hurts, these meds often take the edge off of lifes presures and then only to rob of life it's self. I love the verse in scriptures that tell us that Jesus came that we would have life and have it more abundently! Yes and abundent life, you afre loved with an everlasting love and in Jerimiah it says, that I have loved the with an everlasting love and with loving kindness have I drawn thee. God bless you all and know that you are greatly loved and God has the power to heal us and to restore us. Dai's Mom

[pjn]

I am a 40 year woman with three children.  I have been on vicodin 7.5 two four times a day.  That eight a day. My first day I wanted to die. I was ashamed, depressed, couldn't stay awake but couldn't sleep, and so tired I could not even take a bath.  My children are wondering what is wrong with me. Today is my third day and it is a little better than the last two.  I'm trying also to do this on my own and don't know if I will make it. I been on them for two years and all I've ever been addicted to is cigarettes.  I feel the same as you.  Now I understand why it so hard for people to get off drugs. I never had compassion before but I do now. I hope you will all pray for me.  I need it bad. Going through this alone is a horrible nightmare.

[Jitterbug]

Three days now and still off the horrible drug tabs. I hope I feel much better today because the last two days have been horrible. I do feel like my brain is starting to work again which is great. I wished I did have something to help me through the withdrawels but since I got most of my supply illegaly I have no dr to go to get anything. I've made it to the third day without anything other than over the counter pain meds so hopefully the rest of this will be tolerable. My husband was also enjoying my supply so he is in the same boat. We both made the decission together to quit. He is in the stage of tummy problems which I've not hit yet. He ran out of tabs the day before I did so he is on his 4th day.

I'm so glad we decided to quit I do feel better about myself already. For me their was this feeling of I'm a horrible person  for using this drug to make me "happy". I'm a mother of four boys one of which is disabled he has cerebral palsey. He was born 10 weeks early and no thank GOD I wasnt on these pills then. He is going to have surgery in Oct which was a motivater to get us off these pills. I will not allow this drug to keep me from Really being there for him.
Thanks again for all your support I pray that today is much better for myself and everyone out there trying to fight their way through addiction to any kind of drug.

[daismom]

Hi there , I have just erad your post and wanted to let you know that there are some really good things out there to replace your tendency or bend to reach for these "little helpers" problem is they are giant prblems in a little package. I think that many of you would really benifit from reading about Bach Flower Therapy. Edmund Bach was a contemporary of Samuel Hannahman (homeopathy) you can look this stuff up online or at the library, etc. Many of the bach flowers are very supportive for us as we deal with some of our own personal "ways" in other words if you tend to be a biy anxious or timid and have origionally reached for something(drug or alcohol) these help balance us, it isn't herbal as there isn't actually any of the organisam left. Anyway there is some great reading and very informative about our personalities which may answer why we reach for this tuff to begin with. Best yet is the rescue remedy you can get in just about any health food store, many mom's use this for a very upset child,  you can use it for an injured animal etc.. Also reading the Psalms brings great comfort. IN the book of Hebrews 13 he says, I will never leave you or forsake you. I guess I have said enough, again thank you all for your time that you take to share your in sight. Peace be with you all , Dai's Mom

[daismom]

Yes I just reread my note and the f= is an error nothing intended, sorry , quite embaressed

[memikey]

Hope this helps at least one person, but withdrawl from most any oral narcotic analgesic (except for maybe Methadone) is pretty much the same ... painfull, dreadfull, lonely, and humiliating ... but not nearly as serious (or life-threatening) as Heroin or other potent IV-administered narcotics.

So all I can do is share what has (more than once) helped me get off a heavy-dose Vicodin addiction with relatively mild withdrawl symptoms.  So here goes:

First off, I personally believe that tapering off your medication (alone) is for the birds, because that takes tons of will power and even the slightest "bad day" is excuse enough to take just "one extra pill today", then you have to start all over again.  I truly believe the key to the most painless method of narcotic withdrawl is by (temporarily!) replacing the primary narcotic with a lesser secondary narcotic during the withdrawl process (which should be no longer than 5 days for the worst part to be over).

The reason I believe this has been so successful for me is because, well, pain is pain, whether it be from an injury or withdrawl symptoms, and needs to be addressed according (ie: with a drug indicated for the treatment of pain).  That "drug" just needs to be potent enough to help kill the worst of the withdrawl pain, but not so powerful that you end up with a permanent "cross addiction" to the secondary narcotic.  

From personal experience, I have found that Darvon (a relatively mild "semi"-narcotic analgesic) usually does the trick quite nicely.  But the beauty of it is ... there is no "tapering"; you simply substitute one normal dosage of Darvon for the equivalent "normal" dosage of your primary narcotic (in other words, if you are supposed to be taking, say, one Vicodin every 4 hours, but are taking two or three ... simply replace that dose with a (normal, single, average!) dose of Darvon (which should be no more than about 6 capsules in a 24-hour, max).

You do this for about 5 days, also taking nice, long hot baths about 8 times a day to help releive the body aches, and, if needed, 50mg of Benadryl at night to help you sleep ... then on the "6th" (or last) day, just stop taking anything at all except for maybe over-the-counter stuff.  You'd be surprised how comparatively painless and easy this method is ... and it sure beats the hell out of trying to taper (unless you have unbelievable will power), or staying in an ugly hospital room for a week.

Anyway, this is what has worked for me in the past, so it couldn't hurt to try it, though I would NOT recommend using Talwin, Codeine, or Ultram in place of Darvon ... because Darvon is such a comparatively weaker narcotic, you'd have to be on it everyday for like a month to even develope a mild dependency.

The next step is of course up to you ... either sheer will power to stay off it, therapy sessions, or a 12-step program; though I think you already know which of these three is your best bet.  Just remember, whenever you try to do this on your own, there is always the risk of serious complications, seizures, and even death.  So just use your best judgement.  It couldn't hurt to clue your familiy doctor in on your plan also, just to be on the safe side.  You'd be surprised how cooperative and understanding they can be about such things.  Anyway, which ever method you choose, good luck!

--MeMikey

[daismom]

Thank you very much for your prayers and your suggestions I would like him in a detox/recovery program it would be a good start with lots of good information about these drugs and what they can do to you. I have been studying homeopathy and Bach Flower therapy for sometime and it is such a good help with many different dis-ease, herbal therapy is very good as well though you have to be careful of some reactions as well as drug interations, herbs can be as powerful as drugs, a warning about kava as some people have experianced liver problems from that herbal treatment. He is home and seems to be doing very well he started detoxing C/T Monday and is coping pretty well with just some over the counter stuff and maybe something he picked up which I DO NOT think is a good idea. I do not know about these drugs at all except their dangers and so I am not familar with their symptoms. Everyone here in this forum seems so nice, it is wonderful that everyone cares about eachother and can help through this emotional stuff as well as the need to know that so many people care. I pry Gods peace to each of you and His strength to hold you through this tough time in your lives as well as mine. I will reccomend this site to all of the kids so that they can go to a p;lace and know that they can get help and find a friend. Thank you all, Dai's Mom.