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I need advice on my withdrawal from Lortab
Dear All,
I am new to this forum and searching for answers. For several years(4) I have had back problems and frankly I have used lortab the entire time. About a year and a half ago I was using about 10mg per day off and on every third day as well. I started having elbow problems of which I used as my reason to use it every day. I had Surgery on my elbow in December and it is fixed. Now I am left with back issues. Long story short I am just tired of the stigma of using pain medicine even though I realize it helps I work with docs and suffer the embarrassment everytime they find out what I take. So here we go. I have been taking 5mg when I get to work and then around 5 to 6 pm I take two 10mg or two and a half. This Monday I made the decision to lower it down and try to quit using lortab. On Monday I took 2.5mg in the morning and 10mg that night and did not sleep all night. The next day I worked and felt somewhat anxious....Tuesday I stuck with the lowering and had major GI issues that day and some anxiety. Slept a little better night two. Today I took the same and the only issues I had today were my back is really bothering me and Advil does not even seem to help. I have kept the lowering despite feeling like I need to raise it back up and come up with excuses. If I go cold turkey and just cut the 2.5 out and the 10 out tomorrow night will I just have another day of withdrawl like I had or will it likely be alot more. Or should I just taper it down from here. It has not been that bad however my back is aching I have been using ice and heat. I know this is probably a very mundane post to many that have way deeper use issues or addictions however I have been habitually using it for four years as well at times for the feeling to not lie and while pain exists I can no longer deal with the constipation issues, sleep issues and feeling tired all the time it seems. Any thoughts on whether if I go cold turkey from here I will really suffer a deeper withdrawl. It has sucked enough this week. Thank you all for your help or advice in anyway.....
Kindest Regards....
Sam20111966
I am new to this forum and searching for answers. For several years(4) I have had back problems and frankly I have used lortab the entire time. About a year and a half ago I was using about 10mg per day off and on every third day as well. I started having elbow problems of which I used as my reason to use it every day. I had Surgery on my elbow in December and it is fixed. Now I am left with back issues. Long story short I am just tired of the stigma of using pain medicine even though I realize it helps I work with docs and suffer the embarrassment everytime they find out what I take. So here we go. I have been taking 5mg when I get to work and then around 5 to 6 pm I take two 10mg or two and a half. This Monday I made the decision to lower it down and try to quit using lortab. On Monday I took 2.5mg in the morning and 10mg that night and did not sleep all night. The next day I worked and felt somewhat anxious....Tuesday I stuck with the lowering and had major GI issues that day and some anxiety. Slept a little better night two. Today I took the same and the only issues I had today were my back is really bothering me and Advil does not even seem to help. I have kept the lowering despite feeling like I need to raise it back up and come up with excuses. If I go cold turkey and just cut the 2.5 out and the 10 out tomorrow night will I just have another day of withdrawl like I had or will it likely be alot more. Or should I just taper it down from here. It has not been that bad however my back is aching I have been using ice and heat. I know this is probably a very mundane post to many that have way deeper use issues or addictions however I have been habitually using it for four years as well at times for the feeling to not lie and while pain exists I can no longer deal with the constipation issues, sleep issues and feeling tired all the time it seems. Any thoughts on whether if I go cold turkey from here I will really suffer a deeper withdrawl. It has sucked enough this week. Thank you all for your help or advice in anyway.....
Kindest Regards....
Sam20111966
Well...providing you don't have any medical conditions that could make it dangerous for you to go CT, i would think you would be okay. I would suggest talking to your doctor about it. But you really aren't using that much...I would think you would be okay going ct. WD symptoms should be minimal. If it turns out to be too much for you to handle, then go with your taper program. Of course, I am not a doctor, and like I said, I would suggest you talk it over with your doctor before coming to any descision. Hope this helps.. Good luck and God bless!
Thanks so much just scared a will start puking. I am afraid and embarrssed to talk to doc I should be ok no other health issues. Thanks for your kind words the support help as some told me its a slipperry slope and I just cannot deal with stigma anymore. Thanks again I am going CT tomorrow morning...
Awesome! Please come on here and post to let us know how you are doing. And congrats on your decision to get clean and off of these nasty pills. Drink plenty of fluids, eat as healthy as you can...even though you might not have an appetite. Get something for the diarrhea too...it's a god send! If you go to the top of the page and do a search for "thomas recipe", there are some really helpful things you can pick up that will help you through the process. Good luck to you and God bless! Let us know how you are doing....okay?
Will post how things are going thank you so much again...I feel empowered now to get it done....
HI WELL you mad a good decion to quit b/4 it stats to take over any time your dose starts to go up its trouble right now you need to get to walmart and pick up a case of gatoraid the generic for imudium it 1/3 the price get the big box and some stuff called highlands restful legs its only a couple of bucks and many of our members including myself found it helpful with the restless legs the main thing here is to try not to let fear into the equation its always worst in our minds then it turns out to be this is 1/3 physical and 2/3 mental be ready to fight on both fronts this is truly a battle one or lost in ones own mind a positive attitude is a must its makes the difference between suffering or just discomfort force the fluids its important
and a hot soak will take care of most of the symptoms remember this is only temporary in a week you will start tob feel better keep posting for support we all want to see you succeed good luck and God bless.......Gnarly
and a hot soak will take care of most of the symptoms remember this is only temporary in a week you will start tob feel better keep posting for support we all want to see you succeed good luck and God bless.......Gnarly
Okay I did not sleep all last night today I was thinking of going CT but I really am tired. Hard to start dropping all the meds. Wish I could take off however have too many scheduled things at work. I wonder if I should just continue to taper. This no sleep stuff is really really hard for me. Four days on lowered dose as of 5pm tonight I sweat all night for some reason probably trying to hard to sleep. Not blood pressure related as all have that controlled with BP meds and watching that close....Gosh darn I am so tired really hard to do this with no sleep...Thanks also for your post Gnarly maybe its time to just say heck with sleep and drop it all.
Thank you all for continued help....
Any more advice on what I should do today is helpful----if I could take off I would its the not sleeping of this deal that is really just making it totally hard to function and have energy....
You all really know what is going on and are quite helpful to everyone going thru these battles small or large...
Not sure I have the energy to CT it today maybe I will just cut another 2.5mg and stay at 10mg one pill in evening that is it....
Sleepless and trying to work....along with a few sneezes here and there :0)
Thank you all for continued help....
Any more advice on what I should do today is helpful----if I could take off I would its the not sleeping of this deal that is really just making it totally hard to function and have energy....
You all really know what is going on and are quite helpful to everyone going thru these battles small or large...
Not sure I have the energy to CT it today maybe I will just cut another 2.5mg and stay at 10mg one pill in evening that is it....
Sleepless and trying to work....along with a few sneezes here and there :0)
Ur doing great&u r very lucky u caught yourself before it got worse.Everything your experiencing is normal.I went c/t off a lot more it sucked but but was better than dragging it out.I never vomited but felt very naucious at times but everyone's different.Do what you think is right for u.
Well crap made it until 1pm and just could not handle thought of CT so still on taper...was going to try and not take 2.5mg tab I was taking at 8am this week...just so tired from not sleeping all night finally took it at 1pm. I guess at least I did not take at 8am. I never thought such little dose would effect me as it has. I can actually feel my blood pressure rising on this taper even though my doc has me on BP meds for normal high blood pressure....oh well at least I am staying with taper...feeling tired, anxious, nauseated and having diareahha never would have thought after 4 days I was still having this and it would feel terrible on a lower dosage....Everyone doing this keep up the faith this is something else.....Wish I could take off and go cold turkey really I have had enough of this.
I WILL NOT GO BACK TO WHERE I WAS.......
I WILL NOT GO BACK TO WHERE I WAS.......
HEY SAM just reading your posts and wondering how your doing......tapering can be very difficult and uncomfortable it lessen the final withdrawals but it stretches them out as well so you feel lousy longer its a trade off ether way you go if you just jump its over in about 4 or 5 days if you taper it can be a wile get some imudum fir the runs and be sure to force the fluids its very ez to become dehydrated doing this you dont want that on top of detoxing keep posting where out here for you I dont expect your going to be sleeping much from what your symptoms sound like you may concider just jumping off keep a close eye on your B/P it will spike wile doing this mine did and it normally runs low will wait bto here from ya good luck and God bless......Gnarly
Hi Gnarly,
Amazing I slept last night due to no sleep Monday, Tuesday, Weds...Feel a heck of alot better. Took three Advil this morning. A little nauseated but OMG feel much better than yesterday...This was a tough 4 days however I made it....Today I will try to drop 2.5mg's more and all I will have left is the 12.5mg I take around 6pm...Sorry this is small stuff however after 4 years of use the withdrawl was not a party especially while working if you call it that.
I might stay one more day on the current and drop a little more. I probably dropped about 10 mg from my daily dose this week so it was substantial compared to the total. Still wish I could have done it CT however I just cannot be gone from work that long. My agitation seems much less I have been a really turkey this week to wife and irritated at everything,
Otherwise I am proud of myself. Now comes the weekend. I am not going to take more as I would normally do on the weekend usually about 4 per day total for two days---NOT THIS WEEKEND. :0)
Thank you all so much for your help in this and support this is really a GREAT forumn...
Amazing I slept last night due to no sleep Monday, Tuesday, Weds...Feel a heck of alot better. Took three Advil this morning. A little nauseated but OMG feel much better than yesterday...This was a tough 4 days however I made it....Today I will try to drop 2.5mg's more and all I will have left is the 12.5mg I take around 6pm...Sorry this is small stuff however after 4 years of use the withdrawl was not a party especially while working if you call it that.
I might stay one more day on the current and drop a little more. I probably dropped about 10 mg from my daily dose this week so it was substantial compared to the total. Still wish I could have done it CT however I just cannot be gone from work that long. My agitation seems much less I have been a really turkey this week to wife and irritated at everything,
Otherwise I am proud of myself. Now comes the weekend. I am not going to take more as I would normally do on the weekend usually about 4 per day total for two days---NOT THIS WEEKEND. :0)
Thank you all so much for your help in this and support this is really a GREAT forumn...
Funny I noticed normally a shower takes longer in the morning I did it quicker as well I am remembering things I normally would not remember like names LOL....very good very weird its amazing even what little doses of lortab do to your mind.....Not saying Advil will be the ulimate thing for my back however at least for the next 2 to 4 weeks I am getting off this stuff than I will go see my doc and see if he wants me to do NSAIDS or stay on pain stuff however like I used to take it I would drop it for 2 to 3 days with no side affects and then pick it back up and only take one pill in the evening to help with back pain. Another thing I am going to lose some weight that will help my back need to take off about 40 lbs...More than you all need to know however I really thank you all for your support thru this big it small it sucked this week for sure.
Thank you all.
Thank you all.
I just could not taper anymore today did not use more however man just need to breathe after this week. It will be a challenge this weekend I need to stay busy..5 days at lower dose Amen to that.....
Hey Sam,
So I'm new to this too. I was looking up symtoms of Suboxone (which is supposed to help with getting off opiates) but it turns out that it is (I think they said) 10-25 times more potent than morphine. Great. I traded one opiate for another, meanwhile I thought I was taking actions by telling my Dr. that I wanted to get off pain meds.........And he gives me more pain meds grrrrr.....
It has now been 25 days clean off of Suboxone (now that I know for a FACT that Suboxone is a narcodic as well otherwise I am over 6 months clean).
I've got to be honest with you- I really think you need to go CT. If your scared to talk to anyone about this (which compartamentalizing this makes it worse), tell people you have a BAD flu and take a few days.
There was a movie once with Paul Newman in it (I forget the name) but it was about him being an addict to alcohol. His wife walked into the bedroom and asked him "WHY do you drink so much?" And he said "Because I need to feel the "click." VERY PROFOUND. Absoloutly nobody but addicts can relate to that line. I used to take pills until I felt the click and it seems as if you did too. Now here's my main point;
Someone once told me that you have to FEEL what you have done to yourself. Not as a punishment, but as a reminder of what you have done to your body for the past 4 YEARS! Can you imagine what your lower GI looks like from all of those pills!? Probably like a very elderly persons. So your body wants to fight this. Remind yourself that- your withdraws are a sign of your own temple saying NO MORE SAM! I'LL MAKE US BETTER!! (Hints the diarreah, etc) It's time to get rid of your demons.
I know where your at. Your right, I've been a HEAVY opiate user and I'm here to tell you- nobody is "special" because they have shot up heroin and you take a few loritabs. WERE ALL ADDICTS FIGHTING FOR OUR LIVES!! AND SO ARE YOU!!
Please, stop letting your body feel the click. It doesn't want it anymore. Fall "sick" with the flu for a week. Throw your pills away and for the love of God- please tell your Dr. about this because I can GUARANTEE YOU- when you are at your weakest- you will call him/her and say that you need a refill. Click. Click.
I'm here for you. Like I said- this is the first day I've been on here. It's helpful. I hope this message hits you in the right places. -Baridon-
So I'm new to this too. I was looking up symtoms of Suboxone (which is supposed to help with getting off opiates) but it turns out that it is (I think they said) 10-25 times more potent than morphine. Great. I traded one opiate for another, meanwhile I thought I was taking actions by telling my Dr. that I wanted to get off pain meds.........And he gives me more pain meds grrrrr.....
It has now been 25 days clean off of Suboxone (now that I know for a FACT that Suboxone is a narcodic as well otherwise I am over 6 months clean).
I've got to be honest with you- I really think you need to go CT. If your scared to talk to anyone about this (which compartamentalizing this makes it worse), tell people you have a BAD flu and take a few days.
There was a movie once with Paul Newman in it (I forget the name) but it was about him being an addict to alcohol. His wife walked into the bedroom and asked him "WHY do you drink so much?" And he said "Because I need to feel the "click." VERY PROFOUND. Absoloutly nobody but addicts can relate to that line. I used to take pills until I felt the click and it seems as if you did too. Now here's my main point;
Someone once told me that you have to FEEL what you have done to yourself. Not as a punishment, but as a reminder of what you have done to your body for the past 4 YEARS! Can you imagine what your lower GI looks like from all of those pills!? Probably like a very elderly persons. So your body wants to fight this. Remind yourself that- your withdraws are a sign of your own temple saying NO MORE SAM! I'LL MAKE US BETTER!! (Hints the diarreah, etc) It's time to get rid of your demons.
I know where your at. Your right, I've been a HEAVY opiate user and I'm here to tell you- nobody is "special" because they have shot up heroin and you take a few loritabs. WERE ALL ADDICTS FIGHTING FOR OUR LIVES!! AND SO ARE YOU!!
Please, stop letting your body feel the click. It doesn't want it anymore. Fall "sick" with the flu for a week. Throw your pills away and for the love of God- please tell your Dr. about this because I can GUARANTEE YOU- when you are at your weakest- you will call him/her and say that you need a refill. Click. Click.
I'm here for you. Like I said- this is the first day I've been on here. It's helpful. I hope this message hits you in the right places. -Baridon-
Thanks Baridon helps a lot appreciate your thoughtfulness as well guidance...I will think it over and if I could have done CT this week I would of...Just had many meetings and interviewing of folks and luckily faked my way thru it...It should be down hill from here just slower than I want...Again my thanks. My family and I are going on trip next Thursday and I cannot afford to be in WD however month of July may be the time to consider the flu. I promise you despite the sorest throat of my life right now want to pop a pain pill....It's time to feel my sciatica, sore throat and make it happen. I may seem week however I will not fail you all or myself....My use is going to none very soon. I have had two Ortho Surgeons and a Neuro say my gosh why are you taking that stuff. Sick of the stigma and all the unkind words... Life can stay the same or change for some reason nothing noted I decided this is the week to start it....Won't let this board down promise bro...Tks again
Sup bro!?!? Glad to hear you are doing so well. You should be really proud of yourself. You are focused and getting it done! Bravo! I know what you mean about things coming back to you after you quit taking them. It's strange and gives you motivation to keep going, yes? Anyways...just wanted to say hi and let you know I'm really rooting for ya! Keep going man...you're doing great! Peace!
Hi Bad,
Dang really struggling whether to cut some more and now a wonderful sore throat lol. Before my scrip for that would be a lortab today it's whine a lot and keep swallowing lol...It's those small things like holy crap how did I shower quicker in the same shower to let you now how these pills slow you down...I may cut a little more out tomorrow if this sore throat does not kill me first....lol it's funny how we contort pain and the use of pills for a simple sore throat I will live just not going to kiss the wife or kids except on the cheek they have dealt with a crappy me this week it's kisses on the cheeks and teaching em some bike riding without training wheels...In a way wish I was not going on vacation next week I want to get this done and over...Going to suck on an ice cube lol and gargle hehe...
Thanks Bad you have helped me greatly.....peace to you also....
Will keep ya posted....
Dang really struggling whether to cut some more and now a wonderful sore throat lol. Before my scrip for that would be a lortab today it's whine a lot and keep swallowing lol...It's those small things like holy crap how did I shower quicker in the same shower to let you now how these pills slow you down...I may cut a little more out tomorrow if this sore throat does not kill me first....lol it's funny how we contort pain and the use of pills for a simple sore throat I will live just not going to kiss the wife or kids except on the cheek they have dealt with a crappy me this week it's kisses on the cheeks and teaching em some bike riding without training wheels...In a way wish I was not going on vacation next week I want to get this done and over...Going to suck on an ice cube lol and gargle hehe...
Thanks Bad you have helped me greatly.....peace to you also....
Will keep ya posted....
hey sam,
glad you found us. you said you had meetings this week, next week is vacation,you have a sore throat, maybe july will be a better time. the truth is ..........there will always be another reason not to quit, my husband & i minister to addicts in our area. we try to get them into a christian inpatient rehab. they always find excuses not to go that day. we say not many people wake up and say wow this is a great day to go into a drug rehab.(this is a great day to stop my addiction) the answer is usually tomorrow, next week, next month. let me finish this bottle, new years is coming, summer is here, the point is you are scared ......understandable, you have had a crutch for 4 yrs. you dont know how to live life on its terms without the use of the lortabs. the withdrawals will drag out during a taper. if you stop now by thursday and your vacation you will beable to enjoy your family and vacation without any drugs. wow wouldnt that be great. a new leaf. a new beginning.
yes your back pain will get worse at first it is rebound pain, it is your brain screaming at you to take another pill. many people find after they detox that the pain isnt that bad after all and can be managed with otc meds,exercise, some weight lose,physical therapy,chiropractor,
there are some things you can get to help ease the withdrawal symptoms. sleep is overrated anyway. our bodys are stronger and able to handle more than we give it credit for. it is the mind that is the controlling factor.
i will pray for you to be strong to do what has to be done, you will be a better man,husband and father for it.
sending blessings
debbie
glad you found us. you said you had meetings this week, next week is vacation,you have a sore throat, maybe july will be a better time. the truth is ..........there will always be another reason not to quit, my husband & i minister to addicts in our area. we try to get them into a christian inpatient rehab. they always find excuses not to go that day. we say not many people wake up and say wow this is a great day to go into a drug rehab.(this is a great day to stop my addiction) the answer is usually tomorrow, next week, next month. let me finish this bottle, new years is coming, summer is here, the point is you are scared ......understandable, you have had a crutch for 4 yrs. you dont know how to live life on its terms without the use of the lortabs. the withdrawals will drag out during a taper. if you stop now by thursday and your vacation you will beable to enjoy your family and vacation without any drugs. wow wouldnt that be great. a new leaf. a new beginning.
yes your back pain will get worse at first it is rebound pain, it is your brain screaming at you to take another pill. many people find after they detox that the pain isnt that bad after all and can be managed with otc meds,exercise, some weight lose,physical therapy,chiropractor,
there are some things you can get to help ease the withdrawal symptoms. sleep is overrated anyway. our bodys are stronger and able to handle more than we give it credit for. it is the mind that is the controlling factor.
i will pray for you to be strong to do what has to be done, you will be a better man,husband and father for it.
sending blessings
debbie
HI Sam just checking in on you how do you feel today.....it gets tuff tapering down the last little bit hope your sleeping but it wouldn't suprize me if your not hang in there just a little bit more to go and you will be done with this the no sleep thing tends to hang aruond a wile as do the restsless legs but most of the other symptoms should subside keep posting for suport good luck and God bless......Gnarly
Hi gnarly and atthebeach, sorry for a less energy post and thank you really. Did not sleep at all, throat feels like crap..Gotta keep going today I really am thinking of either cutting 5 more mgs out of total of 15 or going CT...I would normally take 40 mg on the weekend days no way...6 days 10 mg cut so far...This lack of sleep really ***** I can handle all the other stuff as short term.... All week been taking 2.5mg at noon and 12.5mg at 5 or 6. Today cutting out noon and 5 to 6 dose maybe 2.5 or go CT. I am really thinking about CT I want to get this stuff all out of my system. Tired of this. I will not give up sorry really for a very non energy post Debbie your words are true and Tk goodness church is 5 to 6 I am going if I am in the bathroom the entire time....God Bless you all for your support I WILL DO THIS......Sam
Can I ask a question if I go CT will it be about the same as the taper I did or much much worse I know I will not sleep and have diareeaha lol cannot spell that oh well???? I cut 10mgs lortab from 25mgs over last six days....Thoughts and thank you....15 more left if I CT today.......If you cannot comment or are sick of my posts I understand.....I get over this you will only see me on this board to help not as a user I am sick of the chains that bind just need to probably throw some imodium on board to bind my colon lol.....that was graphic hehe.....see waking up from not sleeping...I look like raccoon my eyes have deep dark circles gotta get me a plastic surgeon after this hehe
Tks. Sam
Tks. Sam
Good luck to you Sam, I'm doing almost the same thing this last week and am feeling much better after 8 days. It DOES end!
I bet my dark circles are darker than yours lol cool good to know it ends I am ready...
sam
it might be a little more intense but it will be over quicker 3 to 5 days. you have already had the symptoms through the whole week with the taper.that is why most people op
for the ct.
eat bananas they help and yes take the immodium
it might be a little more intense but it will be over quicker 3 to 5 days. you have already had the symptoms through the whole week with the taper.that is why most people op
for the ct.
eat bananas they help and yes take the immodium
Ok talked to wife she did not know my usage I told her I tapered all week. I am going CT no use since 5 last night......15 hours clean I am ready. CT here we come praying at church big time tonight....Thank you all for your support as well sorry for all my fear, whining and posts....Good advice from all, lortab NO MORE.....
Sam
Sam
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