Is this a symptom of withdrawal?

[needhelpnow74]

I have had lots of "symptoms" since I quit Lortab.  Some of which include insomnia, tinnitus (ringing ears), heart palpitations, intense anxiety, depression, and the newest - hives (red rash and itching)!  My question is basically are all of these contributed to withdrawal????

[gnarly_1]

Hi everything your describing are all symptoms of withdrawal some wont be to bad otheres will drive you nuts just hang in there your going to be fine as long as you B/P stays low it know to spike wile doing this if in dought call 911 with your heart or a quick trip to the E/R and they can check it out all and all your probably fine just in withdrawal good luck and God bless......Gnarly

[needhelpnow74]

Thank you for all your help!  I really needed someone to talk to.  And now, my pulse is down to 98 from 116!  Maybe the Xanax helped but I know talking about it helps!  Answers to your questions:  I have tried anti-anxiety meds - when 18 doc prescribed Buspar and I thought I might "climb the wall", when about 28 I was prescribed Paxil with no results, and most recently the Xanax which makes me feel "weird and out of control"  I have not seen a therapist recently because I do not have insurance.  I know it would be good for me though.  I know that I am trying to "justify" the use but I still make it to the next day without taking.  Probably the main reason though is that I don't have easy access to the drugs.  I could go back to the street, but I have decided that I will not!  So, here I am, without the meds and surviving another day.

Something tells me though that if makes you feel that good, it can't be that bad.  Not true with lortab.  I know it is very bad for me, but the main thing that's worse is the Tylenol.  I was just saying that Hydrocodone without additives can't be worse than taking Xanax, Valium, Prozac, Lexapro, etc - or any number of these in combination which alot of people take.  Of course, the best medicine would be no medicine at all and maybe I will make it to that level someday!  Here's to tomorrow!

Thanks again for your help!  I would like to hear from you again!  I am going to try to go to bed now, but I will check back tomorrow.  Good night!

[atthebeach]

That's good your bp is good. Stress definitely can cause a lot of issues. You have to self-medicating to help with your anxiety. Do you go to therapy? Tried anxiety meds?
But back to the original question yes they are common withdrawal symptoms.
You are trying to justify your use. Please talk to a psychiatrist,therapist.
Stress also causes palpitations,anxiety,depression,hives,sleep disturbances.  My daughter gets terrible hives from stress.

[needhelpnow74]

I just went to the ER today and they said that blood pressure was fine.  My bp has always been good for that matter.  I think that I am in ok health for the health I am in and I think that most of my problems have come from the stress.  Both from life and from quitting.  I guess I am just trying to find someone who has had similar withdrawal symptoms to assure me that I will be ok.  You know, it's funny, I have had anxiety issues from about age 18 and I am now 37.  I have tried alot of different drugs trying to excape it.  The only time I felt "normal" was when I was taking tabs.  I have read that many people have this same feeling.  I really wish that the tabs came WITHOUT acetominophen!  Some people say that would not help.  But, almost all of those people are on some kind of med.  Be it anti-depressant and benzo, or something.  What's the difference?  Hydrocodone by itself can't be any more dangerous than taking other mind-altering substances, right?

[atthebeach]

The anxiety,depression and sleep issues will get better. I would defintely get the heart checked again. What is your blood pressure? Hypertension (high blood preesure) can cause heart palpitations and ringing in the ears.reducing salt intake,quitting smoking,will also help. I would be honest with your doctor about your loratab use.it could help him figure it out. Stress can definitely cause high blood pressure. Maybe a blood pressure med. Xanax won't help with blood pressure.do you have a bp machine at home?

[needhelpnow74]

Are really ready for this?  It's a long explanation.  I started having heart palpitations last year.  My wife and I were owners of 2 convenience stores along with my parents and 2 uncles and 2 aunts.  I was the "boss" and, needless to say, that was a very stressful position.  On top of that I decided to go on this new diet in which you inject this hormone into your belly everyday and it works on the hypothalmus to tell the body to expunge fat cells.  After about a week of this diet the heart palpitations started.  I quit the diet meds immediately and they subsided, but came back worse.  So when the palpitations came back I thought they were from the stress or the diet meds and decided they weren't that important (I was dosing then by the way).  
After they came and went several times I went to the ER and they told me to reduce caffeine and tobacco.  I didn't tell them that I was taking Lortab nor does anyone in my family know.  I started researching online and found that abuse of these pills can cause a wide range of problems including respiratory and cardiovascular!  I had always thought "as long as I don't take enough to damage the liver I will be ok".  Now I find this out and it freaked me out!  I immediately decided that I needed to quit.  I finally decided to quit a few months later in November.  Like I said, I reduced the dose to 1/day for a week and then I went cold turkey.  It was unexpectedly easy after the first day and a half.  And then the symptoms started!
It started with sever anxiety, irrational fears and such.  Then, that caused my insomnia to start.  I have only had 1 full night sleep (7 hours) in about 2.5 months!  And that was because my cousin gave me a 10mg Ambien.  The palpitations continued and got worse.  I ended up going back the ER and they hooked me up on a monitor for my heartbeat.  I went to a doctor to look at the report and he gave me Xanax, still not knowing that I had been taking Lortab, and told me to reduce my caffiene and tobacco and I would be fine.  I tried taking the Xanax but can't, it makes me feel extremely drugged up and just "blah" in general.  I am an upbeat, fast-paced person and the Lortab seemed to make me even more upbeat and less worrism at the same time!  So, over the past month or so the palpitations have become less and less.
Then, a week ago, I started getting these hive rashes!  I took benedryl and it persisted so back to the ER.  They said it wasn't dangerous but gave me prednisone and a prednisone shot.  Now, 8 hours later, I am sitting here with a 116 pulse at rest!  So I took a Xanax about 30 minutes ago.  
Remember, during this 3.5 months of quitting I have also experienced this ringing in my ears (more pronounced at night) as well.
You really think that all of these are side effects of withdrawal?  I just really didn't think I was taking that many of those pills.  I've heard stories of people taking 15-20 of these aday!  I really thought I wasn't taking enough to cause this kind of damage.  Sorry for the LONG post, but you seem willing to help!  Thank you!

[atthebeach]

Congratulations on your 25 days clean. Keep up the good work. The depression,anxiety and sleep issues tend to hang on for quite some time. Your brain  needs to repair, your natural brain chemistry gets altered by the meds and it will take sometime for it to function properly again. Exercise helps, keep up with your golf game. There are some over the counter things to help with sleep. Alteril and sleep by nature made.the main ingredient is melatonin.are you still experiencing heart palpitations now?
What kind of pain do you have? There is rebound pain that does seem to increase when stopping. It usually subsides and then you can use otc meds.heat or ice.

[needhelpnow74]

I quit in November of last year but I have had a few pills since then.  I found one in my golf bag and took it.  I also hurt my back and took about 6 over 3 days and then got rid of the rest.  I have been completely clean for about 25 days now!  I was taking 10/500 at a rate of about 2.5/day but never more than 4/day (very seldom over 3) for over 3 years!  And I was getting them off the street.  A somewhat trusted source, but still off the street.  When I decided I was going to quit, I went down to 1/day for a week and then flushed what I had left!  The physical symptoms have been hardest to deal with for me.  I guess when I was high I didn't notice all of the pain!

[atthebeach]

yes they are. when did you quit?