Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

Lethargy

It"s going on 99 hours since I abruptly stopped hydrocodone and tramadol.  Every day is a teensy bit easier than the previous day, but I still feel like hell.  I spend a fair amount of time curled into a fetal position in bed.  The aches I can take; it is the extreme lethargy and malaise.  I have been following the thomas recipe and trying to do a little exercise (does walking slow for 15 minutes on a treadmill count?)  Can someone tell me if the lethargy is normal and how long it will last?  as in days?

Thanks,
Shelli
3 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
Thank you both for responding. It made me feel better to know that what I am experiencing is not totally abnormal.  It seems that this will go on forever!  It has been 126 hours clean, and although I don't crave the meds, in the sense that I am not climbing the walls, I just feel so awful and tired and sick.  It is getting slowly better, but too slow!  I have had to re-arrange my whole life around how horrid I feel physically.  My hands still ache something terrible, which is why I am not writing on site more.  It just hurts to type.  Heck, it hurts to unplug the coffee pot.  As for the fatigue, yesterday, I drove my teen daughter to the doctor for a routine appt., and I was curled up on a sofa in the waiting room.  I let her drive us home.  i have been more active this morning, so I guess things are improving; guess I am just too impatient!  Again, thank you both.  
Helpful - 0
1372788 tn?1279215766
99 hours is great!  My physical WD's lated 3-4 days..Ok your withdrawal symptoms are common. I can only tell you what I have been using to get the energy back that I used to have..(I'm 8 days clean of Norco/hydrocodone). Theres a supplement called L-Tyrosine, and thats helped a lot. Taurine gives you a quick boost, and an energy that makes you want to get up and walk/work.  DMAE is what I use because it helps with brain functioning. All of those can be found at any vitamin shop or walgreens/cvs.  Thats all I can tell you for now. Please hang in there. Do whatever will keep you away from the pills. I know WD's are hard now, but it gets better everyday you are free of drugs. Good luck!!!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
The lethargy is completely normal. Having absolutly no energy and feeling as if there were twenty pound weights on top of every inch of my body along with the achy restless legs were the two symptoms that always lasted the longest for me. I'd say in some cases it took about two weeks to feel completely better in those two categories, however after about a week, everyday was noticeable better. I had zero energy whatsoever, walking up the stairs of my house was a huge task in itself. The excercising plays a huge role in helping with this though. And yes what you are doing definitly counts. Any form of excercise is good, especially for the restless legs, it tires the muscles a bit so they calm down a bit at night, at least in my experience. I think there are vitamins to increase energy, coffee, healthy energy based drinks help as well. Forcing yourself to be as active as possible is the best remedy. The longer I stayed on the couch or in bed, the less of a chance i'd be active at all throughout the day, but if I forced myself up right away and just started doing things then it takes your mind off of it, and gets the blood flowing and body moving and it really helps. In any case, you should be feeling improvements each day.
Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Addiction: Substance Abuse Community

Top Addiction Answerers
495284 tn?1333894042
City of Dominatrix, MN
Avatar universal
phoenix, AZ
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
Is treating glaucoma with marijuana all hype, or can hemp actually help?
If you think marijuana has no ill effects on your health, this article from Missouri Medicine may make you think again.
Julia Aharonov, DO, reveals the quickest way to beat drug withdrawal.
Tricks to help you quit for good.
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.