Tapering off norco and dealing with depression after detox

[addictbysurprise]

I am a 28 year old single mother with very busy, fast-paced job and I cannot take time off work. I am currently taking 15-20 10 mg. norco per day.  I quit cold turkey from a much lower dosage two years ago, which was prescribed to me due to chronic back pain.  Since my detox, I was hospitalized several times for severe pain, each time, they sent me home with a few norco, and of course, it happened again!  I am 150% committed to my recovery but I have a few concerns.  I am extremely scared of not being able to handle the depression that follows detox and I do not want to decide that life was easier on pills because I wasn't depressed.  Because I cannot afford to take time off work, I am starting a taper plan.  I would like to minimize not only the withdrawals, but also the depression that follows.  I told my family about everything.  Although they knew that I had a problem, they were in the dark about how bad it really is.  I need some advice on the best way to taper and how to minimize the depression that follows.

[vicki595]

Hi there-  We can't give you a taper plan; it's against forum policy.

I can tell you that you should drop a small amount of the med each time you drop down and do it over a long period of time. If you decrease very slowly you'll have minimal wd's.  Taking extra in the evening as a reward is never a good idea if you ever decide to do that...it's addictive behaviour.

I don't know what your access is but you'll need a good amount of pills to do a proper taper. With a busy job and children, I agree with tapering off.

Keep posting-

[Ben727]

I can not imagine being a single parent and kicking hydros. If you have a parent or friend, I'd recommend getting their help for hours 36-72 or so. I took 15 10-325s before breakfast (and at least another 45 throughout the day) for five years or so. I'm clean about a month on my first attempt to quit. I have a 4 and 6 year-old. I basically sequestered myself from them during the worst of the withdrawl (daddy had a bad flu), and my wife carried all the weight. You may not have that option, but the more support you can gather, the better. At the quantity I was taking, WD was the most horrible thing I ever did. I did not taper. If you can, I recommend writing out a plan for the whole thing (x pills this day, x-1 the next, etc). And if there is someone you can partner with to control the meds, that will help.

Like Lily said, you are getting your life back! It is so worth it! I had forgotten so long ago what complete freedom from these pills felt like that it's a euphoric high just to realize I don't need to plan my life around them. And I am soo much more keenly aware of my kids thoughts and feelings. I was never a "bad father" categorically, but I sure as heck am a better one now, and that's a thrill too.

One last thing: If you have depression issues unrelated to hydros - if perhaps you were self-medicating for it, please go see a psychologist if you can. They are more like psych pharmacologists these days, and they can help! I have every confidence you can pull this off! Keep posting and you will get there!

[Life360_Dave]

im on day 37 of a taper from 8 norcs a day to 3. I set it up where i take every four or five hours as when i was taking a full dose but cut the dose. A little is just enough to take the edge off. I take a full dose at bedtime as a reward for taking less during the day. I start the day out slow and end the day with the usual dose. I can feel the drug is at a controlable level in my body now with minimal withdrawal and depression. The experts say the slower the taper the better but must make minamal effort to stick to a schedule.

[waterLilly7]

congrats on your decision to quit.

I tapered for two months from 240+ mg of oxy with some vicodin mixed in there per day.

I would start the taper each thursday so I wouldn't feel too bad from it until Saturday, then feel better by Monday. It is not easy, but it does prevent the physical symptoms, such as, I never threw up, the diarrhea wasn't bad, I didn't shake, etc. so basically what the taper does is stop those 4 days of physical symptoms, but nothing stops the mental symptoms that come after I am sad to say. You just have to get through them.

On day 15 of being clean I had a huge milestone where the anxiety started to fade, and that was the first day I wanted to dance around the livingroom literally.

It takes time, we can't get away from that, but give it the time, it is so worth it, having your life back, enjoying things you have long forgotten, like scents and tastes. Everything is alive! it's so wonderful. Come out in the light with me, ,,give it the time, you will be happy, it is the best gift you can give yourself.

hugs,
Lily