Norco to Methadone to withdrawal

[MDJ1970]

Hi there.  Found your board through a friend and trying to get some help.  I have been on Pain Killers twice now, once 8 years ago when I had a lower back issue that hit my sciatic nerve and I could barely walk for 6 months which they put me Oxy's @ 80mg I think 5-6 a day.  It was a blur and for some reason that time after a second successful epidural the nerve became un-pinched and the sciatic pain was gone and the doctor weened me off slowly and I was fine, I remember a little withdrawal but it wasn't that bad from what I remember (Oxy is strong).

Now current day. I have been taking 10/325mg Norco's for almost 5 years, I also have fairly severe stenosis in my neck that will require not 1 but two surgeries (lucky me).  I should only be taking 6 a day which is already enough but of course that wasn't enough and you always need more (the addict in me).  And then unfortunately I had access to more in plentiful amounts and my habit grew from anywhere from 14-20 a day.  As of 09.20.15 I decided enough  was enough and started logging and cut from 14 a day to 8 a day by 09.24.2015 and because my source dried up and my doctor started cutting me back (also the reason to quit). So when I ran out a friend recommend using methadone (I know this was a bad idea) and the Thomas recipe to ween the rest of the time since I'm such a wimp and cannot handle the withdrawals and have suffered from panic attacks and agoraphobia since I was 11 ( I'm prescribed 200mg Prozac and .5mg Xanax as needed).  So I then began logging everything from 09.24.2015 when I ran out of my last norco (Which I have more now but WILL NOT TAKE) logged the weening of the methadone.  I started at 15mg over a 24 period on 09.25.15, then 10mg over a 24 period on 09.26.2015, then 12.5mg over a 24 period on 09.27.2015, then 5mg over a 24 period on 09.28.2015, then 11.25mg over a 24 period on 09.29.2015, then 2.5mg over a 24 period on 09.30.2015, then 4mg over a 24 period on 10.01.2015, then 5.75mg over a 24 period on 10.02.2015, and then 6.25mg over a 24 period on 10.03.2015.  Today I have only had 1.25 as of 3:04pm and feel edging, nervous, and all the other withdrawal symptoms and have taken a few .50mg Xanax to try and keep the edge off and see if I can get to sleep with maybe another 1.25mg of the Methadone at bedtime later.  I'm discouraged as I know NOW that I should have not started with the Methadone, small doses a little at a time or not and I WILL not go back to using again when I'm done, but as you can see from the last several days (which i though I would be done already after 6-7 days) it is taking too long.  I know the Norco has to be out of my system, it has been 9 or ten days now and I think my anxiety of too severe of withdrawals is keeping me from stopping the Methadone all together since I think this is considered such a low dose.

If anyone could offer advice or suggestions or anything, I would be so APPRECIATIVE.  I tired of feeling like crap, though not as bad and just want to be done once and for all and see how my pain in my body really feels and get these surgeries out of the way.

Sorry for the long story and any grammar or typo issues.

Thanks SO MUCH.

Mike

[Smalltownmom]

Congrats Mike! I give you so much credit for getting through, well I guess today will be isx days! Its a tough battle and sounds like your a tough person to still be going on with daily life while dealing. Stop kicking your wife! lol it's hard when trying to sleep with a person next to you. Does she know you're going through this? Sometimes it helps if you let them know as she may give you a "break" with kid duty and house chores for a few weeks. Weakness ***** and it's better for you to do light things IMO. And do you have a comfortable couch? I know the couple days for me when rls was bad, my hubby ended up on our couch. Poor guy kept getting woken up all night from my tossing and turning and rubbing my legs all night. I finally got some magnesium and potassium supps and I used icy hot all over my legs.  It took away my rls. I wouldn't suggest asking her to sleep on the couch but you may find comfort there. Hope you are feeling better! Keep reading and posting on here as you will find support and good advice.  

[gnarly_1]

Hey Mike....well a old home remedy for the restless legs is to take a hot soak with epsom salt  then rap your legs tightly in a blanket  kinda like swaddling a baby it helped me get thew the long nights  walgreens carys the highlands restful legs  this also helped  just know it ant forever keep posting for support..........Gnarly

[MDJ1970]

Oh my gosh.  What are some remedies for the "Kicken Like a Chicken" Syndrome.  I'm going nuts.  LOL!

[VICourageous]

YAHOOOO!!! Mike
What a Great Update! Look at you and your words seems so much brighter on here. Wow!
Yep, it will take Time for the Brain/Body to find it's balance after all these yrs. No sleep and anxiety is the big one at first. Then the no-low motivation comes along with the no energy. You will feel and see them changes go by every single day. It does get better & better but it is no fun at first. It moves like a turtle at first and fly's like a bird at the end..The hard work begins when we have to work on staying clean. Many changes have to happen. I think YOU are doing so Awesome! I am so happy & proud of YOU! Maybe you should stick around and go into other postings and support others along the way. I LOVE THAT ATTITUDE!!!!
Bless U

[MDJ1970]

So I did it!!  I still feel like a poop, not as bad but still feel crappy, weak, tired, can't sleep you name it.  I tapered to a half of a 1.25 of Methadone for a few days and then just stopped.  Still wasn't easy, as a matter of fact I have had no Norco since 09.25.2015 and no Methadone now since 10.08.2015.  Is it normal to still not be able to sleep, I'm assuming yes as I sure after almost 6 years of use my body is trying to to normalize but I need some sleep.  I have tried Xanax and Klonopin that I have for my panic attacks and those don't help either (I'm only taking the prescription dose so I don't start abusing that next).  And man my nerves are still a mess and my anxiety is so up and down I feel horrible still.  The Methadone I think only gave me the ability to cope enough so that I could still work my 80 hour weeks (self employed) and help as much as possible with 4 kids at home.  I'm hanging in there just wish it would come back to some kind of normalcy soon.  ;)

That being said, I'm done with these stupid things forever, I did the same thing with booze, I'm just worried that when I have surgery I will need something so I will have to get someone to control my pills and dosing so it is followed I guess,  Argh.  What a vicious cycle.

THANK YOU SOOO MUCH FOR YOUR ADVICE AND WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT.  It is great to see that there are people out there that care about others still even if they don't know them.

Mike

[VICourageous]

Hello Mike and I we would like to Welcome You to our Community.
You got some Great reply's from our Family out here.

I have been off a 12 yr ride from Methadone for a bit over 3yrs now..that was prescribed after the oxys/hydo did not work for pain. I had to just go c/t and had 2 other meds mixed to the mess. It took a while to find the balance, physically, mentally and spiritually. This is why I always say TIME & PATIENCE!! We build up such a tolerance to these substances. Also I hit both meetings and I have not had a drink in over 12 or so yrs. Just substituted one for the other. Ha! It does take TONS of Changes and making a New Way of Living, to make this work and it is a WE thing not a Me thing. The ME thing gets us in trouble.

Yep! I agree with NOT messing around with the Methadone. This is a very Synthetic drug. It likes to stick around in your cells, bones and so forth and it is a harder and longer w/d. I also find that knowing about Addiction in a more Scientific way helps too. Just to know how much we whack out all those Brain Chems.
Sounds like YOU have a good plan here. Make sure you drink lots of water. This will help flush those toxins and being hydrated is so important. Age and how long one has used plays a BIG role on bouncing back.
You can get all the Amino Acids in one ( the L-s). They either say on the bottle Complex Amino or Protien. These are great to help your brain balance back too. I have fond that the Magnesium, Calcium, Potsium and Ds like d3 oil helps relax them muscles and it will give you a few winks of sleep.

Always keep in mind that the detox is the easy part (yes uncomfortable) but working on staying clean is when the work really begins. YOU have taken that First Step toward Recovery and I do wish you all the best!

Just try to hang on to this post for awhile and we will see when you post back. This makes it a bit easier to follow your success. Stick around for Support and in return YOU can Support others that come along too.
Be Safe, Be Good and always keep your Guard Up at all times.
Bless
Vickie

PS Eating Healthy will be a good way to get those good nutrition you need right now to help build a good immune system up.

[LeapYearGUY]

Mike—
You sound great. You got this. The twelve steps are the twelve steps. You sound just like me: you qualify for a seat in both fellowships.

And, thanks for the vivid reminder! There a reason they call iit "kicking dope."

Stay close to us, and try to find another addict who still suffers. Reach out to them, either here or in real life. With 24 hours you have something to share, and each time you do, you break freer from the self-centered bondage of addiction.

Remember the end of the eleventh step prayer? "...It is by self forgetting that one finds, by forgiving that one is forgiven."

You'll look back on these days and be able to smile. The October you broke free.

[Krissy_123]

For your restless legs,I'd try hilands I think it's called? And before bed have a hot bath with Epsom salts. Banannas are suppose help as well. Heating pad or a warmed towel. I know they suk! :/

[Krissy_123]

That's awesome man!! So glad to hear it! You got this!!

[MDJ1970]

Found a ton of meeting, especially AA, I'm going to hit one up.  Thank You.

[Krissy_123]

When I said "in a program" I meant AA Or NA meetings. Not a rehab or anything like that. I understand having kids. I also raise mine alone. But I always find that 1 hour to hit a meetings. I go to AA,I found it was more for me than the NA. Never had an issue with drinking,but a drug is a drug no matter what form it comes in.

[MDJ1970]

I am looking up meetings now in my community.  I can go to an AA meeting correct, I don't need to look for NA do I?  I think the concept is the same, get sober and stay sober.  Thanks again EVERYONE and I will keep you posted as I proceed, the test will be tonight as my mind races when I relax which is not very often (like most people) and my damn feet start kick and squirming and then I'm up all night pacing.  I think I almost kick my poor wife in the head last night as with my stenosis I have overactive reflexes in my knees and legs according to a doctors test's a few years back.

[MDJ1970]

Thanks LeapYearGuy.  I have everything from the Thomas Recipe but the L-Tyrosine which I have had a hard time finding and have been taking the rest of the vitamins.  The reason I wanted to do it slow and as symptom free was so that my family and business did not have to suffer too because of my stupidity.  I'm down to 1.25mg of that god awful Methadone stuff today and I have taken about 1mg of Xanax and I feel a lot better than the last several days.  I think I should go hit a meeting as I am a recovering alcoholic now of 6 years, I was one of those that refused to mix meds with alcohol but at the same time I think I crutched myself with the pills instead of the booze because in my mind I was in pain and the doctor prescribed them and still does.  Thank you SO much for the advice.

[MDJ1970]

I am not in a program.  I have 5 kids at home and run a business with employees so that is not an option and I need to man up it sounds like.  

[LeapYearGUY]

Hey Mike!
Welcome to medhelp. There's a ton of great people who will watch eyour back during your withdrawal.

First, I'd have to say it's time to bite the bullet. Stop. Look up the Thomas Recipe, get some Imodium and surrender to the process. Your mind and disease blow things way, WAY out of proportion. Yes, it is uncomfortable, but the sooner you get to it, the sooner it will be over.

You went from a sort acting opiate to a long acting opiate. This is done in hospitals all the time. You've done a good job, and you're ready.

Because of the methadone, you may only feel mild withdrawal for the first two days. By day three, you'll feel the worst. But not a lot worse than a bad flu. Day four is not great but by the end, you will have turned a huge corner. Things will get better incrementally from there, and your attitude is hugely important. Detox will end pretty fast.Then comes real life. (Please read my post "Why Go To Meetings")

The sooner you get to a meeting, the sooner you'll start to feel better.

Keep reading, keep posting and just accept, "you have to be okay with not being okay for a while."

You're going to be fine in just a few days. Focus on your new recovery.

You are not alone.

[jifmoc]

I 2nd what my pal, Krissy just wrote. Methadone for Norco wds?? Some friend you have there, sheesh. Yes, that was a terrible idea.

Like Krissy said, just stop. You only started meth like 2 weeks ago? I remember writing down every little pill I took, and logging it in like some type of term paper, just like you. That's just a feeble attempt at control. The only control you'll will have is when you are off all this crap.

Sorry, friend, no avoiding wds. We are all wimps. We did it anyway. Get thee into recovery. You've been here before you said, and no need to be here ever again.

Keep posting:)

[Krissy_123]

First off get rid of the Norcos you have. Part of feeling like sh*t is how we get ourselves through this. I'd stop the meth asap or you're just going to have w/d's from that. Ya norco will be out of your system but you just subbed then with something stronger. We can't reach recovrey intil we go through w/d. It can't be avoided. You were on the pills along time,so you're going to deal with mental w/d's as well. Your brain needs to rewire its self and get back to "normal". Kick all the drugs to the curb and tough the discomfort out for a week or so. Are you in a recovery program?