NORCO: Withdraw questions

[The_Sandman]

Been a week off NORCO after having a 8-10 a day habit for maybe 2-3 months.  Been HELL.

The anxiety is the worst. I kinda tapered over a period of 3 days but think that it was probably too aggressive of a 'taper' and I suffered hard.

Anyway, I took ONE today to help get me relaxed again. Again, it's been about 5 days since last one however the anxiety persisted. I fear that the withdraw anxiety is creating a mental pattern and I am obsessing so much it's will create some sort of permanant anxiety. If that makes sense.

So it's Friday and I just wanted to RELAX. I have been a trooper all week and felt I 'deserved' some relief. But now I am worried.....

MY QUESTION IS: by doing this, have I just taken the whole week of "detox' and thrown it out the window by taking just this one pill? .....I hope you understand what I am asking here. Does the anxiety and withdraw start ALL OVER now after this wears off?

ALSO: If I taper over a longer period, is it possible to avoid withdraw alltogether or is there ALWAYS a withdraw. Any medical or personal experience or advice would help.....I am considering a treatment program even though my doctor says I am nothing compared to some he has seen....(did not make me feel better) but I was diagnosed as mildly Dependant....Doc made a point to say NOT ADDICTED (when your withdrawing whats the difference right?) .....any thoughts?



Sandman

[ImDONENoMore]

Oops - meant to say "post a question" sorry!  See I told you I had trouble moving around here.  :)

[ImDONENoMore]

Hi Sandy and welcome!!!

You will get a lot more responses if you start a new thread - just click on "ask a question" and post your questions there.  This is a really great place for support.  Good luck to you!!  :) p.s. don't feel bad - it took me quite a while to figure out how to move around on this website - :)

[Sandy92854]

This is the first time I have asked for help.  I have fibromyalgia and am on up to 6 Norco a day.  I have been taking them for over 2 years.  Started with 1 or 2 a day then gradually went up.  I know I am addicted but am not sure how to deal with the pain from the fibro if I stop taking the Norco.  I can feel slight withdrawl symptoms of anxiety when I am nearing 9 hours with out.  I take 2 about every 6-8 hrs during the day.  
My question is how to tell if the pain is also part of the withdrawl or if I really need the Norco for the pain.  Nothing else seemed to help so the doc just keeps renewing the script.  She does make a point of saying we really need to find something else, but at this point I have tryed all the normal Fibro meds, and many other pain meds.  Norco is the only one that does not make me sleepy, tired, or goofy and just takes the edge off the pain.  

Any recomendations???  
Any help would be greatly appreciated.  
Thanks from Sandy

[Caliguy13]

Ive been illegally taking these norcos for about a yr. The past 6 months have been around 10 daily I know I've got a road ahead of me. My question is for my girlfriend. I've been giving her 3 a day for a while now. Rarely ever given more. Is she going to have withdrawls as well?

[pmbintexas48]

Hi;

Can you help me please? My daughter is taking about 8 Norco a day, and wants and needs to taper off these.  Has anyone actually been given a taper schedule, and if so, what is it?  If you take 2 every 4 hours, should you take 4 every 5 hours and gradually push the time out, or is it better to take 1 1/2 every 4 hours and stay at that level for awhile,  then decrease the dosage?  .. In all the posts, I haven't seen any suggestions on how to taper, and how it's worked.

Thanks so much,

Patti

[Nickadee]

Yes... that helped alot.  I am actually going to try to give him some tea.  I know chamomile is very good.  I went and bought immodium and some sleep aid.. diphenhydramine.. the worst part for him is he cannot stay still!  Legs going.. the shakes.. says he feels tired but cannot stay still.  He gets his prescription filled tomorrow but I will do all I can do to not let him take 8 a day again.  It is probably the perfect time to taper off, being that he's had nothing for 24 hours.  

Thank you marcatj, starting a post was a good idea.  But I've already learned so much from what I've just read from this site. Yes, I know he is addicted, but the Dr. did say take 6 to 8 if absolutely necessary.. but to make sure it lasts for 21 days.. he probably took 8 or 9 for awhile.  God bless you all and thanks for your help.  

[marcatj]

Nickadee... try starting a new post.. you may have gotten lost in the shuffle here.  Hopefully someone can help you answer this.. Ultram should help, but the fact he is out before the script is due is odd - are you sure about this? About the verbal ok?  If that is true, and the doc said "tough luck" then he needs a new doctor... and yes, you can try the ER. Just both of you should be aware that if he is going through w/d he is surely addicted.  This is not a judgement - I do not know his pain.. some people really need their pain meds - I just want to make sure you realize this.  Anyhow - try another post for more info.. like I said, you may have gotten lost in the shuffle... good luck to you both...

Sandman - no, you should definitely not have it long like others who were addicted for years.  Just be careful brother... you are playing with fire.  The longer you take this, the more likely you are gonna take more and more and then yes, you will have to deal with more anxiety than you are already facing. Exactly what you are afraid of. But to answer your question/fear - it shoudl definitely not be as bad.. i think you should gut it out.  Easy for me to say, I know... just know we're always here.

Goodnight all...
-mj

[The_Sandman]

Nickadee: Just saw your post. Um, Emergency rooms might help........

but before I went to the doctor, I went to WALGREENS and they have this stuff: CALMS FORTE - it's an herbal OTC stress anxiety, sleep aid thing that helped some.....

ALSO: St. Johns Wort. I have read that it has some of the same effects as precription strength meds for mood and anxiety issues.

I found that drinking alot of water and camamille tea seemed to help.

Some say hot chocolate or just plain chocolate can help....I was not hungry so i did not try that.

I can say the temptation to drink alcohol came and I found that it kinda helped with other symptoms but did NADA for the the ANXIETY witch was my only real issue.

HOT SHOWERS.

LONG WALKS or EXERCISE helped me too.

DO NOT TAKE NYQUILL or TYLONOL PM or whathave you.....they wire you out and make it worse.....they did for me and I have read where others felt the same.

To be honest, the drugs given once I DID see the doc about the issues, did help some at first.....but the anxiety and restlessness never really goes away.....I find myself counting how many hours since last pill....HATE THAT!

Hope that helps some.......anything I can do to give back.

Sandybrains

[The_Sandman]

MAN! reading this all scares the s*&t outta me. I hate what I have gone thru and do not want to do this again. But man, I'm worried a bit that I am on some road to addiction or that I AM addicted and will fight these anxiety issues for the rest of my life or something.

Having said that. I hope the fact that I was only doing this a couple of months and then not the whole 8-10 a day right off. I went 7-10 days between refills (weeks in some cases) between April to now (July) with 4 refills....and only this time did I have withdraw.

My doctor assured me thus as well.

See, between refills, before I knew that I was going thru withdraw (I had never experienced it before so I thought I was just stressed or ...something) the symptoms were mild and gone within a day or two.

No issues. So I lost my initial respect for the drug. Hey - 3 refills....no real issues.

THEN on 7/1 i refilled and ate...no gobbled the whole thing in 2 weeks. Then tried to 'taper' with 9 pills over two days.

THAT'S when the HELL began.

ALSO: In the back of my head I am thinking "Maybe if I had tapered better I could have avoided the whole last week." -is that folly?


So I wanted to relax and took some tonight, which prompted this thread.

MY POINT: I hope to GOD that because I have not been at this for long or years like many I have been reading about......I don't believe that I should experience much more unless I start taking regularly again.

But again, am I just fooling myself? I mean I told the doc what was up...AND THE PHARMACIST and voided my last refill....so that is something.

I just want someone to tell me that because I was not using hard core, that I should expect to recover faster than say a person with a 8-10 a day for year(s) at a time.

I would expect my levels to bounce back faster since they have not been whacked out too long. Relatively speaking.

Re my wife: She has her masters in Psychology but is not an MD. She seems to be more curious and is actually intrigued by the whole thing. No, my Irish bride will NOT cave in and let me down em, but frankly, I don't want to. I just needed a respite from the week and feel that I am/was turning the corner, thats why I took one tonight.......IF I DON'T REABUSE I should be fine.......I just did not expect the anxiety to be:

1.) So bad.

2.) Last as long as it has.

3.) Be such an ISSUE in my life. AGAIN this is my first time dealing with anything remotely like this.

SO ....forgive my ramblings, but to summarize: lol....you guys are scaring me......I know I will not reabuse - that is for sure. But I guess I just wanted reassurances that the anxiety is not permanent......it just feels stuck. And so I posted because I caved and took one and am scared that I am perhaps prolonging recovery.

I mean, can't u take a few as long as you don't do say more than one a day or every other day to help as you come down.

Or do you HAVE to COLD TURKEY.

I just ...lol...love you guys for actually caring enough to answer me.....damn. I actually am feeling love toward you all and I am not trying to be sarcastic.

I know many of you prolly think I am fooling myself....but I swear i will not be taking these like before again......I just need to know if I hold this dragon by the tail just right, might I ease my symptoms without this cold turkey BS.

Sandman

[LadySundown]

The only thing I can add is maybe you should try the librium again during your w/d. You can't go back but since the dr. prescribed it go ahead and take it for the anxiety. Maybe you didn't give it enough time to help. Librium is used during w/d many times. Just don't get addicted to it, either. I know this all must sound pretty scary to you but we're all here for you. I have seen so many people kick their addiction here, including myself.
Take Care and keep posting..it helps. LS

[Nickadee]

Hey all... first time on site... my fiance is going through severe withdrawal.. coming off hydrocodone  8 a day.  He took his last about 12 hours ago.  I am a bit uniformed.  I came across this site and am learning so much.  The Dr. started him on this about 4 years ago.. for severe back problems.  They cannot fill script till Sunday.. and the Dr. just said sorry.. go to emergency room if your having a problem.  I don't get it.. how do Drs. prescribe something like this.. then leave their patient to suffer withdrawals?  He has not taken more than prescribed.  He verbally told him he could take up to 8 last month but didn't write that on the script.. so now he is out.  Will emergency room help??  What exactly will they do?  He is in great pain.. (back and muscle pain)  Please... what can I do for him right now.  I would appreciate any advice.  Can't the Dr. prescribe anything else?  Shouldn't they have to?  He's got some Ultram the Dr. had prescribed a while back for pain.. will these help?

[fishmeal]

Hi this is pre-written for new people… hope this helps:

It’s good to come clean with your doc concerning your desire to get off.  Ask him to prescribe clonidine, (not klonopin), and ativan.  These will help with sleep, RLS and anxiety.  These are best to try before formal detox and drugs like Suboxone.  I had to do formal detox because I tried everything else, including alcohol to get off and nothing worked for me.  Keep in mind that when you try… make it a good one!  Have some time off of work if you can… maybe a four day weekend or more.  Make the last day of work without any drugs, because the first day is usually the easiest.  Try your best to get clean and stay clean because the other methods require more potent drugs and you have to come off of those.  I am still on Suboxone and am a little worried about that… It does work well but the jury is out on, “At what Cost.”  I also learned while in detox, that the mind can psychosomatically create pain to “get’ the drug.  Another was that healing while using opiates greatly diminishes.  I would have sores on my hands that would take way too long to heal.
Best
Fish
I have to say this from the bottom of my heart,  Please do not keep playing around with these drugs they are very powerful ….. kinda like heroin in a pill and just as hard to get off once you attain the, "addicted" status.

[serenitysaves]

sorry to drag this out, but if you're a drug addict than even with your wife holding your med's it might not work.  For myself, I did some pretty shady things to get or find what I needed.  
Is she educated in addiction?
Do you think she would give in if she saw you hurting?
You just don't want to set yourself up and if you think after a week of not taking them you'll be safe to start taking them again, think again.  anyway, I dought that's what you were saying.?

Once again, hang in there and try a N/A meeting or two.  and maybe your wife could try alonon it's for family and friends of addicts and alcoholics.
take care

[The_Sandman]

Your guys are right. 120 laying around is bad mojo indeed. I will prolly end up taking one or two thru the weekend to take the edge off but I am sitting here with my wife (she has been with me thru the beginning) and she will take the rest and make sure I go next week without any.

I think if I can do another week without, then I should be ok.

I will see my doc again Monday and ask him about the BENZO.

Guys, your good hearted people who OBVIOUSLY feel for my situation, I wish I could return the good will.

Thanks for your responses.

Sandman

[crystallia]

I'm on day 11 off of vics and I've had good results w/ St. Johns Wort. It just makes me calm and relaxed. It seems to be working better and better every day. You might try that too.

[serenitysaves]

I have to disagree with the not bringing back w/d's.  Of course you won't go through what you went through before but each time you give in to the want's of the body and brain even with one, it will remind your body how much you "NEED" what ever it is and will kick back up some of thoose uncomfortable feelings.  I know it's not always the same for everyone and I by far don't know it all, but that was my experince.  (with heroin)   and the anxiety will be around for awhile.  Unfortunatlly, the mental for me has always been the worst so try to get some sort of support around you for the future.  N/A has been helpful for me.

anyway good luck, and keep with it
take care

[GA Guy]

And by the way, be careful with the ambien. It can be addictive, also. Try not to take it every night, just as needed, and no more than the amount prescribed. Also, try not to take it more than 2 weeks. It's not as safe a drug as the manufacturer says.

[marcatj]

yeah, you'll just drag it out, buddy.  if you were poppin 8-10 a day not very long ago, it's very unlikely you are going to be able to "take one every couple of days."  especially with the 120 laying around the house.

you've gone through the worst - KEEP GOING!!  there are indeed other ways to deal with the anxiety.  i personally had benzo's around which have never been a problem for me. when the anxiety got too bad, i took one.

i don't think you should go backward, buddy...

good luck
mj

[GA Guy]

Listen to FLaddict. Think of it this way...Your brain craves the drug. It therefore depresses you to make you take one. Giving in just tells your mind that you will deliver the drug if it makes it hard enough. After a couple of weeks, the brain gives up and starts letting things return to normal. The depression will subside (at least the part caused by the vics). Don't give in. Fight it.

[FLaddict]

Listen... the longer you drag this out the longer the anxiety will last... taking them messes with your brain.. if you take even one those parts will fire a response and keep this lingering longer than you want..
You have to find other ways to deal with this without the pills... there is no other way to do it and take them.. its just prolonging the process that has to happen..

[The_Sandman]

OH MY GOD! Thanks for the response guys. So quick too....

So the anxiety is going to last is what I am hearing.

OK. OK......

Here is my plan:

I have 120 of these left. THAT IS DANGEROUS I KNOW. But what I am planning to do is now is just go 2-3 days without now- see how the anxiety subsides. If I need a break.....take ONE.....use the AMBIEN the doc prescribed to sleep.

I am hoping I am out of the worst of the anxiety (Which is really my biggest problem- i'm usually so calm :) ) - but want to know I can take one here or one there WITHOUT the risk of impeding the "healing proccess" in my brain as FLaddict explained.

I am prescribed these for headaches by the way.

And by doing this, I hope to ease the anxiety WITHOUT having to endure it for weeks at a time.....you know what I am saying: I can do it, just I need a break here and there so I don't go insane.

I think this is feasble....or am I just kidding myself. I mean, as I write this, I am feeling the most at ZEN I have for a week after taking just one tab.

The LIBRIUM makes me feel like jellow and does not really help the anxiety. Stopped taking that about the second day.

The TOPROL XL (a Beta Blocker) to slow the heart I stopped taking after the second day as well- it made me feel even stranger combined with the Librium.

So I was ok and getting back on track.......and it sounds like if I don't start taking them again every day, I should be ok?

SANDMAN

[charizzio]

I am on Day 10 and still having some symptoms. Time will definitely heal for sure. I have done this 4 times and time really does wonders. The trick for me will be to never take just one. I think you will be fine, as you see just one really does not help that much so stick out the uncomfortable feeling till your body recovers long term.....If you already did a week you must be over the really bad stuff but when your body cries out it does. Once we start feeling better there are still times over the first months that our body will just cry out and we need to avoid starting the Hydrocodone, or Oxycodone slow gradual tapering into addiction again. Just one to me means, just a half, just a half the next day. Just one the next day etc.....

[FLaddict]

Don't listen to that doc, addicted is addicted... especially during WD's... even doing a taper there is always the mental part of withdrawl there really is no way to eliminate it altogether... there are things that will help.. exercise like walks and swimming will help you get some of that nervous energy out. Also herbal supplements like the amino acid L-theanine are great for anxiety... When I detoxed I started taking supplements proven to help pain med addicts... I had very rare anxiety during this time and have felt mentally clear almost the whole time.. they really helped.. Its been 36 days off of them so must have done something right..
Time will heal the damage that has been done to the brain by taking pain pills.. most of our neurotransmitters have been affected by these pills.. Our "feel good" parts are messed up and need to heal.. It will get better I promise

[GA Guy]

You've been too far to start over with a taper. We all slip, just go forward...not back. The anxiety will begin to decrease soon. You weren't on the norco for a long period, so unless you had anxiety problems before, you will get to where you were before taking the pills. One slip won't start the WD's over, but starting back up just to taper will. Any way you can get a script for a benzo for a few days? It helps with the WD's.