I have 36 vicodin left..

[hometta]

I am used to taking at 8-10 a day.  I want to withdraw from them.  What would be the best amount to take each day to withdraw with the ones I have left?  I want to be able to go to work (long hours) while I do this.  Does anyone know how many I can cut back to each day without having terrible withdrawal effects?  thanks

[Cavimom]

Good for you Hometta!  You can do it.. But PLEASE try not to count the hours untill sick  time  lOL.. I think its different for everyone..  I was on percocets for years!!  I tapered to 2-3 a day for a month then unexpectedly just went cold turkey.... I was OK until day 2or 3 then became very tired and nausaus... Hey at least its Flu season!!  I told everyone (my patients) at work I was getting the flu  lol.  Day 4-6 were the worst but manageable. Get plenty of fluids, vitamins and pepto or immonium and REST..(soup and crackers helped too.. I am day 8 now and feel GOOD!   Best of luck and cut yourself a break and take a LONG weekend if you can with the "Flu"
The WORD withdrawl scares everyone... Come here and ask lots of questions there will always be people to help you here!

[worried878]

agree..if u beleive u can do this then u will....staying positive is the battle...90 pecent of this is upstairs..u got it licked it sounds like to me...post as much as u can and keep us updated...good luck at work..for me,  staying busy is a good thing

[hometta]

Thank you so much, Mandapanda17 and all others.  I can do this!

[Mandapanda17]

you will make it through it, the higher power will help for sure! Keep a strong mind and a good attitude and it will make it so much easier on you :) The mind is a powerful tool when it comes to withdrawals. I'll be praying for you and make sure to get some immodium before work! congrats on getting clean! :)

[hometta]

Okay, ladies and gentleman...it has been 6 hours and I will wake up tomorrow going into withrawal at some point.  I have to work 8-8:30 in sales.  I will make it through this!  Wish me luck and I will keep you posted.  Higher Power has to be my main thing, but all of you on here (I only joined tonight) have already given me support and direction, so I will be back on here tomorrow at work or tomorrow night when I get home.  Higher Power give me strenghth, as I have lost it once again...........

[rocketship]

I went from 4 to 8 a day for 3 days then dropped to 4 a day and I had w/d.  I was completely chilled yet sweating like a pig.  

So I guess everyone is different...

[worried878]

being afraid of physical wds is not the thing u really need to be afraid of..but i do know u r right now..this must be ur first go around...i was at ur dose and the physical wds were flu like symptoms for 3-4 days..tired and had the runs, a slight headached and just felt extremely tired...i never did writhe around on the floor, throw up or go into convulsuions which is what i thought would happen..i have honestly had the flu before and was much sicker..this is very do-able..the thomas recipe and exercise will help..stock up

36 pills is really not enuf to taper effectively from ur dose and trying to take like 7, 6. 5. 4 .3 .2 1 et each day is about what u would have to do..and u will feel it sad to say...when people cut a pill a week..they still report feeling it..just not as badly

if u have to work i would use them to make it til u have a couple of days off...call in thursday and friday with the flu and u can make it back to work on monday/i did...but we r all different...or plan the time off...i asked for a long weekend to quit..back to work day 5

If u are not working then u can taper or CT but again 36 pills is not going to be enough for a wd free taper...if i did not have to work..i would flush em and get it done..but that is me and we are all different

[hometta]

yes I am prescribed 8-10 each day.  I have never taken more.  I know drug users are condider liars, but this is the honest to God truth.  I am scared to take more.  I have had three types of Cancer, ran a 5k 6 weeks after a hysterctomy for cervical cancer, so that is the only thing I have done against dr's orders.  But I am still proud of it :)

[Mandapanda17]

the thomas recipe is in the health pages on here. look to the right of the screen and you should see it. good luck! congrats on wanting to get clean! :)

[enemy48]

You said that your doctor said that you didn't ask for any more than you were getting.  

You take up to 10 a day.  Does he actually prescribe that manny?  

[hometta]

where do I find the thomas recipe?

[Mandapanda17]

IMO I would drop down to 4 pills tomorrow, and yes you will be sick, but if you can stay at 4 for about 9 days and then cold turkey it might not be AS miserable for you. don't be scared of withdrawal (I know easier said than done) but it will only make things worse for you. I had to go to work on some of my worst days when I went cold turkey off about 5 10mg vicodins a day. It wasn't fun at ALL, but I made it :) Let us know how it goes and keep posting, also use the thomas recipe from the health pages if you're able to.

[hometta]

yes, one of the reasons for wanting to quit is to have a clear head.  I have been on them for so long (since a bad accident in 05) that I don't know what it's like to have a clear head.  I tried to go cold turkey and lasted 6 days.  The physical withrawal did not go away in 6 days, so I gave in and took one, then two, and then I was right back to where I started.  Not to mention the pain.  I have scoliosis, disk degenerative disease, 6 bulging discs, spinal cord injuries.  It is so hard to decide to live with pain, but then I am still in pain on the pills.  I refused to take oxycontin when my doctor told me she was going to put me on it.  I was too scared of it from what I saw on TV.  Will just ibuprofen or Tylenol or something help the pain so I can have a clear head and not feel addicted to pills?  SCARED!  I know I shouldn't be.  I have a wonderful family that deserves me to be clear of this.  I knew this year when going to the pharmacy was more important to me than going to school conferences, that I had an addiction.  I always discuss addiction with my dr but he says I have never been lathargic, never asked for more, never took more than prescribed and if he ever saw these signs, we would deal with it.

[enemy48]

Really, you don't have enough pills to taper with if you're going to do it slowly to fight withdrawals.

I've detoxed many, many times, or attempted to.

Tapering is not for everyone.....almost anyone, but can be done.  If you'd have enough to taper w/the real way, withdrawals wouldn't be near what they are going cold turkey.

But yes, there's no way out of withdrawals, but can be easier w/a taper.

Have you ever gone without before?  If so, then you know how horrible it is.  You know of the bathroom problem, flu symptoms, insomnia, anxiety, etc.  

Having a few pills on hand can relieve some of this.  But you'll be more likely to take them quickly just to keep yourself from getting sick.

Best Wishes.

[studiogirl]

PS - dont be scared! I was taking upwards of 40 a day and stopped without tapering.  I am not a very strong person and have plenty of mental issues, but I still did it and I sort of think the psychological part is the hardest.  That is why I say not to be scared.  Be brave, no matter which plan you use, you are doing the right thing getting off of them.

[studiogirl]

it will still be hard, but 36 is 36 and you can use them to help you if you think you can practice restraint.  My opinion, that is a better route to go than CT if you have to work long hours.  Your taper plan sounded good.  You are used to taking up to 10 a day so there are different ways to taper from that.  You will feel it, of course, but if those 36 help at least with sleep I think you will have a clearer head at work and you wont be tempted to get more because you feel so awful

[eringobragh]

dont be scared! ive dont this a time or two before. im in the process of trying. i think cold turkey os the way to go. u r just delaying the w/d symptoms, and making yourself crazy having them at hand. flush them

[hometta]

Will they be as bad as just cold turkey???? Now I am scared

[hometta]

By the way, they are too small to cut in half.  That's how I tried it before, but cutting them in half and "tricking" myself thinking I was taking one, when I was taking a half of one.  They are 7.5/500mg's so they are strong.  If I cut back to 4 tomorrow, 3 the nest day and then 2 each day after, will I suffer the physical withdrawal?  I know I will have use my highter power to fight the pshycological withdrawal....which can be the toughest part for me.  I just want to make sure I can physically work without people knowing something is going on with me

[eringobragh]

you will have withdrawals either way, to be honest.  i ve been through it. and will be tomorrow. im out.