Pain pill withdraws Help

[rdstrainer]

I was prescribed Hydrocodone/APAP (10/500) in December 2004. Never took more than the prescribed amount (4x Daily).untill 2010 when pain got really bad unsing 10 a day I am now in day 3 since I quit cold turkey. The first 2 days were really bad. My whole body felt achy. Mostly in my lower bac kand neck. I couldn't fall asleep. I finally fell asleep on the evening of day 2 and slept a good solid 8 hours. (Something I haven't done in quite a while.) When I woke up on day 3 I felt as if I had a little energy to not much. . I've not had any nausea or vomiting, just diarrhea and a general feeling of just can't get going. And really not much energy or any ambition.  

can someone point to a reliable web site where they list the symptoms?
Second, how long I can expect this general lousy feeling last?
And last, how long will it take to get back to a feeling where I want to do more than just lay around all day?

Thank you all in advance for answering my questions.

[Kim196845]

Congrats on your 3 days! I'm right there with you, I'm on day 4.
I took hydrocodone 10/325 since my first surgery in 2008. I started with a couple a day and ended with 5-7 per day. I have finally decided no more!
All the physical w/d I think are gone. I'm having trouble with the fatigue and anxiety. If you get any help with that, please pass on to me

[BluCrystal]

Hi, I have some info for you on this.  Here goes:

Which symptoms you have depends on the depth, duration, and how fast the drug is removed.  Withdrawals begin 12 - 24 hours after removal.  Symptoms peak at 2-3 days and then decrease.

Physical symptoms (go away in a week): flu0like symptoms, yawning, sweating and/or chills, runny nose and/or water eyes, diarrhea, lack of appetite, stomach cramps, and muscle aches and pains.

Pychological symptoms (also go away in a week, but require longer control): anxiety, depression, and cravings.

I hope you find this helpful, and God Bless - Blu

[FourJays]

Hi and welcome; and congrats on your decision to get off the hydros!  You got some great info. from Evolver on the detox and w/d symptoms from opiates; experienced almost all of these myself to some extent, less the vomiting and in addition to lots of head congestion, runny nose and sneezing!  I also completely agree with the energy issue.  If you can get some exercise, even short walks to start, this will make a huge difference.  The natural endorphins will help to increase your energy and lighten your mood.  Anything you can do to keep yourself busy and active and NOT thinking about the 'symptoms' will help time go faster and thus shorten and ease the intensity of the acute phase of this process.  In my opinion, for me at least, a lot of this was a mind game - a positive attitude goes a long way.  I used for a little longer than you (about 15 years).  I felt much better physically within about a week of quitting c/t, but battled with sleep for a couple of months - you ARE lucky there!  The anxiety and emotional ups and downs lingered for awhile.  I agree also that it is about having patience - this IS a process.  It will take some time.  But every day, week, month invested will be worth the benefits you get in the long run - a clean and healthy life forever.  And best of all, you NEVER have to go through this again!  Hang in there and keep posting :)

[EvolverU]

Hey! Congrats on your Big 3 days off Hydros. Good work!

I, ( and everyone else who's been through an opiate detox here can list the symptoms for you.): Enlarged pupils, yawning, tearing, sweating, increased sensitivity to light, odor & sound, sensitivity to being touched (i.e. 'the creeps'), stomach cramps, shivering/chills, low energy, sleeplessness, Restless Leg Syndrome, nausea, vomiting, an inability to lie still at night, diarrhea,  and sometimes occasional faintness & sensations of tightness in the chest. Some people experience panic attacks.

As to how long it takes to regain energy, it really varies from person to person.  It depends a lot on how much you were taking, the amt. of time in you had in, whether you had previous habit(s), your general health, how much you exercise, how well you eat and hydrate, how  busy you keep yourself, what your sleep hygiene is like and your overall attitude.

I've got to say though, if you were able to sleep 8(!) hrs. the second day, then that is a very, very positive indicator. Have patience with the process and with yourself. It's not that unreasonable to expect it to take a month or so for your body/mind to start really healing itself when you've been on your DOC for 10 years, eh? I know it's tough, but hang in there. You're doing it! Please, keep us up to date on how it's going. We're here.