Safe to stop taking Vicodin?

[Cammie222]

Any help would be greatly appreciate.....I've been on Vicodin for 6 months.  I've been taking 2-4 daily of the 10's until about a week ago.  I decided to quit cold turkey and had some withdrawal symptoms.  I went 3 days without sleeping and had serious muscle pain.  Is this normal?  For the last few days I've been taking 1 or 2 a day and I started sleeping again.  Is there something I can take to help with the lack of sleep?  I've tried Ambien CR and Lunesta.  Neither work.  I've got to stop taking the Vicodin.  I don't really feel any mental connection to it.  I just feel the physical connection.  

[charlenekt]

A glass of wine? That works wonderfully except for the fact that you risk transfering one addiction to another. That's what I did before. I ended up drinking all the time instead! Getting a prescription would be a relief because then I wouldn't have to drink; and drinking would be a relief because then I wouldn't have to worry about getting pills. It's all the same thing - addiction to mind-altering substances, no matter what form they come in!
kt

[charlenekt]

Hi Cammie, haven't heard from you for awhile. How are you doing?

[charlenekt]

Thank you for your input. 4500 mg a day for a year?? I'm guessing you meant 400-500 mg, as a regular vicodin tablet contains 5 mg. of hydrocodone. Or maybe you were referring to the tylenol ingredient. That's 500 per tablet. Anyway, how many pills were you taking a day? I'm thinking that tapering by just taking one pill whenever withdrawal symptoms appear, that occurring less and less often, would be the answer. I don't know. I went without for three days then Wed got a refill, with the intention of tapering. I'm not doing so great. I've taken 10 each day so far. So now I have 30 to taper with. My intentions are good, I just keep saying "just two more".

[Coheed]

To Cammie and kt...

Tonight is my 3rd night of cold turkey. I have been addicted to vicodin for about a year now ( on and off.) It has literally been impossible for me to find a tolerable way to withdraw from this drug until tonight.

Screw tapering and cutting. You two have strung together an ongoing conversation that has empowered me. I have felt so desperate today. and yesterday just looking for something to make me fell a little bit better.

I think biggest thing for me is feeling all of this pain and thinking that im the only one that knows what it feels like. Im glad that both of you are okay and found a way to deal with this.

To everyone that is reading this and are looking for a way to quit Vicodin ...im telling you....go cold turkey. Every chance you get read an addiction forum and drink a glass of wine. I was up to 4500 mg a day and now im feeling fine in my 3rd day without pills.

[charlenekt]

Hi Cammie. How are you doing?

[charlenekt]

Oh I'm ok actually. Just a little restless and depressed. Not much pain other than the pain I was taking it for in the first place. I had to force myself to take the dog to the park yesterday. (I told the dog we were NOT running this time!) so my family wouldn't wonder why I suddenly didn't for two days in a row! My biggest symptom is depression and lack of motivation. I have a refill today and I plan to taper with it. I didn't taper, and depression gets me to drinking. So that's why.
kt