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.  

[Cammie222]

Well, what kind of led me here was the fact that the vicodin has run out and no way of a refill.  So I haven't had any today.  The last one I had was about 8 pm last night.  I'm okay so far but I know it's gonna be bad tonight.  I'm really stressing about that and I'm gonna have to continue going to work while I'm going through this.  It's not gonna be pretty.  

[FLaddict]

If it wasn 't safe this forum would be empty.... we are all here trying to stop the pills.. It will be hard but no one ever died from lack of sleep... You will start getting more and more after about the 4th or 5th day..  you just have to stick it out long enough to get the drugs out of your system.. Since you went back to taking one or two.. maybe you should spend a few days just taking a half and then stop.. kinda like tapering but it may help your body adjust to being without first.. Just my 2 cents...

[Cammie222]

Well that puts my mind at ease a little.  I worry about the not sleeping part because no one knows I've become addicted to these.  I've learned to hide it extremely well.  It started out as a medical issue then a way to escape depression.  Thanks you guys.  This was my first visit here and I'll keep posting.  Thanks again.

[fishmeal]

Can't add much to FLaddict's comment except that colonidine really helps with the wd's and your regular doc can give you that.  Also, it's so good that you nip this early cause many of us went way too far and got into a terrible rut!  It IS such a hard road back.... get off this stuff and stay away from it like your life depends on it, cause it does.  It's also good to post here everyday and let us know how you are doing.
Best
Jim

[FLaddict]

Yes it is safe to stop... You were going throught the normal symptoms of WD from vicodin.  Melatonin works for some to sleep.. you just have to find the one that works for you. Detox generally takes 5-7 days with the 3 and 4th days being the worst. Get some Immodium that will help as well..