Norco has a hold on me! I need help!

[jenjen31]

I just can't get myself to get off of them. I was told to cut back by half every 5 days. I have been taking them for pain and now that I'm not in pain anymore they have control over my life. I'm taking 8 10/325 a day. I can't go to a rehab. I have two small children to take care of. I have tried to stop. I got down to taking 2 1/2 a day but started right back up again. When ever I get upset or stresses it's so easy to pop a pill or two. I love them and hate them. I don't want to die from this. Has anyone actually slowly got off this or does it have to be cold turkey? I've tried cold turkey and lasted 2 days. It was too much 4 me to handle. The worst part was the pain throughout my body into my bones. please anyone who can help me? Anyone that understands. Can I really be pill free????

[broknbck]

yes you can get off them. i was addicted for 4 years at about the same dosage as you.
9 10mg pills/day. i tappered off for 1 month. made sure that there was no way i could get any more and had to make this last script last thru the taper.  i did not work while i was doing this and made plans to change all things in my life by the time i was done. even new place to live. it took a while to make all the plans but when i did it. it was not so bad and my first week off drugs was very doable. no pressures on me really helped.
if you have someone to take the kids on for you, it would be wise to ask. the pysical part of it is very trying and it is like doing your own detox at home. but you really need to plan for it. and especially for the after.
some people are able to just do it. i had to take a time out from life for it by myself.

but i am 14 months clean and no struggles at all. i have no problem turning them down from a doctor or hospital and my pain tolerance is really high now. just knowing the hell, makes the pain tolerable???
you will get through this. many have. it just doesn't happen over nite.

[Fritz67]

Hi JenJen31:
Gosh, I can't believe I'm giving advise when I was you almost a week ago!  I have kept my secret for 2.5 years, I have two small kids, a full time job and everything involved with just having kids.  AND, I'm a single mom.  CT was/is not an option for me and I think I initially thought I was taking 10 norco a day when after the ffirst 24 hours of tapering off, I KNOW now I was taking more.  How many, I can't tell for sure.  I  just know I was eating them like candy.  It's been about a week now and I"m down to 7 a day and the w/d's are minimal but I DO feel them.  I have to be available for my kids and even though I have a "dream" ex husband, I would die if he knew and not sure if he would take the kids or hold this problem over my  head or whatever.  HE is the one that had this problem and I helped him taper (I didn't take them at the time).  With my help, I got him off the pills and now look at me.  He tells me these pills were the demise of our marriage and I believe.  But we have move on and are friends.  However, I have a problem with them now but working on it.  I have a plan, I have stuck to the plan 100% and am taking all of the vitamins outlines in the Amino Acid plan - I have to believe they are working to help me through this.  

If you can't trust yourself to administer your own pills, give them to a friend (if tapering is your route) or you will have to be very, very strong.  I feel so much pain for you but you need to get on the forum, post and get feedback. THIS forum is what has pushed me to even admit I have a problem.  Im' sorry you are so tortured but I think everyone on this board has been at one time or another.  I love the feedback though and love to hear EVERYTHING everyone has to say whether it's my route or not. Take care girl and you can do it.  It seems you have made up your mind to get these things out of your life...  

[Ella789]

Hi,  I wanted to let you know that I took them for 5 yrs. and am now opiate free for almost 14 days (Monday).  You can do this too, and yes it will be tough but it is doable.  Get the Thomas recipe and (if a Dr. will help you get the clonidine), it really helped me keep stable inside my skin!!!!  You will need to tell him what your trying to do and perhaps he will help.  It's worth a try and my dr. did help me with that, only 12 tablets but it helped keep me stable. Of course I needed the other ( imodium ect) but because I take antidepressants I could not take the l-tyrosene or 5htp so be aware of what you take and make sure you aren't taking a risk!
Post here and let us know how it's going, oh, yes, I was one of those who tappered-off and for me that was the way to go, some on here say that they just had to go CT.
Best wishes to you
Ella789

[enemy48]

Tapering is soooo hard.  I failed at both tapers and c/t....several times.

I had a big scare.  I thought I had gotten myself busted.  I lucked out that I didn't, but didn't know it at that time.  

So I guess I'm saying that your mind has to really be made up.  So many want to quit real bad, but can't handle the horrible withdrawals and get weak if pills are around.  It's too easy to just take one or two to feel better....then you're back at square one and went through all that suffering for nothing.

Think about how good your life was before you fell into this trap.  You didn't have pills back then right?  

You have to create a new lifestyle.  Do things differently.  If you do everything the same way, then it will be lacking something.  

Make a plan.  Get everything you'll need for several days including food, vitamins, lots of toilet paper...lol...and any prescription meds that can aid you through this.

Write in your journal....the pros and cons....and you'll see which one out-weighs the other.  Go back to that list every time you feel weak.  Cry a lot...because you'll smile afterwards.  Stay on this forum and make friends, especially w/those just starting out with you.  Give the children lots of hugs and kisses and you'll feel the love even more without pills.

I wish you the best.

[Danny750]

Hi Jen

I wish I could help you. Today is my first day of detox from Vicodin.  I'm going cold turkey. I was taking 8 a day for pain and for fun.  I loved them and hated them too. It's hard, it ***** and all I hear is that it's going to suck.  I have 2 small children too and they are my driving force because I don't want to die either.  The only thing I can offer is support for you. There are many on here with answers and they are all very helpful. Good luck.

Dan

[gizzy32]

Of course you can be pill free, but you have to want it bad enough. Since your not in pain anymore the first thing you need to do is cut off your supply. You said they have taken control of your life and it's time to take control back. Some can't taper and c/t is the only way to go. It will be very tough for a few days, but it's worth it to be free. If you look in the top right of this page, you will see health pages and the thomas recipe to help with w/d's. Many here have c/t and come out on top if that's what you choose. Good luck and cut off the supply, that is SO important.