Tapering down..

[leahlee18]

I have been taking hydrocodone 10 mg for about 10 or 11 months now for fun.  6 months prior to that I was taking it for pain for the herniated disc I had in my neck however I wasn't taking much at all.  I am going to start tapering off real slow.  I am now taking 3 a day.  Last week I was taking 4 a day except one day I went on a rampage and took 9.  Previous to all this I would go through a bottle of 50 in one week.  So now that I've been taking 3 for the past few days I can already feel light withdrawals by the time I go to bed and when I wake up.  I have RLS, my back hurts a little bit, runny nose and I have hot flashes.  I am hoping tapering down will make the withdrawal symptoms more manageable.  Has anyone else tapered real slow off hydrocodone?

[Chels44]

Same as you. Hydrocodone or more specifically, Norco. I am on day 17 (now) clean. I tapered in abt two wks though I know this isn't ideal. If you ever just want someone to talk to feel free to inbox me (or several of us). Someone is always arnd for support.  

[Chels44]

Same as you. Hydrocodone or more specifically, Norco. I am on day 17 (now) clean. I tapered in abt two wks though I know this isn't ideal. If you ever just want someone to talk to feel free to inbox me (or several of us). Someone is always arnd for support.  

[leahlee18]

Yea I am the type of girl who does her research and I've gone on this site and read so many peoples posts, so I kind of know what to expect.  Today has been bad.  I have felt awful, have a headache, stomachs been upset and just dont feel good.  I had 1.5 this morning, normally take another at 11am but didnt, was waiting till I got home tonight.  I dont see why i'd have w/d already but who knows.  I think a slow taper is the way to go for me.  Thanks for the well wishes!
What did you taper off of and when?  

[NeverAgain127]

How do you edit these posts?  I meant:  I am now hyper-thyroid.   I was hypo.  

My doctor said the change was due to going off the opiates....go figure...

[NeverAgain127]

I probably should have planned my quit date better.   By the time I decided to get off, I was a mess, and didn't even have enough pills to do a slow taper.  I quickly went from 40 mgs oxy to 30 and didn't really have any w/d's.

Then I went to 20/day for 2 weeks and started feeling leg aches, sneezing, anxiety.  I should have cut the pills in half.  

I wonder...does jumping and going through HARD w/d's hurt our bodies?  Did I damage myself?  I went to 10/day for 3 days, and then though "this is dumb, I"m in so much agony, I don't even want to LOOK at those pills anymore" and just stopped taking them.

I told my doctor exactly what dosages I was on and for how long, and he said "I don't think you'll have any withdrawals."  He was so, so, SO wrong.   My whole body was changed by 8 years of daily oxycodone.   I just had blood work done and I'm not HYPER-thyroid instead of HYPO, which I"ve been since my early 40's.   I have lost a lot of weight, but I though it was getting clean.  Turns out my thyroid is in over-drive (explains why I"m hot all the time, and my pulse is high.)

Sigh.   There needs to be better education out there for folks who end up dependent on opiates,  It makes me kinda mad and frustrated that we have to figure this all out ourselves...I mean, geez, medical science has made amazing progress and yet we can't figure out how to get off these stupid drugs without feeling like we're hurting ourselves?

Sorry for  the rant....

Hugs,
-Robin

[jugglin]

If you are able to taper, then I say go for a nice slow taper. A fast taper is really no different then jumping. I found with a slow taper, the WD's really were not that bad, but alas, I did not have the willpower to finish the taper and eventually jumped and then had full-blown WD's. There is no reason to go thru full-blown WD's if you do not have to and several people have been successful with a slow taper. We all have the same goal which is to get clean, how we get there really is an individual choice.  The point is that we get there and then figure out what kind of program helps us stay there.  
Wishing you the very best!
Keep posting and stay focused.:)

[Chels44]

I also tapered and did it by myself. I think you are doing pretty well. I agree with NeverAgain  on that is better to come off slowly to let your body adjust - in my opinion.
I tapered in roughly 15 days; I'm unsure if this is slow or fast but probably leans more to the fast side. I would jump 1/2 to 1 every few days but I figured if I was going to do it, might as well get at it.  Like others have said, do what you think is right for you. I found the  more research you do the better and something that worked for me: move while tapering.
You seem pretty well resolved that this has to be done and seem to know its not going to be all lollipops and sunshine. When you get that mind set and realize there is no getting around the w/d's you can usually keep pushing. I think you'll do absolutely fine.
Best Wishes!
Chels

[leahlee18]

Thanks!  It's nice to know that people are going through the same you are going through.  Especially since not everyone understands.  I check this site every day and will continue to update on my progress.

[PrinterAP]

You do what you need to do and I'm cheering you on I've taken Narco for 7 yrs!

[PrinterAP]

Good luck and Ill be following you and your success in getting off your meds! I'm needing all the help I can get and its ppl like you that inspirer ME! To each his own path and journey. I'll be interested time here how it all goes for you!! Take crate and many blessings going forward!

[PrinterAP]

Your so lucky to have a pain Dr that will support you! I thought mine would but he's changed, only interested in refills and now pushed me off on a nurse P. I'm afraid if I told him I withdrawing then when I have surgies in March hed hold it against me and not give me anything just to get through immediate post op. Hard to find a good Dr you can trust and be honest with. I'm so on my own! Yet, I'm trying! I'm weaning too but maybe too fast. I wanted to make sure I was off before I could refill because I did find temporary comfort in Narco  emotionally and with sleep issues it helps. Yet I'm on my path and hope I make it. The WD is horrible for me and nothing can get done, I dread the nights. To the other person who is going off slowly I think it's a good way to miniize WD-many blessings to you both!

[leahlee18]

Thank you Lulu!  I hope that it works for you as well.  I am hoping that by tapering down my body will get adjusted to the lower amounts.  I tried doing it on my own but I kept taking more than I should have so that is when I had my husband hold the pills for me.  I hate having to ask for them but it is what it is.  At least I have his support.  I am just anxious for the time I am done tapering and done taking them.  I cant even remember what its like not being on them.

[lulu747]

I've done cold turkey twice because it was what I needed to do at the time.  This time, post-op, I am tapering.  It only works if you go super slow and let your body adjust every time.  And never go up...This is SUPER hard for me because I'm still in a lot of pain but I am motivated because I know that living on pills isn't really living.  I am currently on a slightly lower dose of hydromorphone.  My doctor is awesome, doesn't believe in making me suffer more than I already have, and has a great plan in place for me.  After years of surgeries and drugs, it is a revelation for me to have a doc who knows her stuff.
I don't have mental cravings though, I am in a recovery program and do not romance the drug use.  I know it is just a means of dealing with physical pan and that is all.
Best of luck to you!!!  Be strong.
Lu

[leahlee18]

Thank you Merri123.  Yea it seems a lot of people jump and go through these horrid withdrawals.  I support whatever anyone wants to do.  If I had the time off right now, I would do the same.  I feel like tapering is almost harder, a tease kind of because I always want more.  But at the same time, I am able to function and that is important.  So yes I'll do 3 for now, same with next week and when I return I am going to go to 2 1/2 a day then 2, etc, like you said and just keep cutting them down by a 1/2 every few days until I am done.  I am sure the physical part wont be pleasant but hopefully it wont be as bad.  I am more worried about the mental part of it and the cravings.

[Merri123]

Ok not sodas - tapered. Stupid phone. Really.

[Merri123]

I sodas low successful taper. When I gotto 3 I started cutting them in 1/2 and dropping a 1/2 at a time. Usually one a week - 2 weeks. I listened toy body. Then at 1 1/2 istartedcutting them in 1/4s. It worked for me. It was manageable. Other than RLS which I had before and a mild upset stomache I was fine. You may get headaches. I took baths a lot. And I walked off instead of jumped.

Popular consensus here says jump. I wholeheartedly DO NOT agree. Your husband has your pills. This will workfor you. You will be fine. Keep it up. Great job!!!

[leahlee18]

Yes I agree, things always come up in life and we tend to make excuses and put it off even more, but, due to my circumstances, I cant put it off.  My husband knows, i'm accountable for it, he's holding the pills for me, and I may be moving back to CA in Jan for a job.  So....I have reasons to quit.  I would love to do it now cold turkey but I just cant because again of going out of town in 2 days.  Once I get back I'm going to be posting more since I will really be tapering down.

[leahlee18]

How long were you on them for?  I just am hoping a slow taper will help but I will expect the worst.  

I have seen the Thomas Recipe.  I am just not sure about getting the valium or Xanax but I can get everything else.  This is a hard journey for sure, never one I thought I would be going through.  Just like so many other people, I never had an addicted personality and have never gone through anything like this before but we'll all get through it and its nice to have this site to go to :)

[PrinterAP]

I am so glad I read your post and comments to it!!! I never knew there was any difference from yellow to white!!! I can assure you no way would my pain Dr bother writing any extra script for me for no resson what so ever. I've been on Narco from a severe car accident in 2007 healing 10 different ways wrong! I can no longer work from my juries. BUT-I feel Narcohas caused depression, laziness, hibernation, weight gain etc, all not good!! I don't even know what my base line pain is!! So, before my next refill I decided to wean off . I'd wish I had allowed for a longer wean time but in a week be gone from 7 to 2 just now getting with drawls . i got  7 left. I calling it quits be since the WDS have started I just want it done! I gave Rl, lower leg pain, decrease sleep, sweating, chills, I CAN NOT DO ANY THING BUT LAY DOWN OR PACE. I get you have things coming as I did. Yet life has things coming all the time. I felt FOR ME, I'd just keep finding excuses to put it off. I want ME AND MY LIFE BACK,,,  I'm going to hang in but I want to fill my next script and take longer. Going to try and NOT. This will pass and No new worrying about filling scripts and counting pills! Good luck!!!

[xxxc123]

Omg we have the same exact story.  Right Down to wanting yellow.  
  After four days of hell and I mean my body was so crazy that in about fifteen minutes on the third day I moved from the couch to the love seat to the couch.  My body wouldn't stop. Thank goodness my kids were asleep and didn't see that craziness.  I would even finally fall asleep ( my body just gave  out after

no sleep)  and I would wake up standing in front of

the tv  this happend three time in a couple minutes.   Get ready for a couple days of no sleep following a month of zero energy.  Also during those times I was extremely emotional.  I honestly think tapering helps. I really will be praying for you.  This is such a hard journey.  Its like giving birth.  Lots of pain for a beautiful ending.  Google Thomas recipe.  God bless

[leahlee18]

No, I didn't tell my doctor.  I've been meaning to though.  That's funny you bring up sneezing cuz I already have a few times this morning.  I could jump off of them yes but the reason I am not is because I have to work and we are going to California Thursday for 10 days for vacation.  So I figure when I get back is when I will start taking less and less.  Plus I am thinking when I return from California I can take some time off so I can be at home and feel like crap.  I don't want to be at work feeling that way.  I am 35 and have been on the pills (consistently) for less than 12 months, so I am hoping my withdrawals wont be AS bad as others that I have read about but who knows.  I already experienced a weekend without pills a few months ago.  It was awful.  I had THE worst back pain and diarrhea started on day 3, so I know kind of what to expect.  

I totally get what you are saying about chasing down pills.  I take the Qualitest brand which are the yellow ones.  My pharmacy was running out and a couple of times I got a different manufacturer Watson and I did not like them at all.  I even read reviews that they don't give you the same high as the Qualitest.  So I would call my pharmacy and ask if they had them, if not I would call around and find a Kaiser Pharmacy who did.  But now that hydrocodone is a schedule II, they cant send an electronic prescription to other Pharmacies so I would have to go to the clinic my doctor is at and pick up the hard copy and then take it to another pharmacy which is the biggest pain in the butt.  I will be happy when I don't have to do things like that anymore!

[NeverAgain127]

So you are down to 30 mgs a day of hydrocodone?   A lot of folks would simply jump at this point, but it is up to you.  You are already starting to feel withdrawals just from tapering down.

We are not supposed to give medication advice here, so I'm just going to tell you that I tapered down to 10 mgs a day of oxycodone (I was taking 40/day for 8 years)...the withdrawals had started and I only lasted 3 days on 10 mgs/day...I flushed the pills and just stopped.

Oxy is much stronger than hydrocodone, so our experiences MIGHT be similar, but everyone is different.  Your age is a big factor.  I"m 52, and the withdrawals (after I stopped completely) were intense and awful for the first 4 days...I literally did NOTHING but lay in bed with a heating pad on my stomach and drank water.   Diarrhea started on day 4 and lasted until...well, its' still here, but not as bad.

I thought my symptoms would peak after 72 hours and then subside, but in truth, I didn't turn a corner for 2 weeks.   I'm 74 days clean today....still have a cough, sneezing (don't be surprised if you start sneezing your head off) and sleep isn't good.  

BUT.  I'm not chasing pills, counting pills, freaking over pills, driving to 4 different drugstores because everyone is out, wondering if I'm going to run out, constipated all the time, nauseous, itchy, pin-point pupils, and acting like a zombie.  

This is not an easy road, but it is worth it.  

Let us know what you decide to do.  Does your doctor know?  

Hugs,
-Robin