Tapering off / Kicking Norco for GOOD?

[bjb456]

I am 31 years old and have been struggling with Norco addiction for the past 4 &1/2 years - the first prescription was given to me (60 pills) to treat the pain I was suffering from a snowboarding accident (3 broken ribs).  I never really liked the feeling until I cracked a couple of beers after taking 1 or 2 and from then on I was HOOKED.  The most I have ever taken in a single day is 5 but I normally only take 2-3 throughout the day - obviously my ribs have healed since then, but my doctor who is in his late 70's/ early 80's never denies my refills, I know it has a lot to do with my charm as I always get compliments about how I should be an actor and how handsome I am which I hate because I feel like such a "closet loser".  I currently receive a script for "90 Norcs every 30 days" (3 a day for pain).  I have cleaned up a few times over the past 4 years but only for a 1-3 weeks, maybe a month at the most - my problem with the withdraws is the "mental part", I get severely depressed when going through the withdraws, I also get really bad anxiety and thoughts, never suicidal but more along the lines of "how can I do my job or function daily without the feeling that these pills give me"....  I also failed to mention (during the WD phase) the tingles I get in my legs at night, I basically kick my legs as I toss and turn while fighting to get sleep (is this "RLS" or simply withdraw symptoms, i.e, "Crazy Legs?".   I am engaged to a beautiful girl who knows that I have had a problem with these pain killers/ "yellow devils" and has on occasions found my stash and flushed them.  I know for a fact I can successfully taper down to 1 & 1/2/ 1 a day but only if I am eating healthy, not drinking alcohol and exercising daily.  Exercise and healthy living/ eating seem to play a major role for me during the short periods of me getting off the them.  I am posting here today because I am alone, scared ********, and I want my normal life back.  I have the next 10 days off work and I am thinking of tapering down to 1 a day and then quitting for good.  I failed to mention that I have a pretty serious career as an Account Executive and the thought of WD's while working will be extremely difficult - I have thought about telling my boss because I am very close with her but I DO NOT want anyone from work to know.  I need to talk to people who have either successfully tapered and kicked these devils for good or who have successfully gone cold turkey after 3-5 years of abuse.

Sincerely,

[rockyinweho]

i am almost 32 yrs old, and have been hooked on norcs for about 3 yrs now due to pain from 3 slipped discs in my upper n lower back from bodybuilding. not that it matters how i got on em...but i was taking 5 10mg norcos every 4hrs....about 25-30/day, sumtimes more!! i realized awhile ago that i have a major friggin problem and need to get off!!! i tried going cold turkey once b4 and after a couple weeks of major rls n sweating n not sleeping for days at a time i was almost feeling a lil better, but as dumb as it sounds i tried going back to the gym n after training a full body w/out i was sooooo sore that i went home n popped 3 pills! n now im back on em! was at 4 every 6 hrs, got down to 3 every 8hrs, n now im down to my last few n gonna try goin ct...can anybody help me n tell me if that taper will help w my withdrawals n crazy legs??? btw, i live w my girl n she knew back then, but doesnt know im on em again, n i really need to sell the "flu" story while im kickin, wat can i take to help w ANY OF IT??? thank u for any help anybody on here can offer me!!

[anonymoussss143]

hi everyone. I first want to start off by saying being open to even admitting opiate addiction is huge and that's step number 1. To stay strong mentally. Its been a year that I have been taking Norcos 10mg. I went from half to at most 15-18 a day without even realizing. I was really bad and ended up in the ER once becuz I ran out and didn't know what it would do to me if I didn't have any. I felt like I was dying.

Anyways.. I was down to my last one Sunday and looked at myself and told myself I need to stop.. I went to the doctor and he gave me clonidine to help me taper down the dosage. I went from 10-15 a day to 2 in one day. Clonidine is a high blood pressure medicine to help with the withdrawals (chills, hot/cold sweats) but even taking too many can get really light headed. I'm going to get straight to the point.

This has worked out best for me as this is my actual real first time wanting to stop. I was so scared cuz I knew what it was goin to do to me. So.. In one day I went from 10-15 to 2 a day.. With the help of CLONIDINE. The first day I was so weak I couldn't even get out of bed. So if you taper and do what I do.. Try to make the first day a day where you can lay down for a full day as u will be tired. I failed to do that and had to call in sick at work. The second day I forced myself to go to work but I felt better than expected. That day I took half to get me up and then half middle of the day and half at night. The 3rd day I felt even better. I still felt the hot cold flashes/chills (which i hate the most) But it wasn't as bad as I expecting and I think it was becuz of the high blood pressure medicine. it helped with the diarhea and eased me so i could at least make it theu my day

So anyways.. word of advice.. Lots of protein to restore the damage the Norcs did to our brains.. 3 healthy meals a day. If u can't eat like me the first 2 days I drank lots of protein shakes.. I know everyone is different but I thought I would feel the same as I did when I went to the ER and I don't fortunately. I'm on day 4 with 1 and a half in my system.. when I wake I know I don't need it but I take half to get me thru work. Been waiting for Saturday to come around so I can just stop completely and have lots of rest if needed.

Plss if anyone is struggling but need to function becuz of work or a family I highly suggest to see ur normal doctor and ask about clonidine or anything that could help to ease the withdrawals.. Lots of fluids..

I slept 4 hours the first night woke up at 4am wide awake.. so I said screw it and went for a walk becuz exercising is very important as well. Get it while you can..

tomorrow is Saturday and like everyone else I am scared to stop completely.. but this stupid narcotic ruined my life. I cried, made me depressed, even made me thought about killing myself becuz I didn't want to go thru the withdrawals.

Please I'm begging everyone to be strong as I read these posts over and over to keep me strong and motivated. Good luck to all and I'm praying I make it thru myself.

[bjb456]

Hello all - simply wanted to post my progress as I sit here alone in my home office on Day 4...  To tell you the truth day two wasn't so bad, it was day three that got me with the diareha and upset stomach.  Today I am starting to feel the RLS portion kicking in.  My Fiance and I were at her parents house watching a movie late last night and I passed out on the floor - she (Fiance) woke me at10PM because she needed to get home for some sleep before work today.  On the drive home from her parents house she told me that while I was sleeping/ napping during the movie I was kicking and crossing my legs back and forth (scary)...  Anyhow, I told her the truth on Saturday so she knows that I am going through WD's and promised to be here for me.  I have the rest of the week off (PTO) and I am already at day 4.  I have a meeting with my Boss next week which I am nervous about because I cant remember the last time I met with her without popping a Norco or two beforehand...  I think I am going to try and go running, which is another thing I haven't done sober in a while, I use to pop a Norco and 1/2 with a nice hot cup of coffee and then go on a 6 mile run (wow)...  It will be interesting to go running sober for the first time in 3 & 1/2 years...  I am thinking of taking some advil before hand.

Hope all is well ... God Bless.

Sincerely,

~BjB....

[hooklineandsinker]

We don't have detoxes where I live so you have no choice but to cold turkey.

I've done it. I've seen many people do it. Successfully.

I won't sugar coat it. It's horrible. For me the creepy crawlies (RLS) are the worst. I'd rather be hugging the toilet.

I would plan it. I don't know what to tell you to eat because what someone can tolerate makes someone else sick. If you don't actually throw up you will be very nauseous.  

You will look at the clock and count the minutes and want to die. The nights are endless. Basically that's it for the first few days.

But yes you can do it because countless other people have.

As for telling someone, I am also a private person and I was told on this board I HAD to tell someone. Well, I didn't. I had the flu when I had to go out. The end.

It didn't effect me one way or another not telling someone.

[leeisgettingclean]

cool. Yeah it is hard but together we can all make it. I used 15-20 10s a day for almost 3 years, i tried taper did not work for me. I am doing c/t now and on day 5 , its hard, but really just suck it up as the flu cause that is what it looks to others. I think after day 3 it gets a little easier but it last phsically 5-7 i think. I made it to day 9 and relasped for about a weel and half and now back at day 5. It is bearable, lots of baths, sleep when you can because it is far and few between, and read alot, go out in the sun (that really helped me) , force yopurself to do things you dont feel like doing, also keep a journal to look back on these days so if you ever feel the desire to relapse you can have something to look back on and remind yourself of these days, man it *****, but it wont kill you and it does not last forever.. All the luck your way

[bjb456]

No worries whatsoever - I am just in a crappy place and need positive support.  Apologies accepted.

[leeisgettingclean]

hey i am very sorry i did not mean to past jugement on you at all i promise. Beleive me i am in no way shape or form in posiotion to judge anyone. I was not refering to you as a druggie. I am sooooo sorry that i came across like that. Please dont let my clearly untoughtfull remarks get you down, really i do apoligize, and hope you do forgive me. This is a great site and i am also new to it. I should have thought my remarks better, all good?

[bjb456]

So you think I should just go CT after 2-5 Norcs daily for the past 4 & 1/2 years?  I know I can probably do it, it's just going to be scary and depressing as hell.  It just doesn't seem that it can be that easy.  I simply don't have the balls to seek professional help because I don't want to be "found out" as I am a pretty private person.

Thanks,

[hooklineandsinker]

Well, they just ignore me so count yourself fortunate. :)

Seriously, I have to agree that cold turkey is the way to go. You will be over the worst in 3-4 days if you don't take ANY. So flush them. After I relapsed on day 3 that's what I did. I'm here to tell you that if you have any, you will cave unless you're Superman.

Yes, the creepy crawlies are the worst. I'd rather puke. Which I also did.

And it is a valid point, although stated rather unfeelingly, that if you lose your current doc, you will have a hard time getting another one to give you a script.

You no longer have pain issues. Unless you want to take a hammer and break a finger which I've actually seen someone do to get a script.

The DEA is very strict about narcotic scripts and most doctors give you darvocet or Ultram (schedule 4) if they give you anything. Usually you just get a script for Ibuprofen or naproxen which you can buy over the counter.

Welcome to the war on drugs.

At any rate, you've got the time and you can do it.

[BIKERDAD1963]

Sorry I forgot one of your questions. I have been on the meds for 7 years now

[BIKERDAD1963]

Yes norco and oxycontin. I was doing 360mg oxy (120 3x a day) and 90 mg norco(3 pills 3x a day) I fist tapered the norco a pill every few days. Once I saw that i didnt fill any wd while taper the norco I stopped it completely after 3 weeks. Then after a month off norco I tapered the oxy from 120 to 80 each dose. Did that for a month and went to 40 a dose. After a month I went to 20 a dose. Then I went from 20 3x a day to twice a day for a month. Then I got cocky and stopped all together. I made it 3 days and blew it because I just wasnt informed enough on what the wd was going to be like. I thought it was goping to be like on t.v. Withdrawal for a day and wake up feeling ok. NOT!! After my failed detox I was put back on norco. Just 1 3x a day and to my suprise after the 3 days of detox it was all i needed to feel normal. Every week It was reduce by half a pill and then twice a day instead of 3 times a day. Beleive it or not I am currently taking 2.5 norco 2 times a day. Thats 1/4 of a pill twice a day 1/2 pill total. I fill really good to. Naturally every taper there will be some wd for a few days but it has been very minimal. I detox on thursday. You need to be prepared for your detox so you no exactly what is going to happen. It will take a lot of anxiety away. Just keep asking questions and read the other postings until you feel confident that you can do it. This place has been a life saver for me.

[bjb456]

Thanks so much for the reply - if I may ask....is it Norco that you are tapering off of?   If yes, how many years have you been on it?

Thanks,

BJB

[bjb456]

I really don't feel like a "Druggie Patient".  This doc has been my doc since I was 17 treating me for everything from severe poison oak to stitches and soar throats.  I posted here to get some help and advice, not to be judged, and the fact the the first person to respond to my "first post" is really starting to give me anxiety and bum me out.   Thanks a million "leeisgettingclean"...

[BIKERDAD1963]

The good news is your dose is very lo. Unfortunately wd is wd no matther what you are on. 10 days isnt long enough to taper and wd. It has taken me 6 months to taper. With the amount you are taking (3 a day) you would want to taper weekly. do 2 a day for a week. You will feel some wd between your doses but it will only last about 3-5 days and it isnt bad. After your body feels normal do the next taper. But like I said the amount you are doing isnt much and i dont think your wd will be any different if you taper or not. Just jump in and go for it. We will help you thru it. As for the wd symptoms if you have a doctor they can help you with some. There are meds for the Restless Legs, Unfotunately they dont make it all go away but it helps. Good luck and keep posting. we are here to help.

[leeisgettingclean]

be careful because when this "older doc" passes away you are going to have a hard time finding another one so clueless, thats what happens to alot of people. My aunt had a pill doctor , every month she would go, pay 70$ and walk out with 120 10s, and she had no real prob, however two years later he got his prescription privledges taken away and she tried to fingd a new doc, she never did. NO GOOD DOCTOR wants the druggie patiens of a doc that got busted, now she is in the streets tryin to buy. SDo altough good today, could be gone tomorrow them what do you do