Vicodin Addiction Withdrawal, How Long? Does It Ever End?

[BenMyer]

Hi all, I would just like to say that I have been lurking on this site for awhile now before finally deciding to kick my habit. I have been addicted to Vicodin on and off for around 2 1/2 years. I recently decided it was time to stop after having taken it for 3 months straight. I just did not like what I was becoming, and what this drug was doing to my life in general. I always told myself that the habit I had (I never called it an addiction even though it was) was under control, and I could stop at any time, well I was wrong for 2 years. No reason existed for me to take it other than the relaxation the drug gave me. My dosage would be roughly around 2 to 3 pills in the evening just to relax, and help me sleep. I never went over 2 to 3 pills thankfully.

I decided to stop cold turkey 6 days ago due to the fact that it was having an impact on my work, my social life, and my time with my child. It is something I am not proud of having done, so I had to stop. I have stopped before as I stated, but this time I was determined. The withdrawals were miserable, something I never expected, but only heard about. It started with a very very strong craving for the drug the first 2 days, and constant muscle aches, along with sleepless nights. All along this time the urge to swallow some pills was always on my mind. I was dizzy sometimes, had hot flashes, and was cold all the time. To try to combat the sleepless nights, I used Advil, which didn't help. The mental said of the withdrawal is much worse than the physical pains. After 6 days now, I think I am starting to return back to my normal self. I feel more alert, sharper, and overall a different person. Today I have only thought about the drug maybe a few times, but without the horrible cravings I had during the mid-week. I know that this is just the tip of the iceberg on what to expect on my long road to being clean.

The questions I have are, how long will the urge to take a pill or two last? Does it ever really go away?

Thank you,
Ben

[lifes_a_dance]

I am 12 days clean, I still feel tired and sometimes get dizzy upon standing. I get worried everyday that I will go back to using. The one thing I worry about the most is this, when I wake up in the morning, the first thing I use to do was take a pill, when I didn't have them I would wake up and think about the idea of not having it and get very depressed, I hope that goes away very very soon. It ruins my intire day, I have not told anyone in my family of this addiction, so they don't have any idea what I am going through and I'm am trying very hard to make everyday life as normal as possible, good luck

[Darrelswife7]

My husband has been hooked on vicodin/pain killers for the last 40 years. He was up to 480 Vicodin ES a month through a civillian dr and getting more plus fententyl patches through the VA. Yes my husband does have some true pain. But mostley in his head PTSD from Vietnam ( He lost both legs). He went though a rehab though the Gibson House for 30 days, Did it help?? Not sure!!! The VA doctor putting him in at Gibson House gave him Tramadol for his pain. Last week I got a call from my daughter that her dad was acting odd. (This was supposed to be around 60 days clean) I left work to find a crazy man, holding a knife doing a cheers with it and talking to people that were not there (one of which was his grandmother that has beed gone for decades. I got him to the hospital and his hallutionations became worse and it looked like he was having seizures, so after all day in the ER waiting..I went up to the desk and told them he was getting worse...so finally they got him in a bed in the ER. He halluciated for 2 days...and one stupid nurse...right after I left for the night gave him a vicodin...WTH was she thinking??? She was told nothing stronger then a tramadol!!! She said he asked for it...I told her i had POA she was told nothing stronger then a tramadol. She told me he was in his right mind when asking for it. I told her she was CRAZY I sat by his bedside for 2 days while he was having hallutionations. She was his nurse for maybe an hour (because they changed shifts) So now her we go again. Where do they get such stupid nurses. Well anyway he has been in the hospital for 5 days now running tests EEG's and he is throwing up blood. But we did find out that he got a hold of my daughter cough medication the day he went in PROMETHAZINE with CODINE and probably downed 180 mls. So we are thinking that cause the hallutionations.....Good luck to all of you out there fighting this horrible addiction and remember what you are doing to your families....Is it really worth it do you really want yor kids last memories of you to be of your addictions. Stay strong you can beat this. My husband when he comes out of the acute hospital is going back to the Gibson House this time for 90 days because after 40 years I just don't think 30 days was enough. Good Luck my prayers are with you all and your FAMILIES.

[J2datp]

I've read bout all these post an its very rough I'm right now trying to kick the habit of vic an perc I have anxiety to. My girlfriend doesn't really care wat I'm goin through atleast I think she doesn't I am on my second day I haven't really talked to anyone just been to myself. I kno wat u mean bout the crappy feeling that most have said. I'm trying to give it up cold turkey as everybody says with no support hear at home I feel like the negative energy gives me strength. But seeing people on here makes it alil easier... keep it goin think about how long u abused it for atleast withdrawal isn't as long as we been using cuz we would be in trouble but Gooood luck to all those keep Ur head way up an when it gets to hot turn up the prayerconditon (lol)

[britt8858]

wooow I am on day 2! NO VICODIN!.   I cant believe im saying this but I dont feel like **** as compared to yesterday.  The cravings still come and go.  Mood swings as well come and go, but luckily after taking 2 sleeping pills along with my anxiety meds I got 12 hrs of sleep.  To others out there I would def say sleep as much of the withdrawls off as you can.  I feel so lucky to be able to sleep compared to others who mention not being able to.  I still feel lazy, but I motivated myself to get up and clean my entire house spotlessly clean roflmao.  Recovery at this point still feels far away, but I know good things will come if I keep this up.  I just wanted to update and let people know how I am doing if anyone is still reading this thread.  Good luck to others out there

[britt8858]

ok i really do not know where to begin.. let me just start by saying that I have never been through such a withdrawl detox from anything like vicodin.  i have been using for over 4 yrs would range from taking 4 to 12 a day.. i am on day 1 of detox. i cant stop shaking. hot flashes doesnt seem to end and the overall feeling of will this ever be over.  i keep telling myself that if i can make it through detoxing from cocaine and meth, that i can make it through this.  hope right now seems so far away. but i know its not.  i know there is a better life out there then this ****.  im probably babbling but knowing im not the only person out there going through this gives me strength. my 2 yr old gives me strength and my husband as well. awwwwwww it just feels like its never gonna end. tomorrow i plan on getting my lazy but up taking my daughter to the park and playing some bball hopefully that will help some.  guys just say a prayer for all us addicts! we can do this

[Colorless]

Thanks for some of the most encouraging info on the thread. It's always so great to see a "success" story! We all have our tales of woe of how, why, etc. I am 24 hrs. clean after being 5 days clean since last Sun. nite. BUT, what I really didn't know was that Tramadol could completely mask the w/d symptoms and postpone them, even taken as directed! So, after researching online, I stopped that c/t, and the fun began! Sorry, I meant being clean of Norco 10/325, 6 or so a day. Am determined, and will try to perservere, but MD's need to put more info out there about Tramadol. I would have gone on with that believing that I had really conquered the beast, possibly feeling pretty smug secretly about it! It's really, REALLY miserable. Been through it once before, so I know what to expect. I had just hoped that maybe I could escape the inevitable. I just want to experience real happiness again, you know? I can't remember the last time I noticed colors, or simple pleasures, like a spring day, etc. It will be such a relief not to have to plan every social outing around my refill date!!!!  Will let you know.....Colorless