Vicodin Help

[runner44]

Hey Everyone...I've been reading these posts for about a year now and I've finally decided to post something.  First off I must commend everyone for dealing with this horrible addiction and doing their best to beat it.  I've been taking vicodin for almost 2 years now and I must say I'm watching myself go down the drain.  It all started with the dentist prescribing me about 20 pills to buying 100 at a time on the street.  Just today my girlfriend said to me "I can't even think of the time where you went from buying 10 pills to buying 100 at a time."  I can't tell you how much I want off.  A few months ago I ran out and couldn't find any and went 4 days without.  I wish for all of me I could go back and continue what I started.  Today I've sort reached the same position.  Accept it's the lack of money.  So with 10 pills left I've decided to try to wean down.  I've been taking 8-10 7.5/hydro a day.  I figure off the top I can go down to 4-5 a day for a week or two.  Today was hard but I did it.  It's 1:30am and I've only taken 4 pills.  But as I'm writing this post I can't tell how much I feel I need one to sleep.  But we will see.  I did get my hands on 50 more, but did the smart thing and gave them to my girlfriend to distribute.  Tomorrow my plan is to wake up eat something and take a walk come home to a hot shower.  Once that's done hopefully I can make it another hour then take one.  Then the rest of the day take it one minute at a time.  But I can promise I'm going to give it my best effort to stay on schedule.  Usually once I get more pills before I come home I put some it both our cars, hide some around the house so when I get low in the bottle I have places to resort to.  But this time major improvement, gave  ALL to my girl.  Both of us are very determined to get back to normal.  The crazy part is when I think about getting arrested.  I must be crazy but instead of worrying about being in jail, the only think I'm worried about is not having any pills.  We have a 6 month old and just for her, I would like my life back.  I've been unemployed for 3 months now and I'm ready to go back to work and can't tell you how scared of a drug test.  All I can say is I'm ready for the change.  If anybody has any advice for vitamins or just any words please advise....

[kickthemstones]

Good to hear you're doing ok and I hope you're finding some relief!!  You seem to have a plan that's working for you and that's great!!  The physical addiction is definitely in your bloodstream and once you get over the withdrawal you'll have to fight the mental and emotional addiction that'll come up.  But getting through your taper-down is first and foremost; so be sure to get LOTS of rest, eat healthy and treat yourself gently!!!

[vicki595]

A few more suggestions:  Be sure to drink a lot of fluid. When you get sore bones and muscles, take a hot bath in Epsom salt. Get some potassium and magnesium tablets. Works great for RLS and works quickly. The Epsom also contains magnesium and gets absorbed when you soak.

Eat good food, low in fat and sugar.  Take a MultiVit every day. Try some Melatonin to help you sleep.

[runner44]

Thanks.  I was hoping I am starting off right.  I didn't want to take a huge jump but did want to start off with a significant drop.  But I'm a logical person.  I do understand and I've really sat my girl down so she can feel where I'm coming from that if a person has been taking x amount of pills for x amount of time, to keep the body from going into shock I would think that what you said is best and letting your body adjust is promising towards getting 100% off these pills.  I mean just in a couple days it has been hard but some things have gotten easier.  Today I went to the bathroom and for the first time in months, it wasn't a sweaty struggle.  I mean I would go sometimes a few days without a bal movement and then when I would eventually go it would be so small it's not even funny.  But I feel like my body is starting to release natually....Please keep posting to me as it really does help my confidence...

[vicki595]

To answer your question: You can post a new question/comment on the forum to thank everyone or you can just write "everyone" in the "to" box.

You're really trying here and that's good. I'm a big fan of tapering. If done properly, the wd's are really minimal!

You took a big jump to start your taper and you're handling it. The secret is to cut back small amounts over a long time. You want your body to adjust to each drop before dropping more...

Good luck!

[runner44]

Hey let's do this together.  Our kids are around the same age and I can't tell how many times I look at my little girl and it gives me more and more energy to keep going on the right path.  I feel so bad when I don't have the energy to handle her.  Hey tell me,  have any of you felt depressed? Like to the point where you think you need medicine.  If so, should I talk to a doctor about it?

[runner44]

Thank you for your prayers...I'm doing just okay but not great.  I must say the hardest thing is feeling so down.  A little story...I not only get pills for myself but get them for a friend of a friend.  Today I told the guy look, your going to have to find your own way to get more pills.  I used to do this being that I would benefit for doing some of the leg work.  But I gave him the bad news and to make myself feel better I told him what I was doing and suggested he do the same.  Just recently he went to vegas for 21 days and I will say I know personally (I supplied him) he took over 500 pills.  And I will say that was one of the things that hit me the most.  I'm not a pill dealer and I started to feel like one.  I started to think about what if something happened to him, pill related, I would feel guilty.  I just can't have that on my conscience.  Hey quick question, how do I post a reply to ALL that have replied to me.  I want to address everybody with appreciation for the support their showing me..This way I'm replying individually...

[runner44]

Hey, I really appreciate your response.  For some reason I wasn't seeing the replies.  Update: As stated, I was taking anywhere from 8-11 pills per day.  Since I posted I've been sticking to 1 1/2 every 6 to 7 hours which would be 4-5 per day.  I'm doing ok.  It's very hard being that my stomach feels like it's in knots and I'm tired all the time.  I'm just about to get some new medical insurance so starting next week I hope to get medical help with my detox.  I just can't tell you how much your reply and support has helped.  I'm just really glad I'm fully ready to get off these things.  I want to admit something, I think what made me quit was the fact that when I started taking these things and realized they made me feel good, I can't remember the last time that I took pills and they made me feel good.  It's almost like I just need them in my bloodstream or something.  Just a thought.  But trust me I will keep posting...

[IwillDoThis]

Welcome and glad you found us, I found this forum when I was detoxing off hydros looking for advice on how to soothe w/d and it's been a great source of support for me.

It sounds like you want off but unsure if you can do it - I'm here to tell you - YOU CAN.  It ain't easy by a stretch but you can do it - you just really have to want to be clean more than you want to take pills.

I tapered down to 1 pill for a couple days then jumped off.  About 16 hours after my last pills I started w/d and it wasn't pretty.  Get yourself immodium either pills or liquid - this is a must.  Use it aggressively - every time you hit the toilet take a dose, even if it is 5 times in one hour.

Gatorade, juice and lots of water - REALLY stay hydrated.

Lots of hot showers, I was in there every hour on the hour and it was really the only real relief I got through the worst days.

Others already mentioned Thomas Recipe or Amino Acid protocol.  With a good protein powder shake in the morning you can get a lot of the ingredients the AAP call for and it will be lest costly.

Bananas as they contain potassium.  I take regularly potassium, magnesium and Super B - those are the ones I'd really recommend.

I have a journal posting that is more detailed relating to withdrawal if you want to view it just click on my name, go to my profile and click on journal entries.

Hope this helps!

[doitformyson]

I'm on day 3 of a similar situation.  Use these threads to find the Thomas Recipe.  Get all the vitamins from there.  Use Valerian Root and Melatonin to help with the sleep.  Lots of hot baths with epsons salt.  I'm on Day 3 which I thought was going to be pure hell and it is not that bad.  My mind is clearing, I have a 5 month old son who is my insspiration which is the main reason I wanted to write you.  We gotta get this done for the kids man!   FOCUS  pick up all the vitamins from the Thomas Recipe and any other things folks here recomend.  They really do help..

[SuperRickHenry]

Good job. I gave my wife to distribute for me but ended up being so fed up I went to a Dr. for help with the withdrawal.  I wish you the best and will hold you in prayer.... You can do it.  It's gonna suck and you know that.  ONE day at a time.   I'm on day 9 clean from Vico's 10 mg 10-30 a day.. You can do this..  You can do this .  YOU CAN do this...  ;-)

[Allscrewdup]

I never thought I could do it either, I was also buying 100s at a time, I got to the point where I got so sick of wasting all my money and feeling so guilty cuz I knew what I was doing to my body that I just dug deep and jumped, there is a lot of good people that have been/are in the same position you are in, get clean it's hard but not that bad, feels like you got the flu for a week, you will be so much happier,

[kickthemstones]

Great job for wanting to make a change, you're on the right track!  It's a very scary thing to get drugs off the street, especially with a baby girl at home.  Even scarier is being addicted to a controlling substance that could easily destroy your life.  

Have you considered getting some help for your addiction?  Narcotics Anonymous is free, world-wide and has saved countless lives.  They are a great place to network locally with others who have gone through exactly what you're going through.    

There are also medical facilities who can help you detox SAFELY (either medically or non) and many of them are outpatient so you can attend when it's convenient for you.  Some of are probably sliding scale.  Many counties have drug and alcohol detox centers/rehabs for low or no income.  Check your local listings/government health services.

I hope you can consider getting help since you have a family involved.  They want the absolute best for you and what's BEST is a medical professional to wean you off the pills and NOT your girlfriend.  It can take a lot of pressure off you both so you can focus on recovering and going back to work.  

Sorry, I don't know of any vitamin advice.  I always use the classic formula for any detox:  rest, water, no sugar, salt, fatty foods and mild excercise.  Try herbal teas with Stevia or Valerian Root to help relax.

Best of luck and hope that helps somehow!! :D