Vicodin Withdrawals! Is this normal??

[ItstheSky]

I'm extremely dizzy. I relapsed last night and took two vicodin within two hours (not together but pretty close)
and since i'm on a taper, I had no choice but to "punish" myself and not take any this whole day, so I would have enough left for tomorrow and Saturday at work (which are supposed to be the last 2 days of the taper).
I feel so dizzy right now, is this a normal side effect of hydro withdrawal? Like If I look in a different direction or turn around everything spins. It's making me very panicky.

[AO111]

I get dizzy sometimes with vic withdrawl but that's because the withdrawl gives me anxiety attacks which make me dizzy

[ItstheSky]

Thanks. =) All your advice is so helpful. I don't know how things would be without you guys! I don't even wanna think about it.

I'm going to pick some up today. Sleeping is the worst with this dry mouth issue. I wake up in the middle of the night and in the early morning and no matter how much water I drink it won't go away so it's hard to go back to sleep. Felt like there was a sponge in my mouth absorbing anything I drank.

I don't know if they did that test on me when I went in for gastritis. They just did some finger prick on me to test my iron levels since I hadn't been eating anything for a week. I would be extremely surprised if my blood count is normal right now considering how the past couple weeks have been. I'm going to see a doctor tomorrow. =)

[BarbRTR]

Yes, Biotene is the toothpaste and mouthwash that helps dry mouth immensely. It's expensive, like 10$ each, but so worth it! I couldn't brush my teeth enough before I bought it. My mouth was so dry it was just nasty!

CBC is just a complete blood count. Which you must have had done since you know your low on iron, but now since you have quit, it wouldn't hurt to have another, make sure you aren't low on anything else.

I was pretty shocked I was dehydrated. I was drinking ok, my skin pinch test seemed ok.
But the dry mouth has lasted a month, even while getting IV fluids, so it wasn't from my dehydration. Not sure what it is, but the mouthwash is a lifesaver. It works better than the toothpaste.

Hope you are feeling better!

[ItstheSky]

YES the dry mouth is getting beyond annoying. I think I am going to buy some biotine mouth wash. I think that's what it's called?
Gastritis is a beast. It really does control your diet. Pretty sure that could have been a reason I was dizzy. I'm slightly anemic and going through withdrawals probably made it worse.
What is CBC?

[BarbRTR]

I'm sorry, I am just now seeing your question to my response.
Funny, I have gastritis too! Well, spells of it so much it's a permanent Dx now. And during flare ups, which last 4-8 weeks, I must do a liquid diet.

The salt packets work to an extent. I keep them in my car for emergencies, but don't allow myself to drive far from home alone. If I down enough of them, I can usually get my BP high enough to see again. Maybe up to 70/50.

Gastritus takes a toll. On prescription strength Vit d, B-12 injections, iron and sodium and have been on for 2 years, and still cannot get those levels to normal.
I am only fainting now about every five days, and dizziness is there but much better.

Is yours? I would highly suggest getting a CBC done since you have insurance, to make sure your levels are ok. Gastritis plus opiates is doubly bad.
We both had dizziness ( rare) and dry mouth. Weird!

[ItstheSky]

It does help, thanks for that response. I'm on day 5 and feeling a lot better. And when I wake up, I begin day 6. I'm in a better place now. I think my withdrawals started early because of the rapid taper. (only one week)
I was never a heavy user and didn't use as long as many other users here...but it was enough to know I had a problem and the problem would only grow and get worse. I went through the pill counting and hoarding and getting a few from someone else here and there...But I'm amazed at the amount I see from some people! 20-30/day for FOUR years! That's intense bro. I thank goodness I never got to that point because this has been hard enough for me.
I think my experience is kind of unique though because of the other medications I have been taking in tandem with the Vicodin. So the detox was a bit rough.
Thanks for the amazing advice and sharing your story with me. Every bit helps.

[offsides]

I use to take about 20-30 pills a day (10 mg vicodin) for about 6 years. I use to steal the meds from any house I would visit (one of my low points), and the pills were all I cared about. About 4 years ago, I decided that it was time to quit. I ended up quitting cold turkey, and it was not pleasant at all. The truth of the matter is that my physical symptoms lasted for about a full month, and it took about 3 months for me to go back to normal completely. Looking back, I got off lucky because I took the withdrawals as punishment for all my bad deeds. It has been about 4 years that I have been clean, and the difference is tremendous. I am currently in law school, and towards the top of my class. The point is, that you can quit, and some people wanted someone who has been clean for a while. Well, I will not lie to this day it is not easy, when I am at the doctors, the first thing I tell them is that I have a problem with vicodin so they will not prescribe it, because truth of the matter is when you are there with the doctor many know how easy it is to complain about pain and get the medication. What has worked for me, is keeping a pill that is not vicodin in a bottle, and when you have the urge to take out the placebo look at it and ask yourself if it is worth losing everything you have for this small little pill that will make you feel good for a couple hours then spend the rest of the time taking pills to chase that feeling you once had the first time you took it. You will realize and tell yourself that it is not worth it. When everything is over, you realize how strong you are and I do believe that you become a better person for it. I have spent much time trying to right the wrongs through community service, and doing volunteer work will honestly give you the same tingling feeling that you use to get when you took the pills, and is a far better substitute. My best advice is to tell someone close to you, everyone needs help. Take about 3 days off work or school and stay home in bed. Get rid of anything in your house that may remind you of vicodin. If you have any prescription medication in an orange bottle, place it in a zip lock back and get rid of the container as that can easily be a trigger, take some vitamins, and what really helped me with the runs and energy was switching to a vegan diet. THe health benefits helped significantly with the withdrawals. I have also been vegan since and many of my initial health problems that got me started on vicodin have subsided. My old doctor was amazed at how much a change of diet helped and he has been conducting research since. Long story short, there is light at the end of the tunnel, switch to a healthy diet, remind yourself every day that a small pill does not control you, and find a hobby. Once you have been clean for about 3 months, you only have the mental cravings which is much easier to fight alone without the physical cravings. I hope this helps, and also after a while of being clean after having surgery Ibuproffen was enough to rid the pain, because your body is no longer dependent on opiates. Good luck.

[ItstheSky]

Whoa that's crazy, do salt packets really work? That does sound icky...
That all makes sense then because I do tend to have low BP a lot of the time and i'm also slightly anemic right now because I'm still getting over gastritis a month ago. I wasn't able to eat anything and my diet never really did get back to normal so I'm still not getting the stuff I need, I guess.
Thanks =)

[BarbRTR]

I too have very low BP, so when I quit it was such a shock to my body, I was so dizzy I was crawling. If not I fainted.

Pre opiates they tried everything to up my BP without much success. Would be the stupid pills did it when compression stocking, sodium pills, nothing else was.

I ended up in the hospital day 4 or 5, from dizziness fainting. I was also dehydrated, despite the fact I was eating and drinking.

Good news is after acute wds, symptoms more or less passed, and I'm back to eating salt packets, yuck, when an occasional dizzy spell comes.
I'm glad your feeling better today.

[ItstheSky]

I forgot to mention usually when I go see my doctor my blood pressure is always either normal or unusually low.

[ItstheSky]

Thanks...it stopped for the most part. It's kind of random now but nowhere near how it was yesterday.

[selfinduced]

I was just going to mention your BP. Also if you got anxious about sliding on your taper, the anxiety can make you dizzy as well as have your arms kinda tingly. Let us know if it stops ok.

[Pat1956100]

I know it's weird how it hit me.  Your body is probably still adjusting though.  Make sure you are drinking lots of fluids and eating.  It would be a good idea to get your blood pressure checked, just to be safe.  Don't get stressed out about it though.  Your body goes through a lot when we are getting off meds.

[ItstheSky]

Wow, good job and good luck to you!
I'm hoping it will be gone tomorrow and that I won't have to call my doctor but I will if it continues. Maybe it's a side effect of a side effect? lol if that makes sense...like dehydration or fatigue...

[Enuffisenough]

Typo- mood swings, cramps.

[Enuffisenough]

I'm experiencing stomach pains, mod dines, agitation , cranks, sweats. Bathroom issues. No dizziness. Maybe go to dr office . I've not heard of that as part of taper, but everyone different . Good luck. I'm tapering and jumping ship from 8 tomorrow . Ick

[ItstheSky]

It's just weird because I stopped my Effexor taper and I decided to just keep taking my normal dose until I'm completely off of Vicodin.
After everyone giving me the same advice I didn't want to be completely oblivious to it and do it anyway. I can't set myself up for failure because i do that way to much.
I guess I'll try calling my doc tomorrow if it doesn't stop but it's super weird and the Vicodin is the only thing different about my day.

[TakingBackMine]

For what it's worth, I'm currently going through a taper and dealing with major withdrawals, and can't say that I'm dealing with dizziness. I think I recall reading in another post of yours that you are also on Effexor, possibly you are having some side-effects?

I think the above advice is probably a good direction to go, hopefully it passes soon, but since you've already come clean with your doctor, if you have a concern, I would say reach out and let your doctor know.

[Pat1956100]

I didn't get dizzy from opiate withdrawal but did with Effexor.  It should pass soon but if it doesn't, call your doctor.