Vicodin withdrawal symptoms...how long?

[ALreins]

I am a 40 yr old male and I have been taking 2-4 Vicodin a day for the past three years. A medical doctor prescribed it for me after it was discovered I suffered bone degeneration in my lower 2 disk vertebrea. At the time I thought little of taking a prescription painkiller. Now after my first 6 days of no longer taking Vicodin I am realizing how powerful of a substance it actually is. I'm having withdrawal symptoms I didn't expect. Light headedness, the runs, blood pressure going up, and general fatigue. Lots of fatigue. And some irritability. I am hoping that these symptoms begin to decrease soon. Well, they have gotten better than it was in the first 2 days. I am still wondering how long I can expect to have these side effects of withdrawal?

[tw332]

I like your comment! I currently am going cold turkey from 10mg norco 4 times a day, but of course, I started needing more. I realize that one of the symptoms of withdrawawl with in the first 12 to 24 hours is the restless syndrome, I actually have a way a dealing with that.  I would get out of bed (because it usually happened at night) and I would start lifting weights, I would lift them until my arms felt like they were going to fall off, and then I would do squats until my thighs felt like they were going to fall off, it didn't matter what time of day or night I would just pick up the weights.  The feeling I got was a very over tired muscle feeling which took away the restlessness.  It really works.  I am now in the diarrhea stage but that will go away as well.  But I think that if you think that you might have to go back on them sometime in the future that you just shouldn't think about quitting now.  I have fibromyalgia so I hurt all the time, but I would rather put up with the pain than ever take these again.

[americus66]

yes i did, im getting alot better day 13 for me, my dizzyness and confusion comes and goes, yesterday i finely drove.Now i have a million things to do and afraid to drive again.
   I was to excited i slept threw the night i got PMs but i slept for 7 hours straight..im almost out of all the meds but ill be ok im getting better and better every day. i was so mad at every one cuz they lied to me and 3-4 days of withdrawals well they LIED. im still not even 50 percent better but im getting there. every day im prouder and prouder of my self. last night i was in alot of pain and once again my brain starts thinking ill feel better with just one pill. I was very strong. how are you felling on day 22? im realy curious i cant wait to get there.

[rjm537]

I am on day 22 and did it basically same as you!
Did you have blurred vision and confusion?

[americus66]

ive never posted on any thing so unsure how to do this, im 35 with 4 girls and 3 granddaughters. i was using about 10 750s hydro's a day. it all started when i got a damaged back nerve and i couldnt find a doc to help me it only took a moth and i surly found one. she would give me any thing    i wanted as long as i kept my appointments.Every thing happen so fast from 2 a day to 10 a day felt like over night.i  got back injections and they really did help so i was lying to doc just for more pills. i have stoped using all on march 31,2012 ts only been like 10 days. after i realized i was hooked i begged my doc to take me off of them. he said NO WAY.so i found another doctor that gave me 8 meds clonidine also  stuff for restless legs and and stomach pllls. I knew i couldnt afford this doctor but he said he would see me with out paying now i owe him over 2000 doctors for that one detox visit.  still have alot of pills and really trying not to take unless i need them.
  I still feel horrible No energy legs are killng me and havent slept for more then 3 hours straight in over a week. yesterday i woke up great and said wow its finally over, well that was a lie and woke up today feeling bad again.
   I have a 6 month old 2 yr and 2 4 yr olds also a 12 yr old to take care of.  cant do it im over whelmed and my brain keeps telling me get yr meds you will be fine one wont hurt but i know one can kill me. im always trying to please everyone and im falling apart.
  nobody new how bad i was taking them i would run out then secretly go buy on streets i would always lie about how many i had. lie after lie. was spending about 20-30 a day and i feel horrible about all the stuff  did.
   the worst part im worried about now is my brain feels like it is being squeezed all the time i feel dizzy and cannot drive..  dont even know if that is from withdrawals or something else??  feel like im not even here like im in a house full of smoke. if any one can tell me if they have felt like that before id feel a little better.

[Jan91958]

My cold turkey experience was pretty horrible but it worked.  I always thought that if I could quit smoking I could do anything - I was right.  BUT be aware - there was, for me, a whole lot of uncontrolled vomiting.  My husband, bless his heart, came in to check on me about every 20 min. or so and I had nothing to vomit but I guess bile needed to come up - joking as it was horrible.  I had a few seizures I'm told but I survived.  I will say I "took this medicine as prescribed" as Warren Zevon says in his "I'll sleep when I'm dead" song but it can be done - I promise you.  My only remaining problem seems to be the big black hole in my life -my dear buddies here tell me it improves and I believe them.  I used to call oxy the apathy drug, it made me not care about so many things that needed doing.  Also, I didn't see myself as an addict, a middle class woman with successful children and spouse.  Daughter a teacher, son a Jr. in college but me who previously made my money as an artist had just quit.  I have had a few moments of inspiration and my torch is waiting for me to fire it up again.  I'll keep up with the community as it is helping me so much and will help anyone I can.  good luck to all getting ready to get off! Jan

[Gracie2012]

I'm new here and just read your post from a few months ago... way to go and many congratulations on getting off the opiates... I'm in day 3 of w/d and can't sleep from those danged 'crazy legs', so came online to see how long this w/d w/last... your comments really helped. Keep up the great work! Bless you and take good care, Gracie