Vicodin withdraws

[Lstsoul4275]

I too am new to this site. I have been reading everybody's posts and trying to find some strength in them. Today is my first day of no Vicodin. I have already started withdrawing. Having chills, sweats, and starting to panic. I have been a Vicodin user for 8-10 years now. About eight 7.5 a day. I just want this nightmare to be over. The muscle aches are already so bad I cannot seem to get comfortable. My situation started out with a back problem and I have abused the pills for years now. Any words of advice or encouragement would be greatly appreciated. How long will this last? When will I be able to function again???? ....Lost

[Lstsoul4275]

I am starting my 8th day of no pills! I'm doing unbelievable. To be honest I almost feel bad because my experience has been relatively good. I have been reading everyone's posts and seeing how awful this is for them and wonder why I didn't have the hell the others have had. Don't get me wrong, the first two days were not fun aches, sweating, chills, no appetite but it was nothing like I thought it would be. Yes, RL stands for restless legs. I had no RL, no stomach issues (in fact 3rd day my appetite was fine), no diarrea, no headaches, nothing. I was pretty good after 2nd day. Still a little sad at times cause I miss my "friend" (more like demon) but I am taking vitamins (L-tyrosine, B6, multi vitamin and plenty of water. My energy is returning big time! The only problem is sleep. I take melatonin and it's working but I seem to wake up about 3 hours after I take it. I can live with that though. This is what I find very interesting......... Everyday after work I was exhausted when I was taking Vicodin. I would come home and immediately take a nap. For years I have done this. I went back to work 5 days after CT, since then I have not taken one nap!! Amazing!!! I feel amazing!! This is the absolute best thing I have EVER done for myself!! I have a few small cravings but nothing overpowering, when I get them I just push it from my mind and do something else. Ok so I know this sounds like a fairy tale but it is all the honest truth. I have been married for 17yrs to my childhood sweetheart and now going through a divorce, in hindsight I believe my addiction played a huge role. It's heartbreaking but I am glad I have been able to stop the pills and hope I can be a better person to everyone around me now. Everyday I thank God, everyday!!! How long have you been clean? Do you have cravings? I wonder will cravings come back to haunt me. I am going to seek counseling and meetings soon. I take it one day at a time. Thank you for the support. This forum has been invaluable to me, a lifeline. I still read it everyday :)

[Cgal1957]

How are you doing now?
Are you past not being able to sleep? I don't recall having stomach issues when I got off the vic. Long ago.
The sleep and the hebby jebby's (skin crawling)  were the worst. When you say RL do you mean Restless Legs. Do your knees and legs bug you?
The annoyance in the legs held on for a long time for me. I am glad that I stopped though.
I was like you they were my friends. I started out with 1 in the morning. Felt good by 10am another would be great, after lunch 1 more. Next thing I know I am slamming them down 6-7 at a time. Had a doc that would write me vic's one week and the next percodan. Not the usual 30 at one time it 60 on each. For years that went on. One day my husband took them from me and dumped them in the toliet and said you don't need these. Wow! I went to the doc and he gave me more. Then I weened myself off.
I hope the worst is over for you now. You can do this. Just let us know whats going on. We are here to support you.

[Cgal1957]

Hi Laurel,

Kinda new here. Sorry but how do I get to the health pages?

[Lstsoul4275]

Well I guess this is my second totally clean day!! It is very hard. I feel extremely sad, like my best friend is gone. I want to stay clean so bad though. I wonder will I ever feel that happy feeling that I felt when I took one of those white pills? Also, I am not having any RL, stomach cramps or diarrhea yet is this normal? I was able to eat a little today but I really really just need to know what I can expect now. Can anyone help me?

[Lstsoul4275]

Well I guess this is my second totally clean day!! It is very hard. I feel extremely sad, like my best friend is gone. I want to stay clean so bad though. I wonder will I ever feel that happy feeling that I felt when I took one of those white pills? Also, I am not having any RL, stomach cramps or diarrhea yet is this normal? I was able to eat a little today but I really really just need to know what I can expect now. Can anyone help me?

[laurel453]

it is easier if today is your first day thinking on the future, this is truly your first clean day, a good day even if you are feeling terrible !!!...  it doesn't mind some hours before or after...anyway, what you are feeling is normal... i didn't eat much for the first couple of days but do drink fluids, you are detoxing and need to keep hydrated and the emotional strain is tough but think of it as a flu... it made it easier to me, less scary, don't know...

[Lstsoul4275]

Thank you Laurel, I guess I was hoping that this was my second day just because it was a very low dose and was mid morning when I took it. I am just counting the days for WD reasons. I started having them by last night and are continuing now. I'm a bit of a mess, crying, sweating, chills, absolutely no appetite. I don't have any diarrhea yet. I just want this to be over.

[laurel453]

i would consider today my first clean day, you haven't taken anything today, right ? so make today the first day :)...

one thing, i didn't take any vitamins or stuff like 5htp and ltyrosine for the first week... i felt very sick to take them... i guess the best stuff for the first days are the immodium, drinking lots of fluids ( gatorade, green tea, apple/orange/tomato juices, tonic water...... and so ), taking lots of hot baths with epsom salts, valerian root ( much better than valium cause it is not addictive and good for anxiety, lack of sleep and stomach cramps ), advil for headaches, mineral supplements like magnesium and potassium.... some old fashioned chicken soup, cheese toasts, lots of TLC...lots of bananas, Hylands restful legs for the restlessness legs that kicks at nights, some melatonin  to catch some sleep ( but you will have no sleep for the first days, maybe a couple of hours  but take each day and night at a time )... be positive, you will pull through it !!!!!

and keep posting you are not alone here, ok ? :)

[Lstsoul4275]

Thank you I was able to come across it and will try it in the next couple of days. It says to start the vitamins and such on the 4th day. I don't have any Valium so I guess I will have to tough out the 1st 4 days. Since I took the 1/2 of a 7.5 Vicodin yesterday morning (mind you my normal dose was anywhere from 6-8 pills a day when should I start them? I know this sounds ridiculous but I'm not sure when I should consider myself clean

[Lstsoul4275]

Can you tell me exactly what is the Thomas recipe? And how do I take it. I would love to try it.

[Lstsoul4275]

Thank all of you so much for your words. It's like a lifeline to me right now. Like most people I started on Vicodin for back pain. Herniated discs and severe muscle spasms. I have been dealing with two doctors and getting two different scripts a month. The pharmacist called to report me to one of the doctors yesterday letting her know I was getting scripts from another doctor. It may have been a blessing because I was already tired of living month to month making sure I had enough pills and if I didn't then I was not a nice person. I am just so very scared of everything now. His process of getting of theses horrible pills, the withdrawals, not knowing can I ever be happy again, of figuring out how to live again.  I took 1/2 of a 7.5 yesterday morning as it was the last of my supply. By last night I was feeling pretty bad. This morning just incredibly sad and scared. The muscle aches are awful and sneezing quite a bit. Is this normal? When will the full blown withdrawals set it? Thank you for being there I feel so alone.

[17mthssober275]

Good for you for quitting, we will all be here for your support. It will get better. Keep up the good work, and congratulations on quitting.

[ariley13]

I know that you can do this! I am on day 5 off vicodin cold turkey and the withdrawls were hell for the first 2-3 days. I felt a little better on the third day physically and feeling like I'm totally over the hump today. Everyone's different but you can and will make it through this. I think that forcing myself to drink TONS of fluids helped me a lot. And all of these wonderful people here. They are so supportive and wonderful! Try to stay as positive as possible and fight!

[toothfairie]

you can do this...it will take some determination and just be ok with "not feeling good" for a little while...just ride it out and know that the symptoms are temporary!  you got some good advice from above posters....just hang in there..you can do it!  keep posting for support and we can help you thru it!

[Yoey54]

Hang in there!!! Fight the good fight.It is worth it in the end. I hated everything and everyone for the first week.Everyone is diff.You just have to be strong.This is a wonderful place to find answers and support.Stay strong you CAN do this!!!

[ImDONENoMore]

Unless you have other serious medical issues to contend with (ie heart problems, neurological disorder), going cold turkey off opiates isn't going to kill you.  People quit cold turkey all the time.  It will be uncomfortable for a while, and you'll need to get some support and aftercare, but it's totally doable.  And if you are getting these meds from your Dr., definitely connect with him/her and let them help you through this.

Oh, and I couldn't disagree more with the suggestion above.  A bottle of alcohol is NOT a good idea.  Good luck to you and welcome!

[LeaAnn807]

Hi!  Welcome!  We love new people! :)  If your muscles are aching, take hot baths and use Epsom Salt in them.  That will get you comfortable for a little while at least.  Take as many a day as you need.  Are you using any of the things from the Thomas Recipe?  I used Cal-Mag-Zinc, Potassium, Hyland's Leg Cramps and drank LOTS of Gatorade and apple juice.  The Cal-Mag-Zinc comes in one pill.  It helps a LOT.  I don't usually take vitamins.....never have.  When I went through the last detox, I was willing to do anything to help, so I tried.  It definitely, without a doubt helped.  Super B Complex vitamin helps too....with energy at least.  That was a huge issue for me.  I had ZERO energy for a while but the worst was at first.  The Hyland's Leg Cramps was a miracle for me.  It helps that cramping in the calves and back.  The potassium does too.  

It's SO important to have those things!  It will make you feel better.  Eating will too even if you have to force it!  Oh.......don't forget Imodium.  That'll help too!!  It helps more than just the runs!

Good luck! :)