When do the norco withdrawal symptoms stop?

[LAM49]

I have been taking norco for about 3 yrs. at first it was just something someone gave me that was "fun" to party with, so it was an occasional one here and there whenever we would party, then I felt myself wanting them more often but didn't like taking a whole one at a time (don't remember the dose amount) but they are the yellow ones, if that helps, so I would only take a 1/2 at a time, it was enought to keep my buzz and keep me comfortable.  I soon began to have lower back pain, thought it was real and was able to get a script from my Dr. of 90 a month, that's when the trouble began because I was taking more and more to the point of finally taking 3-5 a day, still often only taking 1/2 a pill at a time but much more often through the day.  Well, it finally came to a head with my fiance, he said my behavior was different and he could tell when I was taking them.  I have never been addicted to anything in my life, never smoked, never took anything, am a social drinker and that's it, so this was very new to me and I hate it!!  At first I went c/t for about 3 days and by the third day in the evening, we had company and I was an absolute mess, everyone was telling me how pale I was and sick I looked and I just wanted to crawl in a hole and die.  I had all the symptoms that everyone has talked of having, flu like symptoms, etc.  My fiance finally gave me a 1/2 of one to take the edge off and it did help but only for so long and I was back to feeling horrible the next day but still didn't take any for the next 5 days and I was miserable.  He finally called a pharmacist who told us that I should not have gone c/t for medical reasons and told him to give me 2 a day for 2 weeks and taper from there, well I was afraid to take any since I had gone so long without, so we decided to make it 1 a day and cut them in to 1/4 pieces that we could spread throughout the day and that seemed to help.  What I experienced was lots of the body aches, constant headaches, and burning, runny nose with constant sneezing (and I am not a sneezer.)  What I found is that my body told me when it was time to taper down more and in 4 days I went to 3/4 of a pill for about three days, then to 1/2 a pill for about three days and went through major headaches for a couple of days and now it's been three weeks and I had my last 1/4 of a pill two days ago.  I am still having some temperature changes with an uneasy feeling in my legs and arms, but more than that is the constant burning in my nose and sneezing, feel like I have major allergies.  I read an article that said this is not mucous but cranial fuid running throught my nose!  Very weird what this stuff does to you and I don't ever want to take another one again!  So the symptoms are there but are mild and I'm able to get throught the day without needing a pill but I think about them often and I just want my energy back and to feel good 100% without thinking about these darn things!  How can something that initially makes you feel so good, become soooo evil?!  Can anyone who has been through and beat this addiction tell me if my nose will ever feel normal again and when I will get to feel like myself again, am I close to it?  Thank you and thank you all for sharing your posts, they really helped me get through most of this, I didn't feel so alone.  By the way, my fiance was absolutely loving and wonderful throughout this ordeal, he was my hero.

[Justwanttobefree]

Ok so I was on norco 10's for the last 3 or 4 years. I just turned 28. I have always stayed healthy. I eat good and I exercise 4-5 days a week...  Anyone I was taking about 5-6 a day just at work to get things done I guess you could say. I got so much more done on those things, at least I thought I did. I would use the pills anytime there was something bad in my life and it would make it all go away. Girl problems, take a pill, my dog died, take 2 pills, my Grandpa died, take 3 pills. I used them for everything.
So about august of 2010 5-6 a day was not getting me high anymore. I went to 8-9 then 9-10 ... Before I knew it I was taking so many I lost count. I believe it was up to 20. Then I decided I was numbing my whole life with these things.  I was completely mistreating my girlfriend and her baby girl. I was numb to her needs and to her feelings. I justified my poor decisions with pills. Essentially I could not have any "real" emotion because the stupid pills made it impossible for me to have that. I noticed that I treated others poorly for no reason, I did not pay attention to people when they were speaking to me. These things were completely out of my character so for the last 3 months I have been saying I am going to quit...

A friend gave me subutex and I was taking 2mg which was supposed to be for one week but turned into 3... FINALLY just this last friday (March 11th) at 11am I took my last 2mg subutex. I hate being on that stuff so I made it my last one.

I knew withdrawals were coming so here is how my WD's have gone so far.
Friday night I went out and drank. Prob not a good idea. It took away the WD for the night but woke up with a hangover and then WD's were kicking in.

Saturday: Had a few beers during the day and I was very lazy. started getting the cold bumps when no one around me was cold. Saturday night I was starting to kick a little. I had ambien so I got some sleep but  still tossed and turned.

Sunday: I rested all morning felt like hell. crawlly skin, racing heart, could not eat, my mind was really foggy. I had a soccer game and I played but it was rough. I could barely run and when I did I got winded so fast. I could feel it getting worse. The anxiety was getting bad. Sunday night I had a few friends over for dinner and felt terrible. I could not entertain one bit. We ate and I rushed them out. I went in the spa and drank a few beers then used the rest of my ambien knowing I would get more soon.

Monday: I was able to sleep late with the help of ambien. I figured the more I can sleep through this the easier it will be. I kicked all night and sweat and lets just say left a mess in my bed. Get immodium people.
I attemtped to go to work on monday. I lasted a few hours. The kicks and the tingleness got worse and worse.I went home monday at about 3. Got a nap in for about 45 minutes. I probably took 8 showers or baths that day. I could feel the uncomfortableness getting worse. Monday night was bad. I was crawling on the ground, screaming, kicking, hating my life. I wanted to die at that point. I drank almost a whole bottle of wine and that helped with the kicks.
Tuesday Monring I woke up again at about 930 thanks to ambien which I used throughout the night as I would wake up and kick I would chew half an ambien and fall back asleep. Tuesday was by far my worst day. I was so cloudy and could hardly drive to work. I went in for about an hour but could not stay becuase I could not stay still. Before I went to work I went for a mile and half walk. That helped but only temporarily. That afternoon I felt a little better for a few minutes at a time but then right back to feeling crappy. That was weird. I though I was coming out of it and then BAM... crappy again. So lots of wine and a few ambien and I slept the whole night with no showers or baths. I also went for a mile and half jog at about 730 at night. That could have helped. It was really hard to run though.

Today is Wednesday and I am technically a few hours into day 6 since I used last. Today I felt a little better but the main thing is I have ZERO energy. I can not get anything done. Diarrhea started today so I took some immodium. I had a few times today were I actually felt like I was out of the woods, sort of like yesterday but the periods would last longer when I felt like I was going to be ok. I have so much in my lilfe that I need to get done and having no energy to do it is killing me. Costing me money and letting down my employees.

I can tell you that 2 days felt like a feat.. 6 feels great but I just want to be done so bad. I want my life back. I want to get back to work and back to the gym. Back to my friends and everything. I can already tell how hightened my senses are being off the pills. Its very hard to eat so I force down what I can. I drink at least 100oz of water a day. I am taking vitamins, fish oil, 5htp, fiber, multi minerals, vit d3, and niacin.
My lower back hurts but I can deal with that. I know it will go away after a while.

Sorry for the long story, but from reading this does anyone know where I am in terms of being done? I would like to think the physical symptoms are on their way out since it is clear to me that monday was WAY worse then today. Does anyone have any ideas on what I can expect in the next few days, weeks?

[sudie58]

you have all done really well, stay strong ,you are right LAM it does sneak up on you, some after cre is good such as NA or therapy,or counselling, it took quite a while for us to become addicts so it takes some time to get better, MAC5454, there are things to help your symptons, take hot baths with epsom salts, drink plenty of fluids, take some immodium for stomache cramps and diorreah, its great to be free of pills, god bless, sudie

[LAM49]

I have not had a norco since Jan. 25th after tapering, went cold turkey at first but was so miserable that I went back on them but only to taper, much better and I found that my body knew when to be done with them and it just worked for me. Unfortunately while I was withdrawing from the norco I was taking ativan to sleep and while it was great to aid in the sleep, I was becoming addicted to them and had no idea, so when I quit taking them, I had a whole new set of withdrawal symptoms and those were worse than the norco ones, so I had to taper off of those and I am free of those pills too. I have no desire whatsoever to have any narcotic or alcohol, I like who I am without any of it.  Today I feel 100% myself, got lots of energy and I'm happy.  It could be that your body is done with the drug, however keep in mind that some of the symptoms can creep up when you least expect it, mine did off and on, so I could feel really good for a few days and then all of a sudden have a day or more of being lethargic, achy, etc.  I have also read that these symptoms can still creep up and to know that they can so I'm not blindsided by it, so I can just know what those feelings are and just roll with it until it ends.  What I read was that these are called post acute withdrawal symptoms and can last up to 2 years after withdrawing from any narcotic, everyone is different.  Hang in there, freedom is on its way!

[mac5454]

I started taking norco  months ago. Realized its addicting....try to stop cold turkey taking 8 aday.....no way......so I tapered to a average of 4 aday for 3 weeks.
Yesterday i took one and now stopped. its been 30 hrs. had the runs just 2 times, it stopped feel lazy...and a little depressed, feet feel funny.

Do you think I will get any sicker? I remember when I was taking 8 aday and just cut down to four I got a lot sicker then this in less then 0 hours?

Thanks....

[LAM49]

Good for you!  Tooth pain can be really ugly.  

[Arsia]

I've been told the 'rearing it's ugly head' will randomly pop up for a few months, but you're over the worst part.
Headaches are still kicking my ***, too.
Went to the dentist and the tooth pain was too bad. But I only took one yesterday, it's a 5mg and I have no refills. So I think I'll be fine.