Withdrawal from Vicodin

[Antoinette]

I've been taking about 6 Vicodin a day for over & year & now I'm out. What will the withdrawal be like? Anything I can do as far as over the counter products or easy to obtain herbal or natural remedies? Please answer fast. Thanks

[Pinkit]

Withdrawing from vicodin can be very painful as well as dangerous. If you are addicted and you want to get off it cold turkey you should look up the Thomas Recipe that is listed in this forum.  I have been on vicodin ES for a year and a half taking 8 to 10 a day.  I decided to admit that I have a problem to my doctor and she is weaning me off. This may also be a good idea for you unless you have the will power to just get off of it cold turkey.  I sure would not be able to, but I have heard of people doing it.
My doctor just started weaning me off.  What she is doing is she started me out with taking 7 vic's for 5 days, then I'll go to 6 for 5 more days, then 5, 4,3,2,1.  I hope this will work for me. This forum has also helped alot.  I'm trying to open myself up to people.  THis might help you as well.
I am also going to councilling and I'm taking ativan 2mg. for the anxiety that most people face when withdrawing.  
I wish you all the luck.  Keep posting and let us know how you're doing.

[Antoinette]

Thanks. What's the Thomas Recipe? I went into "search" but couldn't find it. And what does the withdrawal REALLY feel like? Thanks again.

[Antoinette]

And I just can't believe I did this to myself. My family will still love me but I just don't want anyone to know. When I get home from work today at 5:00 my husband will have cleaned the house & dinner will be ready & my little 6 year old will run to me, SO happy to see me. Where am I supposed to go in this little town where everyone knows me & I know everyone. I am in big trouble I think.

[Pinkit]

Don't be so hard on yourself.  This happens to people.  No one is perfect. I also have children.  2 little boys ages 6 and 3 who are my life.  I know how you feel.  Try not to be so hard on yourself.  I found in my life that when I tried to quit taking vicodin that I could'nt do it.  I kept it a secret from everyone.  You should try to tell someone about it.  Maybe just talking to us will help.  I come from a very good family too.  My mom is like my best friend.  I finally told her that I was addicted to vicodin.  She was very supportive.  Don't underestimate people.  I figured she would be so mad.  Does your hubby know?  THe point is that you want to get help.  
WHy do you want to quit cold turkey?
I heard that withdrawing is horrible.  You get really bad stomach cramps, insomnia, anxiety.  I heard it lasts for about a week.  It's also really dangerous to just quit vicodin cold turkey that is why I'm curious why you just want to stop cold turkey.  Help is out there.  
As for the part where you are worried about getting counsilling because you live in a small town and everyone will know you.  Look up NA.  Narcotics Anonymous.  They have closed meetings and open.  Closed meetings mean that the only people aloud in are addicts.  Open meetings mean anyone can go in.  Family, friends, ect.  YOu may want to find out where closed meetings are in your area..
I'm going to look up the Thomas Recipe for you and I'll send it in just a few minutes..

[Antoinette]

What choice do I have? It's already started. It's Sunday, I'm at work; the only one here so I can't leave; I took my last one this morning & nowhere to go to get any more, obviously. I'm expected home after work at 5; where else would I go? And back here tomorrow at 8:30. I don't WANT to but I don't see where I have an option.

[Antoinette]

P.S. Thank you. I feel just a little better telling SOMEBODY. Thank you for responding to me & caring because I AM a good person & again, I can't believe I got myself in to this situation.

[Pinkit]

I'm so sorry, I still havent found the Thomas Recipe... I'm going to keep lookin. If anyone knows it please pass it on for us.  I too am going to need it when I stop the vics.  It's a recipe filled with these different vitamins and stuff to take to help w/ the withdrawls.  I'm going to keep looking for it...

[Antoinette]

Thanks. But I'm pretty sure I won't be stopping on the way home anyway. I see myself going straight home & pretending I have the flu. What kind of thing is that to do to a great guy & the best kid in the world. But being on drugs is fake, too isn't it? I know I'm being awful to myself & I don't deserve it, truly. I guess I'll get better.

[Pinkit]

Okay I found the recipe.  I just read your last 2 messages. Sorry I didnt see them befor.  Well your right it's sunday what can you do.  Let me ask you this why were you on the vicodin?  I may be able to give you an alternative once I find out why you  were on it.  Okay here's the recipe.L-tyrosine 500mg 8 times a day week 1 then 4 a day the following weeks.
B-6 100mg 2 times a day
Vitamin C--E--and A
Calsium-magnesium
A stong multiple vitamin
Phosphorous
Copper
Maganese
Imodium for the runs.
Taking a Benzo is also part of the recipe, but is a huge contraversy so I wont go into that.
Eat bananas for leg spasms and shakes.
Drink Gatorade for lost electrolytes due to the runs. If you still have depression after a week, some people recomment 5htp
If you want to email me you can @ ***@****  
I hope this helps
Pink

[Antoinette]

I'd like to write to e-mail you but I don't think it's a good idea from work...but thank you. I originally got them for back pain; just chronic; not due to an accident & I have a prescription for 90 a month & can't get anymore than that & obviously I'm beyond the 3 a day. So there you have it.
I'll cut & paste & print the recipe but even if I was to stop on my way home, I don't think there'll be any place open that'll have all that stuff.
P.S. I just figured out where to put your name...no mold on me! :) Gotta keep smiling, right?

[Pinkit]

That's a good way to think.  YOu will get better. The pain does go away.  Your going to feel the withdrawls if you just stop cold turkey.  YOu need to talk to your doctor tomarro and let him know whats going on.  I'm sure he'll want to wean you off.  He'll most likely give you something for the anxiety too.  I just don't want you to have to go through all that pain.  You do have support here.  This forum will try there best to help you as much as possible.
Pink

[Antoinette]

OK, thanks, really. See ya

[Bodymechanic]

I am not sure why you are being told that withdrawal from vicodin is dangerous. Unless you have some medical condition I am not aware of, it simply is not true. You are taking a relatively low dose of the the drug as compared to many. If this is your first time withdrawing the fear will probably be alot worse than the process. If you have no choice but to go cold turkey just do it. The worst will be over in 72 hours. Take a few days off work and pretend you have the flu. Make no mistake about it, the feeling is really shitty but it will soon pass. Unfortunately for many people, getting off is much easier than staying off. Don't worry about what other people will think.  They will not know. Besides, if you painted everyone with a drug or alcohol problem blue, you would think many in your town are Smirfs. You could make the whole process almost painless if get about 30 ultram. Look on the internet.  They are everywhere without a presciption.  Some places can have them in your hand by tomorrow afternoon. Stay in touch we'll help you through.

Good luck

[Antoinette]

Thank you! I am really scared & except for this stupid mess, I have a great life. And I want that stuff out of it. But I'd be crazy not to make it easier on myself. Or I suppose that's a drug-abusers way of looking at it. Whatever. Is it Ok to tell me where the best & safest (and quickest) place to get the Ultram would be? I did look really quickly & there are tons of sites. My God, if this works, you'll have good karma for the rest of your life.

[Antoinette]

Actually, even if it doesn't work you'll have good karma because you tries. And care. Thanks

[Pinkit]

Maybe I'm wrong about it being dangerous to stop vicodin cold turkey.  That is what my doctor said who is an MD. That is why I told her that.  Now you're saying it's not dangerous.  She said to me that anyone that has been abusing vicodin for over a 9 month period should not just get off the drug w/ out some type of help okay.  That is why I told her it was dangerous.  It's not though in your opinion. I just told her what my MD told me. OKay.. Sorry if I'm wrong

[Antoinette]

How much should I have to pay for Ultram? Thanks!

[Pinkit]

PS I'm not sorry if I'm wrong because I'm not the one who's wrong.  It must be my doctor that is wrong. I'm glad you said it's not true though.  I didnt realize how smart you were.  I have an appt tomarro w/ my doc so I'll be sure to tell her that it's not dangerous.  Thanks for the help. For some crazy reason I thought my doctor knew what was dangerous in regards to medicane.  I guess she was wrong.

[Antoinette]

Don't feel the need to apologize to me! (If that's who that was directed towards!)Maybe it's more dangerous for some people than others, depending on what other medications they're taking? I have no idea.

[Pinkit]

I know you always have helped people get through addictions.  In fact.  I can tell that you are a very smart person, but shouldn't Antoniette see a doctor first?  You told her to go out and buy Ultram on the internet.  You know I had just posted a question befor that about whether or not it's legal to get a script off the web w/ out a script.  Isnt that illegal or is it legal?  I have a friend whose getting a narcotic off the web.  I was asking if that was legal.  Let me know please...

[Antoinette]

Uh-oh...Don't anyone get mad at eachother on my account!

[groovygirl]

Don't go buying Ultram on the Internet or anywhere else.  You would just be trading one bad habit for another.  First, the administrators really frown on members talking about online pharms, and second Ultram is highly addicting.  

Your best bet it to go through detox the old-fashioned way...maybe use the "recipe" - but do yourself a favor and stay away from the Ultram.

Good luck.

[groovygirl]

The sale of narcotics from online pharmacies is a very grey area of the law.  I wrote an article about it awhile ago.  Every state has different laws.  Many of these places are getting busted, and we have found that the doctors that work at these places are the biggest slimes around.  They have usually been kicked out of a real practice, and they've found an alternate way to make big money.

So many people have fed their addictions through these places, and the doctors do not give a **** about them.  Think about it...anything that easy has probably got something wrong with it....2 second phone consult where a "dr." asks you what you want (literally), and a couple hundred bucks later UPS shows up with your Vicodin.  I think most people recognize that there is something not right about this.

[Bodymechanic]

There are certain drugs including benzodiapams, barbituates and alcohol that can be dangerous to stop cold turkey.  Vicodin and opiates in general are not in that class.

Should someone see a doctor for a drug problem?...In an ideal world that would be by far the best way to handle it.  Unfortunately where addiction is concerned, honesty is not always the best policy.  Most doctors do not want to deal with an addicition problem. There are far too many people who were honest with their doctors only to regret ever saying anything.  Not only did they not get the help they expected but it did irrepairable damage to their doctor patient relationship. Even worse, the last thing anyone needs is being labled "addict" on their permanant medicial record. I usually assume, maybe incorrectly that anyone asking for help on a message board cannot or will not ask their doctor for help. Besides, most of the regular members on this board have far more knowlage of addicions than most doctors.

As far as getting ultram online.  If you want them overnight, it is going to cost you.  Do not buy more than 30 (that is the minimum you can buy), take them sparingly and do NOT stay on for more than 4 days.  Detoxing with ultram is becoming increasingly more popular with doctors and hospitals. The big downside is the possiblity of becoming addicted to ultram, so keep it short. Davocet will work just as well but are harder to get.