need to stop vicodin....

[cindy957]

Ive been taking 4/10-325s a day for two years for chronic headaches and neck/back pain. Hasn't helped and I just assune be back where I was than watching the clock for when I get my next pill that only helps for a few minutes. Looking for help with how to wean and what I might expect. Thanks

[invu4uraQT]

Congrats on your decision to stop taking vicodin!
I also took meds for pain and quite quickly they really didn't do a lot for the pain unless I took mega doses and then I couldn't do much of anything with that much in my system.
Consider how you are going to deal with pain aft you stop the vicoden. When you stop taking these drugs your body is very sensitive to pain/emotion. If you are in maijor pain it will be that much tougher to not take the pills. I used exercise to streghten my back and managed to keep the pain to a minimin but some aren't so lucky. Try to find a good doc that will help you deal with pain management without narcotics.
As for tapering. In my opinion it works for some and not others. If you can stick to a slow consistant taper then go for it. When you get to the point where its just not enough and you feel withdraw even though your taking the meds then its time to kick for good. I've tried to taper a few times with no luck. When I got to to low of a dose I just cheated so I had to get as low as I could and then stop completely but that's my experience. Everyone does it a lil different.

[ItstheSky]

Go as slowly as you possibly can. Cold Turkey works for some people and if you keep on caving and going back to the same doses, you may have to just cut it out without tapering...However if you can stay strong and keep that will power up, tapering will make it less miserable when you stop completely. You'll still feel like crap most likely but it may not be as bad and last as long. Just speaking from experience, I only tapered for a week, because I wasn't able to refill my prescription and it was way too fast. The doses were dramatically different each day and I almost feel like I prolonged the withdrawal time I have to experience.

Good luck to you.

[killerzoey]

Welcome! It feels SO good to get off that damn merry go round. You can do this! Tapering is great advice if you can manage. It will make it a LOT easier, as will (my experience) Immodium, melatonin, Benadryl, magnesium, potassium, multi vitamins, fish oil, Tyrosine. For mood and energy I also suggest looking into Rhodiola rosea (I take Jarrows brand 500mg a day) and Sam-e.

Take care :)

[cindy957]

Thanks for the replies. Learning a lot from the good folks in this forum. It helps not to feel alone and gather some good tools for the journey. Blessings on you;)

[readytolive166]

Taper is hard, but if your goal is to get off completely it does make the detox easier. I was taking at the height of my addiction 6-10 10/650 mg Lorcet's a day or about one every two hours. I managed to get my taper down to 3-4 per day before I finally quit. It helped me to start by taking a half pill a day so I would still be taking the same dosing schedule but with less overall pill intake, hope that makes sense. The taper does lessen the detox when it does come. For me anxiety was a HUGE issue, and I did get some help from my Dr. to calm my nerves which made the transition smoother. It's hard to give specific advice because everyone is different. What worked for me might not work for you. Good Luck, YOU CAN DO IT. Post if you need any help.

[blotout]

slowly ween yourself off them, or you will get bad withdrawals, we cannot give specific taper advice on here so just take less everyday and it shouldnt be too bad, GOOD LUCK!!