How long does Hydrocodone withdrawal last?

[hydro1205]

Hello, I have been taking 10 5-500 hydrocodones a day.  I have withdrawaled many times since my surgery in 2006.  The doctor was giving me 100 7.5-750 hydrocodones a month, but then discontinued and I had problems other than that so I went to another doctor.  I have since been getting half that many and take them untill they are gone (10 or more a day) and count down the time untill I get my next perscription.  I don't get flu-like symptoms and the physical side is easy to deal with.  I have currently been off of them for over a month now waiting for my next perscriptions.  When I stop, I feel as though I have no energy whatsoever.  I am taking college classes online and my grades suffer, even going to the store seems like an impossible chore.  I will even rummage through my droor where I keep them several times a day in hopes I will find one that dropped.  I feel so confident and social when I have them and when I don't, I feel meek and paranoid.  After a month it is a little better, but I still cannot seem to get myself motivated very well and getting out of bed is nearly impossible.  Has anyone else had a similar experience and how long will it be before I can become motivated again?  I really needed to write about this and any replies will be most welcome.

[laurel453]

Hi, welcome to the forum !!

this is a very old thread, could you please, copy and paste your post and start a new thread ? that way your post won't get overlooked and the members will see you easier and answer you.

I am not sure that i have understood well your taper, you mean you are taking half a pill and then another half pill next week ? in that case, sure you are already experiencing almost full wds.. Don't get discouraged days 2/3 are usually the worst, you might be feeling a bit better in a couple of days. Have a look at the health pages ( bottom of the screen) and read the thomas recipe, you will find some advices to lessen a bit the symptons and help you now... Try very hot bath with epsom salts, you will feel better... a good mineral supplement ( potasio, magnesio,+calcium), Hylands restful legs for RLS... drink fluids to keep you hydrated ( this is important.... gatorade, tonic water, green tea, orange/apple juice ) ... And you are not alone, ok ? keep posting and telling how you are feeling, you will find that some support makes a difference now..

Good luck, writer_girl :)

[Writer_Girl]

Hello everyone-

I too am going through a taper right now. I have fibromyalgia, and have been on hydrocodone 7.5/500 for 8 years. In 2009, I tapered from 4 a day to 2 1/2 a day. I was doing fine on this dose. However, a doctor here just lost his license due to over-prescribing narcotics. So, now all the doctors here refuse to prescribe anything. Result? Leaving me high and dry. Luckily, I had enough left to taper 1/2 a pill a week. I just reached 1/2 pill- this is the 2nd day. The withdrawal has kicked in pretty bad. The anxiety is unbearable, and i feel like I'm coming out of my skin. I also have the shakes. My last pill will be in 6 days. How long will these symptoms last, and will my fibromyalgia pain get better? Right now, it's much,much worse.

Thank you!

[NautyOne]

I can't even imaging going thru  that kind of a rollercoaster.  That has to play with your psych-ee !  That's probably why your having social anxiety, needless to say the stress on your body from the on-off factor.  I would take one of those withdrawal periods and try to give it up for good.  That's a terrible toll your putting on your mind and body.  Just my opinion.  I wish you well.

Nauty...............

[SableZen]

I'm only on day 11 of taking them (they usually take up to 3 weeks or so to become effective) - but I can safely say my anxiety level is lessening and the 'clinical' depression signs/symptoms seem blunted. Enough so that I've been able to make myself start excersizing a little again. As a side benefit, the side effect of increasing appetite means I'm eating healthier again too (which is also important).

Most general practitioners are comfortable prescribing common antidepressants. Like you, I was reluctant at first to try 'another pill' to make myself feel better and I'm reluctant to stay on the long-term. But I want to give myself every chance to beat this. So I decided to just get a low-dose, trial amount (Paxil was what was recommended for me) and see how I tolerated it. I haven't experienced any major negative side effects so far.

I would encourage you to read up about them and the possible side effects:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/antidepressant-withdrawal/AN01425

...has a lot of good articles that are easy to understand.

[hydro1205]

I think that depression may be a big part of why I can't feel normal as well.  I had a good career going and was at the end of my training program, but will never be able to get back into that line of work.  I don't have the satisfaction of a hard days work anymore and that alone is depressing.  How have the anti-depressants been working for you?  Did you get them from a general practitioner?  I would not want to be on them forever, but I need something to help me get out of this slump.  I thought job interviews were tough before, now they are almost unbearable.

[SableZen]

First, if you are planning on stopping completely - a month is huge!

My situation was VERY similiar to yours. Even the reason I kept using them. Opioids impart a feeling of well-being and are too effective (addictive) at making you feel comfortable - even socially comfortable. On the flip-side, they make you feel miserable, negative, uncomfortable, anxious, empty, etc... anytime you don't have them. It's a vicious cycle.

I missed about a week of classes this semester to withdraw from them (active physical withdrawal). And then I BS'ed my way through about 2 more weeks of online work (just could not force myself to do much). The lack of energy feeling slowly goes away - faster if you make sure your diet contains needed things (amino acids/vitamins). Definitely check out the Thomas Recipe. I'm around 40 days now and still slowly getting my energy level back - but I am getting it back.

Forcing yourself to excersize (yeah I know, easier said than done) will help as well. Even if all you can do is force yourself to walk around the block. Getting a little direct sunlight while doing this won't hurt you either.

This is not for everyone, but I started an antidepressant that also helps with anxiety issues - and it also seems to be helping a lot so far (I'm on day 11 of taking them now). However, there are many supplements I can't take now that I'm on the antidepressant. Again though antidepressants aren't for everyone in every situation, just putting it out there for you to consider. I believe depression/anxiety was my original reason for becoming addicted so I may benefit more from them that most.

Hope this helps!

[hydro1205]

I am currently in the job market due to my injury.  I had a rigorous job and can't perform the duties anymore.  I may have to settle for a less physical job, but physical enough to irritate my injury to pay the bills.  The idea of going to interviews and actually looking for a job and possibly moving seems makes me feel like I need the script to get through it.  The problem is that I have worked with my hands my whole life and now even lifting a dog food bag causes pain.

I am weak when it comes to this kind of stuff.  I have a doctors appointment comming up and I will be unable to say no.  I will say "yes my pain is controlled adiquately", talk to the doctor for a few and he will call in my meds.  He has no reason to believe that I am abusing them because I withdrawl and am normal when I see him.  It is a tough cycle. I usually end up withdrawaling for a couple of weeks between perscriptions and about a month at the end.  It seems like I can't wait to get it, but then it always seems like I feel like hell during that time.  I feel motivated to start projects that I am unable to complete when withdrawal time comes around.  I am normally confident, articulate, and positive with others.  I can't even bring myself to feel confident enough to look someone at the checkout line at the grocery store after I quit.  I think that is what makes it the hardest.  I will stay up late and can read over 300 pages of college material, write long papers, search for jobs, and work around the house in a day.  Without the pills I can't even hardly motivate myself to read or work around the house even after a month.

I think what I need to do is take your advice with the thomas recipe.  I have tried Sam-E and energy drinks, but they do not seem to help much.  The thing I need to do the most is motivate myself to tell the doctor not to give me anymore pills.  The only thing that I hate is that over the counter medicines do not help with the pain.  

Perhaps you are right and the energy will start to return in a couple of weeks.  It will not be untill then that I will see the doc, so hopefully I will be able to talk to him.  I am the kind of person that cannot say no to them.  I tried tappering off and would make every excuse in the world to myself why I should take more.  It was like someone else was in controll of me when I went to that pill bottle.

I think these forums help me to get all of this out and thank you very much for responding!  I would like to say that I am done and will not get that next script, but I can't say for sure untill that time comes.  

[cathy5841]

are you planning to stay off the hydros?  or are you just waiting on your next script?  with a month down i really hope you dont get that script.  i will take a couple more weeks and the energy will start to return.  if you look in the health pages and find the thomas recipe it has vitamins and aminos that help with the energy and the deprssion issues.

good luck and let me know what you plan to do.
cathy