How can I overcome this Vicodin addiction

[mariah42]

I have been taking vicodin for over 2 years now and I need to know how can I break this vicious cycle of addiction? It started after I had surgery on my left arm to place a graft for dialysis. Unfortunately the graft didn't initially take and I suffered through 9 additional surgeries to get it working properly and I lost most of use of my left arm because one surgeon accidentally cut an artery and now I am in constant pain. And during all this I have been treated with vicodin 7.5 and I have become totally addicted. I take up to 9 to 12 pills a day not only to relieve recurring pain but because of the high that these opiates can make me feel. I have tried many times to quit but only to wind up with terrible withdrawls often winding up in the ER for help. I need to kick this habit as soon as possible so my body can be clean in order to receive a kidney transplant. But the pain and horrible feeling of withdrawl always sends me right back where I started from. Currently I am trying a method where I take less pills each day but this has left me very anxious with body aches and migraine headaches. What more can I do? Is there a safe foolproof method that will help me get off this drug for good?

[dominosarah]

There is no fool proof way to avoid the wd's.  There are things you can do to ease the effects of wd.  Read the health pages and get some healthy supplements. The other people here have given you good advice also.         sara

[Calamity2]

The thing about the forum is you will get lots of ideas not all the people are able to do it the same way. Like me for instance. I couldnt taper to save my life . If a pill was in the house and I needed one in my addiction I took it. I was taking vics  for 8 years,oxy for runout time
I took around 100 mgs a day.  A bit more than you . I went cold turkey and the withdrawal was tough for the first week. But I really was amazed by day 7 that I really was going to make it.  I used microwavable heating elements to put in my clothing when I couldnt combat the cold with a hot bath. I walked around day 3 and kept walking daily a bit farther. It helps work out the chemicals in your muscles.  Work what works for you.  I

[flmagi]

Withdrawals from cold turkey are heII and you feel like you're going to die, but you won't. It's just serious misery for about a week, with days 2-4 being the worst. Tapering lightens the misery a little. Just slow down on your reduction rate. Each time you drop down a dose, wait about 1-2 weeks before dropping down again. Until your body adjusts to the drop. Tapering can be hard for a lot of people. Most just do cold turkey and get it over with. Also understand you'll experience rebound pain, which means, your pain will seem extreme during withdrawals. This will go away after about 1 week after stopping the pills totally. Which ever way you do it, post here as often as needed. Everyone here will help and support you while you're going threw it. You can do it! Good luck and hang in there.

[Jebs317]

Hi Mariah,
  You have come to the right place.  If you can stick to a taper and work your way down, that is a good way to go.  I didn't have the willpower to taper.  I Just realized that I had to stop.....so I picked a day and while I was taking the last of the pills that I had, I got everything done that I could.  There are some things you will want to get before you go through the withdrawals.  The Thomas Recipe is on the Health Pages (at the right top of this page).  I think you just have to pick a date, get it in your mind that you are going to suffer for a week or so, and then get through it.  
The people here can give you some great advice to help you through.  I am on 25 days today and I have done it because of their kind words.  
It is a vicious cycle like you said.....running out of the prescription too soon and then worrying about how you will keep from being sick until the next refill.  I know all too well how that affects you.  Once you have gotten through the withdrawals.....you will have the peace of mind that you don't have to worry about that anymore.
The first few days are the worst, but you can do it.  By day 5, I felt human again.  Make sure that you stock up on vitamins and immodium and you will be fine.  When you feel like you can't take one more minute of it.....get on here and we will walk you through it.
Good luck to you!
Kristen

[abritt121222]

Well first off welcome to the forum this is a great place to come for help and sorry to hear about all of the complications with your surgery ok so safe foolproof? actually any detox from opiates is safe i know it may not seem like it but it will not cause any harm to you any way you come off of them but no matter how you come off of them you are going to go thru some sort of withdrawal its just that some ways make them alot easier to deal with the way you are doing it is the easiest way that will leave you with the least amount of withdrawals at the end which is a taper method it sounds to me like you need to stay at a dose longer before you drop down to the lower dose but unfortunatly on the medhelp site we are unable to really try and give you an amount to take and all of that because that is best handled with your doc because they will be able to give you a taper that is best for you and safe for you so that would be my best answer is goto your doc and describe to them exactly what is going on and they will help you out with that but it also sounds to me like you need the help of the meds for the pain it just sounds like you need a different med to help because your tolerance to this med has grown over time but that also is something you have to talk to your doc about so i would suggest asking your doc about an extended release med so you do not have to take them so much and so ofter
well i hope this helps because really your doc is going to be the best person to give you the exact answer to your questions about a taper plan and a med that last longer so you dont have to take so much

Good Luck and Godspeed

ABritt