Need help

[solost500]

Been weaning off of Opana 20mg and lortabs. On my third day off opanas, but still taking lortabs, today is my first day that Im taking only 30mg of hydrocodone.  Experienceing withdraws like resless leg syndrom, but I know they would be worse if I went "cold Turkey". Detox center is out of question, no insurance left, lost job, and theirs wait list to get  into state hospital.. Needing to get off asap. Trying so hard to decrease dose every 2 days by 1/3. I also have taken tramadols for the detox.  My question is, Is this realistic or should I be trying something else to get off these pain pills?

[Julia M Aharonov, DO]

You approach is basically correct and is close to what I normally recommend. This is my usual approach:
to space out the pills you take in a consistent manner until you take only one at night, then half at night and then none.You can try asking a physician to prescribe you some Requip for restless legs, Neurontin for overall distress, Clonidine for blood pressure and general anxiety control and maybe get some over the counter Valerian for sleep and sedation and chelated magnesium for muscle relaxation.
I have a huge problem with you taking tramadol "for the detox". You have to understand that tramadol is also an opiate and a highly addictive drug in its own right. It is actually harder to detox from tramadol than from a shorter acting opiates like Vicodin.c Please beware and read my blog on tramadol and especially the comments on it.
But, seriously, you must be completely committed to the goal of quitting.  I have written a blog that has rather detailed information about options for detox. If you click on my name and then click on blogs you will see one under that heading.  Take a minute to read it. I hope you will find it helpful.  
The main thing of course is the decision that you make and making it a priority in your life, because that will determine what your life will actually be and mean in the end.  I don't want to sound preachy but it is not a decision you make one day, it is a decision you will make every day for the rest of your life.  Good luck to you and take a look at my clinic website for even more info www.mdsdrugdetox.com

[solost500]

Thank you for responding to my questions, and will check into getting some help from my Dr.  This is very hard, but I appreciated the honesty about Tramadol, which Ive stopped taking 2 days ago. And thanks to your sight, had no Idea that it was even worse.  Thanks again for the info and taking the time to answer my questions.  Have a wonderful New Year!!