I have been addicted to vicodin for over two years. I began taking them occasionally for back pain and I am taking about four pills a day and I would like to quit. Can I get some idea of what I am in for? I told my doctor that I think that I am hooked to vicodin, that of the regular strength over a couple of years and he wants me to taper off of them. I told him that I did not want to do that. He agreed to allow me to go cold turkey and gave me a prescription of donatol and clonidine for the withdrawals.

Can someone tell me how long the withdrawals are going to last and how bad are they going to be?


Andrew

Andrew

Hi Andrew (one of my all time fave names),
Just so you realize that I have some credentials; when I came off Vicodin 15 yrs ago, I finished up a brilliant binge by taking 480 of the zingers in 8 days. I truly did nearly die. Anyhoo at 4 pills a day you should have fairly low w/d symptoms for possibly 3-4 days maybe longer but not much. I would recommend you posting here during your detox days and you will get all sorts of help. Do not worry about it...I would just jump in and go!
Sparkles
can we call you Father Andrew? jk jk jk

Hi Andrew (one of my all time fave names),
Just so you realize that I have some credentials; when I came off Vicodin 15 yrs ago, I finished up a brilliant binge by taking 480 of the zingers in 8 days. I truly did nearly die. Anyhoo at 4 pills a day you should have fairly low w/d symptoms for possibly 3-4 days maybe longer but not much. I would recommend you posting here during your detox days and you will get all sorts of help. Do not worry about it...I would just jump in and go!
Sparkles
can we call you Father Andrew? jk jk jk

Thanks for your help, I do have to admit I am nervous about this. But I think that you are right and that jumping in is the best way to go. I guess I can think of it sort of like bungy jumping, just let go and enjoy the ride. Except that bungy jumping is probably a lot more fun. I will post during the rough days and I am going to prepare myself to stop on Monday. I am going to only take a couple tommorrow to get through the Easter day with the folks and family.

Father Andrew? Hmmmm. My confessor would kick my butt :) So would my wife. Have a good weekend.

Andrew

I have been addicted to vicodin for over two years. I began taking them occasionally for back pain and I am taking about four pills a day and I would like to quit. Can I get some idea of what I am in for? I told my doctor that I think that I am hooked to vicodin, that of the regular strength over a couple of years and he wants me to taper off of them. I told him that I did not want to do that. He agreed to allow me to go cold turkey and gave me a prescription of donatol and clonidine for the withdrawals.

Can someone tell me how long the withdrawals are going to last and how bad are they going to be?


Andrew

Why not taper? Might help avoid some tough withdrawals. Just a thought.

Hi Andrew~

I agree with Sparkles~at 4 pills a day you should not had too bad of a time, and it shouldn't last more than 4-5 days. The 2nd or 3rd day will be your worst, and you will probably feel like giving in at that point...but just stay strong!!! Once you get past that "hump", you will start to feel better and better each and every day. You can do this, and we will all be here to support you! Also, please try not to beat yourself up while going C/T....I know I would get really depressed and hate myself during those times....so don't be surprised if you feel really down and out for a few days/weeks. That will also pass. I promise you though...one day (and one day SOON) you will wake up and finally feel like your old self~ and you will be so proud to have kicked the pills cold turkey. Please keep posting (and trust me, you probably won't feel like talking to anyone for a few days!) and let us know how you are doing. I'll keep you in my prayers...I know you'll do just fine!

Why not taper? Might help avoid some tough withdrawals. Just a thought.

I considered tapering, but I'm the kind of person who will eat a barrel of hershey kisses and make myself completely sick if they are in front of me. Or I will smoke a pack of cigarettes if I allow myself one. I suspect that it would be the same with the vicodin. If I allow myself one then why not another?

I am sure that some folks are good at tapering. I know I would not be.

I am doing a test run right now and have not taken a vicodin since 7.00 pm last night. You're right I do feel kinda lousy. I am going to take two today so I can get through the holiday things with the families. Thank you for your thoughts. Have a good weekend.

Andrew

Probably a good idea to stop while "it's still easy". I was taking 1-2 vicodins daily until early February. (Had been taking them since last fall, late summer-dental reasons at beginning) I started feeling physically (not to mention psychologically) addicted to them around Christmas--as day would wear on, I'd feel woozy, distracted, foggy UNTIL I popped a pill. One would no longer "do it" so I'd crack one in half. Then up to two...It occurred to me I was early into a problem I really didn't need. I posted here and some sage person wisely instructed "Stop while it's still easy." I finally did listen and stopped CT in early February. I didn't think it'd be too bad, as my daily intake wasn't relatively large. I'm thinking carefully how to describe the withdrawal--well, it wasn't easy but it was livable. (obviously :) ) I felt I had the flu for about four full days. Nights were worst for me, but perhaps that's related to the time of day when I would use the vicodin--always later in the day. You may experience flu-like symptoms, achy, headaches, sensitivity to noise/bright light or nearly ANYTHING, LOL. You may sweat, especially at night, alternately feeling cold-goosebumps. I didn't eat a doggone thing that whole week coming "clean". No appetite. I did not have any of the vomit/bathroom issues many here have endured. (Sorry so graphic-but just being thorough and underlining how we all experience this uniquely, to some extent.) After that week, I felt physically pretty well, spiritually relieved to be free of this monkey on my back, if you will. I've been clean since then-my mind seems more clear, memory is better-actually mentally awake throughout the day.

Now it's been a while, and despite the hate I developed for vicodin during that week of detox, I have been missing it. I haven't gone back and don't want or plan to. Now I must set myself to the really hard work (IMO) of why I miss it, what it was doing for me. Why I (and this is only me) sought a sort of escape from my life which is a pretty nice one.

I hope this helps in some small way. I wish you the best and wish I could just fast-forward the next week for you! You can do it!! Come here and vent if you feel like it--it really helped me and I know it's helped so many others. Lots of people know just what you're facing and are rooting for you to succeed! ;)

Thank you so much for taking the time to post to me. I really mean it. And you are right in saying to stop while there is time. My habit is a tad higher then yours but fairly close. I know that I will have some bad days ahead. I have no illusions about that. But I feel the same way you did. And yes I want off the vicodin train right now.

I don't know if you read my last post but I am doing a test run without vicodin right now. I have not had one for 12 hours now. I can tell that it is going to feel bad for a week or so. Again thank you for taking some time out of your life to tell me what you went through, it helps alot.

Andrew

I am on my 13th hour trial run without vicodin. I am going to allow myself two today to get through the family thing. I went outside and smoked a cigarette because I thought it would take the edge off. Bad, bad idea. I feel pretty bad right now. I felt like I was going to get sick. Tommorrow will be my first official day starting cold turkey. Thanks to everyone.

Andrew

Catholic_dad,
I was never much good at tapering either, I knew that they were there and I'd find an excuse to take them.........then get down to 2 or 3 and it was "what the heck, I might as well use these last three to try and get a little bit of a buzz." I'd find some way to undermine myself.......always! It's got to have something to do with that addiction gene that some of us are born with. CT isn't comfortable, thats for sure but at least I wasn't constantly arguing with myself about a taper schedule. I never won the argument anyway!! And I was never worth a damn at flushing or throwing them away............now that would make me physically sick!!
Do what you have to do so you don't mess up the holiday and go from there, your dose really isn't that high so I don't think that you'll have a major problem, but it will be uncomfortable for a few days.
Hope you and the family have a wonderful Easter, and let us know how you are doing. Wishing you well.
Sending my thoughts and prayers,
Marilyn

I considered tapering, but I'm the kind of person who will eat a barrel of hershey kisses and make myself completely sick if they are in front of me. Or I will smoke a pack of cigarettes if I allow myself one. I suspect that it would be the same with the vicodin. If I allow myself one then why not another?

I am sure that some folks are good at tapering. I know I would not be.

I am doing a test run right now and have not taken a vicodin since 7.00 pm last night. You're right I do feel kinda lousy. I am going to take two today so I can get through the holiday things with the families. Thank you for your thoughts. Have a good weekend.

Andrew

Ok, well, as long as it's safe to do cold turkey(I think narcotics are ok to do that with, unlike benzodiazepines and some others) So, if that works for you, why not? Hope it isn't too uncomfortable for you; sounds like it won't be too bad; good luck and you are very wise to stop before it does become too difficult.

Next on your to-do-list: give up the cigarettes.... ;)

Jennita and Catholic_Dad, I am in the same shoes. I am trying to quit right
now and have gotten down to 1 - 1 1/2 Vike ES a day. I also take clonezapam
on a regular basis, but that will be my next hurdle. Get yourself some SAMe
at CVS or any drugstore. I have been taking it for a couple of days and
already feel better, I really hope it's claims to repair the liver are true. Good Luck
and I will keep posting to help you out. One goods way to beat this thing is
to look at your kids, and silently say to yourself, "I'm doing it for them"

[QUOTE=PAhelp]Get yourself some SAMe
at CVS or any drugstore. I have been taking it for a couple of days and
already feel better, I really hope it's claims to repair the liver are true.

They are and you know what else? The liver is a self-repairing organ. Give it a rest from toxins and whooooosh........it's feelin great! Fresh carrot juice is also a wonderful detoxifyer..........I did a 40 day fresh juice fast and came out of it healthier and thinner.
SS
SamE is also great as an antidepressant.

Thanks for everyone's best wishes. I am nervous in that I just started with a new company and I am in a position of senior management. I worked very hard for this position and I am worried about the withdrawals this week. I do have some clonidine and some donatol that the doctor prescribed that are suppose to help with the withdrawals. I just want to stay on my game at work. I know I am going to feel crappy for a few days but I have to do this. I know it will get better.

I did take a couple of vicodins today and quit frankly I probably could have gotten through the day without them. I am going to get up early tommorrow and go to the gym drink a boat load of water and take my clonidine and donatol before I go to work. I think that some excercise will help sustain the energy level.

Thanks again to everyone your suggestions help ease my anxiety.

Andrew

Thanks for everyone's best wishes. I am nervous in that I just started with a new company and I am in a position of senior management. I worked very hard for this position and I am worried about the withdrawals this week. I do have some clonidine and some donatol that the doctor prescribed that are suppose to help with the withdrawals. I just want to stay on my game at work. I know I am going to feel crappy for a few days but I have to do this. I know it will get better.

I did take a couple of vicodins today and quit frankly I probably could have gotten through the day without them. I am going to get up early tommorrow and go to the gym drink a boat load of water and take my clonidine and donatol before I go to work. I think that some excercise will help sustain the energy level.

Thanks again to everyone your suggestions help ease my anxiety.

Andrew

Sounds like you have it under control. Good luck and congrats for making such a good decision to quit!

Work it like this, Alot of what you are feeling now is mental. The way I
have brought myself down to only 1-2 daily is by breaking them up into
quarters, then scale yourself down from there. Eventually your body will
think that a quarter Vike is a whole one. Once you get to this point, there
should be almost no withdraw symptoms, and you can still be at the top of
your game at your new job. If you have some left over, don't dispose of them,
but I wrapped the pill bottle up in so much tape, that it gives me time to
think about what I'm doing as I'm trying to get the tape off. You will more than
likely tell yourself it's not worth it at that point.

The withdrawals feel like the flu along with a bad hangover. I hate to say that I just took one vicodin. That is one in 24 hours. I am sorry but I felt terrible and just completely went off on one of my salespeople and I had to apologize to her.

I need help from you guys it looks as though I am going to have to do a little taper regiment till the weekend. If I can keep it to 1-1 1/2 a day till Friday then I can do this on the weekend. I had no idea that I would feel this bad and be so irratable. I'm sorry. The cravings are managable but the irritability is really bad.

Andrew

Nay you know this is an excuse to continue to take vicodin. I am going to bite the darn bullet and realize that it is going to be tough for a week. I could go on justifying taking this junk from now till kingdom come.

I took two today and will stop tommorrow again. I am not going to let this damn little pill control me anymore.

Thanks for everyone's help.

Andrew

We are pulling for you!!

You can do this and it is GREAT of you to realize that you are making excuses.. only you know that though. If you can cold turkey and handle the withdrawals.. DO IT!! otherwise you may find that tapering makes the end a little easier...

You CAN do this. Look at it this way, if you DO stop tomorrow, by this weekend the worst will be over (if not COMPLETELY over). You might even be feeling fine by then~ close to "normal". Tapering can be done by some, but in my personal opinion~ it's MUCH harder, and only prolongs the inevitable. I know these next few days are going to be difficult for you, but keeping busy to keep your mind off of it is the key. Just be easy on yourself, and remember to keep your eye on the "prize". We are all behind you 100%. Keep updating us. You remain in my prayers!

Hi Andrew~
Welcome! You're in the right place. Just wanted to chime in with yet another suggestion ... Actually, with my own experience. I have always found that going cold turkey is best done when you can be at home, or in a place where you can controll your enviornment, being alone always was best for me. If you have to "be on", or "at the top of your game" as you said, you might want to try a little taper till the weekend. Taking 2 a day is better than the 4 you had been taking! Break 2 Vikes in half in the morning, and take 1/2 a tab, 4 x a day, as you were taking the whole tabs. Maybe by Friday, you could try taking 2 or even 3 halfs. Your body won't notice as much and you will still be able to function at work. When the weekend comes, you can take the plunge then, perhaps even taking a couple of extra days off so you won't be tempted to have to "get up" for your clients or at work. For me, that was setting myself up for failure. it just wasn't realistic.
Whatever you decide is right for you, I wish you the very best and will say a quiet prayer for your success.
Ell

Nay you know this is an excuse to continue to take vicodin. I am going to bite the darn bullet and realize that it is going to be tough for a week. I could go on justifying taking this junk from now till kingdom come.

I took two today and will stop tommorrow again. I am not going to let this damn little pill control me anymore.

Thanks for everyone's help.

Andrew

It may not be an excuse; look, pills don't only cause psychological addiction but physical as well. Perhaps your body is rebelling, it might be saying hey, why did you take away my chemicals, I needed those.... whaa, now I have to try and make them all on my own...I don't wannna!!!

Physical dependancy is a very ignored part of addiction. But look, don't use that as a excuse either to keep taking the pills, but rather realize that maybe, just maybe, in your case cold turkey won't be the way. No shame in tapering off, as long as you continue downward (no increases) in your cuts of the pill and don't worry if it takes awhile. The point here is to get to the finish line, it really doesn't matter if you jog instead of run.

Whichever way you go, just be proud that you have the right idea about living drug free!!

CDad — Tapering never worked for me, I always talked myself into "oh well just 1 more and I'll taper better tomorrow" The pills always won. If you can taper thats great. From my own experience I would time your cold turkey so that the roughest part is Sat & Sun, so take your last dose sometime on Thurs., Fri you'll start to crave and wig out, you can tell your co-workers you feel like your coming down with someting. Sat and Sun will be the hardest, like I advised Oxy, walk alot, drink alot of water, hot bath, walk some more,
if you have any valium use it to help you sleep, walk some more, drink plenty of fluids, you will be achy, take some motrin, you probably won't have the strength to walk, but it helps with the excessive nervous energy. Monday you will feel a little better, you can tell your co-workers you are still fighting that "bug" thats going around. Hang tough. You will succeed.

Just checking in on CDad. I hope you are tapering, but if you can't make it? Hey..we have all been there! Do the BEST you can, we are pulling for you!

Give it hell~
~Kim

You are all right about the tapering. I am a wuss when it comes to tapering. I give in too easy. I am going to take off Thursday and Friday and CT it on Thursday. Its the only way. I am fluctuating between 1 1/2 to two a day at this point. That's about as good as it is going to get. I really tried the CT thing yesterday and honestly I was in such a foul mood that I screamed at one of my employees. I had to apolgize to her profusely she almost walked and she is one of my best salespeople our company has.

If I have to call it in on Monday too I will. Half of the staff is out today due to the bug, so I think that the owner here will understand. I know I can CT it but I need at least a two day jump start. I am ready I have lots of water, some clonidine and some donatol. I know that these medications can make you very tired so I plan to rest during the four days that I take off.

Thanks to everyone.

Andrew

Catholic_Dad, Tapering diffinitely does work. I have been on these longer than you and Like I told you in an earlier post, If you even break them in 1/2, your
mind is content with the fact that you are taking some in. You said this is
an important week for you, so don't blow it by going "Cold Turkey" and being
a complete jerk to everyone else, because your body has a craving. You will
still be at the top of you game with a little in you system, by the weekend
you should be able to cut yourself off completely or taper down more to 1/4's.
As soon as you get over the mental part, It's over. Good Luck and keep us posted.

Andrew-I would also taper off the vic's. Taking them for as long as you have, you may have some withdrawals but not too bad......I was taking 8mgs. of Dilaudid at a time, once upon a time and It was rough. I wish you the best and keep us posted.....Kahlia

Catholic_Dad.... Where did it end? I'm curious because I still am fighting
mine, but ever so slightly.