I've been taking 10/325 Hydrocodone for about 6 months. I am up to 4-5 (40-50Mg) tablets a day and no longer want to use them. I tried to take myself off completely but experienced severe withdrawl symptoms after about 18 hours. Not craving the drug, but sweating, nasuea, irregular heartbeat, aching. Mentally I felt OK, it was physical syptoms that were bad. So I started up again, with the intent of lowering dosages. So now, I am down to 4 x 1/2 doses a day (20mg) about 4 days after I started reducing. I do get minor withdrawl symptoms sometimes about 4-5 hours after a dose, but usually go away. My plan is to take it down to 3 x 1/2 doses in a couple of days, then 2 x 1/2 for a few days, then 1 x 1/2, then stop. My question is does anyone have experience doing it this way and how fast can I reduce my dosages and at what point can I just stop and then when I do how will the final withdrawls be? Or am I just better to go cold turkey at the point I am at. Mentally, I don't have a desire to increase my doses, because I don't really like the way the drug makes me feel, mostly tired, w/o energy, and not much motivation, which isn't me. I just am trying to reduce the withdrawls to a manageable point so I can work and pursue my normal hobbies. When I went cold turkey, I couldn't go to work, it was like I had a really bad flu.
Mj- I'm with you...see me post! Great job!!!!!!!!!
Sounds like you have a great plan!! Stick to it. I'm WDing as well and not feeling great today, but tomorrows another day and hopefully will be feeling better (I HOPE). Its different for everyone.
I wish you all the best.
Love,
Marie
I wish you all the best.
Love,
Marie
Here's an update for you all. I've been slowly reducing my dosage. Brought it down to 5 mg twice a day, then 5 mg once a day, and have just went to nothing about 2 days ago. I'm feeling it a little bit (very mild flu like systems), but not really that much. it isn't affecting my ability to do stuff during the day or sleep at night. So far so good. I'm figuring if it deosn't get worse than this, by Monday i should be through it.
Here's how I went for any who want to try this approach: I was originally taking 10-20 mg 3 times a day.
10 mg 3 times a day for about 2 weeks, then 5 mg 3 times for 2 weeks, then 5 mg 2 times a day for about 4 weeks, then 5 mg once a day (at night) for about 1 week. The strongest transition is from 5 mg twice a day to 5 mg once a day. I was feeling a little withdrawl the last 6 hours before taking my next pill, but not really that much to where it bothered me, I just kind of noticed it. When I went to no pills, it felt like the last 6 hours of the day when I was on one 5 mg a day, but hasn't gotten worse than that, but the mild withdrawls, when they do come, come in kind of a wave for a while, then goes away. I did find that during the day, when I felt them, if I was active, I wouldn't notice them at all. I was surprised that when I went to 2 x 5mg doses a day, I had no withdrawls at all. I may have been smarter to go 2 x 2.5mg, instead of 1 x 5mg, then to 1 x 2.5 mg, but I was getting near the end and wanted to get this over with. I'll update this again next week after I've been off for a week.
Here's how I went for any who want to try this approach: I was originally taking 10-20 mg 3 times a day.
10 mg 3 times a day for about 2 weeks, then 5 mg 3 times for 2 weeks, then 5 mg 2 times a day for about 4 weeks, then 5 mg once a day (at night) for about 1 week. The strongest transition is from 5 mg twice a day to 5 mg once a day. I was feeling a little withdrawl the last 6 hours before taking my next pill, but not really that much to where it bothered me, I just kind of noticed it. When I went to no pills, it felt like the last 6 hours of the day when I was on one 5 mg a day, but hasn't gotten worse than that, but the mild withdrawls, when they do come, come in kind of a wave for a while, then goes away. I did find that during the day, when I felt them, if I was active, I wouldn't notice them at all. I was surprised that when I went to 2 x 5mg doses a day, I had no withdrawls at all. I may have been smarter to go 2 x 2.5mg, instead of 1 x 5mg, then to 1 x 2.5 mg, but I was getting near the end and wanted to get this over with. I'll update this again next week after I've been off for a week.
Hi mj thats my nickname here 2.You sound like your doing it the right way slow and easy I think alot of us here want to hurry up and rush quitting and I think that is the worse thing.You end up putting too much pressure on your self than relaps but it sounds like your doing real good.Keep comming around there are so many great people here who can understand just about all your feeling.take care....mj
Happy Holidays to everyone. It's xmas morning and I've been off hydrocodone, I guess for maybe 10 days. So I'm thinking I'm through most of the physical withdrawl discomfort. It never really got that bad, so I'm glad I went the doasge reduction route. The only comment I would make is that my sleep hasn't been quite normal. I fall asleep easily enough, but seem to wake up after about 4-5 hours, then have trouble going back to sleep. Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't. Hopefully that will eventually return to normal, though I've never been a big sleeper, 6 or 6.5 hours usually. Well, I'd though I'd give my progress and would encourage anyone who is trying to kick the habit that the doasge reduction route, if you're in a position to do it, does make the withdrawl symptoms a lot more tolerable. Good luck and a happy new year to everyone.
Congratulations on getting off the Norco....
I've found that the anxiety associated with withdrawals can actually make the symptoms worse.... So when you are scared of being without the drug, or constantly worrying about "What's coming next? Am I going tho throw up?", the symptoms are more profound....
I tapered down before quitting this time (but was still taking 70-90mg with the taper) and didn't have any real problems. I had quit before and stayed clean for a couple of months, so I knew what to expect, what I might feel like.....
For anyone who is considering quitting, you can do it..... The fear of the unknown is the worst part.... I can't speak for oxy or methadone, but hydrocodone withdrawals CAN be done and it's not the most horrible thing in the world... You can do it!
I've found that the anxiety associated with withdrawals can actually make the symptoms worse.... So when you are scared of being without the drug, or constantly worrying about "What's coming next? Am I going tho throw up?", the symptoms are more profound....
I tapered down before quitting this time (but was still taking 70-90mg with the taper) and didn't have any real problems. I had quit before and stayed clean for a couple of months, so I knew what to expect, what I might feel like.....
For anyone who is considering quitting, you can do it..... The fear of the unknown is the worst part.... I can't speak for oxy or methadone, but hydrocodone withdrawals CAN be done and it's not the most horrible thing in the world... You can do it!
