I've never posted to a chatroom before so please excuse if I don't get all the protocols right.
I detoxed in a hospital based program 4 yrears ago from Oxycontin...it was hell, actually the worst hell was the 6 days I spent waiting for my insurance to approve my stay, I had told my husband about my addiction and he gave me 1 Vicodin every 6 hr. After no sleep or food for those 6 days detox meds made the awfulness less awful.
I belong to a 12 step group, have a sponsor, work the steps, thought, no knew, that I would never have to go thru the anguish I'd gone thru 4 yrs ago.
Several months ago I was given Vicodin 5/500 for a gynecological problem, I took them only as needed usually 1 or 2 daily, never more than 3. In the past week my pain has decreased and I've tried to stop the Vicodin...it's like the Oxycontin detox all over again. Sweating, anxiety, insomnia. joint pain...the whole deal. Is this a characteristic of addiction? An example of my addiction doing pushups in the corner the whole time I've been clean?
I don't have the option (or desire to be truthful) to go to an inpatient program. I'm afraid to tell my husband, my friends in the program, my sponsor. I feel like I've relapsed horribly.
I've read on line about detoxing at home using clonidine, valium, levsin, lomotil. I can't bear to go thru what I went thru again.
Please, any insight, similar experiences would be most appreciated
Dear Cuba
Your in a relapse, you have to get honest with your sponser, & you need to flush whatever you have left.
You can do this C/T.........It isn't going to be nearly as bad as your withdrawl from oxys, Uncomfortable yes, for maybe 5 days,,,,,,,,,cut off all supplys & only you can make the desisision to tell your husband...........Did he or your sponser know you were taking these for legit pain? Seems they would understand & support you...........Keep posting, let us know what you decide
God Bless
Dottie
Your in a relapse, you have to get honest with your sponser, & you need to flush whatever you have left.
You can do this C/T.........It isn't going to be nearly as bad as your withdrawl from oxys, Uncomfortable yes, for maybe 5 days,,,,,,,,,cut off all supplys & only you can make the desisision to tell your husband...........Did he or your sponser know you were taking these for legit pain? Seems they would understand & support you...........Keep posting, let us know what you decide
God Bless
Dottie
Well I am not in the " program" so I don't go by their rules and I can't tell you weather you relapsed or not. You may need to call your sponser on that one. I know some people in NA/AA , think that one can only relapse IF they stop working the program but you on the other hand are still in the program and you may have relapsed. I don't know!! It sounds like it IF you are taking the meds now when your pain is decreased.... Taking them only to keep you out of withdrawl..
Based on my belief it doesn't matter if it's a relapsed or not. Don't sit and dwell on that now...The question and the most important thing here is are you going to continue to use knowing that you no longer need them for pain? Or are you ready to suck up the pain of withdrawl and get it done and over with? It sucks your saying you think it will be the same as a oxy withdrawl because typically a hydro withdrawl is much more mild. I have been through it twice and have over 8 months clean time from vicodin... Especially since you are taking such a low dose like I was, physically it shouldn't last longer than a week.. I will keep my fingers crossed for you!! Everyone is different but your strong you've been through an oxy withdrawl you can do this. Everyday will get better and you'll get through it. The lomotil will help and so will the clonidine.
If you have valium and someone could hold them for you IF you can't be trusted with them..You could take one at night to sleep maybe for 7 nights or whatever your doctor tells you..I was able to take them to sleep for the 1st week and never touch them again. I couldn never imagine taking them for any length of time or abusing them.
I know some here will say that would be a no no, switching addictions to a benzo whatever but it's a personal choice that only you and your doctor can make..Talk to your doctor and ask him what is safe for you to take during your detox..Hang in there.. You just do what you need to do and the rest will work itself out. Possibly even consider telling your husband/sponser. It sounds like you have a support group now all you have to do is get busy and pick yourself back up and start again!! Rae
Based on my belief it doesn't matter if it's a relapsed or not. Don't sit and dwell on that now...The question and the most important thing here is are you going to continue to use knowing that you no longer need them for pain? Or are you ready to suck up the pain of withdrawl and get it done and over with? It sucks your saying you think it will be the same as a oxy withdrawl because typically a hydro withdrawl is much more mild. I have been through it twice and have over 8 months clean time from vicodin... Especially since you are taking such a low dose like I was, physically it shouldn't last longer than a week.. I will keep my fingers crossed for you!! Everyone is different but your strong you've been through an oxy withdrawl you can do this. Everyday will get better and you'll get through it. The lomotil will help and so will the clonidine.
If you have valium and someone could hold them for you IF you can't be trusted with them..You could take one at night to sleep maybe for 7 nights or whatever your doctor tells you..I was able to take them to sleep for the 1st week and never touch them again. I couldn never imagine taking them for any length of time or abusing them.
I know some here will say that would be a no no, switching addictions to a benzo whatever but it's a personal choice that only you and your doctor can make..Talk to your doctor and ask him what is safe for you to take during your detox..Hang in there.. You just do what you need to do and the rest will work itself out. Possibly even consider telling your husband/sponser. It sounds like you have a support group now all you have to do is get busy and pick yourself back up and start again!! Rae
Cubagirl quotes-"Several months ago I was given Vicodin 5/500 for a gynecological problem, I took them only as needed usually 1 or 2 daily, never more than 3. In the past week my pain has decreased and I've tried to stop the Vicodin...it's like the Oxycontin detox all over again. Sweating, anxiety"
When you have taken medication as prescribed by a Dr. and not exceeded the dosage, then no,I wouldnt say you have relapsed.However, not coming clean with your sponsor and support group is a big red flag.That is a definite sign of addict behavior.Do that NOW.
As far as w/d's.You will have some but they shouldnt be as bad as Oxy's.The bain doesnt know the difference between one opiate and another.Once you have been addicted,there are all these extra dopamine receptors already established.They may have been dormant but all it takes is one little Vicodin to open those doors to be fed.It does not differentiate between recreational use or legitimate use.Its sad but true.
It should only be a couple of days.
Dont obsess about it being worse.It wont be.
When you have taken medication as prescribed by a Dr. and not exceeded the dosage, then no,I wouldnt say you have relapsed.However, not coming clean with your sponsor and support group is a big red flag.That is a definite sign of addict behavior.Do that NOW.
As far as w/d's.You will have some but they shouldnt be as bad as Oxy's.The bain doesnt know the difference between one opiate and another.Once you have been addicted,there are all these extra dopamine receptors already established.They may have been dormant but all it takes is one little Vicodin to open those doors to be fed.It does not differentiate between recreational use or legitimate use.Its sad but true.
It should only be a couple of days.
Dont obsess about it being worse.It wont be.
Actually,
I Agree with Rae, she said it a whole lot better than I Could, my point was the withdrawl from Vicodin compared to Oxy's I KNOW IS EASIER,
Just got suck it up, doesn't sound like you were doing very many to begin with
I Agree with Rae, she said it a whole lot better than I Could, my point was the withdrawl from Vicodin compared to Oxy's I KNOW IS EASIER,
Just got suck it up, doesn't sound like you were doing very many to begin with
I am so grateful for the replies to my post. My emotions are all whacked right now anyway but I wanted to cry when I read them. My husband does know about the Vicodin...I've been hospitalized, and really incapacitated by pain, physical and emotional. I just felt like I was slugged in the gut...a moment of brutal clarity. Okay...I see I need to get honest. I hope it's okay to write this here. This past April I had a miscarriage. I'm 42, no kids, my husband was out of town, it was so painful physically, the pain doubled me over. Husband came home, dr gave me Vicodin.
I took a few, stopped. Didn't tell my sponsor, stopped going to my regular meetings. I shut down emotionally, started to isolate, started smoking cigarettes for god's sake, something I'd given up when I quit alcohol 10 years ago. In August I started having severe pain again, I was told I was preganant again...seemed impossible as I haven't stopped bleeding since April (i apologize for the graphicness). Had an emergency d & c, I was in freaking labor. Drs were very puzzled, pushed me out the door with a rx for a 120 Vicodin. Since then I have pretty much been frozen inside, going thru the motions. I haven't taken more than 3 Vicos in a day, I have had pain but I realize now what I REALLY NEEDED those to keep my emotions......... I can't do this. Husband's out of town, I have to work today, have used all my sick time. Last person in the world I want to call is my sponsor, cause then I'll get to go to meetings, raise my hand as someone with less than 30 days, endure the sympathy...I know I sound so ungrateful.
I have to go work. Thanks for listening
I took a few, stopped. Didn't tell my sponsor, stopped going to my regular meetings. I shut down emotionally, started to isolate, started smoking cigarettes for god's sake, something I'd given up when I quit alcohol 10 years ago. In August I started having severe pain again, I was told I was preganant again...seemed impossible as I haven't stopped bleeding since April (i apologize for the graphicness). Had an emergency d & c, I was in freaking labor. Drs were very puzzled, pushed me out the door with a rx for a 120 Vicodin. Since then I have pretty much been frozen inside, going thru the motions. I haven't taken more than 3 Vicos in a day, I have had pain but I realize now what I REALLY NEEDED those to keep my emotions......... I can't do this. Husband's out of town, I have to work today, have used all my sick time. Last person in the world I want to call is my sponsor, cause then I'll get to go to meetings, raise my hand as someone with less than 30 days, endure the sympathy...I know I sound so ungrateful.
I have to go work. Thanks for listening
Hi cuba;
I've detoxed off vicodin many times, usually I would taper down from 100 to 120 mgs of hydro / day to about 10 to 15mg / day by cutting them up and spacing the doses evenly over 24 hrs. I would do this over 7 to 10 days, unless I got the urge to do more one day and have to do it in 4 or 5 days...........the point is if you taper even to 1/2 pill every 6 hrs. for a few days, than 1/4 every six 6hrs, than 1/4 every 8 hrs, etc. the withdrawall will be much easier. This takes will power.
After the physical stuff, which should be completely tolerable, you will still have the mental stuff to deal with. I suggest, as most have previously, you should get help, your sponsor and AA could be enough, or you could do an evening, addiction recovery program.....just for a tune-up.
Your brain will still have to re-calibrate once you are clean so sleep problems, and a hyper active nervous system can be expected. The length of time it takes to stabilize is a function of time using and dosages......you seem to be in a reasonable range with the amounts, the time using seems long (several months). I can tell you this...if you got thru oxy's this will be incredably easier.
Don't be scared! Just make a plan, use your husband to dispense, and stick to it.
Good luck
Paul
I've detoxed off vicodin many times, usually I would taper down from 100 to 120 mgs of hydro / day to about 10 to 15mg / day by cutting them up and spacing the doses evenly over 24 hrs. I would do this over 7 to 10 days, unless I got the urge to do more one day and have to do it in 4 or 5 days...........the point is if you taper even to 1/2 pill every 6 hrs. for a few days, than 1/4 every six 6hrs, than 1/4 every 8 hrs, etc. the withdrawall will be much easier. This takes will power.
After the physical stuff, which should be completely tolerable, you will still have the mental stuff to deal with. I suggest, as most have previously, you should get help, your sponsor and AA could be enough, or you could do an evening, addiction recovery program.....just for a tune-up.
Your brain will still have to re-calibrate once you are clean so sleep problems, and a hyper active nervous system can be expected. The length of time it takes to stabilize is a function of time using and dosages......you seem to be in a reasonable range with the amounts, the time using seems long (several months). I can tell you this...if you got thru oxy's this will be incredably easier.
Don't be scared! Just make a plan, use your husband to dispense, and stick to it.
Good luck
Paul
