Hi! I hope someone can give me some advice and quick. I have been taking 5 5/750 ES Vicodin for about a month an a half. I am probably addicted physically (though not mentally yet). I started to cut back and am feeling the nervous feeling in my arms and legs. I don't like it. I want to try to wean myself off. How long will this feeling last? Any suggestions? Benzo's are out, since I was addicted to Xanax at one time and successfuly quit. Thanks in advance!
If you're taking them for an underlying pain condition, I think most would counsel you to speak to your doctor about tapering off and finding a non-addictive alternative for pain management.
If I understood your post, you've been taking about 5 5/500 vics per day for about a month and a half? If you've never been physically dependent on them before, I'd say any physical w/d's would be minor and short lived were you to go c/t. Just my opinion. M.
If I understood your post, you've been taking about 5 5/500 vics per day for about a month and a half? If you've never been physically dependent on them before, I'd say any physical w/d's would be minor and short lived were you to go c/t. Just my opinion. M.
Thanks None! Any others? I really feel it..that nerve twitch stuff..a little anxiety..headache..
Danny,if you have just been on them for only a short time,like none said then you should do as he says,and just stop,beware if you don't it will get alot worse,thats the nature of hydrocodone.
Maybe I'm being dramtic or something. I'm throwing, thats for sure. I have that weird nervous feeling..I'm taking about 1/2 of what I did take, and I'm taking it by using 1/2 a pill and spacing it out through the day. So, like 3 pills a day, and taking 1/2 of one every four or five hours.Am I better off taking a whole one and going for a longer period? Since I am new to this, any idea how long this feeling will last?
I mean I'm throwing up..
Danny,you don't have any underlying stomach problems do you? Were you throwing up before you started to use hydro? If not then it is a sym of withdrawel,from hydro.It shouldn't last long,but hey if it does get some medical help. Withdrawel is a hard thing to say what happens to one happens to another,and truth is it's diffrent for everyone although some of the sym can be the same.If you are really nervoius about this,it could be just nerves,causing this. mic220084@aol.com
I hope it is just nerves. I have had stomach problems though. I can handle throwing up. It's that "electric" feeling I don't like. When I got off Xanax, it was way worse, but this is still really uncomfortable. Does anyone have an opinion of my "taper" does? Is it the right thing to do? How long does the "electric" feeling last with Vicodin? With Xanax, it was a couple of weeks, but from what I understand, Xanax is one of the hardest drugs to quit physically. It was a nightmare though. It actually took about a month and a half for the feeling to leave entirely, besides thinking I was going insane. But my dose was about 6mg a day.Is the 25mg a day of Vicodin for a month and a half considered high?
I didn't think it would have this effect after such a short time.
I didn't think it would have this effect after such a short time.
Danny,
Vicodin, or hydrocodone, is a very addicting drug, as you know....I was addicted to about 250mg of it a day, along with a few other opioids for five years...I didn't take vicodin because of all the tylenol in it, but found another source of hydrocodone without any tylenol.
If you are truly on 5 of the vicodinES a day, that's 37.5mg of hydrocodone a day...everybody is different, and reacts differently with a drug (if they have hepatitis, if they drink or take any other drugs which interfere with breaking down of hydrocodone, etc).
you sound like you know what you are doing. That feeling you are experiencing, the nervousness, and arm and leg pain, spasms, while bothersome, even scary, are a pain and I know how that is.....I also know what it feels like trying to quit 250mg of it, and I hope that you can continue to very gradually cut down your use as you sound like you are on a thin line where you can get off before you're in too deep(again, which is different for everybody). Perhaps you could cut your 5/day down by a half tablet, and see if you feel better. It's better to have somone else in control of the meds as it's too easy to go back and take 5 and start over tomorrow, right?!
As an addict to almost every known opioid, withdrawals are very intimidating and scary, and I can understand that part all too well...I don't know if you have someone, or can trust someone to do this with, but if you find you can't cut down alone, it helps to have that help cutting down, getting off of them. Of all the people I have met in recovery(mostly NA), I can not tell you how many were addicted to hydrocodone, including myself... I went on to many other opioids after becoming addicted to that, which I pray you can keep from doing and really get through this as your life and well being may depend on it. I hope and try not to sound preachy, but when I identify with something so strongly like your post, I re-live my horrors of trying to control my usage, which I clearly couldn't do.. Good luck, and I do hope that this at least, in part, helps you even a little.
Vicodin, or hydrocodone, is a very addicting drug, as you know....I was addicted to about 250mg of it a day, along with a few other opioids for five years...I didn't take vicodin because of all the tylenol in it, but found another source of hydrocodone without any tylenol.
If you are truly on 5 of the vicodinES a day, that's 37.5mg of hydrocodone a day...everybody is different, and reacts differently with a drug (if they have hepatitis, if they drink or take any other drugs which interfere with breaking down of hydrocodone, etc).
you sound like you know what you are doing. That feeling you are experiencing, the nervousness, and arm and leg pain, spasms, while bothersome, even scary, are a pain and I know how that is.....I also know what it feels like trying to quit 250mg of it, and I hope that you can continue to very gradually cut down your use as you sound like you are on a thin line where you can get off before you're in too deep(again, which is different for everybody). Perhaps you could cut your 5/day down by a half tablet, and see if you feel better. It's better to have somone else in control of the meds as it's too easy to go back and take 5 and start over tomorrow, right?!
As an addict to almost every known opioid, withdrawals are very intimidating and scary, and I can understand that part all too well...I don't know if you have someone, or can trust someone to do this with, but if you find you can't cut down alone, it helps to have that help cutting down, getting off of them. Of all the people I have met in recovery(mostly NA), I can not tell you how many were addicted to hydrocodone, including myself... I went on to many other opioids after becoming addicted to that, which I pray you can keep from doing and really get through this as your life and well being may depend on it. I hope and try not to sound preachy, but when I identify with something so strongly like your post, I re-live my horrors of trying to control my usage, which I clearly couldn't do.. Good luck, and I do hope that this at least, in part, helps you even a little.
So far, it's been hard to take. Any idea how long the "shakes" last?
Withdrawal off hydro takes less time than the benzos. Benzos take longer to get out of your system completely. Given your amount and length of use of hydro, the worst of the physical withdrawals would likely be done by Day 3 if you went c/t. One warning: few who are truly addictive can successfully taper, so if you choose to try and fail, consider just going c/t and getting it over with. You're in a much better position to do so than most who first seek out this Board. At some point, "tapering" and "cutting down" can become an excuse for not completely giving up the pills -- only you can be the judge of that. Good luck, and much support to you. M.
I went c/t off Xanax. It was horrible.It really messed me up for a couple of weeks. I would do the same with Vicodin, but I have commitments I have to keep. Those 3-5 days would be useless for me. It's been hard. This is really my second day of cutting down. I went from 5-6 to 3 and I really feel it. Didn't think I would but I do. I'm also worried about sleep, and the over the counter stuff never works for me. Or Benydryl (sic)
Thanks RXBoston. No, I have no desire for any other kind of opiate. I started taking Vic for pain, and I'll still have it when I'm done with the Vic's.
Well, I slipped a little. I wanted to take only 3 yesterday, and ended up with four (down from my 5 or 6). I couldn't fall asleep otherwise. I seem to be ok this morning. I took 1/2. Still feel the electric feeling but no too bad. Does these feelings go away as you taper down, or will it be there during the whole tapering process?
I really don't mean to bug you guys. But I'm really not feeling well. Does tapering off give you weird feelings during the process or does tha eventually go away. It's 2:30 and I have taken 1/2 so far today. I know I'll take another 1/2 in an hour or so. I'm trying t hold out..opinions?
Also, I was wearing a Fentanyl patch for about 3 weeks. Could this contribute t the withdrawls. I stoppd using one on Sunday.
Oh DannyBoy, I'm thinking ur so nervous about vic wds cause u went thru em on x's. I'm not trying to be a smart alac, but the small amount u were on, especially since ur cuttin back, other then maybe some small leg cramps, it doesn't really make sense. Me now, I'm a baby when I even think of wds & im not saying u r, but i think the x wds is making u notice things & scaring u a bit too much, however, if u were on a fentanol patch for 3 weeks prior, that really might be it. Have u talked to the dr that prescribed it, cause i know they aint allowed to prescribe to addicts, but the can't leave u hanging & i think its not only legal but also their moral obligation to guide u & prescribe u thru this. Its good ur stopping now, you are a smart man.
Thanks for the encouragment browndog.I haven't called the Doc. The same one who gave me the patch also gave me a script for Norcor, and he knew I also was on Vicodin. I never filled the Norcor though. What a goof. I started thinking it was the patch this morning. I haven't had it on in a couple of days. I did notice I feel better today than yesterday. I've only taken 2 Vic's today and feel "ok"...but I still feel the electric feeling and stuff. Really uncomfortable. And I can't sleep worth a damn.It migh be my fear because of the Xanax, which was a living hell to come off. Probably the hardest 3 weeks of my life. Really scary. I was told it was one of the hardet drugs to withdrawl from. I actually went to a detox for that, because I was afraid of the medical side effects. I'm hoping to stick to my promised 3 vics today and cut that back by 1/2 tomorrow and so on. I only have about 10 left and the script can't be refilled till Monday. Any others? This is hard!
Dannyrob,
Hi, Di here..
I've been reading your post for a couple days, and really didn't understand why you were going through it so bad only taking 5 perks a day for I think a month..
Well now I get it!! The Patch!! That Im pretty sure is what your getting most of you w/d symptoms from..Im not sure what mil. you were on, but I know that I had been , at first 2.5. and then 50!! Those patches are really weird, to say the least..When I put the first one on I thought God Im so tired. and went to bed.
Well the next 2 days, I was speeding my butt off..to the point that I even could not stand it anymore..I ripped the thing off the second night...You want to talk sick... Migranes..Throwing up... Terrible.I was skitzed for a couple days..I mean like a caged animal...Thought I was really really losing my mind..
.
So again, Im no expert at W/d. but I do think it is more from the Patch.
I too was tapering, or trying to,didn't do too good today..It seems like the more I read about the Liver, the more scared I get and instead of stopping, I do more..
Insanity...Pure Insanity..
Im thinking tonight,,forget the B-day..quit now.. but I would imagine, that that thought will change , as ususal in the morning..
Well if I do make it through until Fri. Im now, for the first time thinking seriously about a Medical De-tox..
The hell with the pride..
Pride and 75cents will get you coffee at Wa Wa...
Well I do hope all are well.
Again Thanks to All of You for being here.
I can at least now see that I am so so not alone with this problem and that I need to forget about what people think of me. and that I cannot do this alone.. No Way No How..
I thought I could ,,,but No Way!!
Love and Hugs.
Di.
I
Hi, Di here..
I've been reading your post for a couple days, and really didn't understand why you were going through it so bad only taking 5 perks a day for I think a month..
Well now I get it!! The Patch!! That Im pretty sure is what your getting most of you w/d symptoms from..Im not sure what mil. you were on, but I know that I had been , at first 2.5. and then 50!! Those patches are really weird, to say the least..When I put the first one on I thought God Im so tired. and went to bed.
Well the next 2 days, I was speeding my butt off..to the point that I even could not stand it anymore..I ripped the thing off the second night...You want to talk sick... Migranes..Throwing up... Terrible.I was skitzed for a couple days..I mean like a caged animal...Thought I was really really losing my mind..
.
So again, Im no expert at W/d. but I do think it is more from the Patch.
I too was tapering, or trying to,didn't do too good today..It seems like the more I read about the Liver, the more scared I get and instead of stopping, I do more..
Insanity...Pure Insanity..
Im thinking tonight,,forget the B-day..quit now.. but I would imagine, that that thought will change , as ususal in the morning..
Well if I do make it through until Fri. Im now, for the first time thinking seriously about a Medical De-tox..
The hell with the pride..
Pride and 75cents will get you coffee at Wa Wa...
Well I do hope all are well.
Again Thanks to All of You for being here.
I can at least now see that I am so so not alone with this problem and that I need to forget about what people think of me. and that I cannot do this alone.. No Way No How..
I thought I could ,,,but No Way!!
Love and Hugs.
Di.
I
Hi Di-
It could very well be the patch. It was 50mg. I stopped wearing it on Sunday morning. It's probably a little of both (vic's and patch). Yesterday, I cut back to 3 vics. YEAH! I woke up this morning and don't feel as bad as I did on Monday. I'm going for 2 1/2 Vics today. I wore the patch for 3 weeks (I had 7 of them). The Doc should never have given them to me if this is the result. He knows I'm taking Vic's for pain and he gives me the patch on top of it. I'm really scared though, because of what I went through with Xanax, which was a living hell for 3 weeks. One funny thing though, when I was in the hospital 3 weeks ago, they were giving me Daludid (sic?) and the patch, and I was clearly halucinating (sic?). I didn't take any Vic's for 5 days then. People, keep writing me and pushing me along. I need to do this and I am scared!
It could very well be the patch. It was 50mg. I stopped wearing it on Sunday morning. It's probably a little of both (vic's and patch). Yesterday, I cut back to 3 vics. YEAH! I woke up this morning and don't feel as bad as I did on Monday. I'm going for 2 1/2 Vics today. I wore the patch for 3 weeks (I had 7 of them). The Doc should never have given them to me if this is the result. He knows I'm taking Vic's for pain and he gives me the patch on top of it. I'm really scared though, because of what I went through with Xanax, which was a living hell for 3 weeks. One funny thing though, when I was in the hospital 3 weeks ago, they were giving me Daludid (sic?) and the patch, and I was clearly halucinating (sic?). I didn't take any Vic's for 5 days then. People, keep writing me and pushing me along. I need to do this and I am scared!
