I'm new to this board having just discovered it and would appreciate input from others. I have been taking vicodin for probably 10 years. I only took an average of 4 tablets of the 500's every day. Eleven days ago after my hubby found out we decided it was time to quit. I had been thinking about it anyway, but hadn't completely come to terms with quitting. It's been eleven days that I have taken only 1 entire pill each day (one half tablet twice a day). It's been tough, the psychological addiction part of it. I am thinking of having an evaluation at our guidance center to consider bupheneprine (sp?) but can't decide if this would be overkill as I never took that many pills -- but I did take them for a long, long time. Any ideas?
Thanks.
Yes,MaggieJ,
I am in the same boat floating with you exept I have weaned down to a 5mg in the middle of the day and that's it. If I were you I would cut a 5 in half. and take 5mg whenever you wnt and then half of a 5....That was you will be down to 7.5 a day for a week and then just go to taking a 5mg tab for a week after that and then stop. I really have been doing fine on that plan as I have done it a few times in the past.. get some B-12 vitamins and a good ONE A DAY woman's vitamin and try and exercise. That has helped me out a great deal with tappering down to this low amount. I plan to stop taking altogether come this monday! If you do get any w/d they will probably be pretty minor. You could take an over the counter flu medication for any flu-like symptoms,like comtrex,tylenol flu etc. Also Banana's are great for leg cramps and pottassim-sp?pills.Benadryl is great for sleep(25mg) will make you wake up and feel pretty good. Motrin 800mgs is good for pain too! I think you will surprised at the withdrawl symptoms once you get down to a low dose day. Your body will adjust to basically having nothing all day anyway you know. I wouldn't have a doctor put you on any other type of medication unless you really need it. In my opinion. I am here for you if you need to chat!~ Rae
I am in the same boat floating with you exept I have weaned down to a 5mg in the middle of the day and that's it. If I were you I would cut a 5 in half. and take 5mg whenever you wnt and then half of a 5....That was you will be down to 7.5 a day for a week and then just go to taking a 5mg tab for a week after that and then stop. I really have been doing fine on that plan as I have done it a few times in the past.. get some B-12 vitamins and a good ONE A DAY woman's vitamin and try and exercise. That has helped me out a great deal with tappering down to this low amount. I plan to stop taking altogether come this monday! If you do get any w/d they will probably be pretty minor. You could take an over the counter flu medication for any flu-like symptoms,like comtrex,tylenol flu etc. Also Banana's are great for leg cramps and pottassim-sp?pills.Benadryl is great for sleep(25mg) will make you wake up and feel pretty good. Motrin 800mgs is good for pain too! I think you will surprised at the withdrawl symptoms once you get down to a low dose day. Your body will adjust to basically having nothing all day anyway you know. I wouldn't have a doctor put you on any other type of medication unless you really need it. In my opinion. I am here for you if you need to chat!~ Rae
Someone told me B50 helps too! Great for energy like a B-12. I am sure once you stop the vicodin you will miss the energy and vitamins do help you get that back! Rae
Maggie,
I have no personal experience with Bup, but it would seem like overkill for your situation. Most use it as a way to minimize or eliminate withdrawal symptoms, short term; longterm use is addictive, and then you have a new problem, If you've been down to 1 pill a day for 11 days, then you could probably stop completely with few physical symptoms; if you want to taper even more, go to 1/2 a day for 4 days, then stop. The hydro will be out of your body w/in 3 days. My guess would be that your ongoing challenge will be more a mental one -- fighting the thought that just one won't do any harm, etc. For that, you may want to consider substance abuse counseling, 12-step meetings (AA or NA), or some combination that gives you face-to-face support. Good luck to you, Maggie. M.
I have no personal experience with Bup, but it would seem like overkill for your situation. Most use it as a way to minimize or eliminate withdrawal symptoms, short term; longterm use is addictive, and then you have a new problem, If you've been down to 1 pill a day for 11 days, then you could probably stop completely with few physical symptoms; if you want to taper even more, go to 1/2 a day for 4 days, then stop. The hydro will be out of your body w/in 3 days. My guess would be that your ongoing challenge will be more a mental one -- fighting the thought that just one won't do any harm, etc. For that, you may want to consider substance abuse counseling, 12-step meetings (AA or NA), or some combination that gives you face-to-face support. Good luck to you, Maggie. M.
Thanks to all of you for your input. I have been thinking that the whole guidance center route is overkill and that I just need to be a bit patient. I'm not doing terrible, although those first few days were not fun. I'm generally not a patient person, so I want it fixed "today", you know what I mean? And I really can't see substituting one addiction for another. I suppose it can't hurt to go for an evaluation to see what services they offer, i.e. meetings, etc. I thought since I have had this problem for nearly 10 years, that perhaps my brain chemistry has been permanently altered and the "bu" was needed to make you more normal or something. I really am glad I found this board and thank you for your feedback. I will definitely keep writing.
My doctor told me it was OK to stay on the 2 halves for a week or so and then try to cut down. I almost wonder if I had placebos if I would even notice -- it's just knowing you have that pill there to take. He gave me clonidine and I tried that last night but it made me fall asleep, so that was no help.
My doctor told me it was OK to stay on the 2 halves for a week or so and then try to cut down. I almost wonder if I had placebos if I would even notice -- it's just knowing you have that pill there to take. He gave me clonidine and I tried that last night but it made me fall asleep, so that was no help.
MaggieJ,
I have the clonodine(catapress patches) also. I plan on using one when I stop altogether.. That is if I feel I need it. Hang inthere you can do it. It is more mental than anything and I hate that more than anything. But it easier for me to quit knowing I have pills than it is to have none. Ya know what I mean? Rae
I have the clonodine(catapress patches) also. I plan on using one when I stop altogether.. That is if I feel I need it. Hang inthere you can do it. It is more mental than anything and I hate that more than anything. But it easier for me to quit knowing I have pills than it is to have none. Ya know what I mean? Rae
I definitely know what you mean -- I have a half I keep carrying around (my husband has been keeping my stash and leaving me one pill a day), but this half, just knowing I have it has been good. I haven't even taken it, just know it is available. Damn, this is so hard and seems to consume all my time. I do have periods where I feel pretty good -- I've been waking up earlier in the morning. Do you have suggestions for any books or anything that you may have read? I really appreciate your feedback.
Oh yea, and I wondered about suggestions for vitamin B-12 or whatever you suggested.
Hi Maggie;
I would definitely seek out guidance from a counselor - that can never hurt! And since you're down to such a low daily amount of pills, I would also consider flushing what you have left and putting the tapering behind you. I've found this to be such a "disease of the mind", that once you eliminate these pills from your life your entire focus shifts to recovery and away from obsessing over the pills. Just a thought.
Jim
I would definitely seek out guidance from a counselor - that can never hurt! And since you're down to such a low daily amount of pills, I would also consider flushing what you have left and putting the tapering behind you. I've found this to be such a "disease of the mind", that once you eliminate these pills from your life your entire focus shifts to recovery and away from obsessing over the pills. Just a thought.
Jim
I agree you should seek help from a professional.
I go to a Dr. that only deals in Detox, I also have a counselor.
They can help you do in the safest way.
Good luck to you ~
Keep coming back here and let us know how your doing!
I go to a Dr. that only deals in Detox, I also have a counselor.
They can help you do in the safest way.
Good luck to you ~
Keep coming back here and let us know how your doing!
Hey MaggieJ,
You were inquring abou the B-12 vitamins. Well in my opinion they work great for energy. Although I will say to many viatmins can cause problems too.I personally take B-12 sublingual lozenges that dissolve under the tongue. They have a strength on the bottle that say 1000 mcg which is way to much for a woman's body. I allow it to dissolve about half way and spit it out so I am only getting half the dose.Then I take a reg.One a day vitamin. My girlfriend is a pharmacist and she says that B-12 is an average B vitamin where the B50 vitamins would be more helpful with people with aids,hepC . She said the B50 may make the average person with no real serious illinesses head feel like it was going to explode,don't want that! Good luck to you,Rae
You were inquring abou the B-12 vitamins. Well in my opinion they work great for energy. Although I will say to many viatmins can cause problems too.I personally take B-12 sublingual lozenges that dissolve under the tongue. They have a strength on the bottle that say 1000 mcg which is way to much for a woman's body. I allow it to dissolve about half way and spit it out so I am only getting half the dose.Then I take a reg.One a day vitamin. My girlfriend is a pharmacist and she says that B-12 is an average B vitamin where the B50 vitamins would be more helpful with people with aids,hepC . She said the B50 may make the average person with no real serious illinesses head feel like it was going to explode,don't want that! Good luck to you,Rae
Maggie- I started on 4 500's a day and went to 6. Then I decided I have to quit, so I am tapering. I'm now down to 3 a day. The schedule I got from someone on another board was a 20% reduction every 4-5 days. So far, after 2 1/2 weeks, I went from 6 to 3 with little wd's. And I'm going to 2 in another days or so. It's a pretty simple formula. You just have to stick to it.
YOU GUYS CAN DO IT!!!!! I am living proof you can wean down to a 5mg vicodin a day and stop.I have done it before and about to do it again this monday! This time will be the last time---I put my mind and body through this.. Guess you've just got to be sick of it all and ready to end the madness for it to really work... Rae
Good morning, good luck with your vicoden problem. Everybody is different but vicoden is one of the easiest (physically) to withdraw from. You won't get seizures, or deathly sick like from heroin. You will have a hard time of it psychologically but from your post you seem strong enough to handle it. With a good support group, your husband for starters, you'll be OK in a short while.
Once you get busy doing something that interests you you'll begin to realize I did that and had a good time and didn't even think about taking a pill.
I'm not an MD but I wouldn't substitute one drug/pill for another one or pretty soon you'll be psychologically addicted to the substitute.
Good luck and God bless.
Jack....clean and sober 6 years in Jan. 2005
Once you get busy doing something that interests you you'll begin to realize I did that and had a good time and didn't even think about taking a pill.
I'm not an MD but I wouldn't substitute one drug/pill for another one or pretty soon you'll be psychologically addicted to the substitute.
Good luck and God bless.
Jack....clean and sober 6 years in Jan. 2005
Just checking back in with everyone. Still taking only a total of one vic/day. I decided against the "bu" - don't need to substitute one drug for another, but I found a wonderful addictions counselor/massage person who was magical. I will definitely return to her next week. I even went out to meet some friends with my husband at the bar at 5 p.m. last night and had just one drink, no pills, and enjoyed conversing with people -- as a straight, non-high friend! I ran into some old friends Ihadn't seen in a while which gave me some extra support to feel good about myself. I thank you all for your help and for this board! Couldn't do it without ya!
MaggieJ
MaggieJ
Bup saved my life, they gave it to me in treatment. But I was on 20 a day, and I did get deathly sick from the vic withdrawls...
Maggie, I echo JRs advice...just chuck it and tapering is a b****. I am not sure, though about your withdrawls because the amount of time you were on them...
Good luck, girly, and stay strong...
Kerry
Hey - good luck in your recovery - please read my earlier post - this helped me w/ the psychologica portion of the addiction - and I also did not take more then 25 mg a day of Hydrocodone, for the last 3 years -
Hi all, After 10 years of in and out abuse of various opiates - from vics to percs to oxys, I ordered an herbal supplement that I saw advertised in a local pennytrader magazine - it was advertised to "help stop narcotic withdrawl symptoms" it was only $50 - I ordered, tried everything else in the past. Surprisingly....it actually seems to help me, not just the physical symptons but it seems to take away my cravings to - well between taking that for the last 26 days, and support from reading others war stories on this message board and others i have been good - after writing i realize this sounds like an advertisement, but just honestly interested in helping others who have suffered the same - if you want to contact them there email is herbaltechnologies@yahoo.com - if I find there website again, ill post it - thanks all
Hi all, After 10 years of in and out abuse of various opiates - from vics to percs to oxys, I ordered an herbal supplement that I saw advertised in a local pennytrader magazine - it was advertised to "help stop narcotic withdrawl symptoms" it was only $50 - I ordered, tried everything else in the past. Surprisingly....it actually seems to help me, not just the physical symptons but it seems to take away my cravings to - well between taking that for the last 26 days, and support from reading others war stories on this message board and others i have been good - after writing i realize this sounds like an advertisement, but just honestly interested in helping others who have suffered the same - if you want to contact them there email is herbaltechnologies@yahoo.com - if I find there website again, ill post it - thanks all
I'm wondering why a legitmate business would be using a web-based, free e-mail account that doesn't require subscriber verification, payment, etc.
I found a web page for www.herbaltechnologies.com, and they only sell three herbal products: two for penile enhancement, one for breast enlargement.
I would caution other Board members against writing to this e-mail address, much less risking $50, unless significantly more information is provided, including: name of company, address contact information, name of product, URL for website, etc. Even then, it would probably be worth doing some Internet research on the company and the product itself if you were so inclined to order.
If this is all legitimate, my apologies to you capitolbob. But you have only posted twice on this Board, both times about this product, and we are a pretty easy community to prey on for this type of thing. Better safe than sorry. M.
I found a web page for www.herbaltechnologies.com, and they only sell three herbal products: two for penile enhancement, one for breast enlargement.
I would caution other Board members against writing to this e-mail address, much less risking $50, unless significantly more information is provided, including: name of company, address contact information, name of product, URL for website, etc. Even then, it would probably be worth doing some Internet research on the company and the product itself if you were so inclined to order.
If this is all legitimate, my apologies to you capitolbob. But you have only posted twice on this Board, both times about this product, and we are a pretty easy community to prey on for this type of thing. Better safe than sorry. M.
Actually vicodin withdrawals are not one of the easiest to withdrawal from. Vicodin is an opiate and is stored in your bones, when you stop it is very painful. Herion is also an opiate. It is harder than vicodin to withdrawal froom, but that does not make vic wd any easier. It is a very physical wd. Sorry just had to put in my input. Good luck and keep your head up, You can do it. Ann
i am 9 months pregnant and take 4 to 6 hydros a day of the 7.5's how can i quit in 2 weeks before my baby is due so it doesn't have withdrawl.
