Addicted to Norco - Need to break FREE

[ggirl92]

Also why when you're kicking do you run a fever? It's not an infection I'm just curious if everyone runs a temp.

Also how long am I looking at feeling the worst? I know it varies but in your experience?

 

[AromaticNitrogen]

Xanax as needed for acute anxiety associated with the cliff. .5-1mg as low dose as is effective.

5-10 mg Valium 1-2 hrs before it's time to sleep. Again, lowest effective dose.

10mg flexeril 45-90 mins before sleep. Those should help stave off or partially alleviate nighttime issues. Try not to overdo it.

25mg Benedryl to supplement at night as needed if insomnia is severe. Try not to redose, stuff gets synergistic and you'll risk a rough hangover.

I'd suggest keeping clear of the seroquel. Also, furosemide is not a substitute for clonidine, the two are completely different drugs. Steer clear of using it outside of its prescribed use. If it not your script, just as well to exclude it.

800 mg ibuprofen every 6-8 hrs. Might dull the discomfort.

Like they've said, it will be tough. If you're not going to manage the wd symptoms under a healthcare provider, it may be more unpredictable. Try to keep your med use at the lowest effective dose. And quite sincerely, good luck. I hope you kick it.

 

[VisceralChems]

I've been having a hard time getting pills and am so sick of these stupid things! Waking up feeling doom is upon me! I can't take it anymore! Ugggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!

Anyways, I'm considering jumping tomorrow and just be done. I've cleaned my house top to bottom high off my ass. Bought groceries, new pajamas, flowers for my bedside and a bunch of OTC stuff. I have Xanax, Valium, Flexiril, 800mg Motrin and Seroquel (never taken it, kinda scared to but I heard it may help knock me out). I have 10 norcos left I for some reason think I won't panic as much if I have them on hand. I just hope I can keep strong and not take them.

My mom comes to stay for the week. I work from home and my job is kinda slow this week and my boyfriend is gone for his work. All signs point to now. I'm teetering on telling my mom but I just don't know. If I don't, will she know? Am I gonna be horrible sick? Maybe she can help me not feel so down and depressed. I just don't want to freak her out if I'm acting crazy sick.

Also - I cannot get Clonidine I don't want to ask my doc for it. I do have a few Furosemide (blood pressure med) - is that similar? If not what can I do for the RLS?

Here we go...it's gonna be so hard to wake up and not gobble pills. I hope and pray I can stay strong and do this.

Have you decided against taking the suboxone? Whether you take that or not will significantly alter the severity and duration.

Also, may be better if you can have someone hold the pills for you, or perhaps get rid of them all together if you are really serious. When you are in the depths of WD, your mind will tell you that you NEED them, even though you really don't. You will maximize your success by not having them around. Taking them just to get rid of some of the pain will just delay the detox process. But since you are having family over who does not know your situation, I don't really know what to say, as it sounds like you are not sure if it is really a good week or not. If you are not using suboxone, you could definitely scare your mom a bit if she doesn't know what is wrong, and will likely want to take you to the Dr.

If you are using suboxone like initially discussed, then you will probably be able to avoid most of the severe stuff and not scare your mom too much, but it may also delay recovery a bit into the next week as well. I looked back and saw you are taking 20 10mg pills a day...200mg a day is a fairly high habit IMO, so I would plan for the worst and hope for the best. If those are all 10/325s, your liver is going to be SO MUCH BETTER OFF stopping ASAP, and the support of your mom may be worth while for the sake of your health.

 

[ggirl92]

I got scared and took two this morning. I feel ok but it's not my normal dose. I'm scared to freak my mom out.

I want to go the Suboxone route but they want me to be in a plan for months and they want $500 for the induction and I don't have that just yet. God I hate this position I'm in! I feel hopeless. I have insurance but don't want to use it because I'm employed by my insurer and their program sucks and is known to suck by others. Daily visits and I can't manage that without my boyfriend knowing - I work from home and he works nights and will be suspicious of me leaving every morning. Why is this so hard? They make it so difficult and expensive to get clean. I'm so overwhelmed!

 

[VisceralChems]

I got scared and took two this morning. I feel ok but it's not my normal dose. I'm scared to freak my mom out.

I want to go the Suboxone route but they want me to be in a plan for months and they want $500 for the induction and I don't have that just yet. God I hate this position I'm in! I feel hopeless. I have insurance but don't want to use it because I'm employed by my insurer and their program sucks and is known to suck by others. Daily visits and I can't manage that without my boyfriend knowing - I work from home and he works nights and will be suspicious of me leaving every morning. Why is this so hard? They make it so difficult and expensive to get clean. I'm so overwhelmed!

It's OK, it is your call, and at least you are making some positive steps. Just continue to cut back and taper as much as you can, and it will be easier for you when you are finally ready.

To be honest, WE make it difficult and expensive to get clean by getting ourselves into the situation. Although, yes, the medical system could be much improved, but that is true for many other things other than this. Another option would be to search for other places if you are still wanting to go the suboxone rout. I found mine from a family doctor who had received the special license, and it only cost as much as the dr visit co-pay and RX co-pay. I had one follow-up appointment after one week, and then one two weeks later. But this may be an issue due to your insurance...

BUT, if you can keep your motivation and continue to taper your use, then by the time you are ready you might not need suboxone. Just think how much easier, and cheaper, and more comfortable the process will be if you stick with the taper! Think about how much pain/hassle you will be avoiding by tapering everytime you are tempted to dose, and really ask yourself if you feel withdrawal bad enough to take some, or if you are just doing it from habit or to escape. My friend was able to taper very successfully while using loperamide to eliminate virtually all side effects, so was my wife.

Also, if you are not doing it already, or haven't heard of it, look into "Cold Water Extraction" if you are using 10/325 pills to give your liver as much a break as possible and jump start your recovery even while you are tapering.

 

[legalizeall]

I was taking about 30-35 daily in my addiction so i know the ins and outs of norco. I used to love them. I really loved them. They became my reason to exist. They were my everything and i thought no way was i ever gonna get out of this hole.

I still have never felt the same wonderful warm feeling they gave me that first dose i took before my strung out road to hell. I remember vividly where i was, what i was doing and the thought that came to me told me i was fuckin with some serious shit. I thought to myself, "i dont ever want to not feel like this ever again."

i put the shit down cold turkey and ill tell you i will never forget it. That was about 5 years ago and i feel so blessed to not have those cravings that i used to have. Saying the cravings were overwhelming is a large understatement.

I dont know about all the maintence drugs out there today and i have my opinion on those but will not voice it here. My point is i know what im talking about with this particular drug and its a drug all on its own. Ya its an opiate but deserves more respect than be grouped with heroin, fent., etc. Ive had those other opiates and nothing compares to norco. I have never had any substance change me so much than those pills. Made me do shit i never would have guessed in a million years i would do.

So if you want answers to your questions, ask me here or pm. Not that other people here dont know what they are talking about. I just have a very intimate realtionships with norcos

One more thing before i go here. If your gonna go cold turkey with Moms in the house thinking she wont know or you can play it off your greatly mistaken. If she doesnt figure it out on her own i guarantee the morning feelings of depression, overwhelmed, and anxiety that all come flooding in the moment you open your eyes will have you spilling your guts to her in no time. Probably day 2

 

[VisceralChems]

I dont know about all the maintence drugs out there today and i have my opinion on those but will not voice it here. My point is i know what im talking about with this particular drug and its a drug all on its own. Ya its an opiate but deserves more respect than be grouped with heroin, fent., etc. Ive had those other opiates and nothing compares to norco. I have never had any substance change me so much than those pills. Made me do shit i never would have guessed in a million years i would do.

Are we talking about the same pill? A norco is acetaminophen/hydrocodone correct (also known as Vicodin)? I am not trying to be snide or argumentative, I am just confused and curious why you feel it "deserves more respect" than to be grouped with other opiates. Especially since hydrocodone is actually considered to be quite mild in respect to the opiate family (I have personal experience as well). Again, not trying to stir anything, I am just trying to understand your perspective.

 

[legalizeall]

Are we talking about the same pill? A norco is acetaminophen/hydrocodone correct (also known as Vicodin)? I am not trying to be snide or argumentative, I am just confused and curious why you feel it "deserves more respect" than to be grouped with other opiates. Especially since hydrocodone is actually considered to be quite mild in respect to the opiate family (I have personal experience as well). Again, not trying to stir anything, I am just trying to understand your perspective.

Its double the strength of Vicodin and alot of people do think they are the same but they are not. You are right that some think its mild too.

The doctors give out the 5/500 dose Vicodin while norcos are 10/325. I wasnt trying minimize the danger of the other opiates but i can see how people might think that so i should clarify here.

In my experience and in my lifetime, i have had some of the other opiates. At one point in my life i smoked heroin daily for almost 3 years. Kicking it was easier than i thought. Ive fucked around with the fent. patches and morphine pills. All of those i was able to use and put down without too much hassle.

But the norcos kicked my ass and during that time i have never felt more out of control when it came to using a drug. I felt like a time bomb all the time that was about to explode. It just changed my character as a person like nothing else ive ever experienced. It wasnt me anymore but i couldnt see that. I could see the destruction but i was numb to it. I remember trying to feel emotions when i watched my girlfriend crying over what was going on and i just didnt have that part of me anymore. I couldnt feel anything. It was gone. I was emotionless and had no empathy. In contrast if i were to see that same thing today it would tear me up to see her hurt like that.

It just felt so insidious and cunning the kind of grip i was in. I really became that pill.

Sorry for the misunderstanding. I should have been more clear

 

[VisceralChems]

^^ Well, Vicodin actually comes in different doses, currently including 5/300, 7.5/300, and 10/300. Regardless, the active ingredients are the same.

It is interesting to hear your experience with that compared to all the other things you have tried. I am surprised how that affected you compared to the H. I guess each person has his/her own DOC that they just seem to gravitate to and react to. For me, hydrocodone was okay when I was opiate naive, but soon after it really did very little for me.

Anyways, thanks for clarifying and sharing. Glad to hear you were able to overcome, and hopefully you can provide her some unique insight. Take care.

 

[ggirl92]

Legalizeall I'm new to this site and can't find the option to PM. I'd love to hear your story.

Bad news is: I copped more pills. My mom confessed yesterday my dad has late stages of emphysema and they've been hiding it from me. Major stress trigger and I pretty much have been crippled with sadness.

Good news is: I got in touch with what I think will be a kick-ass resource for Suboxone $100/visit and $100 estimate on pills. Beats the hell out of a $500 visit when I'm barely able to pay bills and maintain. 3-4 week wait list but that's close enough to my goal begin by date.

Not 100% sure I'll go the sub route but it makes me feel better to know I have a good option if I need to.

 

[buttershots21]

As I just went through a solid 8 days of CT due to a close friend stealing my pain meds and my daughter's ADHD meds, I really feel where you are coming from. I'm a chronic pain patient, but I will admit to a heavy physical dependency if not outright addiction. When you're in the middle of hard core withdrawals, it's hard to separate the two because all you want to do is feel BETTER. I take 180 mg morphine each day and 6 percocet 7.5/325 a day as well. Not a huge habit, and I take all my meds orally, but it's not the lightest habit to come off of either. These are the things I have found most worthwhile in coming off of opiates of any kind. Subs, when used properly for a short period of time are a godsend. I would never recommend anyone going CT for ANY reason if they don't have to, everyone is different and people have DIED during a CT. I find suffering through CT or using my DOC to try and taper increases my usage, not lower it. The fear of the agony of the pain and misery will deter me from even trying to quit. Anyways, if you don't want to use sub, keep your Xanax or whatever handy. I would not have gotten through this past week without mine. It kept my nerves from going nuts, helped with sleep, the anxiety and panic attacks feeling miserable cause and they just help. Take one or two each day for a week or so, but no longer, you don't want to trade one dependance for another. Something for diarrhea is a MUST. Imodium, (lopriamide), or if you can get it, Lomotil works wonders. I have an rX for it for IBS and it not only helps with the runs, but it drys out the runny nose, watery eyes, and the cold sweats. If you can get a hold of some gabapentin to take for the first couple days, it may help. I have an Rx for that too, and it helps with the aches and insomnia for me. I take Zofran for nausea, idk what else is out there to stop nausea, but that helps. I also make sure and take my B vitamins and drink tons of water to flush my system and stay hydrated because dehydration is just going to make you feel worse. Most important: stay busy! Don't lay in bed all day feeling miserable. You will feel like you just cannot focus on anything, but TRY and keep trying. It doesn't have to be physical. Have a movie marathon, read a book, or magazines, shorter articles may fit your attention span better. If you feel yourself starting to dwell, keep a journal, take 5 minutes to write down how scared, sick, miserable you are, remind yourself of why you're making this change, then get back to focusing on anything but the fact you don't have your pills. Burn it when you're done if you don't want anyone to stumble on it, or there are online diaries as well. Lastly, don't forget to do some reading and educate yourself on PAWS. Though the acute physical withdrawal will pretty much be over in a week to 10 days no matter which route you take to get through this, you will be facing a new reality for months afterwards. You've been using for a year, and you're body can't recover from the abuse overnight. Exercise and lay out in the sun to get those endorphins and vitamin D rolling again. Change you're daily routine, as much as you can. Get up at a different time than usual, take your shower at night if you usually do it in the morning, take a different route to work. They don't call it a habit for nothing, and the only way to get rid of a habit once you have got one is to replace it with another one. Let that other habit be a positive one. Exercise is the best one, but take some classes, learn a new skill, pick up something fun and different. You can be the old you again, it's just going to take a lot of time, patience, hard work, and willpower. And once an addict, always an addict, and don't ever forget it. Once you start feeling safe and comfortable is when you are at your most dangerous. Meetings sound like a must for you because without some sort of support, most people fail in the long run. They have NA meetings online if you don't feel comfortable going to one in person. Get a sponsor so you have someone to call if you need too. And of course, all the great people here at BL will be here to encourage you every step of the way!

Also, have you considered using Ultram (tramadol) instead of the sub? After I had a hysterectomy in 2010, i had been on norcos for about 2 years at that point, getting 60 every 10 days. Never having gone through WDs before, I just stopped taking them thinking CT would be no biggie. LOL, WRONG!! I didn't make it 48 hours into it before I ran my ass to an after hours clinic and told the Dr exactly what the situation was. She Rxed me Flexeril for the muscle spasms, Ativan for anxiety and insomnia, Imodium for the shits, and Ultram to get through the actual withdrawls. She wrote me a RX for a weeks worth of each and said by the time the week was up I should be doing pretty well. Ultrams are way easier to get as they are not considered a "real" opiate, though, believe you me, they are just as addictive and habit forming as Norco or Subs. You would just use them for the week or so it would take to get through the worst of the WDs, off the norcos but not being on them long enough to form a dependance on them as well. Even with the meds I currently take, if I run out a day or two early until my next refill, I find that 8 Ultrams a day holds me just fine. May be a much easier, cheaper way than subs and would accomplish the same result, and you wouldn't have to worry about the stigma of someone from your work finding out or whatnot. Just a thought.

 

[ggirl92]

OK so I broke and went to see my insurers chemical dependency program, I was just so sick of myself. Confessed my habit and met with the doc. We agreed to hold off on subs and do a taper with Tramadol. He prescribed me a taper schedule for 8 days and Clonodine. Man, Clonodine is a freaking LIFESAVER! Youguys were SO right on that one. I've only taken half of the .1 dose and it has made a world of difference to calm my nerves. I have Xanax but I'm scared to mix all of them. It's 24 hours since my last Norco I took 3 yesterday morning and found 1 on the way to the pharmacy to pick up the trams. Felt like Christmas! Trying to stay strong, I told my "friend" I was quitting got nervous and text her yesterday for some to ease my mind, and thank GOD she hasn't text me back. Hopefully I can stay strong and kick this for good. I'm so curious to see what I'll be like after the 8 days are up.

 

[sekio]

Od -> tds

 

[Harrisment]

OK so I broke and went to see my insurers chemical dependency program, I was just so sick of myself. Confessed my habit and met with the doc. We agreed to hold off on subs and do a taper with Tramadol. He prescribed me a taper schedule for 8 days and Clonodine. Man, Clonodine is a freaking LIFESAVER! Youguys were SO right on that one. I've only taken half of the .1 dose and it has made a world of difference to calm my nerves. I have Xanax but I'm scared to mix all of them. It's 24 hours since my last Norco I took 3 yesterday morning and found 1 on the way to the pharmacy to pick up the trams. Felt like Christmas! Trying to stay strong, I told my "friend" I was quitting got nervous and text her yesterday for some to ease my mind, and thank GOD she hasn't text me back. Hopefully I can stay strong and kick this for good. I'm so curious to see what I'll be like after the 8 days are up.

Keep up the good work! I really wish I had stopped when I was on Norcos. As others have mentioned, taking 20 pills a day is an extreme amount of APAP, so without a cold water extraction that is a really dangerous habit to keep up. The xanax could come in handy at night if you encounter insomnia. Otherwise, try to use it as little as possible. Good luck!