Opioids Hydrocodone withdrawal.

[DesertHarp]

I feel lousy today. Nausea, vomiting, dry heaves, a little diarrhea, general malaise. I don't have a cold or any other common sickness. This feels like withdrawal.

Here's the thing. I get 60 tablets of hydrocodone every month, legally from my doctor. I pace myself, so I don't run out before my next refill. My last dose was last night at midnight. I thought I could get my refill today, but the pharmacy said it's not due until tomorrow. It's 18 hours since then. Does it seem plausible that I'm withdrawing this soon. Normally I take a tablet twice a day.

I've been through "mild" withdrawal before when I ran out ahead of schedule. It was pretty distressing. Nausea and vomiting and restless leg syndrome were the main symptoms. This is not that bad, but the nausea and fatigue are keeping me in bed.

Does anyone know if I could be starting withdrawal this soon? I'm not depressed, but I can't get off the couch and the bed.

 

[Helpmeescapethis]

It is strange that you’re having such strong symptoms from such little time without a low amount of a not very uber potent opioid.

 

[DesertHarp]

It is strange that you’re having such strong symptoms from such little time without a low amount of a not very uber potent opioid.

My primary care provider, a P.A., said the same thing a few years ago when this happened, only worse.

Well, this afternoon, it blew over. What a relief. 2.5 days of feeling like crap just ended. I do believe it was withdrawal. Nothing else is going on with me. I guess I'm very vulnerable to unusual stress when discontinuing my intake. For it to end this soon probably is due to my rather modest use of an opioid.

I'm going now to pick up my refill. Thanks for posting. I'll stretch out my supply more carefully over the next 30 days.

 

[Helpmeescapethis]

My primary care provider, a P.A., said the same thing a few years ago when this happened, only worse.

Well, this afternoon, it blew over. What a relief. 2.5 days of feeling like crap just ended. I do believe it was withdrawal. Nothing else is going on with me. I guess I'm very vulnerable to unusual stress when discontinuing my intake. For it to end this soon probably is due to my rather modest use of an opioid.

I'm going now to pick up my refill. Thanks for posting. I'll stretch out my supply more carefully over the next 30 days.

If it was full on withdrawal, it wouldn’t even be hitting the peak of it until 2 days in. Do you think that the knowledge of knowing you were getting your script today may have relieved it more than you think?

When I was ordering straight fentanyl and would be in insane withdrawals, hearing the mail truck alone would relieve 80% of my symptoms.

 

[DesertHarp]

If it was full on withdrawal, it wouldn’t even be hitting the peak of it until 2 days in. Do you think that the knowledge of knowing you were getting your script today may have relieved it more than you think?

When I was ordering straight fentanyl and would be in insane withdrawals, hearing the mail truck alone would relieve 80% of my symptoms.

Well, it seems withdrawal was not the issue at all. You are right in all the points you made. Here's why I know. I have a history of bleeding ulcers in my stomach. This morning I woke up very sick and threw up black stuff. That means my ulcers have opened up again. That would have nothing to do with running out of Vicodin (hydrocodone.) This all happened back in 2022. Since then, I thought I had the problem well controlled. No issue with my stomach in 3 years, thanks to taking acid suppressing medication. I was shocked to see evidence of bleeding again today.

I was greatly comforted to get my Vicodin refill yesterday. It will help me feel better, while I'm dealing with this other problem. I've notified my primary doctor, so we'll get my problem sorted out.

When I ran out of Vicodin, I got an unrelenting headache. I took Naproxen and aspirin for it. Those are NSAIDs, which are known to cause ulcers. Normally, I never take NSAIDs. I just felt so lousy, I was desperate for anything that might make me feel better. I won't do that again.

Thanks for your input. It seems I was barking up a wrong tree.

 

[DesertHarp]

I'm feeling way better. When I run out of Vicodin, any other issue in my life becomes magnified and seems way worse. Now that I have my refill, and have taken some doses yesterday and one an hour ago, everything seems way less distressing.

I know I'm physically and psychologically dependent. I've been getting these tablets legally every month for over 7 years. Even when I don't have pain, I just always feel so much better after taking a tablet. It even helps my chronically recurring depression.

If I traveled in circles where I could find a way to hook up to an illegal supply, I probably would have become a stone cold junky by now. I'll never judge anyone who uses illegally. "There, but for the grace of God, go I."

Doctors in the hospital do not appreciate how stressful it is to be suddenly cut off. When I went in the hospital some years back, they did cut me off, until I fussed and fussed at them. When I got rehospitalized that year, I brought my own supply, hidden in a sock. That spared me a lot of initial suffering. Then they broke down and ordered it for me for the duration of my stay. No one should be forced into withdrawal, while they have another serious medical issue going on. That's way too stressful.

I may have to go to the hospital soon, if I keep throwing up. I'll know to pack some tablets. But I may recover ok at home. That one tablet I took 2 hours ago relieved 80% of my current distress from these ulcers. I will always love these tablets.

 

[bonomoopiojo55]

Hi Desert, I had very similar issues last year, I went to the hospital and got put on carafate and pantoprazole which got me back on track, it was worth it, and one other med I forget what it was but my ulcers have been under control since, best wishes, keep us posted.

 

[DesertHarp]

Hi Desert, I had very similar issues last year, I went to the hospital and got put on carafate and pantoprazole which got me back on track, it was worth it, and one other med I forget what it was but my ulcers have been under control since, best wishes, keep us posted.

Thanks for posting. It's good to hear from someone who's had GI issues. As a retired nurse, I'm familiar with Carafate. I wondered why it was never ordered for me. Next time I talk to a doctor, I'm going to specifically ask about it. The proton pump inhibitor (such as pantoprazole) is the mainstay longterm. It lowers acid, which is essential to healing a stomach ulcer, as I'm sure you fully understand.

My next time seeing an MD may be tomorrow. If I feel crappy tomorrow, I will go to the ED. I think 7 a.m. is the best time to hit the ED. That, I suspect, is when the time in the waiting room is shortest. My "hospital bag" is already packed.

I'll post how things go. Thanks for the support to both of you above.

 

[bonomoopiojo55]

Yes, feel better soon, I was taking a lot of excedrin at the time, nsaid wreak havoc, retired nurse here too! I swore had gall bladder problems til I went to er, got it under control, no more flare ups since, let us know if go to hospital, stay in touch!

 

[DesertHarp]

Yes, feel better soon, I was taking a lot of excedrin at the time, nsaid wreak havoc, retired nurse here too! I swore had gall bladder problems til I went to er, got it under control, no more flare ups since, let us know if go to hospital, stay in touch!

I'm glad it stabilized for you. I'm much better, myself. I'll need to get labs soon to check hemoglobin. Gut issues are worrisome.