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  • TDS Moderators: AlphaMethylPhenyl | paranoid android

Addicted to Norco - Need to break FREE

^That's really sad hfa, sorry to hear that. OP, I think the best way is to taper down the pills. You won't get high but this is manageable since you have to function at work. I did this when I was finally ready to quit after eight years of oxy abuse. If you're not able to do this you might want to go the subs route. It depends what your ultimate goal is: If you want to get off opiates for good, only use subs to taper and do it quickly.

The summer's going to go by fast so the sooner you start this the better. Like others have said here, you are probably going to feel shitty for a while after the acutes are over. There's no getting around that and it's the price you pay when using opiates.

Negative self-talk will get you every time. When you tell yourself "I can't handle this, it feels terrible" you will find yourself using again soon for the simple comfort it once gave you. If there was a way to change your mindset to where your won't mentally freak out so bad..
 
Tapering sounds great, in theory, but very few are able to actually pull it off (self included). In fact, it actually had a strange way of INCREASING my use...However, I have known some who are able to do it, but nobody will know except you (be honest about how you work when it comes to addiction, and how motivated you are). The problem is, IMO, a proper taper will take longer than two weeks to prevent a real shitty two weeks, plus you will likely have some mild detox issues afterward anyways. You should, however, taper as low as you possibly can before jumping off (holds true for most things IMO), as the physical detox will be less of a "shock" to your body. So, in short, COULD YOU? Yes. But is it truly the most likely to be effective? That's up to you...and if you have a limited time to do this, you need to do what will work best.

Regarding Subs, I can testify that you need to be very careful if you go this rout. My sub Dr. wants me on high doses for a long time, because ultimately he feels it is better to be addicted to subs than relapse to my prior oxy use...I disagree based on hearing people's experiences with subs on this forum, so I am reducing myself regardless of his advice.

IF you are going to use Subs (and you probably already know), BUT MAKE SURE YOU ARE AT A COWS 26 before taking them regardless of when your Dr says it is OK (everyone is different). I took at 24hr mark even though dr said it would be fine after 20 - 22hrs, and it put me in moderate precipitated withdrawal. This can mess up the entire experience! That said, as others have advised, start with the lowest possible dose that makes it tolerable, and taper FAST. I am currently on day 8, and that is already way too long IMO, but I was started on too high a dose, as well as never stabilized properly due to the PW. That being said, I do think the subs helped my success in knowing that relapsing wouldnt even bring the desired result. But then again, I had a much higher use pattern than you too.

Keep in mind though, once you fill a suboxone RX, you are on a list for any Dr who searches it can see...(though they SHOULD have some reason to do so...). I actually had three strips which would have been more than enough to accomplish my goals if I wouldnt have went to the DR....oh well.

Best of luck, it is possible!!!
 
Tapering is very tough, almost impossible for someone who uses to get high especially with your drug of choice!!! I guess it's possible but not feesable. I know u want an easy way out but there just isn't one man!, between the myself and the others who posted to you we prob have a combined couple hundred detoxes under our belts.

The easiest way is the quick taper, but it is not painless, if done properly it is very manageable, meaning u can work and shit. It is however dangerous cuz it is very tempting to stay on sub, very few are successful at tapering and for some addicts it makes matters worse, not to mention you do a lot of suffering while tapering and to me it sounds like u r trying to avoid that.

No matter what route u choose, I have prob tried it and can offer my help whenever you need it, in the meantime toughen up a little bit and figure out if you are really truly ready cuz if u aren't it's all for not, get ur game face on and let's do this.
 
No doubt in my mind I'm ready! I'm ready to have myself back - healthy and present. Even if I were to continue I'm fairly certain it's only a short time I can continue to keep hiding and pretending I'm not on this shit. I make a good salary and am broke all the time and that alone has the attention of my boyfriend because I'm borrowing money from him. Plus my body is sick, I can feel it. I'm poisoning myself and it's sickening.

I'm so very ready to break free of this crap, just trying to figure out what the best route is and I appreciate everyone's help and guidance. I know it sounds like an excuse but it's not feasible until my kids are gone for the summer. I'm trying to psych myself in to this being a positive thing and not think about the hurting. It's so hard because everything I read and my past experience will not let me forget the suffering. I know it's gonna hurt and it's gonna be tough after I've healed too. It's part of the process and I'll have to cope. I just wish I had someone I could sit face to face with and just blurt it out but it's as if the words are caught in the back of my throat.
 
Girl, u have my info via private message, call me anytime, about to crash for the night but I am available most days, don't hesitate
 
sub taper works better than doc taper, like others stated start at lowest amount and start taper. don't linger, keep reducing. one thing subs do because of the half life is you will notice when you get up you won't be scrambling for pills to get started with the day. that won't happen with your opiates you take, plus you will get used to going about the day without the desire to get high. it does reduce cravings at first, that is the head start some need. key is like others posted, start small (very important) and taper, start exercise if you don't (walks is all it takes). after 10 ten days you will be on your own and if your really motivated you kick the shit out of opiates. it all comes down to how bad you want it. Some people hate Subs but I would argue if you plan on a taper plan a short Sub taper has a much higher rate of success than trying to taper on your drug of choice, those almost always end in failure. It maybe just the thought of not taking your pills anymore is progress, you won't get that feeling tapering with your drug of choice. remember a big part of addiction is in the head so it does make a difference, you'll feel your making progress instead of taking another pill and feeling shitty about it.
 
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How can I get it without using a detox center? I'm not crazy about being prescribed it because I don't want it in my pharmacy history at all. Any ideas? I'm in California if that helps or matters.
 
I woke up hopeful - felt like I have a plan. I'm going to go the Sub route but only do it for a week and jump. I'm going to start June 8. I'll have my house clean and my boyfriend will be gone. I'm ready to begin.
 
Unfortunately, no one can (should) really tell you where to get it here on bluelight other than through legal RX'ed locations.

However, it sounds like you have gotten a lot of great advice, and have a good plan. Best of luck and please let us know how it goes!
 
Wish I could tell u where to get it but I can say this....You didn't have an issue finding your DOC when u ran out so it shouldn't be too hard to find the sub. Anyhow, good luck and let us know when u start...like Mahi said, everyone is a bit different but shoot for a week and NO more than 10 days....get down to sub milligram levels for a few days before u jump....maybe skip a day before ur last dose, that can be helpful too.
 
Can you recommend a taper schedule? June 8 I'm gonna make as my last twisted date with pills. I'll plan on taking my last dose at like 8 or so that night. Monday morning I'll wake up and then what? Do I take that day off work and then plan on taking some days off after I'm done with the subs? What do you suggest so I can schedule my "vacation" now.

I'm gonna try to find sub's on my own and resort to the doc as last stitch effort. I WILL be starting this going the 8th and I can't wait!!! I'm going to have my life back and I feel happy at the thought! A "get my life back vacation" lol!
 
You won't need time off, if u taper properly and get the right mindset u will def be able to work...especially a desk job. I don't have time to lay out a taper right now but I am sure someone will get to it before I do. Many have done it here. I will check back later and if no-one has I will write one.

BTW, if u have to go to a sub doc , I hate to say this to u but ur better off going CT. When I tell u that u never wanna detox from Sub I mean it with force conviction.
 
ggirl92 - I don't think anyone can give you an exact taper schedule because it will depend on a) how well you were able to taper your pills prior to start, and b) how much sub you require to stop the withdraw. My advice would be to search for taper schedules in the forum (there are a lot) that match your estimated use to get an idea, and then when the time comes, if you still dont have answers, come back to BL and ask for a good one depending on what your first dose needed ends up being. Basically though, you are going to want to go from the lowest effective dose (probably between 2mg to 5mg) to .1 - .3mg as fast as possible. It may look like 2mg, 2mg, 1mg, .5mg, .25mg, jump...or 2mg, 2mg, 1mg, jump, or even 4mg, 2mg, 1mg, .5mg, .25mg, skip day, .25mg, jump....lots of options.

Again, the more you can taper before you start the sub, the less sub you will need, thus the less tapering you will need, thus the less chance of having any issues with sub. If you taper first you could probably get away with only 3-5 days of subs, which would be ideal. Everyone will probably have a slightly different suggestion, thus why I would recommend reading a variety of people's experience and deciding what works best for you based on how you are feeling.

Regarding work, if it were me, I personally would schedule time off...but that is again something that varies from person to person, as well as how well you were able to taper, as well as how well you are able to work when uncomfortable. At an absolute minimum, since you will need to be in withdrawal BEFORE you take the sub, thus anywhere between 12-30 hrs after taking your last does, I would at least take the first day or two off. The last thing in the world you want is to go into precipitated withdrawal because you are overly excited to get started. Google: "COWS worksheet" and the general consensus is to wait until you honest score a 26.
 
So the above poster is correct in saying everyone is different in how they will feel at different milligrams during tapers...for some it is painless and for some it isn't a shit load better than CT, but one thing I can tell u for damn sure is this detox, no matter how easy or hard , will be ur easiest one. Each subsequent detox gets tougher, anyhow, here is how I usually jump off of about 200 mg a day of oxy:

Day 1: Up to but not over 2mg dosing .5 at a time
Day 2: 1mg
Day 3: . 5mg
Day 4: .5 mg
Day 5: .25 mg
Day 6: skip
Day 7: .25 then off

Don't worry about the skip day...u will be fine due to half life. About a good full day or two after ur last dose u will feel WD start to come on....don't panic! It just kinda lingers for a few days and then ceases...more of an annoyance. So then after that u will battle brutal fatigue due to the beating ur adrenal glands took from the opiate...diff supplements can help with this...search it here or Google. That lasts a bit and then the real work begins about a week or two later when u finally feel close to 100% to stay clean. Also, to touch on the taking your sub too early thing, just wait till u r good and sick...shitting, puking, sweating....I personally can take my Sub < 12 hrs after oxy bit u should wait at least 24 hours....dosing the first day in .5 increments will lessen the chance of precipitating WD. Make sure u wait a good 45 mins for sub to take effect.....good luck, I bet u won't need more than 1 mg...we shall see. Remember , in a short taper you are not trying to stabilize on sub, you are just using it as a crutch to help step off.....u won't feel like running a marathon but u will get thru ur dailies.
 
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Thank you for your help. I can't wait to begin. I'm going to work on tapering down my dose of pills and see what I can do to prepare myself mentally. I feel like I want to do something really nice for myself just to mark the beginning of a change to begin the healing process and forgiving myself. I deserve better and I'm gonna start to try to think and act this way.

Anything other than the stuff on the Thomas recipe and Clonidine that may help? I have several antidepressants and ADHD meds but only want to use them if my depression becomes overwhelming.
 
Hmmm...I just tried to post something, but it didn't take...so sorry if you get this twice. I'll give the short version just in case.

In regards to the ADHD meds, I would be very cautious, as while they can make you feel better for an hour or two, they also create an inhibitor (GABA) that can cause your body to flush the dopamine out vs recycle, and thus leave you in a worse spot that before. This can also increase complications with other meds during your treatment, so I personally would avoid (though I tried a very small dose, no harm, but similar experience to what I describe).

I can't really say on the antidepressants, though I wouldn't necessarily expect you to stop them if you are stabilized on them, as this could cause a lot of other side effects.

There are lots of good recipes out there already, check out the main other drugs / opiate section of this forum. You will benefit from reading people's advice and experiences that you will necessarily get in this single thread.
Some caution on the L-tyrosine based on other people's accounts of jittery and unwanted side effects...though some like it.

Basics are good: Soup, applesauce, electrolytes, baths, sun, and exercise ;) You will be well prepared, dont worry!
 
I understand how you feel about quitting the opiates and pills in general, so you're not alone! I think it's great that you'll have the summer away from the kids to take care of yourself. My boyfriend had the same pill addiction as you. Taking 20 norcos a day and even adding in oxys. He began taking suboxone 8mg/2mg and it works great for him. He is prescribed 2 a day, and sometimes he doesn't need the full dose prescribed. It's like a miracle drug for him that can make him function and perform well at work, as he would if he was on the norcos. Btw, be careful callling the dentist for drugs. I work in the dental field, and dentists are no dummies and you can get marked on your chart as a drug seeker. Anyway, I would suggest the suboxone route, but you have to be patient and consistent while quitting, and remember it will all be worth it in the end :) Good Luck
 
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.
 
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