Opioids Am I experiencing w/d?

[MarshmallowKitten]

This probably sounds completely stupid but I am not sure if what I am experiencing right now is some sort of opioid withdrawal or simply my body just being me. I never considered myself addicted to anything but about 2yrs ago I started taking vicodin for headaches, then backaches and I was taking it within normal usage. I could easily skip it for months. Its really only perhaps the last 4-5 months that I have had my scrip changed from 5/500 vicodins to 5/325 norcos to 10/325 norcos specifically so I could take more without having to CWE and basically just to get high. Typically I was taking only 30mg hydro a day and then I would run out and have a break or so for a week or two without any issues. The last few weeks I took a scrip and went on what I consider to be a bit of a binger (for me). 40mg a day and then one day 70mg but pretty much 40 until my bottle of 80pills ran out. So obviously not doing it all that long. I even skipped a day here and there but usually it was daily. I ran out 3 days ago. Since then I have had random sweating spells (but that is kind of something I have always had, I think its just hormonal), my nose started randomly running nonstop but that has sort of mellowed out now (I'm not sick with a cold or anything that I am aware of), some mood swings and some nausea and uh..bowel issues. But no muscle aches, no headache, no insomnia, none of the hardcore scary things that people report during withdrawal. Am I having some sort of w/d or am I just being paranoid? If I am, how long can I expect this to last at the relatively low dosage I was on? Side note: I take ritalin daily to combat fatigue, the occasional xanax to deal with anxiety and I have ambien when I need to sleep but when I took it the other night I guess I scared the crap out of my bf who said I was "breathing weird and was unresponsive" until he shook me for a good while. That one actually scared me too. I took ONE ambien and nothing else that day except the ritalin!!! Anyway not to get off topic but, are the other meds I'm on maybe helping combat a bit of w/d or am I just not having one? I really dunno what the hell is going on with my body anymore.

 

[Mass08]

Sounds to be like some very mild withdrawals.

 

[down508]

My guess is yes. You cant use opiates regularly over an extended period of time without getting dependent if not addicted. Its in their nature and nobody is immune to it.

 

[thesameoldfears]

The runny nose, yawning, and bowel issues definitely sound like withdrawal. It might be mild because you were on a fairly low dose but it could be having ritalin keeps you from being too fatigued and xanax helps with any anxiety, etc. If you're already on day 3 keep it going and try to make it through the week and you should be feeling a lot better. If you continue to get refills on your norco and take it daily you may wind up in this position again though. And I think most everyone will agree that each time you go through withdrawal it feels worse.

 

[twotoomany]

Yup. Low end withdrawals. Missing a lot of symptoms (lethargy, anxiety) due to the Xanax and Ritalin. You're probably over the worst of it. Not a good idea to mix benzos and opes, for future reference.

 

[TRYINGTOKICKIT]

I agree you probably wd every time you just didnt notice because the other meds you take can combat wd. Although it could just be a side affect from the meds. Usually if you sit and think real hard (for me anyway) I can usually tell if its a side affect. If it is wd then you should be fine in a few days since vics dont bind to your receptors as long as other opiates like methadone and suboxone.

 

[TRYINGTOKICKIT]

yes every time I withdrawal it is harder than the last. IMO

 

[KillSurfCity]

MILD withdrawals. if you don't want to be addicted, take a break for a bit and don't take em for more than 2 weeks in a row (daily) after these symptoms have stopped. hydro withdrawals in MY experience (you may be different) are not near as bad as oxy withdrawals. happy trails.

 

[timetohunt]

This sounds exactly what the beginning of many nightmares and misery to come is like. Esp the opiates, but also a culture of pills to solve every issue. If you are young I would keep on reading what folks have been thru......it might give you pause to stop.

 

[MarshmallowKitten]

Thank you for all the responses. I have actually done a lot of thinking about the whole thing today. This small bought of minor withdrawal and just the idea that I could have let myself become addicted to something has been a wake-up call. I don't have refills on my scrip anytime soon although I know I could get them if I call my dr. However, I have absolutely no intention of doing so. I have enough problems in my life and with my health. I just want to be happy and 100% there for my baby girl. The drugs were a good quick fix but is it worth it in the end? No. =/ Hopefully I can stick with it because, for the first time, I feel like I WANT to. If that makes sense...

 

[timetohunt]

Thank you for all the responses. I have actually done a lot of thinking about the whole thing today. This small bought of minor withdrawal and just the idea that I could have let myself become addicted to something has been a wake-up call. I don't have refills on my scrip anytime soon although I know I could get them if I call my dr. However, I have absolutely no intention of doing so. I have enough problems in my life and with my health. I just want to be happy and 100% there for my baby girl. The drugs were a good quick fix but is it worth it in the end? No. =/ Hopefully I can stick with it because, for the first time, I feel like I WANT to. If that makes sense...

YES! run with that while you can. esp if you have a baby girl. good news to hear your response being what is it. and good luck

 

[KillSurfCity]

Thank you for all the responses. I have actually done a lot of thinking about the whole thing today. This small bought of minor withdrawal and just the idea that I could have let myself become addicted to something has been a wake-up call. I don't have refills on my scrip anytime soon although I know I could get them if I call my dr. However, I have absolutely no intention of doing so. I have enough problems in my life and with my health. I just want to be happy and 100% there for my baby girl. The drugs were a good quick fix but is it worth it in the end? No. =/ Hopefully I can stick with it because, for the first time, I feel like I WANT to. If that makes sense...

the biggest question i would NORMALLY have right now in response to the quoted post on this here post is this....were you high when you wrote this comment? it is waaaaay easy to say stuff like this when high. opiate addiction has a VERY nasty way of sneaking up on you...
but since you are not high right now, i would tell you that you have a very healthy approach to your situation. keep it that way. i am very much addicted to opiates, and though i LOVE being high...it is when i am high that i feel like i could stop if i really want to. when i am WDing....different story. i will take whatever someone offers. i admire your willpower. keep it. you are strong.

 

[MarshmallowKitten]

Totally sober. Sitting around nursing my nausea and playing some farmville to try to distract myself. Keeping myself away from anything "bad" and just sort of locking myself indoors with my little family here. Trying to do the right thing.

 

[timetohunt]

good thing because here is what could happen. Opiates....... many years trying to quit, health problems galore, some folks brains never fully recover.
Xanax..... rebound anxiety, even if you just take them for a week, paying the piper with higher anxiety than you ever expected. Sleeping pills.....messes with your normal sleep rhythms, a sure fire way into insanity. Take care of the family, i cant say don't have fun once in a while.....but only once in a while.

 

[MarshmallowKitten]

About 10 days into this. I must admit, I have urges. Totally not acting on them but I hate that they are there gnawing at my brain. Grrrr

 

[Mr.Scagnattie]

About 10 days into this. I must admit, I have urges. Totally not acting on them but I hate that they are there gnawing at my brain. Grrrr

Cravings are the hardest things to contend with when trying to stay clean... they persist long after any psychial pain and are what drives the majority of people back into being strung out.

Keep on hanging on, though. It gets easier.. though always a challenge.

 

[MarshmallowKitten]

I am doing my best. I feel like sort of a wussy for having less than 2 weeks under my belt and already finding something to complain about. >.>

 

[ReversiblePulpitis]

Good job OP. I'm sure the majority of those here dependent and/or addicted will say that it all started with Hydrocodone; right on down to switching from 5/500 to 10/325.

So, as easy as it is for you to refill, I must ask - do you suffer from chronic physical pain? Do you have a diagnosis?

If you have a true need to combat pain, as pain can be as distracting and/or detrimental to quality of life as well. If this is the case, then I would take the previous advice of waiting out at least the two week mark (longer the better). Then, when you are mentally prepared, return to treating your pain but as DIRECTED and even then, LESS than directed aka truly on a PRN basis and use only when absolutely necessary.

 

[Mr.Scagnattie]

I am doing my best. I feel like sort of a wussy for having less than 2 weeks under my belt and already finding something to complain about. >.>

Nah, don't feel that way. It takes a shit load of courage and energy to get to two weeks and you wouldn't be normal if you were just totally over the hump and all good now. It's a life long battle and the beginning is very difficult..

Don't chastise yourself.. in fact, you should really do the opposite and congratulate yourself on the achievenment because it is incredibly hard.

 

[MarshmallowKitten]

20 days and I am honestly going crazy thinking about getting that refill. I am finding myself unintentionally sort of loading up on my ritalin to give myself that same sort of social buzz I get on hydro. Its also causing me to have to take multiple ambien at night to get a good sleep. I feel like I just traded one addiction for another. I am pretty bummed.