New and need help from opiate withdrawal

[Dwilk831]

Figured I would post this here to seeing how I don't know if I had the right forum.

Hi Everyone,

I have a few questions in regards to opiate withdrawal. Long story short, I've been living with restless leg syndrome for the past 10 years. My primary understood how difficult it is to live with and went through all the proper medications to make the feeling subside. Requip, lyrica, tramadol, mirapax.....I had tried it all. Then he put me on hydrocodone and the pain/feeling went away almost instantly. That was 5 yrs ago, my doc passed away and my new primary does not agree with the treatment method. So I've been slowly weaning myself off knowing that i will probably no longer be prescribed the medication. I was taking three 10/660 hydrocodone per day. Never abused the drug, just used as prescribed to alleviate my symptoms.

So I'm down to taking one 2.5mg pill in the morning and one in the afternoon. My plan is to drop down to one 2.5mg pill per day next week and then sadly my prescription will run out. I have a neuro appt coming up and I am hoping he will continue this medication. I've tapered fearing I won't be able to continue.

So give it to me straight...... What type of withdrawal am I looking at?

Thank u in advance for your help.

 

[Miss Kirsty]

Wow...I think you have done a fantastic job getting down that low!! If you can stay on 2.5 mg per day for 2 weeks or more, does anyone think that codiene would help her transition? Like a dose of 150mg or so?...Good luck with your apt too and i hope the new Dr will continue the medication you need...

 

[Alex000]

If you are going to stop the hydrocodone, I would just continue using it at your lowered dose of only 5 mg/day until you run out. It may be a whole lot harder doing a taper esp. with hydrocodone, than going cold turkey. Opiate wd's are horrible, but with opiates going cold turkey can be best. You wouldn't even be doing that since you have already tapered from 30 mg/day to 5 mg/day. It would be easier. It won't be as bad a wd because you already have dropped to 5 mg/day, and beacause your daily dose of opiates was relatively quite low, however, the 5 years you were on them might make the wd's a bit worse. All in all, it won't be fun, but there are worse opiate wd's. I suggest you employ loperamide (OTC), maybe some NSAIDS (OTC), maybe diphenhydramine (OTC) for nausea, benzos (if you can get any) for sleep and anxiety, clonidine (another rx drug) for the sweats, chills, and hot flashes. Lots of hot showers, or baths will help. Keep yourself occupied, and remember that the wd's will pass fairly quickly. True, acute wd's only last a few days. It might take a while to get back to normal, but the wd's won't be long. You may feel quite horrible, but remember it is temporary. This is, if you plan to quit. Also, I'd finish the hydrocodone, as I said above at your current rate, so there will be no temptation so that you might relapse.

If you think you still require hydrocodone (or another opiate) find another doctor. Few will rx it for restless leg syndrome, very few, but if it is assosciated with pain they won't be as hesitant esp. since you have a long history of being rx'd hydrocodone.

 

[theseeker]

You were on 30mg Hydrocodone for 5 years, can't your new Dr. come up with a plan to help taper you off?? This medication was prescribed, if he doesn't like this treatment can you not make him aware that you're afraid of the w/d?? He really needs to take care of you- this is not a decision you made on your own. If he doesn't see fit to help you with this problem, maybe you could see a pain management specialist to get this figured out.

To answer your question: you're in for some sleepless nights and a recurrence of your restless leg syndrome. You've been taking opiates daily for 5 years so your body has definitely grown habituated to them. You might feel some depression for awhile as well. That said, I don't think you'll be puking or completely incapacitated. Have you experienced any w/d symptoms during your taper? BTW- kudos to you on the outstanding taper, I'll imagine that itself was tough.

 

[Miss Kirsty]

RE theseeker.......
The problem is not the taper,
The OP is asking,
That now she/he is down to 2.5mg am and pm, and will be spending next week on 2.5 mg per day...
What will happen next when she is out..OP has tapered ASSUMING they will not be further prescribed....Thats the question eh? You will be coming of 2.5mg twice a day?....

ALSO I think SHe/he also has apt with pain management (neuro apt) and MAY be put back on said medication...but would have detoxed anyways?..Between now and the apt?.....As the gap is too long.

I was going to delete this post but i wont...Sorry i typed when I was pissed and i shouldnt...I will leave it up for everyone else to see how dumb you look when you dont read through the entire previous post, before you reply...I apologise the seeker..

 

[Dwilk831]

No worries to the previous poster.

I've tapered knowing that i may no longer be prescribe by the neuro that I will be seeing this week. I have enough hydrocodone to last me until next Friday going with the 2.5mg per day. Like I previously mentioned; it has been a slow taper, roughly about 8 months. Went from 30mg to 15 to 10, 5 and now 2.5. Heck I may try to break the 2.5 I'm half to ease any withdrawals I may experience.

So far I've been ok, mild anxiety a little nervous not knowing what will happen as I've never done this before. I've picked up some immodium for possible issues, I don't have access to any benzos so it will be all OTC meds if I need them.

Hopefully my neuro will be sympathetic to my symptoms.

Any other input would be helpful.

 

[theseeker]

RE theseeker.......
The problem is not the taper, (SORRYTHE SEEKER...i DIDNT READ THE VERY LAST BIT OF YOUR POST ABOUT THE TAPER..YOUR FIRST PARAGRAPH MADE ME THINK YOU DIDNT UNDERSTAND THE OP...APPOLOGIES theseeker..M.K)
The OP is asking,
That now she/he is down to 2.5mg am and pm, and will be spending next week on 2.5 mg per day...
What will happen next when she is out..OP has tapered ASSUMING they will not be further prescribed....Thats the question eh? You will be coming of 2.5mg twice a day?....

ALSO I think SHe/he also has apt with pain management (neuro apt) and MAY be put back on said medication...but would have detoxed anyways?..Between now and the apt?.....As the gap is too long.

I was going to delete this post but i wont...Sorry i typed when I was pissed and i shouldnt...I will leave it up for everyone else to see how dumb you look when you dont read through the entire previous post, before you reply...I apologise the seeker..

No Problem Miss Kirsty- you're just trying to help and I can see how someone could misunderstand my first paragraph there. You're concern is totally legitimate. I guess I'm just trying to say I'm shocked a Dr. would just suddenly drop this guy from an addictive pill regimen he's been on for years. Sounds heartless to me.

 

[Miss Kirsty]

Im thinking that you could possibly ease your withdrawals with OTC products OP....I dont think 2.5mg is very much is it?...Would that be half an endone?..Endone has 5 mg of hydrocodone i think..Anyway 2.5 mg sounds like not much at all...
In Australia what i was taught was....

8 x Panadine forte = 1 x endone....Endone has 5mg of morphine...1 x Panadine forte = 30mg codeine....If you could get some codiene i think it may do it for you along with a few other things...Like clonidine, matbe a few high doses of imodium?...I personally have NEVER taken imodium and i have only just in the last 2 months really heard of it, but it may help you....,

And thanks for your understanding Op and the seeker...I was on a rampage!!Lucky i dont drink much eh?

 

[RXpectations]

alot of them are heartless and watch too much tv. they dont care about what youve been on for years, if they feel like they dont want their name attatched to a narco script (even if its something mild like vicodin) they have no problem with putting you on tramadol or ibprophen 800....its total bullshit and ive been upset about this growing trend lately, dr.'s who avoid pain med regiment scripts even in long term opiate/chronic pain patients, they avoid it like the plague...and sadly drive many many people into the streets to seek relief...

No Problem Miss Kirsty- you're just trying to help and I can see how someone could misunderstand my first paragraph there. You're concern is totally legitimate. I guess I'm just trying to say I'm shocked a Dr. would just suddenly drop this guy from an addictive pill regimen he's been on for years. Sounds heartless to me.

 

[lars90]

Hmm tell your doc that you find that your adicted to it and you need help. Hell perscribve you something Im sure