Norco concerns!

[Reggietsfree]

Well...kinda saw this coming. I've been with another pain clinic now for almost 9 months.
They upped my 7.5 Norco to 90 pills for every 30 days.
They also write me 2 scripts and 1 is predated for the next 30 days to be filled...so I don't have to see them every month.
Well greedy pig as I am...I'm running out in two weeks or two and a half weeks and supplementing by
purchasing 7.5 or 10's from an old bud of mine who goes to a Pain Clinic as well.

Overall, I'm doing somewhere between 150-170 hydrocodone per month and I'm just not feeling anything
much off of them anymore...it just all seems mental now.
I did have an incident back around May 12 that shook me up...my wife and I went out town and I was really low on the 10's and I ran out
and the next morning and all through the day I was dizzy as hell and felt like pure de shit!
Of course all that was all eliminated when I got back and filled my script!!

Is this too much acetaminophen intake?
Think I'm ready to be done with them for good...starting to get scared and worried about long term health effects.
I'd really like to hear some solid feedback and experience on this.
My life has been really good the last 18 yrs or so.
I was granted recovery and deliverance from cocaine in all forms as well as everything else....I'm determined not to screw it up!

 

[Mafioso]

So according to drugs.com(and a few other sources found by googling "acetaminophen max dose"), max dosage for acetaminophen is 4g(4000mg) per 24hrs. This seems to be a bit of a generalized safety statement, being that it doesn't list mg/kg of body weight, and individual physiology varies greatly with sex, ethnicity, age, body type, and so on. 4000mg per 24hrs is probably not recommended for long term use, guessing it's a general safety guideline at which point some damage is likely occurring but likely a negligible amount- at least for the average person in good health.

Someone who is older, in poor health, or already has existing liver damage would probably not be recommended by a responsible doctor to take that much on a regular basis. Also, I doubt the max dose is considered safe on the long term. This is just my guess, and need to look further into the dangers and risks of acetaminophen, particularly long term and high risk populations.

In the name of harm reduction, I'd suggest finding an opioid that doesn't have acetaminophen mixed in with it, or doing a cold water extraction(or something similar). Ultimately though, it seems that you are already having problems with controlling your opioid use and have been bordering on addiction for a long time if you haven't already crossed that line. That is a lot of pills to be running through in that amount of time, and to be blunt, it sounds uncomfortably similar to the beginning of so many opioid addictions. A lot of the warning signs seem to be there, and if that's the case, acetaminophen will probably be one of the lesser of your concerns in a short while.

 

[Xorkoth]

For harm reduction purposes, you should take these via cold water extraction. What that does is separated the acetaminophen from the hydrocodone. Just crush up the dose you're going to take into a glass of cool water. Stir until totally dissolved, then stir for another few minutes. Let the undissolved powder settle on the bottom of the glass, and drink the liquid, and do not drink the undissolved powder. At the very end you could strain it to get all the liquid. Acetaminophen does not dissolve in cold water but hydrocodone easily dissolves, so this allows you to not ingest all that acetaminophen. Daily, chronic usage of big doses of acetaminophen damages the liver and eventually contributes to liver disease.

 

[Reggietsfree]

So according to drugs.com(and a few other sources found by googling "acetaminophen max dose"), max dosage for acetaminophen is 4g(4000mg) per 24hrs. This seems to be a bit of a generalized safety statement, being that it doesn't list mg/kg of body weight, and individual physiology varies greatly with sex, ethnicity, age, body type, and so on. 4000mg per 24hrs is probably not recommended for long term use, guessing it's a general safety guideline at which point some damage is likely occurring but likely a negligible amount- at least for the average person in good health.

Someone who is older, in poor health, or already has existing liver damage would probably not be recommended by a responsible doctor to take that much on a regular basis. Also, I doubt the max dose is considered safe on the long term. This is just my guess, and need to look further into the dangers and risks of acetaminophen, particularly long term and high risk populations.

In the name of harm reduction, I'd suggest finding an opioid that doesn't have acetaminophen mixed in with it, or doing a cold water extraction(or something similar). Ultimately though, it seems that you are already having problems with controlling your opioid use and have been bordering on addiction for a long time if you haven't already crossed that line. That is a lot of pills to be running through in that amount of time, and to be blunt, it sounds uncomfortably similar to the beginning of so many opioid addictions. A lot of the warning signs seem to be there, and if that's the case, acetaminophen will probably be one of the lesser of your concerns in a short while.

Appreciate it...rather ominous words, but I understand. lol
BTW...share what some of my other short to long term concerns should I have?
Perhaps you didn't discern my tone or intent here---I'm not writing or divulging this
for fun, sympathy, or giggles, but because I'm in the midst of implementing radical changes up to
& including an official detox to be DONE & OVER THIS SHIT!
I've never dealt with acute pain, pain clinics, injury, or opiods before...so I'm consulting the alive experts rather
than trying extract info from junkie corpses on the subject matter...

 

[hydroazuanacaine]

so like 5 x 325 a day? can't be good for you. also probably not the most immediate problem. doctors take the acetaminophen guidelines quite seriously. maybe an indicator they're serious.

a more immediate short-term concern would be mood instability. long-term, addiction.

one more reason to get off them. best with that.

 

[Reggietsfree]

so like 5 x 325 a day? can't be good for you. also probably not the most immediate problem. doctors take the acetaminophen guidelines quite seriously. maybe an indicator they're serious.

a more immediate short-term concern would be mood instability. long-term, addiction.

one more reason to get off them. best with that.

Appreciate cha

 

[nuttynutskin]

150-170mgs a month isn't that much is it? I knew someone that said at their peak they were taking 300mgs of oxi a day.

Not saying that's good but the ammount the OP's taking just doesn't sound like much to worry about.

 

[Mafioso]

Appreciate it...rather ominous words, but I understand. lol
BTW...share what some of my other short to long term concerns should I have?
Perhaps you didn't discern my tone or intent here---I'm not writing or divulging this
for fun, sympathy, or giggles, but because I'm in the midst of implementing radical changes up to
& including an official detox to be DONE & OVER THIS SHIT!
I've never dealt with acute pain, pain clinics, injury, or opiods before...so I'm consulting the alive experts rather
than trying extract info from junkie corpses on the subject matter...

short term concerns could be as serious as acute liver failure and CNS depression leading to slowed/stopped breathing, which results in fatal OD. Short term concerns probably aren't all that different than long term, although the risk/likelihood will greatly increase over time. I'm not well enough versed to know all the concerns, that is something I would suggest talking to a doctor/medical professional who understands all the risks and can assess them based on your individual physiology. The body is a very complex organism and there is a lot that could potentially go wrong, speculating on them without taking action will only result in worry. Sorry to ominous, but I'd rather not cause undue worry with my ignorance, so I must refer you to a specialist who can take action if necessary.

If you do decide to detox, I'd suggest finding a detox that also offers residential or IOP treatment as a follow up. Detox alone is not considered sufficient treatment. Without addressing the deeper issues that is driving the substance use disorder, it's pretty much impossible to stay in recovery. You can probably detox off opioids at home, but it's generally very difficult to control your impulses without some sort of assistance(having a loved one manage finances/control meds/offer emotional support). If you have a stable living environment to detox in, you could probably get by with NA or any recovery based group. Having professional help will increase your likelihood of success, assuming you get good professional help. The recovery industry is a bit of a minefield, so I'd suggest doing a little homework before making a choice.

I don't have the time right now, but if you search around on BL, you can find detox guides for opioids. Staying hydrated will help a lot, and there are comfort meds like melatonin, immodium and Benadryl that can help with some of the WD symptoms. Benzos will help if used in moderation in the short term, wouldn't suggest going over 2 weeks with benzos, preferably no more than 1 week or you'll risk addiction/dependence. Alternatives like kratom and cannabis can be considered, however again I'd suggest doing some research and being cautious in your decision. It is possible to use something like cannabis to "step down" from opioids, as it's a much easier drug to detox off of, but it does have potential for addiction.

 

[Reggietsfree]

short term concerns could be as serious as acute liver failure and CNS depression leading to slowed/stopped breathing, which results in fatal OD. Short term concerns probably aren't all that different than long term, although the risk/likelihood will greatly increase over time. I'm not well enough versed to know all the concerns, that is something I would suggest talking to a doctor/medical professional who understands all the risks and can assess them based on your individual physiology. The body is a very complex organism and there is a lot that could potentially go wrong, speculating on them without taking action will only result in worry. Sorry to ominous, but I'd rather not cause undue worry with my ignorance, so I must refer you to a specialist who can take action if necessary.

If you do decide to detox, I'd suggest finding a detox that also offers residential or IOP treatment as a follow up. Detox alone is not considered sufficient treatment. Without addressing the deeper issues that is driving the substance use disorder, it's pretty much impossible to stay in recovery. You can probably detox off opioids at home, but it's generally very difficult to control your impulses without some sort of assistance(having a loved one manage finances/control meds/offer emotional support). If you have a stable living environment to detox in, you could probably get by with NA or any recovery based group. Having professional help will increase your likelihood of success, assuming you get good professional help. The recovery industry is a bit of a minefield, so I'd suggest doing a little homework before making a choice.

I don't have the time right now, but if you search around on BL, you can find detox guides for opioids. Staying hydrated will help a lot, and there are comfort meds like melatonin, immodium and Benadryl that can help with some of the WD symptoms. Benzos will help if used in moderation in the short term, wouldn't suggest going over 2 weeks with benzos, preferably no more than 1 week or you'll risk addiction/dependence. Alternatives like kratom and cannabis can be considered, however again I'd suggest doing some research and being cautious in your decision. It is possible to use something like cannabis to "step down" from opioids, as it's a much easier drug to detox off of, but it does have potential for addiction.

Appreciate it for sure.

 

[Reggietsfree]

Does anyone have anyone have any experience or info about taking Chantix for smoking relief and taking opiods?
I gotta drop these freaking smokes as well, but I've heard that Chantix extracts it's pound of flesh by itself...mood swings...etc, etc.
Just trying to figure out some game plans.
I do appreciate the feedback.

 

[Zonxx]

For harm reduction purposes, you should take these via cold water extraction. What that does is separated the acetaminophen from the hydrocodone. Just crush up the dose you're going to take into a glass of cool water. Stir until totally dissolved, then stir for another few minutes. Let the undissolved powder settle on the bottom of the glass, and drink the liquid, and do not drink the undissolved powder. At the very end you could strain it to get all the liquid. Acetaminophen does not dissolve in cold water but hydrocodone easily dissolves, so this allows you to not ingest all that acetaminophen. Daily, chronic usage of big doses of acetaminophen damages the liver and eventually contributes to liver disease.

don't forget to mention, he can strain the liquid using a coffee filter, and if its for on the go, add a TINY bit of vodka to the container he'll carry it in to keep it good. and i did say tiny