How to beat hydrocodone addiction

[joshua1023]

Im am 21 and have a new son that is 3 months old.. i have been takeing loratabs and percacets anytime i can find them on the street very costey. what is the first thing i should try to do when stop takeing them. ive tried it a few time but after bout 2 days of not haveing any i get really mad and cant think right or sleep at all.. Any helpful thing i could do to get off them with out the bad withdrawls

[CJB]

Welcome to the forum joshua1023,
The only way I've found to not have bad withdrawls was to go to a treatment center for a medical detox. They gave me Suboxen which basically eliminated all of the withdrawls. It is possible to do at home but very hard. First of all you will need a week or two off of work and very strong will power. I have never made it. I always broke down and got more pills when the withdrwls got bad. You could call your doctor and ask him or her for held and advise. If you choose to detox at home you should have a sleep aid and imodium on hand. Sleeping through it is the best way and you will have a few days of diarrea. Drink lots of water and take ibuprophen for aches and pains. But I strongly recommend treatment. I went and I've been clean for 8 1/2 mo. now. Life is so much better without pills. Best wishes and keep posting

Invisable girl, Tapering is very hard to do and takes longer. And I think you will still have some withdarwls. But if you decide to try it I would defiately have your sister hold your pills and only give you what you agree to take each day. You're gonna want more and if you beg for more she may get mad and give up on you. I would start by taking half the amount you normally take on the first day and half of that on the second and so on until you get to three pills a day. Take three a day for a week and then two a day for a week and then one a day for a week or somthing like that. I'm not a doctor but I do have alot of experience in trying to get of pills. I really recommend the detox center to just be done with it all in two weeks though. Best wishes and keep posting!!

[Supportof4]

Well it's 7:30 am and I'm sitting here shaking so bad I can barely type this. I have been addicted to hydro for years but never this bad. I had surgery on my jaw about a year back and got started on them again. They are easy for me to get and even my coworker is badly addicted. I have a great career and 3 children. Also my disabled mom lives with me. I feel like a complete failure to them. No one but I coworker knows. At least I dont think they know. I was 2 days clean from taking 80-120 Mgs a day and then last night I took 20 Mgs. This morning I feel just as bad as I did before. I keep telling myself I can taper off and it won't be so bad but I don't really think I can. I have. I insurance so help isn't an option for me. I have to continue work and support my family. I think I can just do 15 Mgs today to take off the edge and get to work. I WANT OUT FROM UNDER THIS SO BAD!

[Supportof4]

Well I took 15 Mgs and it's bearable now but I am so ashamed and feel so guilty. I'm scared to quit cold turkey even though I should. I read about seizures and even death. My family needs me. I almost confessed to my mom this morning but didn't. I know she would be supportive and understand but I just couldn't tell her. My fiancé is very smart and I suspect he knows but I am too ashamed to admit it. I pay thousands each month in bills and have managed to support a very expensive habit on what's left but I'm afraid it's coming to worse and I will start spending bill money and lose my home and my family. I have asked my coworker to help me quit and only let me get enough to taper down but I'm afraid since she is in bad shape she may not be so great at it. I already want more and it's taking everything in me not to seek them out. I left my last 3 5's at home for tomorrow but it would be so easy to just go get them.

[CJB]

Welcome supportof4,
I was exactly where you are 9 mo. ago. Taking 10-14 10/325's a day. I was spending bill money and even getting payday loans at every place in town. Even started selling my tools. I remember always being worried about running out of pills and always needing more. Yes, you are in a hard place right now. If you've been reading past posts then you know that I ended up going to rehab and have been clean ever since. Not so much because of what I learned there, but more because I was so sick of feeling like you do now. I tried quitting on my own many times but just couldn't make it through the withdrawls without breaking down and buying more pills. The only way i know how to detox without experiencing horrible withdrawls is with Suboxen. It is an opiate blocker that satisfies your brains receptors so you don't crave pills and you will not experience any withdrawl symtons while on it. You might try to find a doctor in your area with experience in addiction and ask for suboxen. That way you wouldn't have to miss work and feel miserable. I hope this helps. Please keep posting

[ldsjulie]

I have an addictive personality..That should have been my 1st clue. I suffer from depression, anxiety, bipolar, fibromyalgia, & chronic pain to name a few..lol. I don't go around telling people all these things cuz i don't want it to define me. Went to bed for 2 yrs just to hide from the pain. Been working full time for 5 yrs now cause i just couldn't lay there anymore! Hydrocodone became my friend to help me survive the 40 hrs a week with all the pain..But now i live to find it instead of taking the recommended dosage. Don't know how to work or function without it! When I have to work anyway cuz i can't find it,it's Hell! Have spent thousands that my husband doesn't know about skimming the pot a little here a little there..I'm so stupid! I feel like a liar but don't know how to survive without it.. People like my humor at work and energy but they don't know where that "Energy" is coming from! I'm a liar! I still have that personality inside but don't know how to be that way anymore without being drugged!

[ldsjulie]

When i read your post i don't feel so alone... It's hard to have this secret life eating you up inside. I have 1 friend who knows and she's my enabler... I know... doesn't make sense

[CJB]

Idsjulie, Welcome to the forum. I can totally relate to what you're saying. I used everyday for about 5 yrs. I remember when I would run out and suffer through work. If I even went. My whole life revolved around pills. How many I had, how many I needed, when I would run out, where I could get money for more. It is so stressfull. I too had so much energy and worked harder than anyone else. The whole time knowing it was just the pills. I couldn't imagine life without them. But here I am, clean for 9 mo. now. And life is good. Alot more peacefull. Anyway, Thanks for sharing your story. Keep posting and let me know how I can help. God Bless!!

[Hellolife]

Hi y'all it's been a long time since ive written on this sight. Since then I have become clean of all drugs except suboxone. BUT for about 3 weeks now I have relapsed! The first month on the suboxone was good. I mean I had no withdrawl symptoms and no cravings. After my 1 month follow up with my doc the cravings started. He put me on 3 8mg a day and told me to increase my Paxil from 10 mg to 20mg.(I've been taking Paxil for 10 years for panic problems) anyways he though maybe the depression was making me crave....since then I meet a friend. She was in the same situation as I was in addicted to norcos. Because I was no longer taking it, I starting selling it to her.... Bad idea.... I did start it again!!!! I'm in that same viscous cycle that I was desperate to get out of!!! My husband was my support, but does not know about my relapse. I hooked my best friend up with my dr & she has been clean now for about 3 days!!!! Now it's my turn again...it's just the 24 hours of withdraw I need to get through so I can start the suboxone again. Anyone have any ideas to lessen the withdraw fellings when I first wake up. Thats the time I wanna pop like 5. Oh & another thing. I am planning on having surgery within the next week or so.... Should I just be honest with my doc that I relapsed so that maybe he can let me stay on it until I'm completely recovered from my surgery (like a week or 2) it's just a fibroid removal & tummy tuck. Thanks for your support. I am going to have my friend start posting on here cause I don't want her to relapse.

[Invisible girl]

Hey guys, just thought I'd post for a second. On the 26th of last month I decided to go to detox, I'm finally home and clean. I feel very weird and out of place, it's an odd feeling. It's not the hydros, it's the xanex withdrawals still.. It's been over two weeks but the anxiety is still very high. Does anyone know how long it's takes for this feeling to go away?? The dr. Said 6 to 8 weeks but I'm really hoping it won't nearly take that long.. That seems like a really long time, I'm gonna do it no matter what.. That's not even an option but I'm trying to make myself go out and do things to keep myself busy but I'm having a horrible time looking people in the eye and I just want to hide from the world all the time, is this normal? I've been taking benzos for almost 7 years now.. If anyone knows please let me know thanx guys!

[Ropeadope26]

I am a 26 yr old female. I have been in a few really bad car wrecks and really should not even be alive BUT thanks to the man upstairs I am!! I have been on pain meds since 2007 and I am so tired of them. I have taken anywhere from 40-100mg daily of norcos. I want to start a family with my husband but I can't seem to stop taking the pain meds. I have went days and even a few weeks without but the pain always brings me right back to them. I have been clean for 2 weeks now!! It so hard to even get out of bed!! I really want to stop!!! I hate that my past as such a tole on my future!! I've neve been one to get addicted to anything. I don't drink, smoke or do any other drugs. I am a Christian woman. I want to know if I can do anything to STOP the pain that I feel!! I told myself and my husband if I can go 3 months without any pills we could try and have a baby. I really want my life to be normal!! Can anyone help me?? I have talked with the docotors over 6 to be exact. They all give me the response that if I quit taking pain meds that I will just hurt for the rest of my life. I have tried physical theropy, and the chiropractor, used the TENS unit and traction machines. Please help me as I need to stay clean and have family that I have long desired.

[...again]

This is my 1st time posting. I don't know where to even begin. I have read a few of your posts, a few from the begining, a few from the end. I have been through things in life that a high majority of people will never imagine in a lifetime. Yes, I am addicted to pain meds, also, I am an alchoholic. I quit drinking on Feb. 15th, 2012. The day after my brother hospitalized me for the 3rd time from beating me half to death. I have yet to be on my last day as an addict. My husband, me and, my Dr. are working on this. I am recovering from an ACL transplant on my knee (yes, because of my brother.) I have so, so much to explain, but don't want to overwhelm anyone. I see some of you reply to each other, so I guess I'm just waiting to see if that happens with me. I have been an addict for 15 years, for medical reasons. Just recently did I say to myself...enough is enough! My name on here is ...again, because I have quit the pills before. It seems as if each time I have to start again (medically), I get worse and worse. Just recently I took 120 norco in a week and a half. I want to live.

[CJB]

Welcome to the forum ..again
I'm sorry to hear about the beatings. I think your brother needs to be locked up. Anyway, I hope you will share more of your story. I, like you had tried to quit so many times before, but could never make it on my own. I was taking about 14 norco's a day when I finally decided to go to rehab. They gave me suboxen for the withdrawls and I had no unpleasant symptoms. I don't know how you feel about rehab or if it even an option for you. I actually really enjoyed my time there. And met my best friend there. I hope to here more from you soon. God Bless!!

[...again]

At age 18 I became very ill. Deathly ill. Dr's couldn't find what was wrong with me. I would spend up to 6 mths at a time in the hospitals. Pain pumps, patches....They sent me to Hospitals throughout the central US. Ive had a lot of exploritory surgeries on my stomach (9 total, and still counting). They removed 3 inches of my bowel, and now i get bowel blockages at least 2-3 times a year because of all of the scar tissue. I was sick for a total of 6 years straight without a diagnosis. My depression and the thought of killing myself (a few attempts) ran rampid in my mind. While being this sick, I still managed to get a collage degree, that I am proud of...it's not doing anything for me now though, but I am working on this. Anyway, the Dr. came into my hospital room in 2003 and told me and my parents that I was dying and there was nothing more they could do for me. At this point I weigh 82lbs, and am on a feeding tube. My mom stood up and said 'NO', I won't except that there is nothing you can do. The surgeion then did one last exploritory. When I was in the recovery room, I woke up to him sitting by my side with tears in his eyes...he said he found it!!! We both cried, and he said 'SOMETHING' told him, just as he was about to sew me up, to 'milk my bowel' (my entire bowel). He found 3 inches that were attact by a virus. He saved my life! My mother also saved my life!!! I was so happy, words can't describe. But for some reason I was still depressed and left addicted to pain killers. I was very healthy for about 3 years after this surgery...then the bowel blockages started. They cut me open in the same spot every time (9 times in all). It's about a foot long on my stomach.
Through all this I have my brother by my side as I am ill. But, at the same time he is an alchoholic and threw me down basement stairs (13 of them), i was hospitalized for skull fractures and brain contusions; years later he broke my ribs, and now I just had 2 surgeries on my knee within the last month. This is what has me very very addicted again.
Along with all this medical stuff, I am dealing with the aftermath of my childhood. I was molested for years by a family member. To make it even worse is that my mother had a clue as to what was going on and did not do anything to fix it. Then, when i was 15 I was raped by my molesters best friend!!!! I told NOONE of this until later in my life...when I did, my best friend didnt believe me (i lost her), and GET THIS, she married the creep. Some of my family didn't even believe me. I was and still am devistated.
I AM SO SORRY THAT I AM JUST GOING ON AND ON AND ON....i just need to get this out there for you to understand where my hurt, pain, and addiction comes from.
I am currently dealing with the fact that when I finally called the police on my brother for beating me so brutally, my parents covered for him!!! The night he did it, my own father called me a bitch, and my mom thought I was faking my injuries. The people I have always held near and dear to me have become my lifes most disapointing time, thus far.
I have been able to kick my addiction cold turkey in the past. But, emotionally I'm tired. I can't do it. I have allowed myself to fall further into my addiction this time. I was up to 14 norco a day. I also had some vicodine on the side i was taking. I just started physical therepy for my knee this week, so still need pain meds for a while. But, I went to my dr with my wonderful supportive husband the other day and told him what i was doing. i have no idea what he is going to do to help me get off these drugs, but he gave me a stronger pain killer, and my husband is currently hanging onto them because I do not trust myself at all. In about 4 weeks he said I will need to go through a 36 hour detox and then he will help me with other drugs. I have never been through the medical part of detox and I have no idea what to expect. Please Please Please give me an idea of what my detox and my treatment is going to be. I am so terrified! I am currently running on 2 days with out sleep because of the anxiety I feel of not being on 14 norco a day, besides the fact that I have insomnia issues anyway. From the bottom of my heart, I truly thank you for replying to my plea for help!! May God bless you and those you love!!!!!!

[CJB]

WOW, What an amazing yet sad story. I was almost in tears reading it. My heart goes out to you. I have been praying for you. So glad to hear you have a wonderful husband to help and support you. As for the medical detox, I don't think you have anything to worry about. As I said earlier, they gave me suboxen during mine and I didn't suffer any of the horrible withdrawl symptoms from quitting cold turkey. I have insomnia issues too but take something to sleep now. I pray that you sleep well tonight. And will certainly keep you in my prayers. God bless!!!!!!! Talk soon!!

[...again]

I truly didn't mean to make anyone cry...I apoligize for that!

I feel like I am experiencing some withdraw symptoms already. Due to the fact that I am not on the dose of pain meds I was allowing myself to abuse.

How long have you been clean CJB? How long did it take for you to feel like you could live again? I find myself on that high and want to do things. When im not on the meds i dont want to do anything.

BTW, my email address that I put with these threads is not real. In case you tried to contact me.

Once again, thank you, and I look forward to getting to know you better.

[CJB]

I have been clean for 10 mo. now. I know what you mean by wanting to do things while high. I used to love cleaning house, mowing, etc. when I was high. But I was always so impatient and hated anyone who got in my way. Now I just enjoy taking my time and I have peace. Life is much better now.

I have not tried to contact you yet , I will send you a private message. You will see at the top of the page where it says "notifications" a number 1.

Talk more later.

[...again]

I really don't know what to say right now. Just that I am feeling very alone. I don't know where to turn. I'm mentaly tired, and just don't know what im doing anymore. My husband just got mad at me, for what reason, I have no clue. We were getting ready to watch movies. He was pushing pressure points on my feet (it helps w pain, body reflexology), and he wasn't doing it hardly at all. so i pulled my feet away and said never mind. He got mad and went to the other room. WTH? I don't think I will feel comfortable going through my detox around him. I think he is going to get mad at me and make it worse. Lord God, please forgive me for putting him through this.
Right now I want to text my brother and tell him how much I hate him! I don't know how I have kept myself from doing that from the very begining. I guess I am trying to be the better person. Since Feb, every time I get angry, I think of how much I hate him. I blame him for all my troubles right now. Even though I know I am the one that put those pills into my own mouth.
Anyone out there....I would love to chat with someone.

...again

[CJB]

...again, I think your husband's feelings were hurt when you told him "nevermind". I understand that He probably wasn't putting his all into it but he also probably isn't a foot specialist either. Hopefully by now you two have made up. Try to give him extra grace. You did say he is wonderful. As far as your brother goes, I think you shouldn't speak to him right now. I hope I don't sound harsh. I also know it will be very hard to forfive you brother, but you must try. Maybe not today, but some day. Hope you are doing well today!

[CJB]

Hi Everyone, Hope you all had a fun, safe, cool, 4th of July. Hope you are all doing well.