How to quit?

[mom134]

I eat norco (10/325) like M&Ms and I am scared of withdrawl. I am hoping someone can give me some hard truths about withdrawl, how long it lasts, how bad it is, etc. Is there any way to make it easier? Should I go cold turkey or try to taper?

[SeattleDoc]

Maybe you should define "like M&Ms" a little bit. 8 a day or 20 a day?

"Tapering" a short acting drug like hydrocodone is next to impossible. You would need to convert to a long acting drug (methadone or buprenorphine) and taper off that.

Cold turkey without medical help is a very unpleasant experience. You probably won't die but you will sure feel like you are going to. I would suggest medically supervised detox (and treatment).

Nasty drug! Good luck!

SeattleDoc

[angelgirl]

Hi, I don't know what you mean by eating them like m&m's and I don't really think that matters, I know that everytime I tried to go cold turkey, I ended up in the Emergency room, in pretty tough shape, I suffer what felt like electric shocks thru my body, terrible heart palpitations, feelings that I was losing my mind, and a whole host of symptoms of withdrawl, you can probably search on the net for withdrawl symptoms, but the best advice anyone can give you is, go get help, it is so difficult to do on your own, I never could do it, and trust me, I tried ALOT. Please let us know how things are going. There are an awful lot of caring people here on this board, and the things you hear are not meant to scare you, what scares me is to continue to take them, they told me if I kept going like I was, I would die, and I want to live. Even with the difficulties life throws at us, dying from drug use is a terrible thing, I was so afraid to leave that legacy for my kids, the way my mom did for me. Good luck. Becky

[angelgirl]

Sorry, I also wanted to say that I was never able to taper either, not off pain pills, it was to difficult for me, if I had them, I took them, no matter how hard I tried, but maybe some people can, I just don't know if the disease of addiction allows us to do that, didn't me.

[DirtyDog]

Hey,
Hydro 10/325s continue to mess with my life...been through NUMEROUS withdrawals from than drug and each time it seems to get worse and last longer. I've always just done cold turkey, as I won't admit to my family what is going on. I've found very little that helps me. At first, the worst withdrawals were in the first three days. Last go around, I felt horrible for two weeks and was just begining to feel better when I took more pills. Hydros are a BAD BAD thing, as you no doubt know by now. I haven't found a way out yet, but I'm trying AA/NA meetings and suggest you do the same. It makes you feel less alone.....Sorry for the less-than-uplifting message!

[ashley80]

Mom, my story is similar to yours. Check out www.suboxone.com and find a doc in your area. It can help with the PHYSICAL withdrawals so that you can work on a plan, program or whatever works for you to STAY away from the hydros.
Cold turkey is very unpleasant, and it doesn't have to be that way, with the drug suboxone. I am ONLY saying this from personal experience. I am not a doctor, but it helped me and I am familiar with the stories of many others that it has helped as well.
This is NOT medical advice, I am only pointing you to a doctor or clinic that can save you MUCH pain. Of course, as I said above, you have got to do something else, during and after your detox, to stay clean.
Ashley

[2stop]

Please get some help to go through this. I have cold turkeyed off of up to 20-50 hydrocodones a day. It is worse than hell....can it be done cold turkey?..I have done it..but medical supervision is the safest, best way. This addiction can be beat, you have to WANT it more than you need it. I struggled for many months just to wrap my mind around the notion I had to quit...I was dying. I know a guy lost leg and a kidney from taking so many hydrocodones. I lost alot of my health and youth...still a struggle. Hydro's started not being enough and I went to morphine and fentayl patches, that withdrawal is REALLY bad also.
Good news though...many of us recover and live drug free. It take stime and alot of work..but YOU CAN DO IT!I have two chiildren and my hubby is gone 1-2 weeks at atime..I had to manage through alot of paranoia and anxiety and pain..but please understand you can be set free from this. It is such a prison. I haven't had hydro's in almost a year..and let me tell you I couldn't fathom going one minute without pills in me or a bottle in my purse. I would feak out so bad. I got to where I would sit on the floor and hallucinate..terrible shape. I never ever thought I would be able to beat it.never! But it is happening..slowly for me..but as long as you stand back up one more time than you fall down..YOU WILL MAKE IT!!

Keep posting..if you need to talk, need an ear..please PM me or post, anything I can do to help you I would be happy to. I hate seeing people suffer with this. I wil never forget my despair, my agony...I started at 10 with prescription pills. I am 32 now....it is possible to be happy again my friend. NA is a great start. Good people there. I use a variety of methods, programs..but the first 3 steps of NA I could not live without. maybe check out a meeting, couldn't hurt.

Hang in there...YOU deserve peace, freedom and hapiness. Step at a time you can have it!

{{{warm, supportive hugs}}}

[2stop]

One more thing...the question I had to start to ask myself was not how can I live without the pills..it was; HOW CAN I LIVE WITH THEM? I asked mysel this a,ot and really strated thinking about it.....good luck to you my friend. Call your doctor..there is help out there. You deserve it..go and get it! *hugs*