[rhodygolf]

ok, long story short. I had back surgery in sept and am still taking the vicodin. I take anywhere between 5-8 5/500 pills a day (25 to 45 mg). I'm worried. I know I'm hooked on em and am afraid to try and get off. I don't know what to do, or how much longer the doc will give em to me. I have about 15 left before I run out and don't know what to do, or how to taper off them. I'm scared, help! Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[ChrisNev]

Make a tapering schedule. Example, Taking 7 a day for a week, and each week, take 1 less pill a day.

Most people have a hard time tapering on their own, the temptation is so strong. The best thing to do is give your pills to a family or friend you can trust, and have them give you your dose.

Or, if you can handle 5 days of flu like pain, then go cold turkey using the thomas recipe.

Some people will recommend suboxone. But see that as a last resort. Its expensive and just as difficult to quit. You'd just be trading one addiction for another.

[mpvt]

You've got time on your side seeing that you've only been abusing for a little over 4 months and you've been taking a small amount.Hydroccodone is not one of the stronger opiates which helps abit too.Seeing that you've been abusing for a very short time and the amount you take I would suggest a cold turkey along with the Thomas Recipe.
You should be able to do this with a bit of discomfort but do it now before you destroy your life asnd you're one opiates for the rest of your life.After a few years you won't be able to get that euphoric buzz that we all love and you will be taking anything and everything just so you don't get sick.So do yourself a favour and the rest of the people in your life too by stopping this now while you still can.
You're going to experience about 3-5 days of flu like symptoms while your body gets rid of the hydrocodone.Remember to that taking tylenol chronically can cause liver damage and a ton of other problems.So stop now and follow this recipe as best you can.Make sure you get daily exercise and eat a high protien diet.Try gatorade as much as you can drink for a couple months.Walking a couple times a day does wonders for endorphin prodeuction so make sure you walk when you start to feel better.Good luck and hang in there......Dave

Pain, Addiction & Withdrawal Support
> The Thomas Recipe for Cold Turkey Withdrawal

If you can't take time off to detox, I recommend you follow a taper regimen using your drug of choice or suitable alternate -- the slower the taper, the better.
For the Recipe, You'll need:
1. Valium (or another benzodiazepine such as Klonopin, Librium, Ativan or Xanax). Of these, Valium and Klonopin are best suited for tapering since they come in tablet form. Librium is also an excellent detox benzo, but comes in capsules, making it hard to taper the dose. Ativan or Xanax should only be used if you can't get one of the others.
2. Imodium (over the counter, any drug or grocery store).
3. L-Tyrosine (500 mg caps) from the health food store.
4. Strong wide-spectrum mineral supplement with at least 100% RDA of Zinc, Phosphorus, Copper, Magnesium and Potassium (you may not find the potassium in the same supplement).
5. Vitamin B6 caps.
6. Access to hot baths or a Jacuzzi (or hot showers if that's all that's available).
How to use the recipe:
Start the vitamin/mineral supplement right away (or the first day you can keep it down), preferably with food. Potassium early in the detox is important to help relieve RLS (Restless Leg Syndrome). Bananas are a good source of potassium if you can't find a supplement for it.
Begin your detox with regular doses of Valium (or alternate benzo). Start with a dose high enough to produce sleep. Before you use any benzo, make sure you're aware of how often it can be safely taken. Different benzos have different dosing schedules. Taper your Valium dosage down after each day. The goal is to get through day 4, after which the worst WD symptoms will subside. You shouldn't need the Valium after day 4 or 5.
During detox, hit the hot bath or Jacuzzi as often as you need to for muscle aches. Don't underestimate the effectiveness of hot soaks. Spend the entire time, if necessary, in a hot bath. This simple method will alleviate what is for many the worst opiate WD symptom.
Use the Imodium aggressively to stop the runs. Take as much as you need, as often as you need it. Don't take it, however, if you don't need it.
At the end of the fourth day, you should be waking up from the Valium and experiencing the beginnings of the opiate WD malaise. Upon rising (empty stomach), take the L-Tyrosine. Try 2000 mgs, and scale up or down, depending on how you feel. You can take up to 4,000 mgs. Take the L-Tyrosine with B6 to help absorption. Wait about one hour before eating breakfast. The L-Tyrosine will give you a surge of physical and mental energy that will help counteract the malaise. You may continue to take it each morning for as long as it helps. If you find it gives you the "coffee jitters," consider lowering the dosage or discontinuing it altogether. Occasionally, L-Tyrosine can cause the runs. Unlike the runs from opiate WD, however, this effect of L-Tyrosine is mild and normally does not return after the first hour. Lowering the dosage may help.
Continue to take the vitamin/mineral supplement with breakfast.
As soon as you can force yourself to, get some mild exercise such as walking, cycling, swimming, etc. This will be hard at first, but will make you feel considerably better.
Thomas [/i][/b]