Any Tips on Giving Up My Status as a Junkie?

annalexandria
annalexandria Member Posts: 2,571 Member
in Colorectal Cancer #1
Hi all-I've been taking Vicodin for almost a year now, and would love to stop using it. I was taking it originally for joint and muscle pain brought on by chemo, and recently had to double my dosage (from two pills a day to four) in the aftermath of surgery. Now I feel I don't really need to take it anymore, as my pain issues are mostly resolved, but when I tried to back off on my present dosage, I immediately developed massive, flu-like body aches. I'm a serious wuss, and really don't want to endure any additional suffering at the moment, so would rather not try to go cold turkey. I'll be talking to my doctor next week, but am wondering if anyone has any suggestions for how to stop taking this stuff. I had to resign from my job as a librarian recently, but I suspect "junkie" isn't really a viable employment option, so any help would be much appreciated. Thanks! Ann

Comments

  • neons356
    neons356 Member Posts: 57 Member
    #2
    This was reccomended to me and it worked.


    if you're still on 4 pills/day. Break four pills in half and the first day take all 8 at equal intervals. Next day do the same thing but skip the time you would have taken the second pill.
    Day3 do it again, etc. always taking the first pill and then eliminating the next. After 8 days you'll have gradually weaned yourself down to zero.
  • annalexandria
    annalexandria Member Posts: 2,571 Member
    #3
    neons356 said:

    This was reccomended to me and it worked.


    if you're still on 4 pills/day. Break four pills in half and the first day take all 8 at equal intervals. Next day do the same thing but skip the time you would have taken the second pill.
    Day3 do it again, etc. always taking the first pill and then eliminating the next. After 8 days you'll have gradually weaned yourself down to zero.

    Thank you!
    I'm going to print this out right now. This is exactly the kind of specific info I was looking for, so your response is much appreciated!
  • abrub
    abrub Member Posts: 2,174 Member
    #4
    It took me a while to cut back from Tramadol
    I was told to diminish the dosage by half a pill every 3 days. It took several weeks, but at least it got me off the pills more comfortably. I cursed at every pill I took for those 3 weeks - I so wanted to dump the bottle and be done with it. However, I couldn't drop it that fast (and this was after only 5 weeks on it.)

    Good luck. Go slowly - it's a process, and your body has to be carefully weaned.
  • annalexandria
    annalexandria Member Posts: 2,571 Member
    #5
    abrub said:

    It took me a while to cut back from Tramadol
    I was told to diminish the dosage by half a pill every 3 days. It took several weeks, but at least it got me off the pills more comfortably. I cursed at every pill I took for those 3 weeks - I so wanted to dump the bottle and be done with it. However, I couldn't drop it that fast (and this was after only 5 weeks on it.)

    Good luck. Go slowly - it's a process, and your body has to be carefully weaned.

    Thanks!
    I may need to do this longer version of weaning, even tho I feel like throwing the bottle in the garbage right now. I suspect if I did that I'd soon be on my hands and knees scrabbling to get them out. I've been taking the darn things for so long my body just sees it as part of the daily routine. Thanks again for the advice, Ann
  • PhillieG
    PhillieG Member Posts: 4,866 Member
    #6
    Cold Turkey
    Is rarely good or healthy. Like others have said, wean yourself off of them slowly...
  • smokeyjoe
    smokeyjoe Member Posts: 1,425 Member
    #7
    PhillieG said:

    Cold Turkey
    Is rarely good or healthy. Like others have said, wean yourself off of them slowly...

    After my surgery I had
    After my surgery I had prescription for tylenol with codeine...T-3's (I think they're called). Got so I'd basically only take them at bed time, nice buzz so I'd sleep well, my back wouldn't bother me. Then all of a sudden one appointment they just would not refill it for me any more unless I could specifically tell me what pain I was taking them for. I was so accustomed to taking them at bedtime.

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