Norco Withdrawal

[wascaly]

Hello, all:

I realize there's probably a post about this somewhere (?), but can't find one, right off hand.

I am trying to wean myself off Norco, 5 months post-op. I was taking about 4-6 pills a day, and have cut it down to one. Needless to say, I haven't slept in over a week, plus I have other pretty unpleasant symptoms. I called my doc's office today, and spoke with his PA, who said she is recommending me to "Pain Management." Well, I'm pretty upset about that! I felt as if I was being "dismissed," and that I must be the ONLY patient who has had a problem with getting off Norco. I called her back and left a message that I was NOT pleased with that answer. I need sleep, and don't need to wait for a Pain Management Clinic to call me back with an appointment, that might be a week or so down the road. I have been taking Ambien, and that has really done no good. I feel hungover from it all the next day, and still only get a few hours sleep a night. I've been really grouchy and touchy during all this time, and I KNOW it's because I haven't had quality sleep in such a long time. In fact, I really don't know how much longer I can go on like this.

I hope someone responds to my post. I need to know if any of you have gone down this Highway to Hell, and what you did about it. Thanks so much for listening.

[LynnMarie74]

Hey there. I was on hydrocodone (same thing as you, diff. name) and slowly started taking myself off around 7 weeks. When I was down to one pill at night w/my valium, I was not a pretty person to be around 1/2 way thru the day. I was tired, crabby and achey...almost like a was getting a cold or something. There was actually a few weeks I didnt take it at all, w/no advserse effects, but when I started having my sleeping issues at night, I started again.....this is when I started getting the side effects. At 1st I wasnt sure if it was the valium that was doing it to me, but then after experimenting, I realized it was the hydrocodone. I found that a little nap and some tylonol helped me a little, but if you're having pain at night & cant sleep like me, ask for something else. Or, call your Primary Care doc.....I found out, like others, they are a little more willing to help you manage pain w/meds. You will get it figured out.....may I ask, what is keeping you awake at night? I had some serious issues w/this myself....not fun!!!

[debbei]

Hello, all:

I realize there's probably a post about this somewhere (?), but can't find one, right off hand.

I am trying to wean myself off Norco, 5 months post-op. I was taking about 4-6 pills a day, and have cut it down to one. Needless to say, I haven't slept in over a week, plus I have other pretty unpleasant symptoms. I called my doc's office today, and spoke with his PA, who said she is recommending me to "Pain Management." Well, I'm pretty upset about that! I felt as if I was being "dismissed," and that I must be the ONLY patient who has had a problem with getting off Norco. I called her back and left a message that I was NOT pleased with that answer. I need sleep, and don't need to wait for a Pain Management Clinic to call me back with an appointment, that might be a week or so down the road. I have been taking Ambien, and that has really done no good. I feel hungover from it all the next day, and still only get a few hours sleep a night. I've been really grouchy and touchy during all this time, and I KNOW it's because I haven't had quality sleep in such a long time. In fact, I really don't know how much longer I can go on like this.

I hope someone responds to my post. I need to know if any of you have gone down this Highway to Hell, and what you did about it. Thanks so much for listening.

Hi There~~

Back in January I posted that I discovered, amazing to myself, that I was addicted to my oxycodone. I believe this is the same thing as Norco, except that Norco also has tylenol in it. I cut myself down gradually over weeks down to 1 per day and I had a terrible time getting off that last one. I called the Dr.'s office and they prescribed Clonidine, which is a blood pressure med, and was supposed to take away the side effects of withdrawl. I filled the RX, but then decided against taking it, because in my case, my BP is low to begin with and I didn't want to get dizzy, fall over and hurt my back or something stupid like that. Maybe you can get that drug?

After that it took me one more week to cut down from 1 pill per day to none. Instead of going 'cold turkey', I went 24 hours between pills, then 25 or 26 hours, etc, increasing the time period between. In those hours where I 'increased the time', I had chills, body aches, etc. I also went through the insomnia during withdrawl, but I was able to do it. If you look up my old posts during this time, I thought I was going to go INSANE, but I got through it. It was so upsetting to me to think that I was actually 'addicted.' Someone here reminded me that I wasn't really addicted, I was chemically dependent. I'm sure the same goes for you.

Good luck. I know you can do it. Let me know how it goes, and PM me if you want to ask anything privately.

EDITING to add--the grouchiness isn't just from the lack of sleep--it's also from the physical withdrawl itself. When it wasn't quite time for my pill yet (during the cutback time), I'd take off anyone's head just for looking at me crosseyed. My husband and kids included.

[debbei]

Here is my original post asking for advice:

http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/showthread.php?t=8205

[Singer]

When I got really desperate for sleep while withdrawing from narcotics, I would take 25 mgs of Benadryl. I still take it occasionally but I'm careful not to get dependent on anything else at this point.

[dalmatica]

Hey Debbie,

I just noticed on the bottom of your posts that you wore a Milwaukie and was told you wouldn't progress. I was in one about the same time and told the same thing! Except...one doctor told my parents that the curves would progress, about one to two degrees a year and that was exactly what happened. Krysi

[debbei]

Hey Debbie,

I just noticed on the bottom of your posts that you wore a Milwaukie and was told you wouldn't progress. I was in one about the same time and told the same thing! Except...one doctor told my parents that the curves would progress, about one to two degrees a year and that was exactly what happened. Krysi

Krysi,

I see you're in PA. When and where were you treated? I started with the brace in 1976 in Pittsburgh.

[dalmatica]

I was treated in Wilmington, Delaware at the A.I. DuPont Institute. Ironically, my present doctor's father was a physician there at some point in time. He eventually went to Pittsburgh where my doc, Dr. Wm. Donaldson III is now in practice.

They originally wanted to fuse me then which was around 1973. The reason I didn't do it was because I couldn't ride my horse for two years afterward. When I think about the horrible body cast kids had to wear for six months post-op, flat on their back, then the walking cast, I just cringe. I did have two walking casts after the traction on different occassions before being braced. That was the course of action then. I did do real well in my brace. I wore it religiously. I remember actually trying to hide it! I would button shirts up real high on it, ect... I also remember putting wholes in my grandmothers recliner because of the screws on the back of the neck of it. I eventually went into what they called a jacket then and ironically is exactly what I ended up wearing after my first surgery and latest revision. Not much change in them at all. I donated my Milwaukie to the orthotics school at Pitt. Not many students had ever seen one. I still have a scar on my ribs from a pressure sore from one cast and on my throat from one of my braces. Krysi

[debbei]

Krysi,

Yes I wore my brace religiously too; it didn't even occur to me NOT to! I remember wearing clothes to hide it too. Cowl necks (remember them, LOL?), and I'd also wear scarves wrapped around the neck piece to hide it. I had scars on my hip bones for years but they eventually went away. I am also thankful that I never had the original surgery back in 76. My original Dr's name was David Krause, and I think he's still in practice there in Pittsburgh.

It's been nice reminiscing with you

[wascaly]

I feel a little better today - took 2 Lunestas last night. I still feel hung over but not as bad as yesterday. The comment about Clonidin is interesting - I doubt if they'll give me that, tho, since I already take a HBP med. I did notice last night that I had a lot of leg movement (which is why I got up and took a Flexeril and one more Lunesta). I have always had to rely on something to help me sleep, but not such heavy duty stuff as now.

I have to say, that I am almost sorry I had this surgery because of all this. Sometimes, I think it might have been better just to let my body fold up on itself instead of going through yet another challenge. I know my attitude is not good, but, I swear, this interruption to my life at this stage of my life (almost 59) is almost too much to bear. I do see my counselor on a regular basis, and he's able to help me some.

I am also very surprised at the number of people who seem to be afflicted with this. My counselor already knows one woman who had the surgery, and yesterday he told me of yet another. It's really incredible.

[debbei]

I feel a little better today - took 2 Lunestas last night. I still feel hung over but not as bad as yesterday. The comment about Clonidin is interesting - I doubt if they'll give me that, tho, since I already take a HBP med. I did notice last night that I had a lot of leg movement (which is why I got up and took a Flexeril and one more Lunesta). I have always had to rely on something to help me sleep, but not such heavy duty stuff as now.

I have to say, that I am almost sorry I had this surgery because of all this. Sometimes, I think it might have been better just to let my body fold up on itself instead of going through yet another challenge. I know my attitude is not good, but, I swear, this interruption to my life at this stage of my life (almost 59) is almost too much to bear. I do see my counselor on a regular basis, and he's able to help me some.

I am also very surprised at the number of people who seem to be afflicted with this. My counselor already knows one woman who had the surgery, and yesterday he told me of yet another. It's really incredible.

Oh honey--

you will get through this part! You really will, I swear. Maybe if you saw the pain management specialist, they could help you get off the meds easier than you could on your own. I remember thinking that I would go absolutely NUTS and that I'd never get off the meds. PM me if you'd like to talk.