Hydrocodone Dependence/ Withdrawal

[KBear]

I'm sure this has been discussed on here somewhere, but I can't find it and am tired of looking. Not been the best of days, no school for Columbus day, so had both all day, tried to do fun crafts, but completely backfired on me, kids were horrible in the store, then had a flat, took me 30 minutes to be 'rescued' and I'm exhausted. Enough excuses though, on to my point.

I felt awesome this weekend, better than I have in almost 5 years. I went all day Saturday without pain medication and felt great, I didn't even need a Tylenol. I felt wonderful Sunday , but come bedtime last night I started feeling stiff and took some Tylenol. I slept pretty good last night, until my 4 year old decided at 4 in the morning to wake me up because she couldn't sleep. I didn't get back to sleep until 6am. I felt more stiff this morning again, so started searching about withdrawal of hydrocodone. I took Tylenol and a hot bath and felt better. I'm trying to figure out if this is typical withdrawal symptoms or actual pain. I don't want to take the medication is this is withdrawal and it's not unbearable or even that bad, just uncomfortable. If I felt it was bad enough, I would take the medication as to not stress the baby; but don't think I'm there.

Anyhow, I'm trying to find more information on hydrocodone withdrawal, but mostly what I found is aimed at abusers, not people who are physically dependent. It did say withdrawal symptoms peak at 2 to 3 days, which would make sense as the last dose I took was Friday evening. I was down to 1- 7.5mg Hydrocodone a day and just didn't take any after Friday since I felt fine. I really didn't expect withdrawals, considering my dose was so low, hence why I didn't taper that dose down. Any information or personal experiences would be helpful.

Thank you all, you are all so great and helpful,
Kathy

[JK2234]

I want to give you advice on this but im searching for the same answers as you b/c i also get stiff after 2-3 days off vicodin...

Glad im not nor could be pregnant that has to be tough on the body, mind and spine for you right now, maybe you should just fight the pain and not take any pain meds even tho its not fair for me to try to put my feat in your shoes.

[Gilbert P]

Hi Kbear

I know getting off oxy was hard and i think I started a thread ?

Gil

[Cindylou]

Kathy, I'm not gonna pretend to have the answer, because I don't. I just want to encourage you to hang in there....you are so close to being "opiate-free," that if it's at all possible, I would try and go the distance....just my 2 cents. Love you sweetie! CL

[Rob]

Hi KBear,

Sorry to hear... I started a thread back on 4/30 "weaning off the meds". I had done some internet research and found the following:

The sites listed the following withdrawal symtoms:

·Restlessness
·Muscle pain
·Bone pain
·Insomnia
·Diarrhea
·Vomiting
·Cold flashes
·Goose bumps
·Involuntary leg movements
·Watery eyes
·Runny nose
·Loss of appetite
·Irritability
·Panic
·Nausea
·Chills
·Sweating

According to most sites the symptoms can start 12-24 hours after stopping the Rx, build for up to 72 hours and then be gone in 1-3 weeks.

It took me ~3 1/2 weeks to get through the withdrawals.

Let me know if I can help...

Regards,

Rob

[KBear]

Thanks everyone, I think it is definitely withdrawal I was feeling, as today I feel great. I'm keeping the Tylenol on hand if needed, but so far so good. I haven't taken anything since Friday evening, so think that yesterday was the little bit of soreness and achiness I was going to get. I was mainly afraid that it was going to get worse and didn't want to do that, as my OB does not want me in pain and suffering, as that is worse on the baby than taking the medication.... such a fine line. Well gotta run, heading off to my mommy bible study (yay, me time!)

[JK2234]

^ Oh, i didnt think about if your pain could cause the baby stress. Since I coach high school B-ball alot of my kids are from the ghetto and i see the effects of crack babys. (but then again crack cocaine and vicodin are probally worlds apart when it comes to matters like this). I do know people addicted to vicodin but I have no real education on stuff like this.

[KBear]

^ Oh, i didnt think about if your pain could cause the baby stress. Since I coach high school B-ball alot of my kids are from the ghetto and i see the effects of crack babys. (but then again crack cocaine and vicodin are probally worlds apart when it comes to matters like this). I do know people addicted to vicodin but I have no real education on stuff like this.

JK2234- That was my exact fear before becoming pregnant. I consulted with my pediatrician and OBGYN as far as how the baby could be affected by the medication. Basically, the worst case scenario is the baby is dependent and needs to be weaned off of it (they said this is very unlikely, but not a big deal if it happens.) There is no increased risk of birth defects, learning disabilities or any other negative effects from taking it. I was actually ok'ed to take my Kadian (time release morphine) during pregnancy.

I found on another site a huge thread with pregnant women who have chronic pain. It literally took me a few days to read all of it. There were some horror stories of women who had miscarried after being abruptly taken off pain medication. There are several women on there who have had to take medication the entire pregnancy and delivered healthy babies. I also have read several studies on it and even in the population who are abusing narcotics (as in buying off the streets and not under a doctor's supervision) there is not an increase in birth defects, etc. Basically, it all boils down to being under a physcian's care and taking it as prescribed. I've also spoken with several women who were given hydrocodone for the first time in their lives during pregnancy, for pregnancy aches and pains (this is also the medicine they give women after the birth of the baby, many of whom are breast feeding.) Anyhow, I did all my homework before becoming pregnant, consulting a total of 5 doctors to make sure it was okay. I want to make sure the information is out there, so others don't give up their dreams of having a baby, because they have chronic pain and need medication.

On to the good news...... I have not taken anything other than a Tylenol today (for a headache- common for me in pregnancy). So my last hydrocodone was on Friday and I'm feeling great. I didn't have any low back pain yesterday. I think I slept wrong and had a 'crick' in my neck, but it's gone today and wasn't painful as much as annoying. I feel fine today and feel like my energy is coming back. I have been very active and having no increase in pain. All weekend I was at a scrap booking retreat, which means I sat in an office chair, leaning over a table for about 20 hours (Fri, Sat & Sun. combined) and had no extra pain from it. I was out and about all day yesterday, went to my Mom's group/Bible study for 3 hours (sitting in uncomfy chairs) and felt great. I actually had to drop out of this group a year and a half ago, because it was too painful to sit for that length of time. I took my kids to shop for Halloween decorations, decorated pumpkins, cooked dinner and played outside with them and still feel great! I'm in disbelief that I'm really feeling this good, after wanting this for so long, dreaming of this and now it's a reality. There were so many times I thought that I would never be out of pain or would never have another child and now I'm doing both. I'm so thrilled to be here and thank all of you who have helped me along the way.

Kathy

[Cindylou]

Kathy, it's such great news to read this it just makes me want to cry. Happy tears for sure. Your time has finally come. I don't know if I'll get to that place you're at in my lifetime but I hope and pray I do. Enjoy this time. You deserve it. God bless, Cindylou

[Metalneck07]

Kathy I can say enough how HAPPY I am for you !!!!! It has been a long time coming and you deserve this so much !! I wish you the very best and what awesome news.It gives me so much hope for the
future.Take care and continued pain free days.
Caitlin aka metalneck07