Hydrocodone Acetaminophen Withdrawal 5 375

I've been on Hydrocodone/Acetaminophen 5/325 since 2000, for osteoarthritis. What is the best way to stop taking them? Do I slowly back out of them? I'm in my seventies and I fear the withdrawal symptoms will be too much for me. I'm also concerned that I will suddenly be told I won't be able to take them anymore. Due to the current attitude and caution about opioids, I skipped some doses in order to have extras, in case. I want to have some extra pills available so I can back out of this drug more slowly if this happens. I'd like to be able to stop taking them completely and still have a life and the ability to do things for myself.

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How often are you taking them ? If you are taking them several times a day, you can take 1/2 a tablet instead of a whole tablet for several days. If you are only taking them once a day or as needed, you should not have any problems stopping them. But, the pain you take them for may get worse when you decrease and stop them. If you need pain medication to function, you need to see a Pain Management Doctor.

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BL: I take 2 tablets, twice per day. I've managed to skip one of the pills at night for several days in the past two months. This was in order to have enough to wean myself from them, if necessary. Next, I will try to take one pill, twice daily, when pain allows. Thank you for your reply and advice.

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A slow taper is usually best, even if you aren't abusing a medication, you might still experience some problematic withdrawal symptoms, that the FDA lists as possibly including fever, chills, nausea, dizziness, rebound pain, and diarrhea.

Your doctor can help you set up a proper tapering schedule. Are you on any other medications?

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Verwon: I'm on 3 blood pressure meds, Levothyroxine (I have no thyroid). I've stopped a diuretic (caused hyperkalemia), a nighttime insulin, and Atorvastatin because my cholesterol was never high enough to warrant taking a statin drug as long as I did. I also take Humalog insulin for type 2 diabetes (well-controlled.) I've never abused the Hydrocodone/Acetaminophen 5/325. I take 2 tablets in the morning, and 1 or 2 in the afternoon, I'm trying to wean myself off them slowly. I recently took a 6-day pack of Medrol for a chest cold, of all things. I should have said no to my primary. She also gave me an albuterol nebulizer treatment, and an inhaler which I didn't use out of fear of a reaction. Yes, I accepted those meds and became more fearful later! I'm sorry this is so long. I'm trying to get some knowledge about those horrible episodes I'm experiencing since I've received no answers from the two doctors I've seen, including an ENT.

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I was in the same situation was taking 10/325 3-4 a day. Definitely needed but decided to quit most my meds because I wasn't the person I know I am. I have too many health problems to list. I now take cannabis. The only person to control it is me. It helps with pain, anxiety, arthritis, sleeping, eating, and in my opinion much much better. Slowly stop those meds but I will tell you there are days I could really use them, but I woke up. Rethink again today. Hope this helps.

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Rammon: Did the cannabis help with pain and withdrawal from Hydrocodone?

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