Hydro/Codeine Withdrawal??

[LostInSpace]

Over a week ago, I took the last pill of Ultram (50mg-non-codeine med) and a week and a half ago I took my last pill of Norco. I have been on some sort of codeine-hydro for over a year at a relatively high dosage. I did taper my usage off but within a 2 week time period.

I was feeling fine all week until four days ago when I got seriously sick from my stomach and get dizzy to the point of fainting about 1-3 times each day. At first I thought I had the flu but now I am questioning if I might be going through withdrawal symptoms....weird isn't it? Three days of feeling good and then possible withdrawal symptoms? My body also badly aches like the flu but no fever.

My stomach issues are serious and I can't keep much food down. I am quite underweight as it is and recently my friends have been noticing my weight loss this past month. I know I need to "bite the bullet" here and go to the doctor at this point, but I will definitely not be able to afford the follow-up blood work and other tests to figure everything out......

Is anyone able to reassure me that this may be a late case of codeine withdrawal? ..........or may this be a larger problem?
__________________________________________________ ______

I hope everyone had a Wonderful Holiday and New Year!

Thanks for any advice you have to offer

[Loubitan]

@LostInSpace - I am not a doctor, but it sounds like you have a flu or something like that. From everything that I have read at PR, the withdrawal from those medications you take come on rapidly after you stop taking them...like within 24 hours. Let's see what other's say, but you may have some oterh sickness. Hang in there...and try and relax and get well this weekend. Keep us posted on how you feel.

[LostInSpace]

Thank you @Loubitan !

I probably should have added that 3 weeks ago I had oral surgery on my upper jaw which required 2 1/2 times of anesthesia which still didn't knock me out fully. I was awake the entire time they were cutting into my skull but thankfully do not remember much. This experience was the actual reason why I did not want to take medications anymore except for prescription NSAID (requirement for me for severe arthritis in 3 areas) and Xanax. I knew I reached my threshold of medications 3 weeks ago.

I thought I would go into rapid detox too but not at all! I was on Norco, 750mg Vicodin, Ultram and DHC heavily, really heavily for 3 weeks prior to surgery. I did not take all the meds at once but alternated beyond the directions. Basically, I was taking significantly more than I was suppose to but not feeling the effects.

I apologize for leaving this pertinent information out but I just can't figure out what the heck is going on with me.....

Thank you!

[Loubitan]

@LostInSpace - You could have some type of infection, blood infection. I would go to the doctor. Good luck

[wcybercat]

I'm not a doctor or an expert on anything. But I can tell you my own experience. I have had 4 surgeries since July and have been on major meds for the last 6 months. In the last week I have stopped taking them. I was a bit shaky for about 3 days and a craving that I can only describe as annoying and making me very agitated. Almost like someone had taken my cigs from me or my daily coffee. Sounds like you might have something else going on, but then I could be wrong. Best of luck to you

[cherrybomb]

I'm going to agree with wcybercat, this sounds like something else is going on with you. However, withdrawals can start acting up days after stopping because the meds need time to get out of your system--but this doesn't sound like that is the case? How are you feeling now?

[crucibelle]

@LostInSpace -- I agree with everyone else; I don't think this is withdrawal. IMO, you need to get to a doctor ASAP.

[Xzentric]

This could be w/d and something else going on at the same time. When you are sick, is there any blood?

How long have you been losing weight? You really need to get to a Dr asap as they are the only people who will be able to give you a correct diagnosis. Most likely is nothing serious but its better to get checked out.

[penpilus]

Over a week ago, I took the last pill of Ultram (50mg-non-codeine med) and a week and a half ago I took my last pill of Norco. I have been on some sort of codeine-hydro for over a year at a relatively high dosage. I did taper my usage off but within a 2 week time period.

I was feeling fine all week until four days ago when I got seriously sick from my stomach and get dizzy to the point of fainting about 1-3 times each day. At first I thought I had the flu but now I am questioning if I might be going through withdrawal symptoms....weird isn't it? Three days of feeling good and then possible withdrawal symptoms? My body also badly aches like the flu but no fever.

My stomach issues are serious and I can't keep much food down. I am quite underweight as it is and recently my friends have been noticing my weight loss this past month. I know I need to "bite the bullet" here and go to the doctor at this point, but I will definitely not be able to afford the follow-up blood work and other tests to figure everything out......

Is anyone able to reassure me that this may be a late case of codeine withdrawal? ..........or may this be a larger problem?

Dear Lost,
I wish I could tell you that you are suffering for a late cause of codeine withdrawal, but this rarely happens... It actually sounds like you are becoming possibly malnourished as a result of not keeping food down. The symptoms you describe could result from a metabolic deficiancy of either sodium of potassium. Have some labs done at the very least, and take care of your self.

[painstaking]

I think the ultram withdrawal could be a strange one, I have heard the withdrawals from it are not pretty and can be strange.

But, in a case such as this, not seeing a doctor would be a bad idea. Any updates @LostInSpace

[Massiveamounts]

@LostInSpace - I am not a doctor, but it sounds like you have a flu or something like that. From everything that I have read at PR, the withdrawal from those medications you take come on rapidly after you stop taking them...like within 24 hours. Let's see what other's say, but you may have some oterh sickness. Hang in there...and try and relax and get well this weekend. Keep us posted on how you feel.

Yeah like my buddy Lou said WD symptoms come on quickly not four or five days later, I would guess you have picked up something like the flu because of your stressed out weakened immune system from not being able to eat and stuff. I srsly doubt WD symptoms would hit you four or so days later so I bet Loubabe is spot on and proper.

*This post was auto-merged. The following text was added 10 minutes after the last post:*

One way to find out though is to go back to taking a really low dose of codeine and if your symptoms go away quickly then it's almost certain it's the Cod WD.

right?

[jayther2]

There is a phenomenon called protracted WD or something like that. It's common for WD to get real bad at 3-5 days. However this is only when you are using long-acting meds like Methadone, Buprenorphine or even oxy. Consider yourself very lucky if you did'nt have any WD's from what you were on. Trust me, if you have never experienced WD before, what you are experiencing now is a blessing.

[Coheed]

@jayther2 you really hit the nail on the head with that one!

[Jellyfish]

Precipitated WD..?

[brandon7467]

It sounds like wd's to me. I had to come off of oxy and it was horrible. I felt sick to my stomach and I thought I had the flu. I would get real cold all over, but be sweatin at the same time. It may have just took a few days to metabolize out of your system. @LostInSpace

[Jellyfish]

OP hasn't taken Any codeine here.

I just wanted to throw that out there, as it's been mentioned a few times.
Op, just to clarify, your Vicodin amounts you speak of are mg of apap yes, and not of hydrocodone itself?
What mg are we tlking About for the DHC?

[happyj]

Over a week ago, I took the last pill of Ultram (50mg-non-codeine med) and a week and a half ago I took my last pill of Norco. I have been on some sort of codeine-hydro for over a year at a relatively high dosage. I did taper my usage off but within a 2 week time period.

I was feeling fine all week until four days ago when I got seriously sick from my stomach and get dizzy to the point of fainting about 1-3 times each day. At first I thought I had the flu but now I am questioning if I might be going through withdrawal symptoms....weird isn't it? Three days of feeling good and then possible withdrawal symptoms? My body also badly aches like the flu but no fever.

My stomach issues are serious and I can't keep much food down. I am quite underweight as it is and recently my friends have been noticing my weight loss this past month. I know I need to "bite the bullet" here and go to the doctor at this point, but I will definitely not be able to afford the follow-up blood work and other tests to figure everything out......

Is anyone able to reassure me that this may be a late case of codeine withdrawal? ..........or may this be a larger problem?
__________________________________________________ ______

I hope everyone had a Wonderful Holiday and New Year!

Thanks for any advice you have to offer

_________________________________


Just wondering the results for @LostInSpace? 3 weeks ago there was mention of a possibility of late withdrawal symptoms but there was confusion whether the sickness came from stopping Norco or something else. Have you still quit Norco? If yes, how were your withdrawals? If no, what was the issue?



H

[jayther2]

Precipitated WD..?

@Jellyfish, I think there is a difference between Protracted and Precipitated. Precipitated means unintentionally going into WD to soon. Like if you start Suboxone too soon after your last dose of an opiate it throws you into WD. This is Precipitated WD....I think.

[tomsey1]

I have been opiate dependent for over thirty years now, and I can tell your from more awful experiences I care to count that hydro and codeine withdrawl starts within hours, not days. The drug doesn't have to be metabolized - sorry about spelling - for wd to begin. Once the drugs half-life is reached with respect to blood plasma levels, the body can start to feel the effects of the drug no longer being attached to the receptors in the brain. I hope your have gone to a doctor by now if you are still experiencing problems.

[LostInSpace]

I am sorry I didn't post an update....I have been feeling Much, MUCH Better the past month! Thank you for all the information.....I think the month of January was a combination of all the above; a bug I caught, withdrawal and I'm still losing weight. I went to the doctor last week and the general consensus is stress. I haven't taken a single pain killer other than NSAIDs, and even those I only take when I can't move. I am DONE taking pain meds that are addictive...very done! For me to have to question if that was the reason for my illness, states a lot of the previous status I was in.

Chalk it up to experience but I agree with many here regarding getting a blood panel done. I should do this (but I hate needles-makes me pass out)......I'm suck a weakling

Thank you all again!