Hydrocodone Detox - Advice Please!!!!

[Minimus]

Anyone have any information on the best way to handle this? My twenty-year old neice just called from out of state and confessed she has been taking the drug regularly but ran out tonight and she is very sick.

She started the prescribed hydrocodone when she had several kidney stones last year and apparently got hooked.

She does not have health insurance, she is alone in another state, and she is scared. From what I have read on the internet detoxing is hard. She is sick, in great pain and I am worried.

I told her to call the hospital but she is worried about the money. I am trying to get one of her friends over to her house and get some money wired but in the meantime any suggestions on how to help her deal with the pain and sickness?

Should she be under medical supervision during detox? Is she in danger?

Would it be better for her to wean off of it if we can manage to get some more, or is there something else she can do to survive the cold turkey period?

Any advice is appreciated.

[Botany]

1. Get in touch with social srvices in her area ASAP

Call mental health hotlines or the local E.R.

this is not a place to get medical advice.

[Minimus]

6. She is in another state and I am working on getting information

from her area drug programs. I'm not seeking medical advice, I'm just trying to ease my mind that she isn't in immediate danger so I can comfort her from 400 miles away.

[Gman]

2. Contact a drug user outreach program

they're usually non-profit and/or free services. Who? Depends on where she is. Check the local phone book, or even yellow pages. Even if its a small non-profit clinic, it will still have a business telephone number and will be listed under the appropriate heading in the yellow pages.

[Ilsa]

3. I have no personal experience with this, but here is a site might be

reliable:

http://www.addictionwithdrawal.com/hydrocodone.htm

Hydrocodone Withdrawal

Hydrocodone is a narcotic that can produce a calm, euphoric state similar to heroin or morphine--and despite such important and obvious benefits in pain relief, evidence is pointing to chronic addiction. Pure hydrocodone is a Schedule II substance, closely controlled with restricted use. But very few prescription drugs are pure hydrocodone. Instead, small amounts of hydrocodone are mixed with other non-narcotic ingredients to create medicines like Vicodin and Lortab. This means they can be classified under Schedule III with fewer restrictions on their use and distribution.

Subject to individual tolerance, many medical experts believe dependence or addiction can occur within one to four weeks at higher doses of Hydrocodone. Published reports of high profile movie stars, TV personalities and professional athletes who are recovering from Hydrocodone addiction are grim testimony to its debilitating effects.

If a regular hydrocodone user stops taking hydrocodone, he or she will experience hydrocodone withdrawal symptoms within six to twelve hours but, the withdrawal symptoms are usually not life-threatening. The intensity of hydrocodone withdrawal symptoms depend on the degree of the addiction. For example, hydrocodone withdrawal symptoms may grow stronger for twenty-four to seventy-two hours and then gradually decline over a period of seven to fourteen days. The duration of hydrocodone withdrawal symptoms varies greatly from person to person.


Hydrocodone Withdrawal symptoms include but are not limited to:

intense cravings for the drug
irritability
nausea or vomiting
muscle aches
runny nose or eyes
dilated pupils
sweating
diarrhea
yawning
fevers
chills
inability to sleep
depression

I'll see what else I can find but she should get some medical help.

[Minimus]

8. thank you! "not life threatening" is a relief.

I called a national hotline, they refered me to a GA hotline, that number doesn't work so I'm still calling every number a can. I just told her she is going to feel horrible but it is not life threatening while I continue to search for help.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

4. Another idea:

There is likely a mental health crisis line in her area. They are equipped to refer. I might be able to find a number for you. What city is she in?

[Minimus]

5. thank you

canton, ga.

[TomInTib]

7. I have been there...

Do you know how much she was/is doing on a daily basis?

Unless it was a lot, she is not in any real physical danger.
She will feel like crap, kind of like a bad flu.
Withdrawal can take up to two weeks depending on her daily level and metabolism.

DO NOT buy her any more. Weaning off is bs. Buy her some great vitamins.

The biggest risk is being alone and knowing where to get more.

[Minimus]

12. She "guesses" 5 a day but was not sure.

[TomInTib]

15. Then she's not being straight with you.

She knows exactly how much she was doing.

That is an old dodge by a young woman.

I saw where an earlier reply recommended a mental health crisis center. That is fine, but she should avoid hospitalization if possible. They will bankrupt her and cause more problems.

Was she taking 5s or 10s (milligram)?
If she wasn't doing 15-20 a day, she should be able to quit cold - no "weaning". It won't kill her, but she will feel as bad as she ever has.

Can you get her to your house? It takes 24-48 hours for withdrawal symptoms to set in.

Good luck.

[cpamomfromtexas]

9. Pain and Stress Therapy in San Antonio

They sell amino acids that are a great help to heal the brain and nervous system

[OhioNerd]

10. You have a regular doctor that you have a relationship with?

Call him up, explain the situation and ask for a scrip for Methadone. Also have him evaluate her medically to see where she's at physiologically. In terms of treatment, unless she is a traditional addict/alcoholic type, then don't put her in that pipeline. Many people who get hooked on pills follow a very different path than traditional addicts. Being out of pain is very seductive, especially if you have been suffering greatly. People like that need professional pain management more than they need a 12 step program.

[adriennui]

11. there are AA hotlines in every county in the US

let her call and they will either direct her to the nearest meeting or public rehab clinic. as long as it isn't life threatening she can ride it out with emotional support. does she have friends or family in the area?


she should remain hydrated.

she'll be OK physically, but she must get longterm support through AA or alanon.

[Minimus]

13. I finally reached her county help line and one of her friends.

Her friend will stay with her tonight (thank goodness)and she will keep me updated. She now has the local hotline number.

I was in a panic after she called me. I'm glad she at least reach out to her aunt.

[Minimus]

14. Thanks DUers. Your advice helped me help my niece and

eased my worry.

[fooj]

16. Your niece is very lucky to have you.

You have done everything you can at this point. Know that.:hug: You can be sure that she does.

Peace to you and yours...

[Warpy]

17. Tell her to call the local AA hotline

They're the umbrella group for NA also, and NA might be able to put her in touch with a detox facility.

People generally don't get withdrawal symptoms unless they've been taking the medication every few hours for a very long time, weeks or months. She really needs to get off this stuff, more for what the Tylenol has been doing to her liver and kidneys than for the narcotic she's kicking.

Eventually she's going to need help. AA can help her stay clean. Detoxing from a mild narcotic like hydrocodone is incredibly unpleasant but it's not life threatening. She will need help once it's out of her system, though, to keep it out.

[Moderator]

18. Locking

DUers are not qualified to give medical advice. Please seek the advice of professionals.