How to I break and addiction to Tylenol # 3?!
Question: How to I break and addiction to Tylenol # 3?
I was (am) a heavy alcoholic and was drinking about a liter of gin a day up until I broke my leg about two years ago. The pain was so bad I drank every day. Then my liver started acting up so I quit drinking cold turkey and my doctor started giving me Tylenol 3 for the pain. I took them for a while until the leg healed. But then after that I continued to take one Tylenol # 3 everyday at about five PM because it relaxed me so much and it made it so I didn't want to drink. I have been taking one pill every day for about a year and a half now, but recently I started going through a really hard emotional time so about two months ago I upped the dosage to 3 1/2 to 4 Tylenol # 3 every night. I have been taking this amount for a little over two months now. I keep trying to taper down but I get so depressed and anxious I can't help it-I guess I'm totally addicted to these pills now. My question is what if I try to just quit them cold turkey, will that work? I want to go to NA but don't you already have to be off drugs to go there? What if just quit these Tylenol cold turkey, will I have convulsions or sickness or anything? I heard the body converts codeine to morphine. I am scared, depressed and have no idea what to do. I can't find a drug program or rehab that doesn't cost money. Plus I am bipolar and take meds for that too. Can anybody suggest what to do-please helpful responses only. I've asked questions before like this and people have left abusive answers like I should just off myself and stuff like that. Thank you for any helpful advice, I really appreciate it.
Answers:
Good grief. I would never tell you to off yourself. Some people....! Anyway, I've also been addicted to narcotics, benzodiazepines, etc. several times. The withdrawal is absolutely heinous. I get nauseated, can't sleep, time stands still, aches and pains, seizures, on and on. I have tried quitting cold turkey, but it can be dangerous. I really hate to tell you to do it cold turkey, because it is so miserable. Do you have anyone close to you? Someone who could "dole" out your pills to you, a little less every few days but keep them out of your reach? That has worked for me with my pill problems. Yes, I got totally furious at them because they had what I WANTED, but it works (for me.) As far as NA goes, I don't believe you have to be off drugs to go, you just have to WANT to get off them. You need some kind of support. I hope you have some family or a friend whom you trust for my first suggestion, if not I would go to an NA meeting. Drug programs do cost up the wazoo, unfortunately. I've been through what you are going through so many times I can't tell you. It's hard, but once you accomplish your goal you will be so proud of yourself, and feel so free from the chains that are binding you right now. If you need someone to talk to, you can email me. God Bless.
This free 97 page ebook on bipolar disorders should help you.
http://forwebresources.com/ebooks/bipolar-disorders.html
Go to an NA meeting and ask them if they will help you through the withdrawals. You should flush the pills . Actually 4 a day is not to bad and having a couple supporters from the NA club should help you get through it. I bet you will find several members who are experienced in this kind of pill problem.NA is not just for people who are off it. It is for you. Go.....
yea cold turkey works,u wont die or anything..all u do is go thru hell for 1 week...codeine is not even close to heroin withdrawal..i went thru it last year and im 19..so i think ull handle it...if u have to work and cant be at home for 1 week while u go cold turkey look up suboxone in ur area..or a methadone clinic...they will guide u to gettin off codeine...
ex addict