How do you help someone who can not afford treatment to withdraw from hydrocodone?

Answer 1

For several years, I took hydrocodone for pain from an old skiing accident. It was tough to get off of it. I had to stop getting the prescription filled (first step), be willing to put up with the pain (which felt a lot worse just after stopping the hydrocodone than it does now), and begin to change the habit of taking a pill whenever I started to feel even a little discomfort. Honestly, it took several tries. I eventually realized that I wasn't thinking about it all the time and relied on aspirin whenever my Back pain got the better of me. Would I want to take a hydrocodone today if I could? Yes, probably. I realized that it comforted me, regardless of the pain. But I also know I couldn't take it because I'd be concerned I'd be back to the old pattern and I've moved on from that time. I think my personality changed when I stopped taking the pills. Whenever I took them, I think I was in an altered state whether I thought I was or not. I didn't realize that until after I stopped them and started reading about some of the side effects; mood changes are one of them. It's great not to have that as a thing that used to consume me...how many did I have left? When could I get a prescription, etc. After stopping hydrocodone, I stopped smoking, too, and "went all healthy." If it helps your friend, please tell him/her that going through the beginning of the withdrawal is worth whatever they feel, and to stick with it.