Expert: Barbara Judge - 4/12/2009

Question
Hi, I am 39 years old, i herniated 4 discs in my back one and a half years ago. I was given norco 10/325 for the pain. before the pain killer i was use-less! I could be standing in the middle of the room, have this buldge press on my spinal cord and wonder how i was going to get to the next object so i could hang on until the back spasm went away. the norco helped...but after being on it for almost a year I started to notice, if i ran out early, the pharmacist would look at me like i was a criminal. I refused to be looked at like an addict! It seems like those who have not ever been in this situation before, have no idea how to help...they can read you a book on how to's and what for's and you should's...but no one can actually just give you facts...no matter how high the degree. I myself worked in the medical field as a physician assistant for quite a few years, but never had heard of what drugs can do to a person, because i never paid attention, because i never took them! (its like listening to someone ask for help with seasonal allergies if you have never experienced them), see i did not ask for pain killers, i was told to take this from a very trusted md...and i never took drugs or drank more than 3 drinks in a year. I just had no experience, so i took as prescribed, and did not think to look it up...here I am a year and a half later wondering where the past year and a half of my life has gone, and how could this happen to me. It is now Saturday Nite where I am in Illinois (USA)This past monday I quit cold turkey! I am not AN ADDICT! but that is what the drug company that makes this God forsaken drug would have everyone believe! They turn it on the patient! They should show you a video of what this drug does to innocent people...no one would take it! I am a mother who herniated 4 discs in her lower back when her twin boys were 2 years old. I deserve some respect...and will advise people against this drug norco at all costs! don't start, it sucks, it will give you a pain you have never felt before...child birth was not nearly this bad because child birth has an end this does not! Monday i stopped taking norco in the morning. I had 3 pills left but threw them away. I went into full withdrawal...then monday nite i found a website for suboxone. I got a doctors name off the web site who was about a half hour away by car. Tues I scraped myself out of the house and drove to his office for a script of suboxone. After all the good blogs and chats and all info on the web said this was the way to go. I was directed to make sure i was off of norco for at least 24 hrs. before taking suboxone. I did. I then took what was prescribed, 2-8mg subling qd. I thought i was going to die, throwing up. It was a sudden onset after the drug had dissolved. Thinking the dr had given me too much i called him...he said well maybe tomorrow take only one. So i did, Wed i took only 1 suboxone. Threw up right after and did not stop all day. After that I gave up. i have not taken anything since, and some minor to moderate agitation came back...What do you suggest? Do you have any experience with this sort of thing? have you ever taken norco and had to go off of it. and how long to you expect i will have this agitation? My back pain is back but i no longer have a herniated disc pressing on my spinal cord. what do you think?

Answer
    Your best option at this point is to get professional help.  See a doctor who has a pain management practice and explain to him/her that you have been on Norco, but are ready to stop taking the drug.  Switching from Norco to Suboxone is not the answer.  It is like an alcoholic switching from vodka to Everclear.  A pain management doctor should be able to help you slowly and carefully withdraw from the medications to avoid the symptoms you are experiencing.  Stopping abruptly can be very hard on your entire body and isn't recommended because of the withdrawl symptoms.  I would see a doctor as soon as possible to help you slowly decrease your dose and get off the Norco.

Thanks

Barb Judge