What is the best way to get off Lortab? My friend can’t quit due to the withdrawals symptoms. I heard MDs can prescribe a drug to minimize the effects of withdrawal. It ends in “-done” but it’s not methadone.
Does anyone know the name? Or does anyone have any ideas?
My name is Robin, and I’m an addict/alcoholic… (so I know about withdrawal and such)
Amongst some of my 12-step buddies, Lortab is notorious for being one of the hardest drugs to get off of. It’s similar to Vicodin and is a frequently prescribed and abused drug.
That said, your friend needs to be evaluated by a physician, preferably one who knows something about addiction. It’s entirely possible that s/he needs to be medically detoxed and/or admitted into rehab.
Good luck to him/her.
Robin
Hi, Robin!
What MsRobyn said. Sounds like he needs a detox. Clonidine is sometimes used to minimize withdrawal symptoms. But it needs to be used in a supervised setting, by a professional who does detox. Methadone can be used also, but if one becomes dependent on methadone, the withdrawal from that is far, far worse than the withdrawal from hydrocodone (lortabs, vicodin). Clonidine itself is non-addictive.
The nice thing about opiate withdrawal is that it won’t kill a person, like barbiturate or alcohol withdrawal can, if not done right. The bad thing is that the withdrawing patient begins to regret the fact that the WD won’t kill him.
Thanks, Robin!
Qadgop, MD