I also don't take hydro all of the time (maybe half), and the Immodium never worked for me, except for the stomach problems, in which it did help.

Since the pain is still present from the condition that warranted taking the pain medication in the first place, the cessation of hydro, etc. is just magnified when quitting. I noticed that my pain was at least tenfold what it normally would be without taking pain meds and not in withdrawal.

The only thing that works for me is to taper down to a smaller amount of hydro, switch to bupe and taper from that and then institute a Clonidine and Sinemet (this is a medicine for Restless Leg Syndrome -- mine is Restless Body syndrome and is the WORST symptom I seem to have, I HATE it!) regimen for 3-4 days.

I feel for all of you going through this, having to deal with the pre-existing pain and everything else, but talk with your doctor (if you can) about some meds to alleviate the symptoms. I wish just the Immodium helped, but I found out that I needed other meds just to function (work, family and all that other stuff). I'd probably forgo it if I could and do it cold turkey so as not to prolong the symptoms, but I just can't take a week or more off from life.

Also, the longer you've taken opiates and the more often you've gone through w/d's, I think the harder and longer the withdrawal experience seems to take (Just my experience).

Corrie