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MedHelp Member's Question

Vicodin Withdrawl

by david, Nov 16, 2000 12:00AM
I got hooked on Vicodin after a serious knee injury in April. After the injury, doctors prescribed the drug to treat the pain, which was excruciating. It took nearly three months to get into surgery, so I was prescribed Vicodin again after that. I have reinjured the knee a couple of times, again more vicodin. I finally decided to get off this drug last week and it has been the hardest thing I've ever done. I talked to my doctor, who prescribed a beta-blocker to lessen some of the withdrawl symptoms.

Although I'm not having panic attacks, I am irritable and seem to have some flu-like symptoms such as achiness and runny nose and eyes. I am also extremely depressed and have absolutely no motivation to do anything except sleep.

My question is, how long do these symptoms last and are there any other medications which can help alleviate them?
Member Comments (81)

by Cindy, Nov 16, 2000 12:00AM
david, you are very lucky in the fact that your addiction/using has been less than a year.  If you do not take any more vicodin or related drugs, you should be fine physically in about a week.  Mentally, the longer you have been on them, the harder it is to focus on a happy daily life without the effects of narcotics. As far as your irritability, I would not suggest any narcotics such as valium, which can lead to another nightmarish addiction. Your body has stopped producing its own dopamine, which is the natural pain reliever that the body produces.  It has come to depend on the synthetic powers of vicodin.  Soon, your body will start producing dopamine again, the irritability and depression will go away.  Take motrin for the achiness, and melatonin, a natural remedy found at any walmart or drug store for sleep.  You will be fine.  Cindy, a 10 year addict.

by From Aunt Lindy to Mariah, Nov 16, 2000 12:00AM
Hi Cindy,

How long did it take you to feel like a human being again after quitting? Was a week all that it took? During the time when you felt bad did you do anything at all as far as exercise, walking?   I am thinking about cutting down some on my daily meds.  Still thinking of what to expect.  I learned alot from your email by the way!

Thanks,

Kimmie

by david, Nov 16, 2000 12:00AM
Dear Cindy,



Thank you so much. I can't tell you how much your wisdom has meant to me. Right now I feel pretty bad (I hurt all over). But at least I know there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

David

by From Aunt Lindy to Mariah, Nov 16, 2000 12:00AM
I dont understand for the life of me how to post.  I am so sorry that I must go through someone elses thread invading their train of thought (sorry David).  I have tried at all hours of the day and night.  I have finally come to the conclusion that I am what I am calling "EMAIL BLOCK".  Do any of you have any secrets on how to get a new thread going?  I have posted before on this site on a new thread.  I have tried 12:03 on a Saturday and it said that it had taken all the emails it could for that day.  



Thanks,

Kimmie

by Cindy, Nov 16, 2000 12:00AM
to kimmie:   First of all, I did not mean to give the impression that I am not a practicing addict.  Just someone who has had a lot of experience. I still see my doctor and have gone from taking my whole presciption in three days to actually doing it as prescibed and I dole it our to myself.  However, I am a slave to this state because of this addiction.  It is my fault, not my doctor because he does not force me to sit in the office.  As far as getting better, I highly recommend excerise.  I saw a posting about an exercise bike.  Everyone who has ever had those horrible leg cramps should read that.  The exercise bike is really amazing when you are in withdrawal.  For me, I found that I could stay on it forever, because the increase in blood flow is such a rush. Any physical activity will help tremendously.  However, like everything else, it is only temorary.  Kimmie, I would do anything to have never taken a pain pill.  I don't know if the withdrawal from a small dose is any different than a large one.  If you are an addict, your body will force itself to eventually adjust to the smaller dose.  Amazing how it can trick us.  So now, I subsist on three to four 7.5 mg a day, I don't get the euphoric feeling, but I don't get the bad withdrawal.  Beyond that, I don't have any experience.  I am so glad for your posting.  Cindy

by Cindy, Nov 16, 2000 12:00AM
david, I am so glad to hear that you are doing well.  Continue that positive train of thought.  You will be o.k.  The problem will come if you take another narcotic.  You can't go through withdrawal and expect to take recreationally.  There are also dentist appts, unexpected medical needs, etc.  If you truly do not want to remain an addict, be upfront with your desire not to take a narcotic.  You don't have to tell them you are addicted.  Just say "I am allergic to codeine."  A pain killer does not have to be a narcotic to help pain.  Good luck in your recovery, Cindy

by From Aunt Lindy to Mariah, Nov 16, 2000 12:00AM
To make a long story short I could have written your post.  What a vicious cycle.  I am going to start doing the exercise thing.  I just started on Fastin (a diet pill under the Doctors supervision) and now I feel like a Hamster that needs one of those metal wheels to crawl in all night long.  I would like to have an exercise program well under way before I try to be a hero.  Have a good evening.  I am now going to clean my oven and pressure wash the house (haha).  I am hoping that starting an exercise program will help me to not need pain meds for the "breakthrough pain" too.  I got 20 to 25 trigger point injections yesterday and I am one sore as hell camper.

Have a good evening Cindy.

by Lynn Britt, Nov 17, 2000 12:00AM
what a great question because I am having the same problem with norco.  I have had some severe migrain headaches and the doc, gave me the norco.  I just  recently heard it was addicting, I have taking it for over 1 month now and I am scared I cannot get off.  I am scared to tell my doc.

by Lynn Britt, Nov 17, 2000 12:00AM
what a great question because I am having the same problem with norco.  I have had some severe migrain headaches and the doc, gave me the norco.  I just  recently heard it was addicting, I have taking it for over 1 month now and I am scared I cannot get off.  I am scared to tell my doc.

by to doc dan from joe, Nov 17, 2000 12:00AM
Dan,



I have read here many times that quiting and going through withdrawal the second time is harder than the first, is there any  medical reason for this or is it psycological?  After being clean a week my pain has started again (did a little too much yard work while I felt pain free) and now I'll have to go through this again when (and if) my pain subsides again.  But I was wondering if going through withdrawal again is really going to be worse this time.



Thanks,



Joe

by Frankinscense, Nov 17, 2000 12:00AM
Hello Joe Good to here from you. You know I am not a medical doctor, Right! Anyway I must tell you what I know about withdrawals and opiate pill addictions. The brain views all opiates as the same substance. Whether its heroin/morphine or vicodin/lortab. All opiates stimulate your endorphin systems.

Continually taking vicodin,heroin,percocet(oxycodone/contin) lowers your bodies stores of endorphins. Other N/transmiters such as dopamine and serotonin are also effected my chronic opiate use. All this information that I am providing comes directly from research and my school textbooks. Joe, if you (or anyone) want a list of sources for my information provide me with a e mail addy and I will provide you with sources of my information. Also the information was gathered from various doctors while receiving treatment for my opiate addiction,which I have been in treatment for six years. Joe sorry for interupting my posts but people have been questioning my creditability.

   Physiologically it depends how long you have been taking the drug this time. The longer you have been taking the opiate and what doses,will determine the intensity of your withdrawals. If your endorphin system had been able to return to normal through abstinence ( if tht's possible for an opiate addict) you would have not that intense withdrawals. Several weeks of abstinence is necessary for the normal healthy person to normalise the endorphins. It is debatable among doctors if the chronic opiate addicts endorphins ever return to it's normal functioning. That is why I caution people not abuse opiates because the disease has a negative effect on endorphin stores. The longer you use and the higher doses will determine the difficulty of your withdrawals. So withdrawls in  my opinion (and in my case) were more difficult the second time around. The only way it would be easier is because you know what to expect. If you must use opiates for pain do so in a very conservative and as needed manner.  Another point I would like to make. The longer that I could stay abstinent the better my pain tolerance was.  

My best to You Joe,

Dan..

by to doc dan from joe, Nov 17, 2000 12:00AM
Dan,



Thank you for your reply.  No need to send references, I value both your opinion and credibility.



Joe

by Concerned, to Joe, Nov 17, 2000 12:00AM