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STOPPING THE VICODIN

by Aileen, Dec 24, 2000 12:00AM
I was taking Vicodin after having two surgeries - the first had a complication necessitating the second surgery.  I have taken Vicodin for 6 months.  I knew the day would come when the doctors (2) would quit giving me prescriptions so I spoke with my pharmacist who said to gradually wean off by taking more time between doses, then cutting the doses AND take more time between the doses.  This worked pretty good until the last day when I went from ONE (1) Vicodin cut in half for 1 dose in the a.m., one 1/2 pill in the evening.  I still was feeling all right.  Now I have no more pills and I still started on withdrawal symptoms!  I have a stomach ache but I can't stop eating sweets, my head is pounding, I can't sleep at all, I ache all over, but the worst part is the restless and "happy legs" feeling.  I can't sit still or I feel like I will go crazy.  I have been taking Prozac for a few years for depression/anxiety and that seems to be holding up O.K.   I am surprised I am having this much reaction.  What do you think of taking something like Ativan (if someone will prescribe it!) to help with the symptoms?  Would I likely get addicted to that too?!  Thanks!
Member Comments (15)

by Mariah to Tom, Dec 24, 2000 12:00AM
Hi!  I came in here to check on everyone & to see what I have missed.  I've been so busy lately, I haven't had much time for anything.  I just wanted to give all the people who helped me an update.  I'm 32 weeks pregnant, the baby weighs about 4 pounds now & I only have 57 days left until I have a beautiful, healthy baby!  My doctor has done tests & ultrasounds to make sure everything is going well.  She keeps saying that everything looks great & that makes me happier than anyone will ever know.  I just can't wait to meet my little boy!  I finally stopped taking pills everyday.  I got down to 1 a day & after a few weeks realized how stupid it was to be taking just 1 a day.  It wasn't really doing anything for me anyway.  I went through some mild withdrawal, but I got through it.  The urge to pop 2 is still there, but I'm taking it one day at a time.  I don't think that the drug addict in me will ever go away, I just have to keep remembering how hard it was to quit.  In a way I think this pregnancy was a good thing for my addiction, believe it or not.  I was up to taking 4 at a time & moving on up.  I never wanted to quit until I got pregnant, so that's one good thing that has come out of this huge mess!  I feel better about myself & about my relationship with both my children.  I hope this finds everyone well.  I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year!  I'll let everyone know when I have the baby & how everything goes.  I'm getting kinda nervous about labor, but as long as my baby is fine I will be too!

Love To You All!

Thank-You!

Mariah

by From Aunt Lindy to Mariah, Dec 24, 2000 12:00AM
I have been wondering about you.  Please check back before the baby.  I am glad you are doing great.  I am so proud of you.  You have come such a long way.  Take Care and keep posting here please!

Sincerely,

Kimmie

by tom to Aileen, Dec 24, 2000 12:00AM
Ativan is a benzo like Valium, Librium,, Xanax, etc. A lot of medical detox progams use Valium to help get addicts through the worst pat of the vic withdrawals. Traditionally, they start you with a fairly high dose (sleep-inducing level) of Valium, giving several times a day, gradually tapering it down to nothing over the course of about a week. Frequent jacuzzis or hot baths are used to ease the muscle aches (and happy legs). If you have someone to supervise the process (and a good supply of Valium or Ativan, etc), and access to hot baths and a quiet place to sleep it alll off, you can detox yourself this way in relative comfort.

by SA, M.D., Dec 25, 2000 12:00AM
The key point is to consult with a physician who understands the intricacies of drug dependence, withdrawal and detoxification.  You might do well with a clonidine patch, which is sometimes used for narcotic detoxification and is not itself addictive.  The American Society of Addiction Medicine has some information on its website (http://www.asam.org) which might help you in locating a specialist in your area.



Good luck!



DrSteve - http://www.HeadDocs.com

by SA, M.D., Dec 25, 2000 12:00AM
The key point is to consult with a physician who understands the intricacies of drug dependence, withdrawal and detoxification.  You might do well with a clonidine patch, which is sometimes used for narcotic detoxification and is not itself addictive.  The American Society of Addiction Medicine has some information on its website (http://www.asam.org) which might help you in locating a specialist in your area.



Good luck!



DrSteve - http://www.HeadDocs.com

by tom to Mariah, Dec 26, 2000 12:00AM
hi back to you, Mariah. Great to know you are well. Sounds like you're in fine shape for labor. That's the best news of all. I'm proud of how you tapered yourself down from the Vics and made it stick. Most impressive, indeed. Hope you had a Merry Christmas and Peace on Earth to you and your loved ones.

by Mariah to Tom, Dec 27, 2000 12:00AM
Hey Girl!  Thank you so much for writing!  I'm proud of me too!  he-he  I never thought the day would come that I would wake up & not take a pill.  It was getting really bad!  I didn't want to leave the house at first & still don't sometimes.  I kept thinking of how it would be if I got high first.  I'm just now getting back to myself.  I am a friendly, happy, chatty person (usually) & when I quit taking, I changed.  I barely talked to my b/f & my baby girl.  I tried to keep my distance from people because I would get irritated very easily.  I'm starting to act like myself again.  Sometimes I do get a high feeling & I haven't taken anything, weird, huh?!!  I know once I have the baby I'll be so tempted to start using again.  I'm going to try to not use at all, but I can't really say for sure.  I do know I'll have to take something after labor, but I'll never take them on a daily basis again & never take more than 1 at a time.  I think that's how you get into trouble.  I'm really going to think about it long & hard before I take them just to get high.  I just wish they didn't make me feel so good.  I don't know why everything that feels good has to be bad for you.  Life is crazy!!!  But anyway, I'm proud to say I'm drug-free because it was hard to do.  I still worry sometimes about my baby's health, but no way near as much as I used to!  But it's more like a normal worry that everyone woman has instead of a constant, sick worry.  Which I think is also better for the baby & me.  The only thing my doctor is on me about is my weight, I've only gained 10 pounds.  I think it's where I quit using & I didn't feel like eating or drinking, but I'm taking my vitamins & I had to make myself eat.  I'm eating alot better now & feeling way better.  Well, I'm going on & on...  I hope everyone had a great Christmas!  We had a good Christmas considering I was straight!  The real test is gonna be New Year's Eve!  My b/f is already saying, 1 won't hurt me.  But, I refuse to do that & go back to where I started!  So anyway, Thank-you & I'll keep you guys posted!

Thank-you so much!

Mariah  :)

by Mariah to Tom, Dec 27, 2000 12:00AM
tom,

    Hey!  Thank-you for caring about me & for all the support you gave me through this whole thing.  I'll always remember you & everything you did for me.  You'll always be in my heart.  You mean a lot to me & I'll never be able to thank you enough!  You have touched my life.  I love you my friend.  I think you are a sweet, caring person & I want you to know that you helped me so much!  Thanks for caring!

Love Ya,

Mariah  :)

PS  I hope you had a great Christmas!

by tom to Mariah, Dec 27, 2000 12:00AM
'Thomas' makes a good first or middle name, don't you think? Just a thought ...

by To Tom from Marcie..My sons middle name , Dec 27, 2000 12:00AM
I named him after my dad. What a GREAT name!  I love it myself! Have a great evening!

Marcie

by Brighty to Tom and Mariah and Marcie, Jan 01, 2001 12:00AM
I agree !!! What a great name with such memorable spiritual signifigance... Thomas the apostle, Thomas Aquinas, Thomas Moore, Thomas Beckett. Love and Happy New Year to all. Brighty

by tom to Brighty, Jan 01, 2001 12:00AM
thanks for the "vote." Nothing would fill me with more joy or humility than to know I had somehow helped a child into this world drug free to a drug free mother. To take all the twisted misery of my drug-addicted life and use it to do something beautiful would be all I could ever ask of the creator. Whether it happens or not, it's lovely just to contemplate it.

by Vikki, Jan 02, 2001 12:00AM
Hi Mariah,



have so many questions for you and would like to do that in private, if you have a couple of minutes for a person in MAJOR need could you email me ***@****

I would really appreciate it, I could use an ear from someone that knows what Im going through.



thanks in advance if this is possible for you to do.



by Mariah to Tom, Jan 03, 2001 12:00AM
Hey! You can email me at ***@****.  I'll try to help you in any way I can!

Mariah

by Carcass, Aug 24, 2007 02:46PM
To: anyone on Vicodin
I took a lot of Norco (Vicodin) for 3 months after mike bike accident, Great drug! couldn't imagine not having it.  after 3 months I decided it was time to drop the crutch and move on.  No one mentioned you don't just stop taking it.  I didn't know what was wrong with me, I was real tired but couldn't sleep, at all.   Aileen is right, the worst part is the restless and "happy legs" feeling.  I also cut back until I was taking half a pill every time, with more time between pills, then I stopped altogether (you feel kinda stupid taking half a pill twice a day).  Every once in a while I'll feel like happy legs are coming back, but they don't. I was also very tired after I quit taking them, to the point I was going to make an appointment to see why I was so tired all the time. However as the stomach and head pain went away so did the fa