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MedHelp Member's Question

Hydrocodone Addiction and alcohol, etc!!!

by Mark, Nov 17, 1999 12:00AM
I am very scared of the possibility of having done serious damage to my liver or kidneys!  If anyone could please help with some advice or info I would greatly appreciate it!

I had some serious back problems about 2 1/2 years ago and was given Norco (10/500) for the pain.  I was taking 3 per day for pain even after the pain was gone for 1 year.  When that source ended I got a hold of Oxy IR (Oxycodone 5mg) and was taking 6 a day for 6 months.  Then I started the Norco again- at least 2 a day for another year.  Now, last month my doctor was shocked when he realized that "I was taking 2 Norco's a day and that was WAY TOO MUCH!"  (He didn't know about my supplemental supplies) Now I  am panicked about my past dosages and what to do.  My doctor has prescribed 2 Vicodin per day to reduce the amount of Hydrocodone intake.  On top of all this - I a have been on Prozac and Wellbutrin for 5 years and have a drinking problem (2-4 beers per day).  I know I need to just STOP and I am trying.  Reading the posts here have really helped!  I am down to 1 Vicodin per day and 2 Wellbutrin and I try to not drink at all - IT IS HARD!!!!!!!  I really want info on the possibility of permanent damage and should I try to get a blood test for it? and is there anything I can do to help the situation? (ie.  drinking excessive water, certain foods, vitamins, etc)
Member Comments (28)

by afc, Nov 23, 1999 12:00AM
I HAVE HAD SOME BACK PROBLEMS AND WAS PUT ON VICODIN I WAS TAKEING SOMETIMES 6PILLS ADAY 1.5 MONTHS I HAVE NOT TAKEN THEM OFR 3DAYS SINCE THEN I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO SLEEP AND I AM VERY NERVOUS  IS THIS A WITHDRAWL,HOW LONG WILL IT LAST,WHATCAN IDO TO HELP THIS ALONG

by Tammy, Feb 20, 2000 12:00AM
i know how you feel believe me, i have been on hydrocodone now for just about 2 yrs. i have herniated discs in my neck. one wk ago my doctor took me off of them to see what would happen. i got severe headaches i was totally mean, sweating, couldn't sleep i found myself totally feeling alone and desperate to do what i could to get my medication. i called my dr. he immediately put me back on them but also gave me klonopin to help with the withdrawls. it helps alot belive me so if you want you could try those. it will get better for you belive me. im trying to get off the pills but right now they are the only thing that helps my pain. call your dr. he may be able to give you klonopin to help ya out. i hope i have helped you some. feel free to write me if you want to talk. i would like that there isint to many people who understand what you are going through.

by Jason, Apr 26, 2000 12:00AM
Recently, My girlfriend and I had a baby,,,,she is healthy and doing fine. We have been addicted for just over two years.....taking at times 10 (10/500) a day lortab,lorcet,viccodin,zydone, whatever we could get. I do have some Info on a friend of mine, he has taken up to 4 (10/500) a day for the last seven years, he is legitamint. His Dr. does liver test every year to make sure no damage has occured....need less to say he still gets them(no liver damage).

   I was reading up above.........IT IS VERY HARD,I had one Dr. try to gradually lower our dose....it worked for a while , but when we got down to a couple a day we went right back up.NOw we are going cold TURKEY.....(INSANE) I related to the sleepless nights , body aches, and the plain old urge that if you take one you'll feel better. We have went from 10 pills a day to 1-2 a day. we are also using Valium10's...for sleep, and Pherenol 3(like tylenol 3) just a little codiene.....I'm clean for three days,and this has been much easier than cold turkey! I hope I could help....this is something I really want, so If any of you know how long this will last or have any other info, PLease let me know.

by Jason, Apr 26, 2000 12:00AM
Recently, My girlfriend and I had a baby,,,,she is healthy and doing fine. We have been addicted for just over two years.....taking at times 10 (10/500) a day lortab,lorcet,viccodin,zydone, whatever we could get. I do have some Info on a friend of mine, he has taken up to 4 (10/500) a day for the last seven years, he is legitamint. His Dr. does liver test every year to make sure no damage has occured....need less to say he still gets them(no liver damage).

   I was reading up above.........IT IS VERY HARD,I had one Dr. try to gradually lower our dose....it worked for a while , but when we got down to a couple a day we went right back up.NOw we are going cold TURKEY.....(INSANE) I related to the sleepless nights , body aches, and the plain old urge that if you take one you'll feel better. We have went from 10 pills a day to 1-2 a day. we are also using Valium10's...for sleep, and Pherenol 3(like tylenol 3) just a little codiene.....I'm clean for three days,and this has been much easier than cold turkey! I hope I could help....this is something I really want, so If any of you know how long this will last or have any other info, PLease let me know.

by jason2flea@usa.net, Apr 26, 2000 12:00AM
Recently, My girlfriend and I had a baby,,,,she is healthy and doing fine. We have been addicted for just over two years.....taking at times 10 (10/500) a day lortab,lorcet,viccodin,zydone, whatever we could get. I do have some Info on a friend of mine, he has taken up to 4 (10/500) a day for the last seven years, he is legitamint. His Dr. does liver test every year to make sure no damage has occured....need less to say he still gets them(no liver damage).

   I was reading up above.........IT IS VERY HARD,I had one Dr. try to gradually lower our dose....it worked for a while , but when we got down to a couple a day we went right back up.NOw we are going cold TURKEY.....(INSANE) I related to the sleepless nights , body aches, and the plain old urge that if you take one you'll feel better. We have went from 10 pills a day to 1-2 a day. we are also using Valium10's...for sleep, and Pherenol 3(like tylenol 3) just a little codiene.....I'm clean for three days,and this has been much easier than cold turkey! I hope I could help....this is something I really want, so If any of you know how long this will last or have any other info, PLease let me know.

by Jason, Apr 26, 2000 12:00AM
I have been taking up to 10, 10/500, a day for about 1 1/2yrs(Sometimes less).   I now someone who has been on them for 7yrs, taking up to 5 a day....each year he has lab test done and so far no problems. as of Mon.23/00 I have quit for the third time...Once with the help of a Dr.(lowering my doses every month...second time cold turkey (not Good)....but this time I use Valium 10's for sleep, phurenol #3's for the aches,(they have a little codiene) It's been 3 days and I've only taken two pills...this might work!!!I hope.YOU may want to talk to your Dr. about something like this?otherwise I think It's REHAB!.....I Have a Question......does anyone know how long these Withdrawls LAST??????? GOOD LUCK ALL, Jason

by Brian to Jason, Apr 26, 2000 12:00AM
The worst part of the withdrawal is over after 3-4 days.  Then you have another 4-6 days of feeling fatigued and generally like you're mildly sick while getting a bit better each day.  After that you feel better but still have some trouble sleeping and often have some mild depression and strong cravings for as much as 6 months (although usually less).  Remember, although it doesn't seem like it now anyone who has relapsed a few times will tell you WITHDRAWAL IS THE EASY PART, STAYING CLEAN IS THE HARD PART.  I kid you not.  You will soon forget how bad you felt and will start thinking how much you miss the drug.  Without some sort of program or structure to assist staying clean, your chances of relapsing are very high.  Good luck.

by nancy, May 15, 2000 12:00AM
Do the aches and pains that you originally start taking the hydrocodone for ever get better??  I feel like when I don't take the tablet(s) that I feel more pains in more places and they are more amplified than ever before.  That is to say, my original pain was concentrated in the low back...now, my ankles hurt sometimes, my hands, fingers, wrists hurt (for 2 mos. straight), then my neck and shoulder area feel the pain.  It seems that either I'm more sensitive to any anomaly than I would be if I'd never taken the medicine in the first place.  I'm trying not to take more than one a day, but I guess we all know how that goes. We've just remodeled our entire 1600 sq. ft. office building and I did all the wallpaper, painting, decorating, etc.  Since Feb 9th of this year, I have taken almost 130 tablets.  You do the math...today is May 16th.  I want help from all these pains, but am fearful of what I'm doing to my body (liver, kidneys, brain). I don't mind taking the medicine.  In fact, I feel I look forward to that point in the day when I decide, "I can't take (this or that) pain anymore.", and, in essence, give myself permission to take a pill.  Does taking this hydrocodone chemical have any long-term documented studies?  What do other people do who feel like this day in and day out?

by dude man, May 22, 2000 12:00AM
dont panic, stop drinking, that will kill tour liver, as for the vicodin, all you have to wory about about is the acetemeniphen, the hydrocodone wil not hurt your liver, i have ben taking 10 to 12 pills a day for about five years and my liver blood tests are tottaly fine, dont  believe everthing your dodctors panicks about



by Brian to Sick and Scared § ALL you guys, May 24, 2000 12:00AM
The real problem starts slowly as it did for all of us who got addicted to painkillers.  There was a time we ALL got off on 1 or 2 a day.  The problem is it NEVER stays at that level.  You will gradually increase until you get to a level you never imagined was possible.  When I heard people took 30 or more Vicodin a day I thought "they're crazy!"  Eventually I was taking almost twice that amount per day!  And, you can't look at me and say I'm some drug addict idiot or loser.  I have a post-graduate degree and am a highly paid professional.  This disease does not discriminate.  Please stop now while you can easily.

by DENISE, May 25, 2000 12:00AM
i want to wean myself off of vicodin