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Vicodin

by Lana, Feb 11, 2000 12:00AM
I was in a car accident 6-8-99. As a result I suffered a ruptured disk. I had surgery 12-20-99. I have been taking Vicodin since Aug. I have just recently realized that I am addicted. This really scares me. I called my Doctor and he did not seem concerned . He said I was probably not adicted. I told him I tried not to take the drug for one day and nearly went insane. Shaking sick feeling horrible. Then he said well maybe you are addicted. He told me to just stop taking it. But I cant the withdrawal is horrible. I need some help. Please help me. I DO NOT want to be dependent on drugs. Any advice will be appreciated. Thank you, Lana
Member Comments (41)

by bill, Feb 11, 2000 12:00AM
Lana,You need to ask your doctor to ween you off Vicodin over an extended period of time. Then go a couple of weeks drug (vicodin)free. If you feel you still crave the drug after a couple of weeks you need to get proffesional help. Just remember the doctor who got you into this situation by over proscribing your medication may be the last one to recommend proffesional help so you may need to get this on your own. I hope this helps you out. BUT REMEMBER THIS YOU ARE THE ONLY WHO CAN STOP AND YOU HAVE TO MAKE THE CHOICE YOURSELF.THE FIRST THREE DAYS ARE PURE HELL THEN THINGS SLOWLY GET BACK TO NORMAL.

by bill, Feb 11, 2000 12:00AM
Lana,You need to ask your doctor to ween you off Vicodin over an extended period of time. Then go a couple of weeks drug (vicodin)free. If you feel you still crave the drug after a couple of weeks you need to get proffesional help. Just remember the doctor who got you into this situation by over proscribing your medication may be the last one to recommend proffesional help so you may need to get this on your own. I hope this helps you out. BUT REMEMBER THIS YOU ARE THE ONLY WHO CAN STOP AND YOU HAVE TO MAKE THE CHOICE YOURSELF.THE FIRST THREE DAYS ARE PURE HELL THEN THINGS SLOWLY GET BACK TO NORMAL.

by diana, Feb 13, 2000 12:00AM
Lana, there is good information on this forum if look on down around Oct/Nov.  Look for Hydrocodone -- it is Vicodin.  My husband also got hooked after an accident.  When he ran out, he resorted to heroin.  He hadn't done that in over 20 years.  Hydrocodone woke the monkey up!  He quit everything cold turkey Jan. 1.  I've never seen anyone so sick.  His stomach still hurts today.  Please find a physician who will help and understand addiction.  Will pray for you tonight.

by phil, Feb 14, 2000 12:00AM
After reading several of the responses by the doctors it is obvious they know very little about how potent and distructive this DRUG is.  My wife and my mother-in-law are both addicted to vicodin.  They have been for several years.  It has only cost my wife four jobs, she has been in three car accidents (all her fault) and she is constantly depressed and miserable.  We have two kids in elementary school and I know they are being affected by this.



This drug is worse than heroin because it is legal.  All anyone has to do is go to a doctor and tell them they have a headache and they ask for vicodin and no problem, here is your prescription.  I know this for a fact from all the times I have driven her around to the different doctors as well as from all the bills we receive.  We have been in Hawaii, Northern California, Southern California. In every case she has been able to get vicodin.



Why hasn't the FDA done something.  This problem is widespread and getting bigger.  There are plenty of pain medications out there that don't have the same addictive properties that vicodin has.



As far as I'm concerned doctors are not concerned.  The prescribing of this medication means easy money for doctors. Otherwise, it wouldn't still be available.



I mean, why risk going to jail for buying heroin off the street when you can easily go to the doctor and have him hand it to you. It's just not called heroin, it's called vicodin.



I am going to check to see if the FDA has a web site that you can e-mail to.  Also e-mail your congressman and anyone else to let them know that this drug should be made ILLEGAL.

by Mike, Feb 14, 2000 12:00AM
Legal? Morphine is "legal" than too. I don't see your reasoning on this. I have had my ups and downs with this drug. It is a forbidden fruit that once tasted...Anyway, the "other" pain meds you may be referring to - drugs like Ultram - that doctors freely prescribe because it does work and doesn't carry the stigma of Vicodin, are just as addicting. The truth of the matter is - there is a need for Vicodin. People use it for pain. Some responsibly, others not. Some doctors, as in my case, kept me on too long. I didn't even begin to feel any euphoria from the drug until the 3rd or 4th month I was on it. Short term is the key here. I'm sorry to hear that your wife has a problem with this drug. Do NOT help her obtain it though...I have been to different doctors - sometimes in hopes of procuring the drug. If I had been to the doctors you wife has I may have a worse problem, but I haven't found it so easy to get. Sure, there's croakers everywhere who'll prescribe to those who don't need it. But it is wrong and unjust to deprive those who get relief from this drug and use it responsibly. Just because someone uses them to get high doesn't mean that the person with a fractured leg should be forced to only have Advil. We all make our own choices whether it's legal or not.

by Kimberly, Feb 14, 2000 12:00AM
I agree, it is wrong to depribe others of the pain killing effects of Vicodin.  I am an addict, I took vicodin for quite some time for Kidney stones, nothing else would have cured the pain.  Now I am addicted for the euphoria and the physical dependency I have.  I agree, it is not easy to get vicodin, I continually had to return for tests and prove my need about once every month.  Still I became addicted, not my doctors fault, sort of my fault, once I felt how good it was, I took it as directed on the bottle 2 every 4 hrs. (whether I was in pain or not).  Then it got out of hand.  To the tune of 15-20 pills a day (depending on what stregnth I was given) Now I suffer everyday, I haven't taken pills for about 10 days.  I want to.  But I can't.

Kim

by matt, Feb 19, 2000 12:00AM
i'm sorry phil

but you should never argue from the particular to the universal.



there are many people who do nedd pain medication

to control legitimate pain.



there will always be people who are prone to abuse certain things.

that fact should not serve as a reason to deny it to those that do need it, and do not abuse it...



i'm sorry you have been subject to the pain of addiction, and i hope you family copes well, and begins a successful recovery. however, the drug war is already out of hand. the last thing people with chronic pain need, is another means of relief banned.





regards,

matt

by Fred, Feb 19, 2000 12:00AM
I was prescribed vicodin for cluster headaches.  I am now addicted to them.  I have to take them before I get out of bed so I feel good otherwise I feel sick... I cannot go to a rehab place.  I have to do this on my own.  I've kicked cigarettes by myself and crack cocaine on my own.  I have to do this by myself. Is there any literature, anything that can help me ?????

by Mich, Feb 19, 2000 12:00AM
get yourself into a treatment facility quickly they work stay is atleast 3 weeks, if you live in ct. beach hill hospital is great, i know i also was addicted to vicoden, go there

by Michelle, Feb 19, 2000 12:00AM
lana, does your doctor still give you these, vicoden is the worst narc you can take, how many do you take? get into an inpatient treatment facililty they will help with the withdrawels by use of medication in connecticut beach hill hospital is great good luck email if you have any other guetions docket3@aolcom

by lori, Feb 20, 2000 12:00AM
I was in an accident in 9-96 and have had cronic pain ever since.

I to am addictied to Vicoden Es. I went to rehab for two weeks last year to get through the withdrawls. But because of the pain I started again. It is out of control now. I am up to 15 a day. I just cant seem to stop. I will lose my husband if he ever knew I was taking it again. If any one has suggestions on how to get through these withdrawls please let me know.