Just looking for a support group to beat Vicodin ES

[D30]

Hi guys and Gals,

          First I will introduce myself. Few years back I had a sever knee sublexation. Both knees went at the same time while playing sports. This is where the knee moves out of the groove it rides in and rips ligaments and such. Just to give you an idea how bad the pain is when this happens, I was given morphine through my vein on the way to the hospital and it didn't kill the pain. I now have sever arthritis (grade 4 behinde both knee caps) and can't take the pain somedays. I am on my feet all day do to my job. I am up & down steps and such. Two years ago I was put on 500s, but it did nothing for the pain. I was then upped to the 750s. Know I feel I am becoming mentally addicted worse than ever. I take 3.5 to 4 a day and only am prescribed 3 a day. I have read many forums and this is where it always seems to go down hill.  People trying to either get to the same level of feeling or the medicine no longer works. I want to get to where I can take it only when the pain is untollerable. The Vicodine is starting to controll thoughts. When  I think about taking the next pill I can actually feel the excitement inside. I would like to have some suggestion and thoughts on what you think of this situation. How long can a person take this drug? At some point it has to stop right or can you take it safely your entire life? I am to the point now this drug is something that I have to get under controll before I end up taking 20 a day and have nothing. Thank you for the help. I will usally be here around 4:30-5:00am every morning.

[112466]

I've been reading about liver damage/disease and kidney issues, and wondered (actually, grateful you did, but how did you) survive taking 40-45 vicodin es 7.5's in one day - or 90-95 in 48hrs????  How can that not put you into a coma or death?  I take 2-3 7.5/750's a day, due to Reflex Symp. Dystrophy from an accident 8 months ago..and don't get enough relief.  I know I'm not suppose to, but I drink red wine, almost nightly to help lull my mind out of the state of pain I'm still in.  I have no insurance/no job and trying to find Pain Management now.  But, I read so much about slight overdoses especially if combined with alchohol consumption, etc...  I guess I'm niave about it :o(  

[D30]

I don't think anyone else really knows what wwe go through mentally or physically. I always ask the question to myself, is it better to live with pain or be able to enjoy life as I use to know it. I know that this is minimal, but I din't take any pills for about 13 hours and man just in that time I could feel pain in places I didn't know I had it. No energy. Then my wife gave my 3 a day this morning. Boom back up and running. I am going to try to go as long as possible this weekend. I am off Saturday-Monday. Hopefully I can get something accomplished. I hate being addicted to these freaking things. I am just glad I have found so many people to talk to. This forum is full of me if you know what I mean. In the last post I forgot to mention that we just had to bury my real dad who OD on morphine patches 100mg. He would chew them instead of placing them on his body. When he would run out he would sell or trade his Oxys for Herione. I guess the closses second to the patches. Addiction runs in my family, I be da&@ if I am going to let it happen to me. The problem is I am always saying that isn't going to happen to me, but wait it already has started.

[lady_m]

That is great, letting her pick them up is a huge step.  I know the temptation of wanting to keep your own stash in addition to what she gives you.  When my abuse got way out of control my husband would keep the bottle because the amount I took terrified him.  I wasn't even tapering or anything, he was just trying to keep me from killing myself.  Once I got an extra 80 Vic ES that he didn't know about.  I finished the bottle off in two days - in addition to what he was giving me (around 10 - 15 a day).  I was happy for those two days.  Then when they were gone and I also ran out of what my husband was holding, I wanted to die.  Let me tell you - those couple of days of feeling like you have the power to take all you want and feel "good" is NOT worth it.  When I went from taking that many to taking none it was like hitting a brick wall at 100 miles an hour.  

I'm sorry to hear about your mother and your brother.  Addiction is not a pretty thing.  I'm glad you are here with us wanting to change your life.  It will be so worth it.

[D30]

I allowed my wife to pick them up and now I feel much better inside.

[D30]

What are going to be some of the withdrawl symptoms I will experience?

What should I do to prepare?

[D30]

I gave my wife the pills I had remaining like 60 or so. She doesn't know I have a prescription of 90 waiting on me at the pharmacy. I could easily pick it up and let her give me my 3 a day plus have those for myself. Half of me is saying yeah do it and the other half is saying do what is right. I also should add that I also have to take two obssesive compulsive disorder drugs. Wellbutrin (150mg twice a day) and Zoloft (100mg at night). I am going to be starting the uphill battle of decreasing the vicodin tomorrow. I think it is going to kill me more knowing I can't go into the drawer and get that extra one if I need it the most. I have to keep from arguing with my wife to give me more.


I also want to add that I have read many of your guys testimonies and some have really made me think about what the possibilities are. My mother died of an overdose on ferinol 3s. My brother has been hooked on crack since he was eighteen he is now 31 and still doing it. I think of my mom  and that is what really makes me want to quit ttaking them and find something else. I just get irritated when I start to run low. Sorry for the rambling. I guess I am lucky to have the wife I do. The last thing I want is to lose her and my 2 girls.


Is there anything I can take to give a feeling of energy that will help me get through the lack of the pills. I can drink coffee all day, but what that heck is that going to do

[TimH2]

Welcome to the forum. I started out the same way as you did. I had an accident and started taking them for pain. I had them before for various ailments and really liked the way they made me feel. I never had as much access until the accident. The last 7 months or so, I have been taking 12-14 pills a day. When I run low, I cut it back to 4 a day. It is a nasty merry go round we are on. You are smart to realize this and ready to make a change. It will be hard and you will need support and some items to help you through the w/d's. I think it is smart to start tapering now. I have not been successful in quitting, I keep on trying though. I know that you feel so much better after 5 days. I made it to 24 days and then found some hidden. I took them and started on the merry go round once again. I am rooting for you and know you will make it.

Sincerely,
Tim

[D30]

Thank you, Yes I am taking the Vicodin ES 7.5. I think you are right when you say I am at the point when it starts to turn into abuse. I just gave my wife all my pills I have left and told her to give me three a day until Sunday. Then next week I am going to cut it down to 2.5 a day until I can stop taking them. Some days they are more than enough for the pain others it doesn't touch it. I don't know about the physical, but I can feel the mental addiction starting. I shouldn't think about the next pill when I feel no pain from taking the previous one. The extra energy I think is what is causing the start of the problems. Up and down, up and down. I am tired of feeling enerjetic for a few hours then like a train hit me for the next few hours. Then the next dose gets me back up and feeling good again. I have to try and stop it before I can't control it.

[tzt2lady]

Hi there and welcome.  Its almost five AM here in CA so don't know if i missed you or not.   So you are on vicodin?  What does it say on the bottle?  It should have a smaller number then a slash / then a larger number.  The larger number shows how much tylenol is in it.  The smaller number shows the amount of vicodin.  It sounds like you might be onthe 7.5 vicodin.
It also sounds like you are right at that turning point where use is starting to show signs of abuse.   You are not taking much more than prescribed.  I recommend (and im not a dr., just a vike user) that even if you are in a bit of pain, you cut down your use to one pill in the morning and then half and noon and half at night.   Do this for two or three days and then go back to your regular dose of three a day.  Now, this is if you are really in pain and it sounds like you are from what you wrote.
Talk to your dr. and be honest.  Let him/her know that what you have is barely cutting the pain and ask if there is anything non narcotic you can use for breakthrough pain.  Let him know you are concerned about the narcotics and addiction.
Best of luck to you,
tzt