US drug names

Hi

I’ve been lurking on the forum for a couple of years or so but have never posted a question.  I have however found other people’s posts very encouraging and supportive.  I’m in the UK and a number of times when reading posts have wondered what certain drugs are in the US as they are all called different things in the UK.  What exactly is Vicodin, Percocet etc?  We have codeine phosphate here which contain 30mg of codeine each.  When I see people talk about 5’s and 10’s etc, are they talking about pills with 5mg or 10mg of codeine in or is it completely different?  Just wondering

Thanks

[akitagurl12]

Hi, i think 5, 10 and so on may be the number of pills someone is taking?? But it could also mean the strength of the pill too.  I think it depends how it is being written.  I was taking vicodin which is an opiate.  It is hydrocodone/acetaminophen.  I believe codeine is part of the opiate family as well as percocet and others.  The type of pill depends on the strength of the opiate as well as what it is mixed with.  Apparently vicodin is supposed to be on the weaker end of the scale, however I do not know since that is all I have abused in the past and that was hard enough to get off of.  I don't know if i make sense.  I am sure someone else will give you a better explanation soon. I am still learning too:) Take care!

[overopiates]

5&10 refers to the milligram(strength)of the pill.Percoset,vicodin,lortab all similar and from a deriviative of morphine.Codiene is considered a weaker form of the pills ur not familiar with.This isnt a medical description just a way to give u an idea of the meds n the u.s.

[overopiates]

No they r not the mg of codiene they r the mg of opiate n the pill.Maybe someone can help u with the breakdown n comparison of codiene compared to these pills as Im not sure.All I know as far as codiene here is u can get tylenol w/codiene.They r what u would generally given before u would b prescribed the vicodin,percacet,lortab etc. as here the codiene n the form I described is not as strong

[rkelly123]

Hi
Thanks for your replies.  Just wanted to clear that up as when I see people talking about 5/325 i thought that if the 5 refers to 5mg of Codeine, it's a very small amount so assumed it must be something different.
Strange how everything has a different name in the US, it took me a while to work out what Tylenol and Acetaminophen are - we call it Paracetamol.
Anyway, i've been lurking for quite a while - i'm currently on subutex for the 2nd time in a couple of years for a 10 year addicition opiates I'll probably start posting more when the time comes to taper off the subs.  
thanks

[overopiates]

Yeah 500&325 is the tylenol,acetomenaphen w/the opiate.it is confusing.I wanna say good for u for making a change.It doesnt matter if its the1st or the20th time u decided to quit as long as u r dedicated.Have u looked n2aftercare thats a huge thing.Dnt wait to post if u need support and post n the substance abuse forum not social thats where u will get tons a tips,support and read what others n ur situation dod to ease w/d and stay clean.

[rkelly123]

Thanks over
My first time on subs was for 9 months and there was no after care whatsoever - after getting off the sub i stayed clean for 3 days.  This time i will be having some counselling as well as the sub so hopefully i'll make it this time.  Over the 10 years I have tried to quit several times on my own too but its definitely something i need help with.  I am very grateful for the treatment i am getting - i've been reading the forums and seeing that people in the US are having to pay for alot for their sub treatment - disgusting.  Thank god for the NHS.
I saw your post on the substance abuse forum about your GP and your MIL - what a nightmare.  The GP should NOT have done that - hope you get it all sorted out out
Best wishes

[overopiates]

Thank u