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Could I have caused any liver damage from my Vicodin addiction?
So I have been off Vicodin for 8 days. I was taking 80mg of Hydrocodone everyday for 4 months straight. Could I have caused permanent Liver damage from that 4 month period? If I did do any damage, will it heal since I won't be taking ANY Vicodin anymore?
Hi there :)
You've got age on your side! If you truly never pick up again (& also stay away from other mind-altering chemicals), you'll heal. It takes time though. I mean, consider the fact that we didn't become dependent in a day or a month. It takes a while to bounce back but the brain in 'plastic'.
What you describe re: your emotions is very common & I think that your instincts that it's attributable to your feelings returning full-force is on the money. In short, yes, it's the Vikes. Most people are on a bit of an emotional roller-coaster for a few weeks while our systems struggle to adjust & begin the gradual process of healing neurally. I understand your concern with the physical (it's very important) but the most important part of this whole thing will be how you're doing in 3 mos., 6 mos. -- a year, etc. That turns out to be the challenge.
I'm glad the depression passed. Hang in there. Any thoughts on how to keep yourself busy -- how to address that boredom of yours? :)
You've got age on your side! If you truly never pick up again (& also stay away from other mind-altering chemicals), you'll heal. It takes time though. I mean, consider the fact that we didn't become dependent in a day or a month. It takes a while to bounce back but the brain in 'plastic'.
What you describe re: your emotions is very common & I think that your instincts that it's attributable to your feelings returning full-force is on the money. In short, yes, it's the Vikes. Most people are on a bit of an emotional roller-coaster for a few weeks while our systems struggle to adjust & begin the gradual process of healing neurally. I understand your concern with the physical (it's very important) but the most important part of this whole thing will be how you're doing in 3 mos., 6 mos. -- a year, etc. That turns out to be the challenge.
I'm glad the depression passed. Hang in there. Any thoughts on how to keep yourself busy -- how to address that boredom of yours? :)
You say opiates change the way we experience pleasure in our brains, and also block our emotions. Are these changes permanent? I mean is my brain permanently damaged or is it gonna heal since I'm not going to be taking any more pills?
When I came off Vicodin 12 days ago, I experienced a really bleak depression about 3 days after stopping them. I think it was my emotions coming back full force. It was the worst depression i have ever felt, but thankfully it only lasted like 8 hours. Was that from the withdrawal from the Vicodin?
When I came off Vicodin 12 days ago, I experienced a really bleak depression about 3 days after stopping them. I think it was my emotions coming back full force. It was the worst depression i have ever felt, but thankfully it only lasted like 8 hours. Was that from the withdrawal from the Vicodin?
Hi there :)
'No I don't need help. Earlier I didn't WANT to get off, that was my problem. Now I DO want to, so it's been really easy.'
First, congrats on your 10 Days! Second, I hear you. I too didn't get off until I Really, really wanted to but then I understood full well @ that point that I was an addict & what that would mean for me going forward. The thing is, that it's not really about getting the substance out of your body but about never again reaching for something when we feel bored, restless, depressed, etc. There's an old sardonic expression: 'I can kick anytime. It's easy. I've done it a million times' :)
I looked back into your posts & you sound like an intelligent guy. You mentioned @ one point that you stopped the SSRI's because you didn't like the way they blocked access to your emotions. Again, I hear you (they did the same to me). Unfortunately, opiates are a little trickier. In the first years (or whatever) they work. They give us 'energy', make it easier to deal with social situations, etc. & yeah, we do 'em for 'fun'. With continued use (even on & off), we start to see a slow decline in our lives. They affect our relationships with others, we start to lose interest in certain pursuits & plans & eventually change the way we think about & do for ourselves. They actually change the reward pathways in our brains. The healthier things that used to give us pleasure are pushed to the side or blotted out altogether till we finally realize one day that we're no longer in the driver's seat -- that these pills are & that they're no longer a tool for enjoyment but a necessity for a diminished existence. I think that maybe this is what Clean_In_KS was talking about above. A lot of folks, (me included), are really startled to discover after months clean (not days) the degree to which opiates were masking our ability to access & handle our own emotions (which is a clue to why we continued to use in the first place). They tend to keep us at arms length from them.
You're very young & you have so much to live for -- so much in front of you if you stay the course you've initiated! You mentioned that you're not a 'denial' type person -- that you look @ the facts. That's great. In order to follow through with this & never look back (i.e. not go back for another stint down the line [cause each time it gets a little harder to come off & to not go back]) it's key that you @ least try to examine the reasons that you reach for Vikes. Boredom & apathy are two common reasons that people initially do this. It becomes a habit in and of itself & tends to sap your will -- your ability to exercise your 'go-get-'em'/I-believe-in-myself/I've got a practical plan for myself & there's cool stuff I want to do with my life' chops. Does that make any sense? (Chronic pot-smoking can do the same thing -- I'm sure you've seen the phenomenon). As stated above, there's so much to do & see 'clean' @ your age that won't be as enjoyable or perhaps possible @ a later age.
I'm posting this on the tail end of the many accurate things my friends above have mentioned in the hopes that some small part of it might resonate with you -- that it will turn the tumblers of your mind & heart & open you to Truly consider how sneaky this drug can be & that you'll consider the possibility that there might be a little more work to be done in order to leave this whole thing behind you.
Congrats again on coming off. Let's make it the last time, eh? :)
'No I don't need help. Earlier I didn't WANT to get off, that was my problem. Now I DO want to, so it's been really easy.'
First, congrats on your 10 Days! Second, I hear you. I too didn't get off until I Really, really wanted to but then I understood full well @ that point that I was an addict & what that would mean for me going forward. The thing is, that it's not really about getting the substance out of your body but about never again reaching for something when we feel bored, restless, depressed, etc. There's an old sardonic expression: 'I can kick anytime. It's easy. I've done it a million times' :)
I looked back into your posts & you sound like an intelligent guy. You mentioned @ one point that you stopped the SSRI's because you didn't like the way they blocked access to your emotions. Again, I hear you (they did the same to me). Unfortunately, opiates are a little trickier. In the first years (or whatever) they work. They give us 'energy', make it easier to deal with social situations, etc. & yeah, we do 'em for 'fun'. With continued use (even on & off), we start to see a slow decline in our lives. They affect our relationships with others, we start to lose interest in certain pursuits & plans & eventually change the way we think about & do for ourselves. They actually change the reward pathways in our brains. The healthier things that used to give us pleasure are pushed to the side or blotted out altogether till we finally realize one day that we're no longer in the driver's seat -- that these pills are & that they're no longer a tool for enjoyment but a necessity for a diminished existence. I think that maybe this is what Clean_In_KS was talking about above. A lot of folks, (me included), are really startled to discover after months clean (not days) the degree to which opiates were masking our ability to access & handle our own emotions (which is a clue to why we continued to use in the first place). They tend to keep us at arms length from them.
You're very young & you have so much to live for -- so much in front of you if you stay the course you've initiated! You mentioned that you're not a 'denial' type person -- that you look @ the facts. That's great. In order to follow through with this & never look back (i.e. not go back for another stint down the line [cause each time it gets a little harder to come off & to not go back]) it's key that you @ least try to examine the reasons that you reach for Vikes. Boredom & apathy are two common reasons that people initially do this. It becomes a habit in and of itself & tends to sap your will -- your ability to exercise your 'go-get-'em'/I-believe-in-myself/I've got a practical plan for myself & there's cool stuff I want to do with my life' chops. Does that make any sense? (Chronic pot-smoking can do the same thing -- I'm sure you've seen the phenomenon). As stated above, there's so much to do & see 'clean' @ your age that won't be as enjoyable or perhaps possible @ a later age.
I'm posting this on the tail end of the many accurate things my friends above have mentioned in the hopes that some small part of it might resonate with you -- that it will turn the tumblers of your mind & heart & open you to Truly consider how sneaky this drug can be & that you'll consider the possibility that there might be a little more work to be done in order to leave this whole thing behind you.
Congrats again on coming off. Let's make it the last time, eh? :)
I would be inclined to somewhat agree with you that this is no big deal, if you partied once, and then stopped. Your history is a pattern of abusing several different addictive medications, whether you're able to easily "stop" is irrelevant. Also, you may be able to stop, but it's never long before you turn to another substance. That is addiction, whether you want to admit it or not.
The people here would be more than willing to help you, but until you recognize that what you've been doing is putting you on a very slippery slope, nothing anyone says will impact you. You're worried about the wrong things....the possibilities of liver damage, etc. There is a much bigger risk here than that....but the issue is that you simply don't see it as a problem.
Good luck to you.
The people here would be more than willing to help you, but until you recognize that what you've been doing is putting you on a very slippery slope, nothing anyone says will impact you. You're worried about the wrong things....the possibilities of liver damage, etc. There is a much bigger risk here than that....but the issue is that you simply don't see it as a problem.
Good luck to you.
The answer will depend on your individual situation. I graduated HS at 17, did a year of college, then decided to travel for a year. Took a Greyhound to CA and spent a year bouncing around various SoCal beach communities. Made lots of friends, worked odd jobs, surfed, had crazy adventures, then went back to school after a year and finished college at 22. I smoked weed if someone had it and drank beer if it was around, but drugs were not a big part of my life back then. I developed an opiate habit in my 30's, and I can say for sure that I never would have done what I did in my 20's if I'd started using earlier. I grew from those experiences and would have missed them if I were addicted to opiates. Hopefully that makes sense.
COMMUNITY LEADER
I'm not sure if you are just messing with us or you are totally serious thinking you can be bored, take some pills and stop whenever. Do you realize you are on a Substance Abuse forum? We have all danced with the devil, seen friends and family die from this addiction. Guess what? We all started out thinking just like you are right now.
You said there is nothing to do at home......do your parents do everything for you?
You said there is nothing to do at home......do your parents do everything for you?
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