Could I have caused any liver damage from my Vicodin addiction?

[Scarface94]

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?

[Scarface94]

I'm only 20 and have a very healthy body. I don't want to have the liver of an old person because I was making stupid decisions :(

Just fyi, I never drink or take any other drugs.

[Krissy_123]

You should go get a physical. For your mind and body,might help a lot to set your mind at ease.

[refills]

Probably not scarface but crazier things have happened. Like Krissy said, get a check up and ease your mind. Hope you've turned the corner my friend, living like that is no good for anything. Best Wishes...ike

[Scarface94]

Oh and one more thing! I was taking the 10/325 Vicodin pills.

So I was taking 80mg of Hydrocodone, and 2600mg of Acetaminophen each day.

Thanks guys.

[atthebeach]

Up to 4000 mgs of acetaminophen is the safe 24 hr recommended dose.

[atthebeach]

Congrats on your clean time.
Keep on fighting the good fight.
Keep the faith.

[Ben727]

It is extremely unlikely that you did any long term liver damage based on the use you describe. If you never do them again, you have nothing to worry about. But trust me on this: This drug is insidious, and if you don't get off and stay off, liver damage will be just one of the problems you'll be facing.

[dominosarah]

Ben said it all.  

[NeverAgain127]

The cut-off dose for acetaminophen causing liver damage has been downgraded from 4000 to 3000 mgs a day.

You're still safe, honey.   Luckily the liver is a huge, and resilient organ.  It's a good thing you didn't drink alcohol.  The combo of Acet. and booze is extremely dangerous.

Do you get a yearly physical?  It might not be a bad idea, seeing as you made such a big change (kicking the Vics) to do a thorough exam and get some bloodwork done.

I'm not a doctor, but some folks claim that milk thistle (a supplement you can buy at the drug store) helps calm down liver inflammation.  

[VICourageous]

I agree with the above. I am also VERY PROUD of you to think of your health before drugs or the fact that drugs and booze can cause health issues. I know and I wish I could take it all back.

Good Going
Bless

[Scarface94]

What ARE the problems associated with Vicodin addiction if I don't stay off that you are talking about? Sorry I'm not really familiar with any of this

[Krissy_123]

I was just looking through your old posts and you've been on this web site for years,and on and off again with Vic's for awhile. So you must have some idea the damage they can do to you? Google Vicodin and long term side effects. It will give you some great insight of why you should stay away from it.

[NeverAgain127]

Hmmm..are you thinking of taking it again?

Vicodin contains opiates and acetaminophen.    The latter is bad for your liver.   Opiates?  Where do I begin?  They ruin lives, kill people, destroy families.  Insanely addicting, and very, very hard to get off of.

[nursegirl6572]

I know I've discussed addiction with you before, but I have a question..

Have you ever considered getting yourself some help for the addiction?  You state that you WERE addicted but aren't anymore.  Addiction doesn't just go away simply when you stop taking the pills, as evidenced by your long standing issues with several different addictive medications (Vicodin, Percocet, Tramadol).

I really hope you do some reading on addiction, and open your mind to the possibility that you need some help.

[Scarface94]

No? I'm just curious what problems he was referring to.

[Scarface94]

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. It's been like 10 days since I've taken anything and it's been going by really fast and I haven't had a single craving to go back on it.

I don't get how people get "addicted". When I say addicted I only mean I like the physical feeling, and I can stop it when I WANT to. I don't get how people get mentally addicted.

[jifmoc]

Hey Scarface- I'm not convinced you understand the meaning of addiction. Like Nursegirl said, read up on it.

What I am about to write, I cannot emphasize enough: Whether you take, vics, then stop, tramadol, then stop, the substance you choose is not the issue. You may think you only have an issue w/ a particular substance. It's the fact that you use ANY substance on a regular basis. Booze, pills, coke whatever. If you use something regularly, then get off that, but go to something else, that is addiction. That means you (anyone) is unable to face reality. THAT is the part that needs attention and the part that doesn't go away w/o help. I can promise that if you stop the vics, you will go to something else is you don't treat the underlying causes.

Just think about it w/ an open mind:)

[Scarface94]

The thing is, I'm not like any of the people on this site. I won't be going to any other substance. I know myself and I don't struggle with your definition of addiction.

You couldn't be more wrong about me going to another substance. I have been off everything for 10 days and it hasn't been an issue and I haven't even been thinking about taking ANYTHING. The minute i decided I didn't want to take drugs anymore, I dropped them and here we are 10 days later.

[dominosarah]

Then why have you been taking pills on and off for a few years?  You took your dad's sleeping pills, your mom's percs, tramadol and vicodin.  There is a reason why you have been doing this.  Just putting down the pills doesnt mean addiction is over.  We are only trying to help you here as none of us want to see this start to spiral out of control.  

[Scarface94]

I was doing it off and on because i have a tendency to do it when I'm bored. I'm 20 and have no job and only taking one class in a community college. I figured what's the harm in taking the pills for fun? I ALWAYS stopped taking them when i hit a certain tolerance level. I would usually stop for 4-6 months, then take them again for a month, then stop for 4-6 months again.

This last time I was using the pills, I did them for 3-4 months because Last semester I didn't have any classes or a job, so I was pretty bored. Also i have social anxiety, so i hardly hang out with people so I literally have NOTHING to do at home.

[dominosarah]

Are you seeing a therapist for your social anxiety?

[Ben727]

Everybody is going to have a different set of problems, so it's hard to say. Addiction created money problems, self-esteem problems, and relationship problems for me. It also stole 5-10 years of my life - time I won't get back.

You're 20 years old, shy, and living in your parent's house right? Addiction would probably create a different set of problems for you. Anything you build on a foundation of substance use will have to be torn down and rebuilt. At your age you'll miss out on important growth opportunities that you may never get again. Anything that drugs "fix" will never really get fixed and will only fester.

My only advice to you is to take addiction seriously. You're fine right now, but it sneaks up on you. You're not immune or special. Anyone and everyone, regardless of talent or advantage, is susceptible. Go live your life, try new and dangerous things, but stay away from the hamster wheel of drugs!

[clean_in_ks]

I've read your posts off and on for a few years and there is one common thread in many of them.  You state that you are BORED.  You have chosen to take addictive drugs for the FUN of it, you said.  At 20 yrs old, yes, you are probably able to take them for 3-4 months, then not, then start up again, but the question to ask yourself?  Why do I choose to take addictive narcotic medications to resolve my boredom problem or "for fun"?  You may be able to stop when you want NOW....but if you continue to go back to narcotics every time you are bored or want to have fun....at some point you will cross over that line between dependency and addiction.  You brain chemistry will change and then you won't be able to "at will" just stop.

It seems like it would be a good thing, now that you are clean, to learn some NEW ways to solve your boredom problem.  Even with your social anxiety, with some therapy, and some willingness to try new suggestions, you could possibly overcome this.  You are SO young.....the world is full of things to see, taste and do.  Wonderful people to meet & places to go.  
Yesterday I saw something I want to pass along to you....an acronym for BORED......maybe it will help to get your mind off yourself.

B een creative?
O utside play?
R ead a book?
E xercised 20 minutes?
D one something helpful?

[nursegirl6572]

Wonderful replies.  Hopefully, one day they will "click" to you.  Right now, you're in classic denial.  Your addiction problem may not be HUGE, but it's there, by definition, what you're doing, and the patterns you have been following (abusing addictive medications for all the wrong reasons, including self medicating away anxiety) IS addiction my friend.  

Addicts come from all walks of life, and the one common thread is that MOST started out saying the exact same things you are saying.  Like said, it sneaks up quickly.  It would be super if you could open your mind to the possibility that this is a bigger deal than you think it is....before you find yourself in a way worse predicament.

You're 20...are you in school?  Work?  What do you do with your time?  You should be actively working toward creating a solid future for yourself, with independence as a goal.  Throwing yourself into school, etc certainly would be a great cure for boredom.