Does a pervious narcotic addiction cause you to develop physical dependence quicker than normal when taken again years later?

12 years ago I kicked a 15/day 3 year Percocet addiction.  As difficult as it was, it's long been a thing of the past.

I had major surgery 2 weeks ago and had to take Percocet for a week, then went to Vicodin for another several days  I didn't think much of it because I took everything exactly as prescribed and only when truly needed for the pain.  2 days ago I stopped taking the Vicodin because the pain was gone, and I was shocked to find myself experiencing withdrawal symptoms about 24 hours after my last dose.  At first I thought I was getting the flu - achy, tired, chills, but when the diarrhea kicked it, I recognized the symptoms from 12 years ago.  I took 1/2 Vicodin tab, and sure enough, my symptoms magically resolved.

I think most people would not experience withdrawal symptoms from short-term narcotic use after surgery, my previous addiction must have something to do with me developing a physical dependence so quickly.  I was wondering if anyone else has experienced this?  I'm sure I'll get over it in a few days and it won't be anything as bad as what I endured 12 years ago, but it has been a learning experience - that my body will never process narcotics like a "normal" person.

[LeaAnn807]

Hi!  I don't know about 12 years later, but I was clean for about 2 years once, and I do believe that I developed dependency again quicker than a "normal" person would when I took pain meds after I had a baby. (after the 2 yrs)  I think that our brains just recognize it quickly once we have become an addict....even one in recovery!

But 12 years is so great!  What an accomplishment!  At least you did learn something from this.  You are right...you won't have the WD for as long as you did back then from 3 yrs of using.  The true test of rather or not it was WD was when the vicodin tab magically fixed it!  

I'm sorry you are going through this!  Good luck to you!

TH

[jamcat]

Thanks so much for your reply, this has been a good reminder to me that "once an addict, always an addict."  The good thing is that I don't have the cravings or mental desire to continue taking the narcotics, it's just the physical symptoms.

[LeaAnn807]

That's good!  Do whatever you have to do to take care of yourself right now so that the mental desire doesn't come back and get ya!!!  

How are you feeling, physically, today?

[KidneySton3d]

my first time taking percocets for two weeks as prescribed I went into withdrawal and I had never taken so much as an asprin before that no no its not your body it will happen to anyone taking them for more then a couple days.  This truly is evil stuff and the makers should be mandated to come up with a real solution to the wd's or it should be taken off the shelves for anyone who isn't mortally ill.

[problemboyfriend]

Why are these prescribed for pain that is our bodies natural response to stress? Are we such babies that we can't take a little pain?

The drug companies know exactly what they are doing. They get doctors to give out pain medicine for the least little illness, knowing that the chance of getting a healthy person addicted is worth it to them. Even if the person doesn't take it, they leave it in the medicine cabinet, where their kids find it. Then it's on the street. Whatever, as long as someone takes it and develops an addiction. Money in the bank to them!

[LeaAnn807]

Wow....I would not consider myself a "baby" at all before I became addicted.  I believe that pain meds have their place, as do the docs who prescribe them.  I am careful about not putting blame on doctors, nurses, drug companies or pharmacists, even though I know some crooked ones, because I am the one, in the end, who manipulated the system.  

Everyone has a different story, and some people, like me, started taking medicine for a very legitimate reason.  I'd say most do, in fact.  That said....in the end, I was still the one who had to pay the price and consequences, not the doctor.  Not the drug company.  Not anyone but me!  

I do realize that some docs do give meds for the least little thing, as you said.  Those doctors should be more careful, or maybe even should lose their prescribing ability.  They are crooked, and they DO contribute to drug abuse in this country.  But, I still take responsibility for my addiction.  I don't place blame anywhere else.

TH

[cleanmom]

Well said TH. You might want to stop looking for excuses for your boyfriend. I know as an addict that he is probably saying many things to make this addiction anyones fault but his own. Dont buy into it. Nobody is dumping the stuff down his throat or up his nose. When he is really ready to get clean he will also be ready to take full responsability. When he completely does that, that is when you will know that he is serious about getting clean.

In the meantime we are still here to support you. Let us know if there is anything we can do to help.

[Jimmy1975]

Hi Jamcat , I can't add much more then what my comrades said but I would like to add what a psychiatrist at UCLA told me once . She said that most people who abused narcotics and stopped and stayed clean for over five years tended to be the successful ones of addiction . Hope that adds a little comfort for you ..   Jimmy

[vicki595]

To : problemboyfriend~

I think your conspiracy theory is way off base. A sweeping generalization like that is
very untrue and unfair.  But...of course,you are entitled to your opinion;as wrong as it may be.
Pain is our bodies' natural response to illness or injury;be it acute or chronic. Pain medication has it's place.  Anesthetics are pain medications.  I'd sure hate to have surgery or a little,tiny,nothing root canal treatment without it!
Vicki

[jamcat]

Like you, I take full responsibility for my past addiction to prescription drugs, even though it all started from taking them for a legitimate medical issue.  The problem began when the medical issue was gone and I continued to take the drugs.  That's no one's fault but my own.   If you don't accept responsibility, you will never stay clean.    

I do not believe, as problemboyfriend alluded to, that I was wrong in taking pain meds after having major surgery 2 weeks ago.  I happen to be a nurse, and I know that the quicker you get up and move after surgery, the quicker your body heals.  For this reason, pain meds are very beneficial.  I was just surprised at how quick I seemed to develop a physical dependence.  The good news is that the WD symptoms seem to have passed - they only lasted 2 days and were fairly mild.  Nothing like what I went through 12 years ago - which was awful and lasted for weeks.