How bad is hydrocodone for you?

[Cardinal Fan]

How bad is hydrocodone for you?

For the past 3 years, I have had a bad cough develop in the fall (2004, 2005, 2006). The first time, the cough lasted for about 8 weeks. I didn't go to the doctor until after the 4th week, and he proscribed Tussionex, which is a cough suppressant with hydrocodone in it. Sometime in January, the cough went away, and I stopped taking the Tussionex.

The cough started again in the Fall of 2005, and I again took Tussionex for it. It seemed to last longer this time, but went away, and I stopped taking the Tussionex.

The cough started again last Fall, but this time it continued. My doctor has denied a refill for the Tussionex (I believe due to the hydrocodone). I have seen an allergist, as he believes the cough may be allergy related. He gave me some stahist, which keeps the cough at bay.

I am being treated for depression with Lexapro. When I was taking the hydrocodone, I felt great! It produces a very noticeable euphoric effect for me. I have never understood addiction, but now I have a glimpse into it. I have tried drugs in the past such as alcohol, pot, and cocaine, but they never did much for me, or caused such a hangover the next day that I could easily do without.

Not so with hydrocodone. I haven't had any for a week and am not suffering any of the physical withdrawal symptoms I have read about here on the forum. However, I really do miss it. During this past bout with the cough, I normally took only 1 teaspoon of the Tussionex a day. The normal dosage is 2 teaspoons a day (1 ever 12 hours). There were probably a total of 10 times over the 8 months that I took 2 teaspoons in a day (mostly to relieve stress).

My question is this: is 10mg of hydrocodone on a daily basis that bad for you, if you don't increase your dosage? If so, what is wrong with it?

[tztlady]

What else is in Tusseionex (sp?)    Maybe it has other stuff in it that is bad for you (like Tylenol).   I don't know what 10 mg a day of hydro would do.  I can't eat "just one" so to speak.

For most of us we build a tolerance and have to keep increasing the dosage to get the same effect.  Then the "effect" leaves all together and all we are left with is a habbit that must be fed just to break even and feel half way normal.

[Cardinal Fan]

I got this off the Tussionex web site:

Each teaspoonful Tussionex contains hydrocodone polistirex equivalent to 10 mg hydrocodone bitartrate and chlorpheniramine polistirex equivalent to 8 mg chlorpheniramine maleate.

Unfortunately I don't know what those things are. I did get about 15 pills labeled Hydrocodone/Homatropine, which is apparently a generic for Hydrodan. It had about the same effect as Tussionex, although not quite as good. Maybe those pills were only 7.5 mg of hydrocodone, rather than 10.

Does everyone who takes hydrocodone build up a tolerance for it, so that they need to take more and more, or can some people take 1 pill a day for an extended period of time?

[tztlady]

Everyone I know has built a tolerance but I'm sure there are cases where people don't.   I don't recognize those other things in the cough syrup.  I was on norco 5/325 which have 5 mg of hydrocodone, 325 mg tylenol.

I was taking between 6-12 a day more or less.  I could take up to 20 mg of hydro and feel almost nothing.   That was at the end, of course.  It didn't start out that way.  I have a high tolerance for any drug to begin with for some reason.

Others have questioned why hydrocodone can't be used as an antidepressant.  I think that would be a good question to research.  We have discussed it here, months ago and I think those involved in that thread concluded that its because it continually takes more and more of the drug to get the same effect and then it just stops working for the depression relief altogether.

Thats for most people.. I'm sure there are exceptions to every rule.
tzt

[helpwanted1972]

from what i gather the hydro is not near as bad for you physically (other than the control it gets over you) than the tylenol usually that comes along with it. the tylenol when consumed long term can damage your liver. so im not real sure about the other ingredients in that cough supressant. im sure it can be researched.

[Cardinal Fan]

I've been doing some research, and it seems as though the only problem with hydrocodone is that it is usually combined mixed with acetaminophen (Tylenol), which can be bad for you liver if you take too much.

For anyone who is addicted, you have my sympathy and support. I didn't really understand why people did drugs until I took hydrocodone. Who wouldn't want to feel that good all day?

[fishmeal]

10 is not bad in itself but then it will become 20 and you won't notice that the 30, 40, 50 over a period of time, long after you forget about this website. Then it will have you say, 3 years from now.... Just RUN from it... why play with fire~~~ especially if it does make you happy.

[Cardinal Fan]

But how do you know that 10 mg will turn into 20, then 30, etc.? I have taken approximately the same amount (10 mg/day) for the last 8 months. Aren't there some people who can enjoy an addictive drug (like alcohol) without upping the amount?

[tribeof5]

Hi there. I became addicted to tussionex a few months ago when i was put on it for chronic cough and bronchitis. I say i was addicted, and I guess i still am, because I built up a tolerance to it, a tolerance for the first medication i ever used in my life. Yes, It gave me the same feeling, then it didnt work anymore and gradually i had to take more and more. Finally i had to stop because I knew it wouldnt be prescribed for me anymore, and who wants to keep wondering how they are going to get their next batch of a medication. Anyhow, I was able to stop taking it after i weaned myself off, after being on it for about 5 months. Then i kept coughing all night long so I had to go back on it. This time, i didnt let myself get dependent. Its working for night and i will fight the cough during the day,lol. Sure I would like to be on it all the time because it makes me feel normal, and good. But you cant keep getting it and forget about trying to get it off the internet for hundreds of dollars. If you can stay off it, please do, because one you build a tolerance and your body craves it, then youre in for a long haul. If you would like to talk, I would be more than happy to talk with you. God Bless.

[chopper841]

Hey Cardinal you say it gives you that euphoric feeling and 1 spoon will last the whole day, in time that euphoric feeling won't hit you with one and you switch to 1 in the morning and 1 in the evening.  Before you know it you will be up all night high but you will never feel the same you did the first few times and last instead of 5-6 hours down to 3 or 4, this could be a gradual increase but at the point your setting your self up telling yourself I love this **** I can get anything done.  You keep using staying up all night moving things from one end of your house to the next totally high, eventually it becomes a huge crutch and will creep into your decisions you make, relationships, and soon it will consume you. Even if you take this drug in small amounts and your not abusing them the best way for me to put it when you go to a casino the longer you play the more chance they have to get your money and usually they get it all , same with the drug you play and play and sooner that later it will get you physically addicted and people at this point say how am I addicted I was a lite user everyone is different.  The Dangerous part is when you reach the physical part and become dependent by using here and there you will end up like allot of us u have to have the pills or your worthless so u begin moving on to Fentny, Morphine, Methadone, anything that will get you out of bed. TRUST ME QUIT WHILE YOUR AHEAD!!  I QUIT COLD TURKEY OF MY DRUG COCKTAILS LISTED ABOVE DAY 26 FOR ME!!

[SandySlope]

You are headed for addiction, I would put money on it. Addiction is so unpredictable, suddenly you find yourself in the woods and you cant get out. Get out while you can. This is how it starts for all of us usually. Those moments when the body builds up tolerance to the drug are some of the most cloudy times where our decision mechanisms do not work well. You might not feel hung over now, but oh boy you WILL.....its not a sudden instant hangover like alcohol, its gradual, but its a horrible feeling when you wake up craving the drug. HORRIBLE. You dont want to go through that. Once you blindly build a tolerance up, you wont even realize it then you will get out of bed one day and realize its all catching up with you. Wait til the arthritis feeling kicks in.....thats a ball of kicks....and thats just the beginning of the hell of opiate use.

[NorcoQueenoftheUniverse]

When I would wake up and HAVE TO take a PILL (or 2) ..just to get moving......
thats when I KNEW my problem was OUT OF CONTROL!  And... what a HORRIBLE feeling that was...also.. counting pills... the LOOK the RX people give you when you "pick-up' your order early;  worrying about 'running out'...Oh my gosh... what a SICK CYCLE!

I'm working on 60 days CLEAN off of an 8-10 Norco habit a day x's 3 years and every morning that I wake up and NOT think of taking a pill is a GREAT DAY!  

It's a FREEDOM kinda FEELING... and even though it's been a tough journey it's been SOOOOO worth it..
I can FEEL... "Feelings.... whoa.. whoa... whoa.... Feelings!"

[WAYTOOTIRED]

I'm not sure of the full name. But, several years ago I had a cough that lasted forever.  (no addiction then)  the phenegran with codiene just wasn't touching it.   The Doc gave me the cough syrup with Hydrocodone.  The huge bottle.   They are all basically the same.  They are just a cough supressant with Codiene or Hydrocodone.   The Hydrocodone just worked better.   I think it just drys you up so much there is no mucas.  I took it for several weeks.  After having a cough that long and that bad...I really didn't care what was in it...I just needed to stop coughing.  The cough had beat me down.   I haven't had a cough like that since.  I had been getting that cough every November for 3 years.   After the first year, I automatically told the Doc   don't bother with Phenegran and Codiene, it doesn't work..   As I said,  after the 3rd year, it never came back. (thank God)  

I agree with whomever said..." why don't they use Vicodin or Norco for depression"   yes, I know they can be harmful if abused and it becomes an addiction.  But, so are some of the antidepressants they give..or Valium, Ativan, etc.    I can't take those things...The warning they give on most..." may cause thoughts of suicide"  I'm one of those.  They make a horrible depression...10 times worse.   They cause me to have black outs..even Ambien.   I don't abuse them...i've never taken any of them long enough to abuse them.   They are horrible for me.

I have Lumbar stenosis  and bursitis in my hip.  Just sitting at this computer for more than a few minutes really gets it going.   You just can't win.  But one of the worst depression I ever went through...Vicodin ended it.   8 months of hell...and over nite it was gone.   I will say again...NO, I'm not talking about abusing them...I know you build up a tolerance...you do to  Valium and stuff like that too.   If you have an addictive personality...it will probably happen.  (If one works good, 2 must really work great, etc, etc, etc.    Same issues Alcoholics go through....we just use pills.

This room is very comforting.  To read all of your stories.  People that can relate.  Going through the same hell.  I swear, most of your stories is like reading a bio.  lol.   I'm serious....all the things I've said and done, etc.   The withdrawl is hell...but necessary to live.   It only took 5 days at most to be over the shakes  sweats, etc.   But, the depression, and restless legs...is the absolute worst...you can't sleep...If they want a good torture for terrorist....create restless legs syndrome in them...that will fix um....the only thing that stopped it..but time...was the vicodin.  Ambien was of no use..still didnt sleep...plus..if I do....I sleep walk.   I was buying stuff off the shopping channels on tv.  Then when it arrived...was like....wtf????   I'm terrified of getting in my car...so, I don't take them....Time is always the cure..for withdrawl...and anything you can think of to get thru an hour, a day, etc.   All the bad thoughts we have...depression, etc....is caused by the withdrawl.   I Pray a lot too.   Just try and remember...ITS THE WITHDRAWL CAUSING YOU TO FEEL SO BAD..IN EVERY WAY....IT WILL GO AWAY...I have my husband to support me...he trys so hard....and doesnt judge.  

I love to read your stories and your support for others...it gets me through.  God bless all of you and your struggle...we'll get there...

One request I would have..if no one minds...is, more detail about your days, what you feel in withdrawl...(depression, restless legs, no energy, the shakes, etc.)   I believe thats the part that helps me the most...people can say they understand...but, when you hear their symptoms...you KNOW, they do...they've been there, done it...or still doing it....even the relapses  because you couldnt take it anymore..I really believe that is very important....every detail...

It sounds like everyone in here is very intelligent...just got caught up in something....what is NOT helpful..is having someone say..."  Just don't take them, you know you don't need them...take control, etc etc etc."   We all know that....last thing we need is a lecture..on the downfalls of addiction.   We tell ourself the story every day.   If anything...that kind of attitude...when someone is suffering...is annoying...and very irratating. Last thing one needs when they are already suffering....  

Thanks for reading,...thanks for your inputs...I know you all know how much you help....how important you all are...and how important your support..and time is....THANK YOU... suffering along with you...but, I do have, HOPE!!!!!!