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Avatar universal

I need help with vicodin addiction

I was in a car accident quite a few years ago and suffer with cronic pain. I was refered to a pain management doctor and was subscribed Vicodin Es. 120 pills a month. Well I became addicted very quick. I started taking about 10 a day. I was only supposed to take 4 a day. When I would run out I would call the Dr. and tell him my purse was stolen or was goimg on vacation for a month and needed an early refill. Not a question ever asked. I used all different pharmacies and often told them I didnt have insurance just so it wouldnt say refill to soon. Then I got to the point were I would use a whole bunch of different doctors. Well I got to the point where I couldnt take it any more. I was tired all the time. I have small children and i was concerned about my future with them. So one day I called my husband at work and told him I needed to go into a hospital for a few weeks because I was an addict. This was so hard. He had no clue. So I did just that. Stayed for 2 weeks. Got through the withdrawls and came home thinking I will never do that again. They told me in the hospital that I would need to go to meetings but I said no I dont need that. I am not your "typical drug addict". I thought that all I needed to do was get it out of my system then I would be fine. Well I was wrong. A couple months after I got out I was at work and in a lot of pain. A co-worker handed me 2 vicodin. And here I am again. It is alot worse this time. I take about 20 7.5's a day. My husband told me if I ever take another vicodin again he will leave me. I have no support here. I dont want to lose my family. So there is no way i could tell him. I have only 1 pill left and I am having difficulty getting more today. I am scared to death. Every time I would get them I would say this is it no more I am gonna whine myself off this time. Every day when I would toss two in my mouth I would say ok tomorrow I will just take one at a time. Tomorrow never seemed to come cause I kept taking them and now I am down to one and desperate. If anyone has advice PLEASE let me know soon. Thamks for listening.
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Avatar universal
I am 44 year old male who had back surgery 2 years ago. My doctor prescribed 5/500 vic's. I have been taking 2 per day for 2 years an sometimes 3 depending on how I feel. I guess I can answer my own question an say YES. I can go a week with out taking the medication, but I have no energy an feel weak. Can someone point me in the right direction an help me get off this drug?
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Avatar universal
I am addicted to Vicodin,Im hearing stories on here where people are talking 15-50 a day! I know it might sound stupid that I am addicted but I've been addicted for about 2 years now me and my fiance and we both take between 4-6 a day!  I know it may not sound like much but it feels like a lot! I can't go to rehab due to  work ! When I don't have any I get trembles and sweats! I just need to know if there is anything to get rid of them I've only taken one Vic in the last 2 days I feel I can do it if I just need to  get rid of the trembles! Is there anything I can do?
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Avatar universal
I am 45 years old and I have colapsed disk in my back, the pain is so bad and no wants to help me because I am on the medical card! I take vicodin the 10/1000 2 at a time and I take them every 6 to 8 hours. I buy them from someone I know sometimes because no one wants to give them to me.I try to always have them other wise I hurt so bad and I go threw withdrawls.that's what I am doing right now as I am writing to you! I have not had no medicin in 24 hours now, my back is killing me my legs are cramping, I get the chills so bad but yet I'm sweating something awful,my noes is running and I keep sneezing and I am getting the runs. I don't know what to do, it makes me feel like I would rather die then go threw this!how are you doing and where did you go and what am I sopposed to do about the pain if I can get off these!
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Avatar universal
Be strong okay! You do the crime.. you do the time. you need to be positive and Every second you fight it, the closer you are to living again.

You will experience 4 terrible days believe me!
On top of that it took 9-10 days before i could sleep normal again.

i was taking 6-10 thousands a day But im on my 10th day off of it all and i literally am tearing up because i feel so good...

best decision i have ever made.
Be strong you can do it!

Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I just quit vicodin cold turkey after a year and a half addiction. I was taking between 6-10 thousands a day.
It was w/o a doubt the hardest thing i have ever done.

Worth it??

OMG yes. Life is so beautiful and now that my body is no longer in a haze i can appreciate that
IF it's any correlation i lost the love of my life because of my problem.
There's no way she love me when i cant love myself first.

If any of you are struggling listen to me... just do it!. I let my family know and they supported me.
My thoughts are so clear and i feel SO good again. I feel strong. I feel confident. I feel reborn.
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Avatar universal
I need some help. I have been taking vicoden for a few years and know I am addicted to it. I haven't taking anything in about 18 hours and feel like dying. I don't have a great relationship with my doc and don't know how to approach this but for the sake of my family and my life I need to kick this. Anyone that can help please do I don't want this anymore    
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Avatar universal
I have been taking vicoden on a daily basis for almost 4 years now. I remeber how it started like it was yesterday. They used to give me the greatest feeling. Like nothing could stop me, I was on top of the world. Clean the house? No Problem. Go to the store? No Pronlem. Give your brother a ride to his friends? No Problem. You get the pointe, but back then I was excited to do anything and everything. Except sex of corse. I love sex, I mean I really love sex. All vicodins have done is ruin that for me too. I don't know about anyone else, but trying to *** on those things was like a lost cause. Don't get me wrong it still felt good, and I got really good at faking an orgamim inorder to not make my boyfriend feel like less than a man. But I dont want to fake it anymore! I want to enjoy sex the way I used to, I want to feel again and all I have done over the past 4 years is temporarily numb the pain .But... **** that! Bring the pain on, I'm ready. And the sex too please!
My tolorence is so high now tho that they hardly even work anymore. I used to take 1 or 2 and be boucing off the walls all day. Now I have to take 5 everymoring just to get myself out of bed. And another ten or so through out the day. That's about 30 to 45 bucks a day just on V's. Imagine all the nice things I could have from all that wasted money.
Ready for the WORST part...I broke myself. I've takin so many pills over too long of a period of time, and now I can't have babbies anymore. So please ask yourself...is it worth it?? absolutly not. I just urned 27 years old and I will never beable to give birth to a child because of my addiction.
So hear I am on day 2 of no vicodin, this isent the first time I've quit so I know I still have a few mose days tell I start to fell semi normal again. I just really hope I have the strengh to make this the last time I quit. I dont want to do this to myself anymore. There are so many things I want out of life and all vics are doing is stopping me from making them happen.
SO....MR WATSON I HAVE A LITTLE MESSAGE FOR YOU:
you may have destroyed my past, and totally ****** up my present, but as long as I can help it YOU HAVE NO CONTOL OVER MY FUTURE!

SINCERLY: Fallin Angel
please fill free to email me if you would like to talk, I know I could use an ear or two my self. ***@****
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Avatar universal
PLEASE do whatever you have to do to stop taking pain meds!! My 29 year old little brother just died 3 weeks ago and my family is broken. My dad, mom, and sister (along with myself) are left to deal with the grief of never seeing him again. Trying to recover from this is unbelieveable for my family! PLEASE  IF YOU CARE ABOUT YOUR FAMILY...... DO NOT DO "THIS" TO THEM. IF YOU DON'T STOP FOR YOURSELF, STOP FOR YOUR FAMILY. He took a few pain pills for the last time and never woke back up. This is the first time for you to do the most unselfish thing in your life and that it to save yourself and your family from this nightmare! I wish he could have just go the help he needed and now his life is over at 29.......His 8 year old son will never see him again and now must go thru life without his own daddy, he will never laugh with me and give me his big hugs....my dad lost his fishing buddy....I can't even begin to tell you the lasting pain this will leave on your family if you die.  
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Avatar universal
vicodin has ruined my life! ive been taking them for two years now, i take anywere from 6 to 15 a day!! My family doesnt know about my addiction so i cant check in rehab, plus i am completely broke! I lost my job, i went into work that day and i was out of vicodin so i started getting anxious and a coworker gave me 6 somas, she told me just to take one, i felt so sick i took all of them, i was so gone that a client noticed and complained to my boss and i was let go...i left work not knowing what i was doing in hit a pole. I was also raped one time because i was soo high on vicodin and i was drinking heavily, You would think that would tell me to STOP! But it made me more depressed and i keep using. I dont even get high anymore i just take it to feel normal. I look around me at people and wonder how it feels to feel human again, i look at the vicodin in my hand before i pop them in and start crying thinking this is my life now..i lost a lot of freinds im moody to the people i love the most...today is my first day off and i feel so hollow and empty and sooooooo nervous my joints hurt my head is foggy, i dont think i can do this, im in a relationship and i finanny told him yesterday about my problem, i was soo scared of loosing him but he said he wants to help me, but i know if i cant get clean he will leave me.  I just need HELP!!! Its ruined my life, im only 25 but i feel so depressed all the time, like i dont wanna live, but dont take that the wrong way i would never take my life, i just feel like this feeling will never go away!!!!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
vicodin has ruined my life! ive been taking them for two years now, i take anywere from 6 to 15 a day!! My family doesnt know about my addiction so i cant check in rehab, plus i am completely broke! I lost my job, i went into work that day and i was out of vicodin so i started getting anxious and a coworker gave me 6 somas, she told me just to take one, i felt so sick i took all of them, i was so gone that a client noticed and complained to my boss and i was let go...i left work not knowing what i was doing in hit a pole. I was also raped one time because i was soo high on vicodin and i was drinking heavily, You would think that would tell me to STOP! But it made me more depressed and i keep using. I dont even get high anymore i just take it to feel normal. I look around me at people and wonder how it feels to feel human again, i look at the vicodin in my hand before i pop them in and start crying thinking this is my life now..i lost a lot of freinds im moody to the people i love the most...today is my first day off and i feel so hollow and empty and sooooooo nervous my joints hurt my head is foggy, i dont think i can do this, im in a relationship and i finanny told him yesterday about my problem, i was soo scared of loosing him but he said he wants to help me, but i know if i cant get clean he will leave me.  I just need HELP!!! Its ruined my life, im only 25 but i feel so depressed all the time, like i dont wanna live, but dont take that the wrong way i would never take my life, i just feel like this feeling will never go away!!!!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I am a nurse that works with patients on a daily basis that are addicted to Vicoden and other narcotics.  These are elderly, people with disabilities, young and old alike.  I figured out a few years ago that Vicodin is extremely addictive and really does NOTHING for the pain except trick the mind/body into thinking that you are in MORE pain, not less.  This can happen as quickly as 3-5 days after starting it.  It is SO painful to watch and when I approach them and ask, "Why are you taking these narcotics months/years after a surgery, accident, etc.", they explain the pain is so horrible.  I've discovered that this is the TRICK of these drugs and I am starting a "grass roots" organization to legislate getting these drugs off the market.  I wouldn't let ANYONE I know be put one Vicodin for ANY reason because of the highly addictive nature.  I  wish all of you the best of luck on getting off these drugs.  Say a prayer, it will help.                    Wendy
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Avatar universal
I have asome questions about vicodin withdraw.  I have a family member who has been taking vicadin combined with valume for quite some time.  SHe entered into a rehab, but they released her after only 5 days b/c the insurance would no longer pay.  It has now been a total of @8 days, and she is still experiencing symptoms of withdraw - shaking, stomach problems, aches etc.  When should these symptoms start subsiding and she get back to not feeling soooo terrible?
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Avatar universal
################
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Avatar universal
It's almost 2:00 in the morning and I have been going through Vicodin withdrawal for almost a week now.  I have diarrhea, nausea, cramps, and SLEEPLESSNESS.  The sleeplessness is the worst.  I started taking Vicodin 4 years ago for chronic degenerative disc disease in my cervical spine.  My doctor prescribes it readily.  I've told myself that I can stop whenever I want to...ha what a joke.  I decided to try going off the drug "cold turkey" and I've been through hell this week.  And the real kicker is I am the straightest person I know.  I don't drink, smoke or take drugs, well except for Vicodin that is.  It's nice to know that there are others like me who are trying to beat this monster.  I swear no matter how bad my pain is, I will never put another Vicodin table in my mouth.
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Avatar universal
Pam,, I am very concerned for you...I read your other post and did get a chance to respond...good luck    and keep us posted on how you are doing...my response to you is directly under your other post to me     love to all   cin
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Avatar universal
Please read my comments.  I am going back into the hospital today and I do so pray for HELP this time.  I don't know whether it will be on an intensive outpt. basis or an inpt. basis.  Please pray for me, everyone. Im sick. My hands are shaking, my heart is racing, palms are sweating, intense headache, etc. etc.  All the symptoms of withdrawal that I had hoped to overcome at home, after my last episode. This time, my ins. co. says I have to see my Dr. on an emergency basis and let him make the decision.  I agree.  This is causing too much tension, at home.  

I just wish I could have a different Dr.'s opinion.  This one is probably afraid of the trouble he might get in, for putting me on all these meds (i.e. Lortab, xanax, clonipin, clonidine (as tolerated), thorazene (as tolerated), and more.  It's just way too many meds for an addict that can't control herself.

Thank you.

Fondly,

whitedove2
Pam
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Avatar universal
Angelica is right  you may want to post in a place more people look    like a thread up above but to answer your question...usually about 4 to 10 hours after your lst dose depending on your useage....the w/d's set in.....abd after 48 to 72 hours again depending on your useage they start to subside somewhat...about 3 - 5 days for the process....and again yes,,,,ultram has been somewhat of a help so has darvocet.....post again and see what Thomas and the others have to say....good luck   love to all   cin
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Avatar universal
you may want to post your question in an earlier thread.  You will get more responses. ....they will be priceless, believe me, and I wouldn't want you to miss out on great advice.
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Avatar universal
JTR

how long does it generally take for the hydrocodone withdrawls to kick in?  I can go 24-48 hrs. without feeling too bad.  Does it get worse after 48 hrs. or shouldn't the withdrawls be peaking  at about that time?
Also, has anyone ever detoxed from hydrocodone by switiching to Ultram for a 3-4 days? I have some ultram and am considering it?


Any responses are greatly appreciated
thanks and Bless all of you
JTR
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Avatar universal
OK, where are you all??  I miss you.

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Avatar universal
Hi there:

I didn't hear back from you and just wondered if you saw my post to you.

whitedove
Pam
***@****
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Avatar universal
Great alias name!!!!  Thanks for your response.  I am now taking 5 Lortab (10 mg./500 tylenol); 4 xanax each day and 5 klonipin.  So, if I understand you correctly, I need to replace the zinc and magnesium too, along with Vit. B6, B12, calcium, etc.  Right?  Now that you know where I am with the meds, what would you recommend?  I have purchased a bottle of calcium that includes magnesium and zinc. It has 400 mg of magnesium, 15mg of zinc and 1,000 of calcium.  I've heard that calcium helps your muscles relax and consequently, you sleep better.  Do you know anything about that?  Anyway, I would appreciate anymore specifics you have.  Thanks in advance. I look forward to your response.

whitedove
Pam
***@**** - feel free to write me here. My only concern is to get HEALTHY again.
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Avatar universal
Hi - you will not come right until you replace all the zinc/mag you have leached out of your body over the past few years - this is what 'hanging out' really is - it's your body craving zinc/mag (zinc stops cravings/magnesium stops depression). If you don't do this it will take up to 2 years to return to normal as the only other source your body has for zinc/mag is food and then it is in such tiny amounts it takes years to build up again. If you get a blood test done you will find your levels of both are way down on what they should be.


A typical tablet contains somthing like this:

Zinc amino acid chelate 75mg
Magnesium amino acis chelate 37.5mg
Vitamin B6 10mg
Manganese amino acid chelate 10mg
Viatmin A (1000I.U.) 300mcg

Grading your habit on a scale of 1-10 (1 being occasional use and 10 being long term methadone at 100 plus mg's a day) you should take the following amount for a period of one month then slowly reduce to a daily amount of 2-3 per day.

Habit scale/size - Number of tablets per day for a month

10 10
9 9
8 8
7 7
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 3
1 2
0 2

You will notice that I recommend you never go below 2 per day. This is because zinc/mag depletion was your original problem so you should give yourself an ongoing supplement to make sure it does not happen again. I now take 2-3 per day to maintain my health. I have had no failures with this treatment (everyone OK after less than a month) and have treated addictions (including my own) as varied as methadone and cigarettes. The cigarrete smoker reduced from 2 packs per day to just 5 cigarettes per day in a week without any discomfort. If you suffer any kind of 'hang out' just increase the zinc/mag dosage and give it a liitle longer to take effect (a week or so). Don't beleive all the bullshit about drug addiction you have heard - it's all **** - this is the real deal. The drugs themselves are not actually addictive but they do leach all the zinc/mag out of your body by increasing the metabolism of them creating a shortage that gets worse the longer you use unless you replace them while you are using in which case you don't hang out when you stop - you just come straight - this is true beleive me I have tried it as have a few other people I know and none of us sufferred any hang out when we stopped.


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Avatar universal
Of course, your father can see what's going on "through the fog", he's having.  BUT, he has to choose to do something about it.  He's an addict and no one but him can make the choice to change.  If you read many of the postings on addicts, prescription narcotics, pain, etc. you'll see and understand that only he can make the change.

It's very hard.  I made a change after 14 years of opiate use, and still relapsed 3 yrs. later.  Read my postings.  I'm struggling now and everyone in this forum is so helpful and each and everyone has different ideas on how to succeed but, you can't succeed for him.  You have to "let go" and let him fall, as hard as it is.  He may need help, but he's got to ask for it, then you can help.

whitedove
Pam
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