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Vicodin Addiction Withdrawal, How Long? Does It Ever End?

Hi all, I would just like to say that I have been lurking on this site for awhile now before finally deciding to kick my habit. I have been addicted to Vicodin on and off for around 2 1/2 years. I recently decided it was time to stop after having taken it for 3 months straight. I just did not like what I was becoming, and what this drug was doing to my life in general. I always told myself that the habit I had (I never called it an addiction even though it was) was under control, and I could stop at any time, well I was wrong for 2 years. No reason existed for me to take it other than the relaxation the drug gave me. My dosage would be roughly around 2 to 3 pills in the evening just to relax, and help me sleep. I never went over 2 to 3 pills thankfully.

I decided to stop cold turkey 6 days ago due to the fact that it was having an impact on my work, my social life, and my time with my child. It is something I am not proud of having done, so I had to stop. I have stopped before as I stated, but this time I was determined. The withdrawals were miserable, something I never expected, but only heard about. It started with a very very strong craving for the drug the first 2 days, and constant muscle aches, along with sleepless nights. All along this time the urge to swallow some pills was always on my mind. I was dizzy sometimes, had hot flashes, and was cold all the time. To try to combat the sleepless nights, I used Advil, which didn't help. The mental said of the withdrawal is much worse than the physical pains. After 6 days now, I think I am starting to return back to my normal self. I feel more alert, sharper, and overall a different person. Today I have only thought about the drug maybe a few times, but without the horrible cravings I had during the mid-week. I know that this is just the tip of the iceberg on what to expect on my long road to being clean.

The questions I have are, how long will the urge to take a pill or two last? Does it ever really go away?

Thank you,
Ben
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Avatar universal
I just got off of suboxone and it has been hell.  After two months I was thinking it had to be soon but no.  It has taken at least 4 months just to be able to do laundry again.  I started at 8 mg and weaned town to 1/16 piece of 1 mg. and it was still hard.  I wouldn't recommend staying on it to long.  It is lot worse to get off of than vicodin.
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Avatar universal
I've been on Vic since I.was 19 I moved to Kansas and for 6 months I.was clean but I was always looking for something from.Xanax.to percoset anything to feel it but none of that was possible there because I didn't know anyone. I moved back to my home state a year.ago and jumped right back on the popping pill wagon I've noticed my mood is nothing without them I've been with them so long that I fear being off of them for good will make everyone I know not like me. I took them BC they made.me feel less insecure well now I'm having to quit cold turkey BC I will no longer have any access to them. I'm scared for a lot of reasons my.relationships have all been easy for me BC I had my fall back pill now I'm without anything and.once again moving where I will.not get them. I have horrible anger problems which I'm hoping r the effects of Vic and will go away but today's.my first day sober and I'm so mentally and physically tired.due to that being the first thing.I.take when I wake up to start the day..I'm 23 now and finally realized I once.lived without them so I.still should be able to..but I was insecure.and.trapped in a shell.
Will I go back.to being that.person? Biggest fear of.all :'(
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Avatar universal
Hello everyone! I am new to this and never thought I would write anything here. I have been on Norco/ Vicodin 10 for about 2 1/2 years and had my wake up call today at the pharmacy when the pharmacist told me I am a chronic abuser. WOW!!! That really opened my eyes. I mean I knew I had a problem, but did not think I was nearly as bad as some people are. But, yes, apparently I am. This is my first full day of not taking anything and my body feels so weird. I'm shaking, trembling uncontrollably and I feel like my heart is going to beat right out of my chest. I just want to go to bed, but I fear that waking up in the morning is going to be even more painful. I am dying to be normal again. I also have work tomorrow for 12 hours and do not know how I am going to make it through without killing someone! I hate when I am so dependent on something (also like my cigarettes). I am lovingly married to an awesome supportive husband and we have a beautiful soon to be 4 year old boy. These people should be who should have all my attention---not these stupid pills. I need to be that awesome mommy to my boy and I know I am not. I notice too that when I am coming down from my high I get angry for no reason and tend to take it out on my boy (not physically or anything like that) I just do not want to be around him or anyone. I used these pills also a reason/ excuse to get by. Like its time to clean the house...better take a pill. Time for work...time to take a pill. Time to do school work...time to take a pill! Also, I am graduating June 10th with Bachelors degree and used the pills as a "jump start" to get me motivated to do the work. I see people haven't posted here in a while, but hopefully we can all pick back up as I can really really use some support here!!! This is not something I want to share with my world yet. Please help me!!! Keep me updated what I can look forward to!!! Thanks everyone
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Avatar universal
Day 2 of no Vicodin after about 13yrs of daily use. I cut down from 4-5 10mg a day to 1-2 1/2 a day.  I desided to stop for good after I started dreaming about not having pills or pills getting stolen. Freaked me out that these pills could envade my mind like that! So far I feel OK just can't quit thinking about taking one. Has been like 48hrs since last dose and my nose is running and am so scared about what will come next!
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Avatar universal
Actually I'm glad I found this page!  Thanks to you all.  I guess we all have a story.  I've been on 6 to 10 Vicodin per day for back pain for 8 years.  Finally after much body work with Pain management Doc's and Therapists, they told me my back was fixed.  So I asked my Doctor, why I still needed 6/day?  You all know the rest of that story...  I went Cold Turkey.  It's been 9 days.  Most of you have answered my question:  Does it keep you from sleep?  YES!  I didn't sleep for more than 30 minutes to one hour for the first week.  Buy the end of this week, I plan to get back in the gym, elliptical, and light free weights and many many stretching exercises.  Sleep deprivation is the toughest thing for me.  But it getting better.  Last night slept 6 hours.  What a relief!  Energy!  Maybe 6 hours 5 minutes tonight?
No way I'm going back!

bcr
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Avatar universal
No I don't  really know how there so many different sections. I just kinda wanted and idea an average to set a goal.
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