Vicodin Use

[Magic Man]

I was told on the last thread to start a new topic so here it is...

I'm a 54 year old male who has been prescriped Vicodin for the last 5-6 years for my chronic back pain. I've had MRI's and disks are in bad shape which is causing the pain. Heavy lifting for the last 30 years caused this. I have a full time job and have a side business working as a softball official. My doctors prescripe 120 7.5-750 and 240 5-500 mg tablets. I obviously do not take all these but vacuum pack the one's I don't use in the event these pills are taken off the market. I've heard of people paying as much as $3.50 ea per tablet. I pay only $22 per month. It's the only medication that relieves the pain so I can go about and do my daily routines. I'll admit I've taken as many as 10 in a day on the bad days but it wasn't alway like this. I suppose it's because my body has built up a tolorance. I've heard of people using up to 30 a day. Now I feel that is an addiction. I don't ever want to go over the 4000 mg per day which is allowed, (said my doctor). I remember when I first started it only took 2-3 a day to relieve the pain. Once I'm finished with softball I'm going to try to hold back to a maximum of 4. I do see the doctor every 6 months and they say I'm in great shape for my age. I suffer from no side effects. If and when I can convience my wife to move to Nebraska for an early retirement I will not need as much. I will check this forum from time to time to get suggestions. I asked the doctor about the potenial addiction effects and he told me you have 2 choices. Live with the pain or relieve the pain. Like I said I will keep myself aware and try to use my best judgement.  

[Magic Man]

Thanks for all your comments. I will bring some up to the doctor on next visit. Actually I have to go to hospital next month for the dreaded snake, you know where, to check my inerds. As far as change in lifestyle, yes that is coming soon, hopefully 2-3 years as I mentioned before. I can taper down on work and start relaxing. It's totally up to my wife....hey wait a minute I just got a thought. I will make it a priority to retire early in Nebraska because of my health. I'll try that on her and persuade my doctor to suggest some thing.

[fishmeal]

You may not be addicted but are definietely physically dependent.  As you start tapering, your mind, (your brain's physiology has changed.  It has grown new receptors to play catch with all the opiates you are throwing at it), will scream for the drug.  IMO, if you can't taper down, you might be addicted to the drug and may need a replacement therapy like suboxone/subutex, (these are the same drug, buprenorphine.  Suboxone has an inhibitor in it to make shooting it almost imposible).

You can do the research on these at, suboxone.com.

and there is another forum exclusively for buprenorphine at. nabbt.org.

Best
fish

[Calzy]

As bettie1976 says, your body justs gets use to the meds and you have to increase some the longer you stay on them. I am your age and have you considered a little change in life stlye to lessen the strain on your back or try some physical therapy (who has time for that). Try to build up your stomach muscle, that should help your back some, it has helped me in the past but i just dont keep it up. Try anything to help lessen the discomfort and thus use less meds, the pills dont fix what hurts only masks it. You could be feeling some w/d if you miss a dose or go longer than normal between doses. There are ppl who come here and say they take their pain meds as perscribed but have taken them for a yr or more and have try to just cold turkey and have some w/d from that. I am saying that the pain meds can cause some extra pain other than your back if your dont get your regular dose and you think it's your back getting worse and you increase your dose. You are doing the right thing by asking and i hope you find something that can work for you.

[bettie1976]

my step dad was on fentanyl patches, oxycodone, valium, etc...they even gave him fentayl suckers if you can believe that one! If you have to use them for the rest of your life just be careful to not take more than prescribed b/c then youll find yourself doc shopping and er running...Just try to take whats given to you and no more. The tolerance thing is tough tho. I know we all build up a huge tolerance for these drugs so we need more to make them work. There are alternatives when you get too high a tolerance for the vics. there are percocets, oxycontin, etc...

[Magic Man]

Calzy...I know where you are coming from. I know I will be on meds for my back too for the rest of my life. What is bothering me is dosage. I need more dosage to give same relief and I'm worried in 3,4 or 5 years what dose will I need for the pain? I will be speaking to the doctor about this at my next visit. Some people I've talked too said they were put on morphine patches. You got to be kidding me. Then whats next?

[Calzy]

Most ppl that come here have abused their drugs or a loved one has so ppl just want to know you are being honest about your question. If you are staying within the prescribed amount you should be fine but you will have some withdrawal if you ever stop. If you see you are getting over the limit than you have to weigh out your options of being addicted or find another way to handle your pain.
You said you dont exceed the 4000 mg but your two scripts equal 7000 mg per day, one dr would not write that much unless you have two doctors. My doctor said i will probable be on pain pills the rest of my life, they say what you want to hear sometimes. You might be setting yourself up for a fall having all those pain meds around for a rainy day. Stay on top of this, be honest with your self and DONT let it get out of hand. Good Luck toYou

[chivaknevel]

uhh what's your point.  are you trying to justify to everyone that you are not an addict?  what is your question? or are you just bragging about how many pills you have stashed away trying to make me jealous lol?  don't mean to be rude just curious