Vicodin

[Lana]

I was in a car accident 6-8-99. As a result I suffered a ruptured disk. I had surgery 12-20-99. I have been taking Vicodin since Aug. I have just recently realized that I am addicted. This really scares me. I called my Doctor and he did not seem concerned . He said I was probably not adicted. I told him I tried not to take the drug for one day and nearly went insane. Shaking sick feeling horrible. Then he said well maybe you are addicted. He told me to just stop taking it. But I cant the withdrawal is horrible. I need some help. Please help me. I DO NOT want to be dependent on drugs. Any advice will be appreciated. Thank you, Lana

[bill]

Lana,You need to ask your doctor to ween you off Vicodin over an extended period of time. Then go a couple of weeks drug (vicodin)free. If you feel you still crave the drug after a couple of weeks you need to get proffesional help. Just remember the doctor who got you into this situation by over proscribing your medication may be the last one to recommend proffesional help so you may need to get this on your own. I hope this helps you out. BUT REMEMBER THIS YOU ARE THE ONLY WHO CAN STOP AND YOU HAVE TO MAKE THE CHOICE YOURSELF.THE FIRST THREE DAYS ARE PURE HELL THEN THINGS SLOWLY GET BACK TO NORMAL.

[bill]

Lana,You need to ask your doctor to ween you off Vicodin over an extended period of time. Then go a couple of weeks drug (vicodin)free. If you feel you still crave the drug after a couple of weeks you need to get proffesional help. Just remember the doctor who got you into this situation by over proscribing your medication may be the last one to recommend proffesional help so you may need to get this on your own. I hope this helps you out. BUT REMEMBER THIS YOU ARE THE ONLY WHO CAN STOP AND YOU HAVE TO MAKE THE CHOICE YOURSELF.THE FIRST THREE DAYS ARE PURE HELL THEN THINGS SLOWLY GET BACK TO NORMAL.

[diana]

Lana, there is good information on this forum if look on down around Oct/Nov.  Look for Hydrocodone -- it is Vicodin.  My husband also got hooked after an accident.  When he ran out, he resorted to heroin.  He hadn't done that in over 20 years.  Hydrocodone woke the monkey up!  He quit everything cold turkey Jan. 1.  I've never seen anyone so sick.  His stomach still hurts today.  Please find a physician who will help and understand addiction.  Will pray for you tonight.

[phil]

After reading several of the responses by the doctors it is obvious they know very little about how potent and distructive this DRUG is.  My wife and my mother-in-law are both addicted to vicodin.  They have been for several years.  It has only cost my wife four jobs, she has been in three car accidents (all her fault) and she is constantly depressed and miserable.  We have two kids in elementary school and I know they are being affected by this.

This drug is worse than heroin because it is legal.  All anyone has to do is go to a doctor and tell them they have a headache and they ask for vicodin and no problem, here is your prescription.  I know this for a fact from all the times I have driven her around to the different doctors as well as from all the bills we receive.  We have been in Hawaii, Northern California, Southern California. In every case she has been able to get vicodin.

Why hasn't the FDA done something.  This problem is widespread and getting bigger.  There are plenty of pain medications out there that don't have the same addictive properties that vicodin has.

As far as I'm concerned doctors are not concerned.  The prescribing of this medication means easy money for doctors. Otherwise, it wouldn't still be available.

I mean, why risk going to jail for buying heroin off the street when you can easily go to the doctor and have him hand it to you. It's just not called heroin, it's called vicodin.

I am going to check to see if the FDA has a web site that you can e-mail to.  Also e-mail your congressman and anyone else to let them know that this drug should be made ILLEGAL.

[Mike]

Legal? Morphine is "legal" than too. I don't see your reasoning on this. I have had my ups and downs with this drug. It is a forbidden fruit that once tasted...Anyway, the "other" pain meds you may be referring to - drugs like Ultram - that doctors freely prescribe because it does work and doesn't carry the stigma of Vicodin, are just as addicting. The truth of the matter is - there is a need for Vicodin. People use it for pain. Some responsibly, others not. Some doctors, as in my case, kept me on too long. I didn't even begin to feel any euphoria from the drug until the 3rd or 4th month I was on it. Short term is the key here. I'm sorry to hear that your wife has a problem with this drug. Do NOT help her obtain it though...I have been to different doctors - sometimes in hopes of procuring the drug. If I had been to the doctors you wife has I may have a worse problem, but I haven't found it so easy to get. Sure, there's croakers everywhere who'll prescribe to those who don't need it. But it is wrong and unjust to deprive those who get relief from this drug and use it responsibly. Just because someone uses them to get high doesn't mean that the person with a fractured leg should be forced to only have Advil. We all make our own choices whether it's legal or not.

[Kimberly]

I agree, it is wrong to depribe others of the pain killing effects of Vicodin.  I am an addict, I took vicodin for quite some time for Kidney stones, nothing else would have cured the pain.  Now I am addicted for the euphoria and the physical dependency I have.  I agree, it is not easy to get vicodin, I continually had to return for tests and prove my need about once every month.  Still I became addicted, not my doctors fault, sort of my fault, once I felt how good it was, I took it as directed on the bottle 2 every 4 hrs. (whether I was in pain or not).  Then it got out of hand.  To the tune of 15-20 pills a day (depending on what stregnth I was given) Now I suffer everyday, I haven't taken pills for about 10 days.  I want to.  But I can't.
Kim

[matt]

i'm sorry phil
but you should never argue from the particular to the universal.

there are many people who do nedd pain medication
to control legitimate pain.

there will always be people who are prone to abuse certain things.
that fact should not serve as a reason to deny it to those that do need it, and do not abuse it...

i'm sorry you have been subject to the pain of addiction, and i hope you family copes well, and begins a successful recovery. however, the drug war is already out of hand. the last thing people with chronic pain need, is another means of relief banned.


regards,
matt

[Fred]

I was prescribed vicodin for cluster headaches.  I am now addicted to them.  I have to take them before I get out of bed so I feel good otherwise I feel sick... I cannot go to a rehab place.  I have to do this on my own.  I've kicked cigarettes by myself and crack cocaine on my own.  I have to do this by myself. Is there any literature, anything that can help me ?????

[Mich]

get yourself into a treatment facility quickly they work stay is atleast 3 weeks, if you live in ct. beach hill hospital is great, i know i also was addicted to vicoden, go there

[Michelle]

lana, does your doctor still give you these, vicoden is the worst narc you can take, how many do you take? get into an inpatient treatment facililty they will help with the withdrawels by use of medication in connecticut beach hill hospital is great good luck email if you have any other guetions docket3@aolcom

[lori]

I was in an accident in 9-96 and have had cronic pain ever since.
I to am addictied to Vicoden Es. I went to rehab for two weeks last year to get through the withdrawls. But because of the pain I started again. It is out of control now. I am up to 15 a day. I just cant seem to stop. I will lose my husband if he ever knew I was taking it again. If any one has suggestions on how to get through these withdrawls please let me know.

[craig/[e-mail]]

I have taken vicodin only on the weekend evenings for pain/pleasure. I now think I am addicted. I have sweats all day long every day and feel overall sick. Not any GI problems, just loss of appetite and sweats. Sometimes nausea. Do you think this is Vicodin withdrawl and if so I am stopping starting now but hopefully will this go away?  What are the long term effects of what I have done to myself from being addicted like this?

[teri to craig]

That is definately one of the withdrawl symptoms.  You might want to think about talking to your doctor.  There are some medicines that can help with the withdrawls.  Also work on tapering the medication. God bless.

[kelly]

Dear Lana,
you need to go to a bood store or library and get the book,
"CLEAR MIND, CLEAR BODY" right away. Drugs can stay stored in the bodies fat cells for years and this book explains this in detail and tells you the CORRECT program to do. I have myself done this program in approx. 2 weeks or so and my body feels 'CLEAN AND FREE OF ANY DRUGS" AND I HAVE NO CRAVINGS OR DESIRES FOR ANY DRUGS AND NO WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS. good luck

[Scott]

I was taking hydrocodone (Vicodin) for over 3 years and have been off of them for about 3 months and are still experiencing post acute withdraw symtoms (itching, sweating and shortness of breath and random irritations all over my body). I've spoken to just about everyone on the subject including the manufacturers and no one seems to have any answers. ANYONE READING THIS WHO IS TAKING THESE MEDS FOR NO GOOD REASON SHOULD STOP IMMEDIATELY OR YOU'LL BE PAYING FOR IT FOM MONTHS. I no longer have cravings for the drugs because of what they have done to me and just want these symtoms to stop!!
I'll be running out to get that book immediately. Please advise if any off advise comes to mind.

Thanks

[bob spencer md.]

keep on taking it, an addiction is harder to kick than to just stop using.

[david]

lana, i can not tell you how smart your are to realize this early on that you have a serious problem that there is plenty of help for! to be quite frank your doctor is a fool. in fact many doctors today still do not understand addiction. hence prescribing these narcotic pain killers ie. vicodin ect...
although doubtfully intentional these prescriptions are helping people like you and i and many others get terribly addicted to drugs.
there is help trust me. i have been through this. i was hoplessly addicted to vicodin for over two years, following a very general type of surgery. when i realized that i could not do without, i to panicked! i would do absolutely anything to get those damned pills. i became a slave. lets gets some help for you earlier rather than later! now please realize that i to tried to stop on my own, and experienced the same type of hell you did. the withdrawls are not fun, but hardly life threatening.
trying to stop on your own, all by yourself is hard and highly
undesireable. i thought i could do it, thinking i was the strongest most self-willed person alive. but that trait was not enough, and soon after my own attempt, fell back into the addiction deeper and deeper. i eventually decided to get trained help. help from people who know and understand addiction. i went to a nice center where i was put in detox. i was given the proper medication that spared me 95% of the uncomfortable side-effects. you don't need a large sum of money to do this, if you have insurance, that can help. in any case what's most important is your health. call some rehab centers in your area and do some basic research. depending on the advise of some informed proffesionals, you will be guided in the right direction.
its o.k to be scared, i was scared to death, but since have emerged a healthier drug free person. that seems to be your goal.
be patient with yourself, but please get some help. please write me if you have any more questions.
begin taking care,
david

[david]

lana, i can not tell you how smart your are to realize this early on that you have a serious problem that there is plenty of help for! to be quite frank your doctor is a fool. in fact many doctors today still do not understand addiction. hence prescribing these narcotic pain killers ie. vicodin ect...
although doubtfully intentional these prescriptions are helping people like you and i and many others get terribly addicted to drugs.
there is help trust me. i have been through this. i was hoplessly addicted to vicodin for over two years, following a very general type of surgery. when i realized that i could not do without, i to panicked! i would do absolutely anything to get those damned pills. i became a slave. lets gets some help for you earlier rather than later! now please realize that i to tried to stop on my own, and experienced the same type of hell you did. the withdrawls are not fun, but hardly life threatening.
trying to stop on your own, all by yourself is hard and highly
undesireable. i thought i could do it, thinking i was the strongest most self-willed person alive. but that trait was not enough, and soon after my own attempt, fell back into the addiction deeper and deeper. i eventually decided to get trained help. help from people who know and understand addiction. i went to a nice center where i was put in detox. i was given the proper medication that spared me 95% of the uncomfortable side-effects. you don't need a large sum of money to do this, if you have insurance, that can help. in any case what's most important is your health. call some rehab centers in your area and do some basic research. depending on the advise of some informed proffesionals, you will be guided in the right direction.
its o.k to be scared, i was scared to death, but since have emerged a healthier drug free person. that seems to be your goal.
be patient with yourself, but please get some help. please write me if you have any more questions.
begin taking care,
david

[david]

bob, i feel sorry for you. weakness has you by the balls

[Brighty]

I am not surprised your doctor would have this attitude. There is a group known as 'involuntary addicts'... they were prescribed and found themselves in your predicament. Their stories and the hell they went through was very revealing. It was started by a man in sweden addicted to benzodiazepines. I saw the web site once but am sorry to tell you I did not bookmark it. But a search on Benzodiazepines may turn it up for you, which was how I came across it. Best wishes.

[Brighty]

Now that I think of it I read somewhere that there were plans to start a national database program where a doctor or pharmacist could check to see if a patient had other prescriptions for addictive meds out all over the place. It would be assistive in preventing the abuses we are reading about here. I think it entailed the use of the patients social security number as the ID.. that any drug of addictive nature would have to be registered when dispensed to that number. Thus if someone has an opiate or benzo addiction it would show up in the data base that he/she have numerous prescriptions for these meds, the dates and locations and doctor names and also the reason for the script. This would alert the medical provider that they should consider what the real problem the patient has is. Has anyone heard of this ??? Sounds helpful if it can be implemented.

[Lara]

I have been taking hydrocodone for approx. one year I am quite determined to quit on my own I am down to a pill 10mg a day. Any other suggestions on how to quit and what to expect.

[Neena]

all of our stories are the same..back pain, car accidents, etc...my story is no different.  taking the vicoden es off and on for various reasons.  i really had no withdrawals at first.  now i only 5 left and i am afraid.  i want to stop.  when i come to the end of my supply i say...this is it.  then i get a hold of some more of those damned pills.  i have been diagnosed with endometriosis, pelvic adhesions and one of my disks is screwed up.  but i know that i am not in enough pain to be taking these things.  my ob/gyn will not give pain pills and the guy who xrayed my back did not give vicoden.  just vioxx for osteoarthritis.  i did not ask him for the vicoden, though perhaps he would have prescribed...maybe i am in for a long haul of real and imaginary pain..HELP how will i know when it is real pain or not?  can anyone give me some help...i have only 5 pills left.......

[Rob]

Vicodin addiction is a *****! I have been addicted for about 18 months, and all these postings I read hit home for me. Today is my first day of BIG time tapering, However I and you do not need big brother watching us, never has and never will work.
For the most part, we got our selves into this mess,(no one shoved these pills down our mouths), We CAN get our selves out of it.Not going to be easy, but 'we will survive'. (Jerry Garcia)
Pray for us all...............

[Lynn]

I FELL AND BROKE MY TAILBONE AND INJURED MY BACK ITS BEEN 4 MONTHS AND NOW I AM ADDICTED TO VICODIN I ABUSE THE AMOUNT I TAKE AND THEN GET MORE FROM FRIENDS TILL MY NEXT SCRIPT. I AM GOING TO GET OFF OF THIS NOW IT HAS TAKEN OVER MY LIFE I CANT TELL ANYONE IN MY FAMILY SO I AM TURNING TO ALL OF YOU PLEASE PLEASE HELP ME LET ME KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT AS FAR AS WITHDRAWL,HOW BAD IS IT,HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE AND IS THIER ANYTHING I CAN DO OR TAKE TO MAKE IT EASIER ,WHAT ARE THE WITHDRAWL EFFECTS SOME ONE OUT THIER HELP ME PLEASE PLEASE  OR EMAIL ME AT STRES2KILL  I PRAY FOR YOUR HELP

[Lynn]

I FELL AND BROKE MY TAILBONE AND INJURED MY BACK ITS BEEN 4 MONTHS AND NOW I AM ADDICTED TO VICODIN I ABUSE THE AMOUNT I TAKE AND THEN GET MORE FROM FRIENDS TILL MY NEXT SCRIPT. I AM GOING TO GET OFF OF THIS NOW IT HAS TAKEN OVER MY LIFE I CANT TELL ANYONE IN MY FAMILY SO I AM TURNING TO ALL OF YOU PLEASE PLEASE HELP ME LET ME KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT AS FAR AS WITHDRAWL,HOW BAD IS IT,HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE AND IS THIER ANYTHING I CAN DO OR TAKE TO MAKE IT EASIER ,WHAT ARE THE WITHDRAWL EFFECTS SOME ONE OUT THIER HELP ME PLEASE PLEASE  OR EMAIL ME AT STRES2KILL  I PRAY FOR YOUR HELP

[brian]

As to what to expect, it depends on how much you have been taking.  You should not stop cold turkey, because you will feel like you are in a living hell.  However, you can taper yourself down, if you have enough pills and the willpower to stick to the tapering schedule.  First, figure out how much you take per day.  Say it is 10 pills (2.5 every six hours).  Taper by about 10% per day, and your body will not go into severe withdrawal.  After the taper you may have a few days of minor discomfort which you can live with.  If possible, get some Clonidine to aid you with the end of the taper.

If you can't deal with the taper, find an addiction medicine doc in your area, or call a hospital and try to find a detox doc.  They can either privately or through a program (outpatient usually) use certain medications to detox you.  DO NOT use a program or doc that only uses Clonidine unless you taper (otherwise you will go through hell).  I have found the best is a buprenorphine substitution then taper.  They give you buprenorphine right before you would start withdrawal, then they gradually taper the bup.  This is the most humane detox ever.  GOOD LUCK AND HANG IN THERE!!  YOU CAN DO IT!!

[Lana's Mom( I think)]

I think you are my kid. I looked on this site for help today because I want to talk to you tonight when I see you. To my suprise I saw the name Lana. Not a common one. But the details of your pain and causes are very accurate (except for the surgery). But then again you live a very private life. If you are my Lana, Please let your dad and I help you. Your sisters and brother are so concerned about you too. No matter what...We will love and help you. Trust that!
If you are not our Lana, Then keep up your fight to get help and be well. Love, Mom

[jacob]

I take an average of 15-20 Lorcet 10mg per day.  It is running my life and I want to taper off.  I have to get off of these!  Will Valium help with the withdrawals as I taper off these pills?

[Brian to Jacob]

Hey, I've been in the EXACT same spot (20-25 Lorcet 10mg a day).  You CAN taper, and yes valium is helpful, especially toward the end of the taper when you go into some minor withdrawal.  Also, see if you can get some clonidine.  It is a blood pressure med that is also used to help with withdrawal.  It really helps with the sweating, chills, and restlessness toward the end of the taper.  Good luck!

[VIC]

I also have a love for this drug. It does not rule my life. I had shoulder surgery about a year ago and had quite a supply. I don't have the resources to obtain the stuff now but would take it I could get it. I'm subject to random drug screens from my employer and this how I got my high without the dangers of testing positive for other things e.g. weed,coke,etc.

[kris]

Hi all I am NOT NEARLY the only one. I am addicted to Vicodin.  I hate them but I love them and I take about 6 maybe a day. I ran out today its Thursday .I have 2 percocets and thats it. I am so afraid.  I am not able to get more till Monday my refill that is. I have to work both Sat. and Sunday and I don't know how I will be able to function I have to wait tables! I am not proud of this and no one knows ..after all why would you tell people? Accept now I can be free to say it . I WANT  to stop. I want to wean.But I am screwed. I have none for 3 more days ! We are all is this same boat huh? This boat is sinking.

[Brian to Kris]

Hi.  No you certainly aren't alone, we've all been there and some are there right now.  Remember, where you are now is NOT where you have to be in the future.  Now is the time to seek help.  Find an addiction doc or a treatment center.  They will help with the withdrawal.  DON'T refill the meds on Monday or you will be going through this again!  I know, been there done that.  I know it is hard but better to go through this only this time.  Take care and keep posting.

[comment for LANA]

lana, i hope that was your mom that posted here.  you'd be a very lucky lady to have such a loving family.  please keep us posted on your story and good luck to you and your family
erin :)

[tc]

I just quit taking Vicodin HP you know the 10/500 ones and i was hard, I have quit 3 or 4 times at least. Today is my first day that I am not in pain or having any withdrawl symptoms, I feel pretty good and I did it cold turkey. I was up to 10/15 a day. So best of luck to all of you, GOD BLESS

[shelby74]

This post is completely out of line.  I have reported it to medhelp.

[hillary5]

can you believe this sh*t?  you're right shelby, it is COMPLETELY out of line. Columbia!  Grow up!!!  ;-p

[FLaddict]

They are gone girls.. just got home and I took care of it.. sorry it took so long.

[hillary5]

yeah!!!! some people have no clue!  have a good one~

[4boys1girl]

i am 33 about to be 34 in a few short days and my story starts different than most or im the only one willing to admitt it i started taking vicodin for the hi no pain. in fact wife turned me on to it i always thought pill poppers were desperate people seeking a desprate high. until i tried it for the high. its now going on 4 years of abuse i take about 300+ pills a month very easy for me to get from doctors off line and people who sell ive spent thousands of dollars on being scared of the with draws. its causing problems with wife even thow she is pregnant and still takes 1-2 a day half at a time she got pregnant at the peak of her addiction. ive been to a counselor to get help but was told id have to wait atleast a month before anything is available. so i still take and abuse not because i want to get high anymore but because im scared od the wd's and i feel normal. today is day 2 with nothing to take im going through the wd's even as i type i hurt all over im extreemly tired exhausted cant sleep at night sweats stomache cramps diorea shall i go on i need to stop i want the life back i had before i said sure ill try one 4 years ago. but i support 6 people 4 boys 1 girl on the way myself wife and father in law i cant afford to take off work to go through what my body needs to do to get off i dont know what to expect how long it will last my wife is not supportive puts me down makes me feel like a piece of s@%t because i have no energy to do nothing im very irritable so argueing isnt hard forme to do either so here i am some one who said this would never happen to me got lost down a very dark road ran out of gas and no one around to help its even harder when everyone depends on you and you failed them all. i want to stop could get some if i wanted but dont just want to be me before i said sure ill try one. but when i also get very depressed that will come next i think its part of getting no sleep on top of being very exhausted all day and hurting. i never hurt before i took vicodin now i do all over which at times makes taking them justifiable any way enough rambling hope some one can help got no one here who will just push to keep taking them later

[FAITHFUL74]

you should go back to the main forum and post a new question... this is like 8 years old!