how much is an addiction

[hypnotoad85]

this is my first time posting but i have read some of the posts going back to 2002. my question is how much hydrocodone is too much? ive been taking it for about 4 months but never more than 2-3 10mg 325s a day. currently only 1 an 1/2 5.5 500s a day. but for some reason even now i seem to get many of the withdrawl symptoms if i go one day without at least 1 5.5.i really do need something for the pain but i dont want to it to become another story that ends in 10-15 10mg 325s a day. what should i do?

[hobbity]

I took my meds to help with nerve pain and after a period of time they failed to help any pain so I upped the dose.  I was dependent but nevertheless became addicted.  Once you are dependent you wind up just as addicted as someone that takes for the pleasure.  What I mean is the results are the same.

I am now on day 4 of being clean from 10 of the 7.5's lortab.  I went cold on them and had 2 days of physical nasty.  The  third night I was able to sleep without the RSL.  It's  probably for you only a day of feeling bad and a few days of just general weakness.

I am in the feeling weak physically but the cravings are bad now I suspect it's gonna be all mental from here on out.

If you are on such a low dose now I think you can come off and get on something else at least till your body gets used to being off and you can handle going back on the lowest dose so that it helps your pain.  Otherwise the  7.5 daily you are taking now will eventually not do any good for pain as you will be used to it.  I am finding that the drug I considered to be water ibuprofen is actually doing me much good now for pain.

We all wind up addicted coming at addiction from different routes.  

[hypnotoad85]

I dont know if you remember me i havent posted for awhile. i totally quit the norcos for a month and i felt good about it but the pain was bad so i started taking them agian now if you remember or look at my posts the first one was a question of how much is an addiction now i know im now up to 5-6 norcos a day instead of 1-1 1/2  5.5 a day i would really like to talk to someone about this one on one as i can not find anyone else in my life who understands so if anyone reads this and is interested let me know if not i understand good luck to all

[sparkie825]

Consult your doc and clearly lay out your issues and concerns.  Have your doctor lay out a clear dosing plan.  The more details you can give him, the better he can treat you.  If you want off the opiates completely, he can recommend a specific taper schedule just for you and you alone.  Find out from him what other choices you have to manage your pain.  If you feel you have to stay on the opiates for your condition, then do so.  I will not demonize you. I hope others will not either.  You do, what you need to do to take care of you. You do not have to justify your use to anyone on this board.

[worried878]

check with your doctor...i am not thinking that wd from 15 mg of hydro could cause a heart attack...but tapering 1/2 or even 1/4 pill a day may help...nitro pills or  patches are often used for chest pain? much safe than hydro as it can have negative effects on the heart...are u looking for relief from chest pain?/angina?.

[rue10]

There's a difference between addicted and dependant.  You could be dependant on the drug e.g, your body is used to having it in your system and when you don't you will feel "strange" or experience withdrawal symptoms.

An addict is as above where you take it to get the "high feeling" , take it if the pain is not severe, take more than prescribed.  If you do not do this then your are probably not addicted.  BUT....It is addictive and you should watch youself for the signs above.

Some may disagree with me, but there are some people who need to take this medicine and if they take it long enough will become physically dependant.  That does not necessarily make them an addict.

[Jimmy1975]

Try tapering down . Maybe cutting your dose in half the first week or few days then cut that . I did that and it seemed to work well and I was taking just a little more then you ..take care Jim

[hypnotoad85]

I think you may have gotten the wrong impression from my first post, i am not taking the hydros to get a high i have an incurable heart condition which causes chronic chest pains daily. i was more wondering if anyone knew a way to avoid the withdrawl symptoms for the few days i dont have pain. i am 22 and have already had 1 heart attack due to this condition. i am just tired of having to take at least one pill on the days i dont have pain just to keep the withdrawls away. i am also tired of feeling like every time i see a preview on tv for a new movie i dont know if ill still be here when it comes out. the pills work for the pain but whatever high i might get doesnt help the feeling that i may not meet my unborn child or see my wife turn 24. but if anyone has a reccomendation for a less addictive pain killer or away to temporarly cercumvent the dt's i would love to hear it. thank you for listening

[scaredmom330]

why are you taking it? if you are taking to get high...stop now...worried878 is right...keep strong and keep posting, you will get wonderful information and meet lots of great people here that want to help you



Karen

[worried878]

and are u taking it for pain anymore?  if not..jump off the crud and start over...1.5 pills should not take but just a few days and u will feel better..keep posting

[broknbck]

Try to find out what is causing your pain and fix it? or change the things around you to accomodate it better.
The pain pills are a dead end street. I would get off that street now if i was you. Use the time you are taking the pills to find a better solution and make sure you do not up your dose anymore than you are taking now. If it stops working than just don' t take it for a day or 2 or more. If you start uping it, you are headed for a world of trouble.

It only works for so long and than it will not matter how much you take, you will still have pain and the whole withdrawl to deal with. Any amount you take, if it is every day is too much. you will (and sounds like you already are) get addicted.