Vicodin addiction

[catlover8]

I have been taking hydrocodone 10/500 about 6-7 sometimes more a day. The last coupld of weeks, I would have about 3-4 a day. I did not feel high, but I also did not feel sick. I then went to 1 and 1/2 for two days to taper and now is day #2 with 0. I have had to work through the whole ordeal this past week. I do not have a choice. I can leave at 3 today and 1 tomorrow then I am done for the summer. My question is, if 3 a day made me comfortable, how long should I expect to feel this bad? I feel flu like and so tired, but my life cannto stop. The depression is coming on. I have to clean my house and go to work. Is it possible to get through this while carrying on with normal life? Was I doing so much that it will take forever to get over? Could this possible be over with soon? I am taking vitamins, potassium, B6, and vitamin C.

[sundaemundy]

I know how you feel..the deppression will last a while..but will get better with time...This is my 3rd week into my own detox..I had no other pills but tylenol to help..and it does..I sometimes feel like I dont want to take on the day w/o the pills cause they made me feel energetic and the things I did not want to do like going to wrk, washing dishes and even going for walks I loved to do while I was high..and when I ran out, all the things I never liked doing I really hate doing now..but I find as each day goes by I feel so much better and while never accomplishing any thing in my life I feel as if I can take on the world because I am overcomeing my horrible addiction...so when you are so down and so deppresed think that you are going to overcome this and you will be a better person by doing this.....If you ever need to talk write me I am on-line daily....good luck sweetie..

[trying23]

A related discussion, Will I ever feel normal? was started.

[cornczech]

I "overcame" my Vicodin addiction on my own. It helped, however, that after so many years of abusing it (5 years), I suddenly would get violently ill when I took ANY narcotic, (imagine how it is when you have major surgery...thank jebus for anti-emetics!)....I think it can be done alone, though....I hear the same about alcohol...only 9% make it...but I see both sides...recovering.....recovered......(and a lot of the who cares in between)

good luck!

[J T Junig, MD PhD]

For the record, talk about 'overcoming one's addiction' is not consistent with any  description of addiction that you will find in medical texts, scientific studies, step programs, or maintenance programs.   The pattern almost always consists of a pattern of use, sobriety, relapse, with each relapse tending to become more impulsive.  That was certainly the case with me;  I stayed clean for 7 years by being very active in recovery, but the relapse that occurred, just as I was thinking how great I was doing, took everything from me at the time.  In AA or NA, sobriety is found through recognizing one's powerlessness over the substance, and talk of 'overcoming addiction' is recognized as a bad sign.

I don't wish bad things on anyone, but I want to make it clear that the people who stay clean from opiates, even with intensive treatment, are in the small minority.  If you find yourself clean in a few years, more power to you.  But if you find yourself frustrated by relapse-- which in late stage addiction tends to occur not during the withdrawal, but when the person feels great, at about the 6-month mark--  don't get down on yourself.  Instead, realize that you are just like everyone else... and get help.  

[dmoo6705]

All I can tell you is be strong I went through it also I was taking 20 1000s a day for a little over 3 years and I got clean in about 2 weeks so just hang in there things will be better. I felt like **** for most of the time but is can be done

[joey12k]

I too thought about tampering off, but I am afraid that is just an excuse to keep going as I am on day 4 and I don't have a problem with the physical part.  I don't like it but I can handle it.  Its the depression that I am having a huge problem with.  If this is what my life is going to be like, then I would rather take a couple pills a day and feel happy.  I know this is the wrong outlook but honestly I am so sad.  I need to know how long the depression part will last.  I am so isolated right now as I have no desire to be social without the comfort of those pills.  I took 7 to 8 vics a day for about two years.

[sundaemundy]

I know exactly how you feel...I just over came a addiction myself...I was taking 5-6 hydrocodone 7.5 a day for 3 years and have been clean for 3 weeks this has been the hardest 3 weeks of my life but i did it and you can too...your withdrawl symtoms should only last 2 weeks and then after that your bowels will regulate the chills will end but your want for the pill will end with time. my energy has slowly but surely returned and so will yours...hang in there and just remember other people way worse off then us have done it so can we.....ROCK ON!!!!! and good luck!!!