Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Vicodin and Low RBC Count
by bunkywoo, May 16, 2009 06:04PM
Posted this on the Sub Abuse forum but was hoping someone on this board may have any experience/ideas with this:
I have been taking 1-1/2 - 2 Vicodin for about 5 years now (10/625 & never exceeded 1500 mg of acetaminophen a day). First 2 years it was maybe 3 times a week, but probably last 3 years it's been practically every day. I take them because I have irritable bowel syndrome, allergies, sinuses and get this feeling (I think from the allergies and IBS) of just "ick" - can't describe it any other way. I take the vicodin around 6pm every night to get rid of that icky feeling and it levels me out. I am an ex-addict from 15 years ago (heroin/methadone detox) who treated for Hep C 7 years ago and have tested undetectable every year since. Labs have always been OK as far as liver numbers go. Just had blood work done for unrelated issue and red blood cell count came back low (3.74 - 4 was the low end of the range) and the MCV was high (meaning enlarged red blood cells) and platelets are low 120 (low end of range is 150). Haven't told my doc about the vicodin. All the info I've searched does not mention that vicodin or the acetaminophen will be responsible for this; however, certain drugs can do this. My labs going back to 2005 were OK - 2007 numbers were a little worse than the recent one. So wondering if anyone has had any experience with something like this. If they were causing some type of liver problem resulting in low RBC, platelets, etc. wouldn't the liver test numbers be off as well?
I know I need to get off of these especially with my history, but my addict-logic is that since I don't take an extreme amount and they make me feel better and I am careful in my dosage I don't think there is a big problem. I know people suffering from a variety of problems take Vicodin daily as prescribed by their doc, so I guess I just assume it is ok for me too since they alleviate my gastro/allergy problems. I don't think the numbers being low in themselves are dangerous but I would like to know what's causing it. Doc alluded to something may be "brewing", but again I did not inform her of my usage (embarrassment).
Thanks for any and all answers.
LS
I have been taking 1-1/2 - 2 Vicodin for about 5 years now (10/625 & never exceeded 1500 mg of acetaminophen a day). First 2 years it was maybe 3 times a week, but probably last 3 years it's been practically every day. I take them because I have irritable bowel syndrome, allergies, sinuses and get this feeling (I think from the allergies and IBS) of just "ick" - can't describe it any other way. I take the vicodin around 6pm every night to get rid of that icky feeling and it levels me out. I am an ex-addict from 15 years ago (heroin/methadone detox) who treated for Hep C 7 years ago and have tested undetectable every year since. Labs have always been OK as far as liver numbers go. Just had blood work done for unrelated issue and red blood cell count came back low (3.74 - 4 was the low end of the range) and the MCV was high (meaning enlarged red blood cells) and platelets are low 120 (low end of range is 150). Haven't told my doc about the vicodin. All the info I've searched does not mention that vicodin or the acetaminophen will be responsible for this; however, certain drugs can do this. My labs going back to 2005 were OK - 2007 numbers were a little worse than the recent one. So wondering if anyone has had any experience with something like this. If they were causing some type of liver problem resulting in low RBC, platelets, etc. wouldn't the liver test numbers be off as well?
I know I need to get off of these especially with my history, but my addict-logic is that since I don't take an extreme amount and they make me feel better and I am careful in my dosage I don't think there is a big problem. I know people suffering from a variety of problems take Vicodin daily as prescribed by their doc, so I guess I just assume it is ok for me too since they alleviate my gastro/allergy problems. I don't think the numbers being low in themselves are dangerous but I would like to know what's causing it. Doc alluded to something may be "brewing", but again I did not inform her of my usage (embarrassment).
Thanks for any and all answers.
LS
Post Comment
Related Communities
Recent Videos
Related Expert Forums
Recent Activity
Most Popular Trackers
RSS
Expert Activity
Community Members
Popular Groups
