vicodin/hydrocodone addiction

[taz]

For the past several months, my mother has been "in recovery" from neck surgery.  The pain medication her doctor prescribed was vicodin & soma.  Since the surgery, her pain has not subsided, despite increased doses of her medication.  Five months afer her surgery, soma was cut out of her medication as she began experiencing nausea and vomiting.  At present, she takes 350 mg of vicodin three to four times per day, yet continues to complain of excruciating pain in her neck, (worse than the initial pain following her surgery).  She is listless, defensive and agitated, but occasionally shows bursts of energy.  I have read articles that say you cannot become addicted to pain medication if you using them for pain, and I have read articles that say otherwise.  Clearly this is a very delicate subject, and the nagging question is how to address the addiction (if there is an addiction) without minimizing the pain (if there is pain which requires medication).

[tom]

taz, 350 mg 3-4 times a day must be wrong. One Vic is 5 mg.

[teri]

I tend to agree that even when used with real pain, you can become chemicaly dependent.  I should know it happend to me.  What is even harder is that when you relize that you are addicted to this medication you become so scared of the withdrawals.  Your mother needs to speak with her doctor about other pain control medication, although the best if the bunch are opiates.  God bless.



Teri

[brian]

First, there is no way she is taking 350mg 3-4 times a day.  That would be approximately 210-280 Vicodin per day.  I dare say she would be dead, if not from the hydrocodone, certainly from liver failure.  Second, almost all people who take painkillers will, over time, become physically tolerant, requiring increasing amounts to have the same effect.  Although studies seem to indicate that addiction is rare when there is true chronic pain, go to www.prescriptionabuse.org and see what many others say.  Finally, if pain is truly severe and chronic, painkillers may be the only option and addiction may be an unhappy but necessary result.  It seems to me however that your mother needs to have the cause of the pain properly addressed.

[Kristen]

I can not get off vicodin and i need to know if my shrink can presribe something to wean me off of them?

[Brian to Kristen]

If by "shrink" you mean psychiatrist, the answer is yes.  Read the postings below which will tell you what meds help.  If your shrink is not well versed in addictions, you may need to find an addiction medicine specialist.

[jennifer]

I am addicted to Vicodin. I ran out two days ago and do not have access to more. I feel like I have the flu. I started taking them last summer off and on. I suffer from anxiety and depression and they made me feel better. Unfortunatly they were my husbands. A couple of months ago he had all 4 wisdom teeth removed and got some more.Then after that he had another tooth pulled and got some more. I took most of all his persriptions. I feel like a basketcase. I'm sitting hrer trying to think of someone who might have some.I've been on paxil for 6 weeks and I hate it. I feel like going back to drinking again. What a dreadful thought that is! I have my first appontment to see a phychiatrist tomarrow but I found out today that the evaluation alone is going to cost me over $200.00 Well I don't have 200.00. So now I'm really upset.I feel hopeless. Like dying. Nothing ever works out for me. Anyway I'll shutup.Knowone really gives a **** anyways. J

[Brian to Jennifer]

Hang in there, it WILL get better.  If you are now on day 3 without the Vicodin, you are going to start feeling much better very soon.  Whatever you do, don't get any more Vicodin (unless you want to go through this all over again in about a week or two).  If the Paxil is causing you bad side effects, there are many other antidepressants that can be tried.  Most side effects should be gone after a week or two of the medication.  If not, it may not be the right med for you.  Some good medications for depression with anxiety are Serzone or Remeron.  Each has very limited side effects (especially Remeron) mostly making you a bit tired (which is why they help the anxiety).  With respect to the cost of the evaluation, see if they will accept a payment plan or a credit card.  Many psychiatrists are willing to work with you to get paid.  Also, do you have insurance that will pay?  Finally, try to stay positive.  Things WILL get better.  Keep posting so we know how you're doing.  Brian

[Sandi To Jennifer]

Jennifer, we are here, and we are listening. I agree with Brian that the Paxil might not be right for you, I have tried everything on the market & can only take zoloft, and that has been causing heart palpitations so I have been hesitant to take it too. Keep your chin up & I wish you the best.

[jacob]

I have been taking Lorcet 10mg for about 2 years now.  Sometimes I take up to 20/day.  I am in a management position in the medical industry and really can't let anyone at my job find out about this problem.  What is your best suggestion for me to get off these pills?  I have thought about consulting an addiction medicine specialist, but don't know how successful that will be.  Any advice?  Should I try tapering off?

Thanks!

[Brian to Jacob]

I was taking as many as 25 Lorcet a day.  Read all the posts on this board, there is info. re tapering, etc.  You should try an addiction doc because it is the easiest and best route to go.  Especially if they use buprenorphine for detox.  Whatever you do, don't do ultra rapid detox.  Tapering is hard but can be done.  I have posted about tapering, etc. so read the posts.

[Trish]

i have a drug test in three days,but i used heroin

two days ago i had a relaps, how long does this drug stay in your system

[Brian to Trish]

Although it varies somewhat by individual, heroin is usually detectable for 1-3 days after last use.

[JAB]

After experiencing back pain for the past few years, I finally found a doctor who would order an M.R.I.  Through the MRI, a degenerating disk was found and also a syrinx.  

My doctor prescribed Soma and Percocet initially, then Vicodin.

I called in a refill for the Vicodin which was prescribed as 1 every six hours as needed--it may have been the 3rd or 4th refill and now the doctor wants me to go to pain management rather than risk Vicodin