Am I addicted

[Billmartin16]

I have been taking vicodin es for over three years. I had back surgery about 8 years ago, and then was rear ended about 5 years ago, which aggravated my back. I have to admit, the vicodin does help. I have pain everyday, but its probably no worse than people who done anything more than ibuprofen. I take three a day, and only as prescribed, 6-8 hours apart. I watch the clock, relieved when I know its been enough time for the next one. My doctor gives me a three month prescription, and I see him every three months just for a check up. I'm 49. When I see my doctor, he automatically gives me another prescription. I dont know the vicodin is effecting my moods or sex life, or is it that I'm just in denial? I dont want to get into my sex life, but I dont seem to care if I do or dont,  and I dont know it its the vicodin or not. My wife doesn't know I take them as much as I do. To be honest, I think she be surprised if I told her I took them once a week, let alone 3 times a day. I am afraid if I tell her that I take them as much as I do, she may not understand. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Also, I dont know if I'm doing any damage to my body. My doctor told me that vicodin is good because it doesn't effect the body, such as the liver and heart. I asked him about a chiropractor  once. He told me that its easier just to take vicodin for the pain then to pay a chiropractor once a week. Maybe my doctor is an enabler?

[donewitis]

I too never went beyond sript...for four years..oxycodone. I just decided to see what my pain levels really are. I decided to taper off 45mg. 15mg 3 x's a day. I tapered off in a week...and did not have severe physical s/x..for me it was more mental..anxiety..depression. That too passed. After I had tapered down to zero...I admitted here on MH that I had a bunch left over. Well..I heard what was being said. .which was to "get rid of them ASAP..you will pop a pill". I took the advice and looking back..there is no doubt in my mind that  with my back/hip pain..anxiety and depression..I definitely would have done so. Today w/ ibuprophen and OTC ice/heat creams..heating pad, it's doable. What I wanted was to get away from this Dr..any dr for that matter.. i wanted to find me..find the joy of life...this jaded, blah person was not me...slowly but surely I'm returning. I hope you will have a smooth not too difficult transition. Congrats on the non smoking! I dont know what type of sleeping pill you have but if you take for a short time it would be ok. Ambien is addictive..so beware,
May this be the first day of the rest of your life.
ps. See Thomas's Recipe/Ammino Acid protocol (Health Pages) lower right hand side of this page. Stay hydrated..water/gatorade. Possibly ask Dr, for clonodine for Blood Pressure. get immodium it helps with numerous symptoms.

[Billmartin16]

I've gone 24 hours without a vicodin. Thats the longest I've gone without one for almost 3 1/2 years. I decided to try cold turkey. I went cold turkey with cigarettes just about 2 years ago, and I was fine. But, when I did that I had the vicodin to help me through it. All day all I've thought about was the vicodin. I still have about 75 pills, but I dont want to get rid of them. I really dont know why, since I dont plan on taking them. I thinks its because I feel its like looking the monster in the face and saying, "I'm gonna beat you". I'm not sure how I'm supposed to feel. I've never experienced withdrawal. I have sleeping pills, that I got from my doctor because I have trouble staying. asleep. Is it bad to take them while trying to quit vicodin? I'm really glad I found this group. I think this is going to play a huge part in helping me quit!

[DizzyL1234]

That sounds like a great start! I will warn you...the hardest part is the very last pill you take. I will tell you what I did...maybe it will help. I had 10 pills left when I tapered. I would take a half in the morning and half in the evening for about 3 days. Then what I did was I would take a quarter (half the half) a couple times a day. By the time I had one small sliver left I really didn't need/want it. Here's the warning...I did that the FIRST time I tried to quit. This time I did it cold turkey. I swear I felt like I wanted to die! My body hurt in every single spot. I couldn't sleep or eat anything. It was awful. I relapsed when I tapered...cold turkey I didn't. However....I didn't have health insurance when I quit cold turkey so I couldn't see my dr. If you can't do it on your own go see your dr. Even though everyone around you thinks he's a quack...give it a try. Admitting the problem is a start. Feel free to email me if you need anything. I'm not an expert I'm just a person who knows what it's like to go through this stuff. Do you have any support groups in your area? That may be an option also. Good Luck!! :)

[Billmartin16]

Ok, so today decided to stop the vicodin. I usually take 3 a day, as prescribed. I take the frst one around 7 am, then watch the clock so I can take the next around 1 or 2. I take the third around 8 pm. I didnt take ont this morning, and I didnt bring any with me. I'm thinking if I wean myself to just one per day for a little while, it will be easier to go from 1 to none in about a week. I've been taking 3-4 a day for 3 and a half years. I took two ibuprofen this morning. Is wening to one a day for a little while a good idea?  I figure if i can go all day, if I need one by 7 pm or so that wouldnt be too bad. Or am I just trying to jusitify?

[DizzyL1234]

You're more than welcome. I will say one thing...as a woman...I would want to know what was going on with my husband. If he "lost interest" I would assume it's me. That's how women work. We always wonder what we did or said. I told my husband about most of it. He doesn't know the frequency but knows I used pills...a lot. I too work in an office and know the strain of sitting hour after hour. Sometimes my back hurts so bad! I've been taking a combo of ibprof/tylenol. It seems to do the trick. No where near as well as narcotics but does ease the pain. Try talking to your wife. She may understand more than you think. :) I also would change doctors. I didn't have help getting off the pills, but I hear doctors are your best friend for that. Also, do not quit until YOU want to. If you quit for someone else...you will regret it. When you're ready to quit...this place is like heaven. Trust me. Just reading what people went through is enough for me. Take care and good luck!! :)

[Billmartin16]

All I can say right now is, Wow!. I wasn't expecting responses this quick. I feel better just knowing there are people out there just like me. I've been asking myself for a while now if I though I was addicted. I maybe dependent is more like it. I never worry about running out, since my doctor always give me a refill. The thing is, my wife and a few friends know my doctor is a quack, and have told me to switch, for various reasons. My wife know he'll give me vicodin when I want it, but she doesn't know I get them as often as I do.  Amazingly, I quit smoking 21 months ago, cold turkey! It was easy and I dont miss it. the problem with the vicodin is, I work in an office and my back gets stiff very easily and I know once I take one I'll feel a little better. I dont even try anything else, such as aspirin or ibuprofen. My wife and I quit smoking at the same time, and she was worse then me. I am very proud of her. Of course, she gained wait, but it honestly doesn't bother me. However, I think she believes I've lost interest in her because of her weight, when I thinks its because of the vicodin, which she doesn't know about, I want to tell her so she'll know its not her, but I'm afraid to. I'll be coming on here alot now, and look forward to reading more advice. Thank you all, especially Dizzy! :)

[littlebit667]

I would try another doctor myself.  Alternative supports for your back pain is always an option.  

[Kendraerika]

Your dr sounds like a quack. A good dr would try anything b4 meds, especially addictive ones. The question is, can you stop taking them? If not you are at least dependant, if not addicted. I would see a different dr, wean off, and see the chiro. It can only get worse. Keep posting, and there is many here ti help. Good luck and God bless.