Benefits of Getting off of vicodin...

[dawnypants]

I have been taking 1 vicodin a day for at least 3 years straight. I took it to help with depression, and I feel I am more out- going when I take them.  I do need to take a nap everyday though, for it makes me tired in the middle of the day   I know I am dependent on it, but somtimes I wonder, what is the benefit from quiting?  Am I going to have more energy?  Has anyone quit? can they tell me how better or worse they feel?

[vicki595]

Frankie-  Yes,I agree. An excuse isn't needed or any excuse is a good one! Also,I'm aware of the folks who have self medicated  for other reasons like a mental disorder,GAD,
chronic,depilitating depression,etc... of course!

I'm glad you explained your meaning...and,yes,I was being sarcastic earlier. I just like things to be clear,that's just me.     It's good to point out that there's self medicating for any and all reasons and THEN there are defined chemical imbalances (low endorphins,dopamine etc...) that opiates miraculously treat!  That's an entire sub group of addicts/addiction. Fortunately,there are other meds beside opiates than can treat these
problems. Most med professionals I'm aware of would treat with "light dose opiates" as a last resort.

[BrotherFrankie]

some "addicts" became addicts because they are or were self medicating a mental disorder. Bi-polar, or as they used to say manic depressive are one of the most popular. There are others.

this past few months i have been standing along side a fifty two year old man who has a brain injury from years ago as well as bipolar schizophrenic.

after 90 days clean he admitted to self medicating. At this time in his recovery he is doing well on low doses of welbutrin...

they do not need excuses to use, this disease is baffling and cunning..

blessings.. Frankie



Addicts dont need a reason to use. they will find one or blame it on their circumstances or other peoples actions..

[anonymous421]

I was a 3 per day for 3 years (never really upped my dosage in 3 years). And I was considered a light user. So you are ultra-light. But I had withdrawals for 3-4 days. I think you would still have some physical w/d. I mean in a three years span you have taken over 1,000 vicodins.

Obviously you are dependent on it (even though it is still very light). You take one every day. Most people take zero every day. It'd be like having one martini every day.  

The physical benefit of quitting is not putting that drug into your system (i.e. liver, etc) every day. Mentally, is one per day really negatively impacting your life? Not sure what the benefits would be to quitting on a cognitive level. You seem to have the will power not to increase your dosage.

I guess we'd need to know why you're prescribed it in the first place. Good luck either way.

[vicki595]

Brother Frankie--   That's why I wondered why you brought that up. You don't need to advocate at all...the mere fact that you mentioned it might give someone pause....like me.

I'm feeling a little depressed...I think I'll scout around the house for a light dose of opiate.

Catch my drift...

[steveies]

Very interesting responses.  I too suffered from years of high anxiety.  I have always been a nervous person and had severe panic attacks as a child and young adult.  I really can't believe I haven't thought about my anxiety problems for the past 5 years.  Doctor believed it was depression and I took celexa for a while, while taking opiates, but it made me way too tired.  I am shocked I never connected the anxiety issue with my opiate abuse.  I believe I just uncovered the reason for my drug abuse.  Sounds like a no brainer but as addiction goes, there is a lot of denial and hiding that goes on.  

As far a you taking 1 pill a day, I'm sure a lot of people here are thinking "big freaking deal, 1 pill?"  But in all honesty the reason you take just that 1 pill a day is a big deal.  By far, your dependance on vicodin is one of the lowest, least destructive I have ever heard of.  But if you are thinking about in the terms you are, then you may need to talk to someone.  Nothing wrong with that, I think I'm going to be making an appointment to do the same.

[BrotherFrankie]

http://opioids.com/antidepressant/opiate.html

there are other more in depth in med journals..

check some out..

blessings.. (please dont take this as me advocating a known addict to use this as a way to use)

blessings

[vicki595]

Brother Frankie-  "light doses" for depression?  By the medical community? Is there some literature you can refer to?   Explain "light dose"...

[Devonlee]

I say if taking one vicodin a day helps take it....Its so little and if you have never increased the dose it seems fine. But if for some reason even taking that one is making your feel guilty or just not right then stop. Your withdrawl should be minimum but mentallly you may still crave. To be honest I would rather take just the one vicodin a day then any antidepressent or anti anxiety like xanax. If you find yourself increasing the dose then I would be a little worried.Good luck

[BrotherFrankie]

actually light doses of opiates are being used for depression now..

[Dav125]

I'm not quite sure what to think about only taking one vicodin a day for the period of time you have. I tend to think this really is more in a mental realm as a habit such as people that only allow themselve's one cigarette a day and don't feel right if they don't allow themselve's that "pleasure" each day..Your dose is virtually at an absolute minimum in the scheme of things..

I'm sure your body has developed a dependency of sorts to the drug as they do affect receptors in the brain as the method of providing pain relief...They manipulate the signals your brain receives..Wd's come from the brain having to re adjust and start manufacturing certain chemical in the brain that these opiate meds kinda make the brain stop producing while it has access to the chemicals in the vicodin which is doing it for your brain..,

But in asking about "quiting",.I can't even guess as to what type of withdrawal you might have from that dose,, if any at all in the physical realm..I suspect if you stopped, you would be dealing with more of a mental challenge as this is a daily habit you have become accustom to..As to any long term affects this may have on you, thats an unknown to me as I have never heard of anyone maintaining a dose like that for the amount of time you have where some sort of written study might be out there to reflect on..

Hearing from people like you is rare,,very rare..I guess your best bet would be asking your Dr about it..Even then, I'm not sure he could give you a clear answer..I can say during my early use of them, they did help me with depressed moods and this mild migrain I have lived with for a number of years..But then the day came that it didn't work so well and then my use started to increase from one pill to two in order to get the same relief..If that starts to happen, thats a real big warning sign to back off fast..Before you get in a position of learning a lesson you never wanted to learn..

[ihatevicodin]

Vicodin is not a medication for depression. The opiates actually will make your depression worse. You need to see a qualified psychologist and also a therapist to adequately treat you depression. If you are depressed for chemical reasons (meaning the chemistry in your brain is out of whack) the depression medication you are prescribed can correct the imbalance and help you to feel stable. I suffer from 'major depression, minor.' That's an official diagnosis. It means I have really bad depression but not a severe case of it. My psychiatrist put me on Welbutrin and the difference is incredible. It gives me more energy, more focus, but I still am myself. I get mad, sad, happy, blase. All the normal emotions but my mood is more consistently level. If you suffer from depression, this is what you want. And yes, the stable mood and ability to feel peaceful or content with yourself will help you be more outgoing.

Vicodin generally inflames the chemical imbalance in your brain and will add to your depression, just like alcohol. If your depression is more emotional, than a therapist will help you out there. I see both because I have an imbalance from trauma I suffered during childhood and I also have a lot of emotional fallout from that so I am trying to work through that with a counselor. She just tries to give me tools and techniques to naturally reduce anxiety.

In addition to the depression I also suffer from anxiety. That's very common, I'm told. I found I preferred vicodin to control my anxiety more than Klonopin, which is what my psychiatrist gave me. The anxiety and my general lack of physical health (weak back muscles) along with hunching over a keyboard all day typing leads to some truly wicked should and neck pain which is what led me to see a pain specialist who put me on vicodin for chronic pain. Although my dose is a low 5/325mg and I never took more than the 100 pills i was given per month, I quickly became addicted because of what I said, I feel anxious and in pain and the vicodin makes me feel kinda peaceful whereas my true anxiety medication just knocks me out. But over time I began taking more than I should when I first got the bottle and rationing the last week or so before my next bottle. I got into this cycle of constant fatigue and the pill no longer helped my shoulder pain because my tolerance had gone up. I have never asked for stronger pills though.

I just quit taking vicodin yesterday. The fact that I'm going through withdrawals confirms that I am addicted. But at least I have treatment for my depression. I'd like you to quit taking pain killers not intended for what's really making your life unpleasnt and get real treatment. You will feel better and not be so tired anymore. Ok?

It's hard, but you will start to feel better once you get your depression treated for real. Just because you have kept your dose of vicodin low all this time doesn't mean you aren't addicted. Pain meds are supposed to be used temporarily for extreme pain, not as a maintenance drug.    

Best of luck!

[GACarol]

Do you have a prescription for the vicodin? It sounds like you are in control of it if you are still just taking 1 per day as prescribed? What are the reasons you want to quit? I am not trying to tell you to stay on them just trying to understand so I or some of the others can offer help. Lots of us have quit, most of us abused them and took a lot more over time.