Vicodin help

[shamedjunkie]

I've been an addict for YEARS and finally want to quit but I'm not there yet. I've been reading these forums which are very helpful. What I'd like to know is what I'm missing - I feel normal most of the time but I'm sure I'm not. What is it like to be free? I don't know the difference anymore? How will I feel different i.e. better?
Thanks!

[shamedjunkie]

I'm already on prozac also for years - I tried to cut back today took one Vic and one ultram before work - usually take two vics at least but as soon as class started - I'm a teacher - I'm started up again on my usual dosages..


utter failure today

[snakejones]

What does being off drugs feel like? Remember back to when you were a kid--how good you felt and how every day was an adventure? Well, being clean is even better: you'll have the enthusiasm of a child, but with an adult's independence. It's the best of both worlds! However, you have to be willing to work, and work hard at it. It can take up to a full year to completely heal, but during that year you'll have more and more good days and fewer bad days as time goes by. Well worth it. When you are ready, we will help you in any way we can. I wish you health!

[gnarly_1]

Hey well the first thing is you wont be chained to a pill bottle any more....or counting pillls to see if you have enough to get you by and then there is the health risks we all took or take as addicts your killing off your liver and kidneys its a slow process but its happening and it is a slow agonizing death and as others have said life is so worth livfing again we tend to isolate wile using and forget about everything but the pills wile using .....trust me you will feel 1000 times better about yourself when clean you have taken the first step admitting you have a problem now its time to decide how you want to quit.....a taper or just jump off both ways will get it done and both have advantages and disadvantages let us know your thoughts and we can enplane where here to help good luck and God bless.......Gnarly    

[dominosarah]

Agreed......Usually the biggest issue most have is the depression and we do recommend that they see their doctor for this.  There are many good AD meds out there now that are non narcotic.  Some dont have to take them for real long but they do help in getting over that hump~~~

[luckynags]

Before you even start the process of withdrawal it might be wise to first get yourself on an anti-deppressant of some kind. Most people self medicate themselves for depression and don't even realize it.  If you are taking the drug to make you feel happier or to give you that extra push you need to get through the day, then I would talk to your doctor about depression a couple months before you quit, so that the anti-depressant has time to start working before you begin withdrawals

This is only from my experience and there could be several different reasons, why someone became an addict but the first step should be addressing the underlining factor of What made you become an addict? So you can understand what to do differently or change so that it doesn't happen again.

Also, from my understanding, anti-depressants can't hurt anyone that is going to or is going through withdrawals. The fact is, depression is the longest and hardest symptom for any person going through opiate withdrawal. Why not ask your doctor whether an anti-depressant is right for you? It can only help your chances of success! If anyone disagrees with this, please respond because I would really like to hear if anybody disagrees and why? Just curious......

[Bkitty]

The one thing about releasing this addiction that I've noticed, ,,is seeing "me" again and not this strange person in the mirror. Its a painful process but like getting an education or reading a book, , it's worthy in the end.

[dominosarah]

You already did take the first step, you are here and admitted you have a problem.  Now we start.  Keep talking to us and asking questions.  You dont have to be a prisoner to these pills anymore.  I used for a bazillion years and there is a life out here and i am living it now, not just existing.  There is a life out here for you too~~~sara

[shamedjunkie]

Bless you all for the encouragement. I badly need it. I knew I was addicted almost immediately and just didn't care. I think the first time I took Vicodin I thought "This is going to be a problem." I had done plenty of recreational drugs and they never came close to a problem for me. I just finally found my drug. I'm also taking prozac - will that help? How do I take the first step?

[littlebit667]

When I first came here, I asked a similar question and got this as my first response on the board.  Maybe it will help you understand how our brains have been affected by the drugs.

You have to remember how opiates work, and why you feel depressed etc. when you quit taking them and after you are over the withdrawals.

Opiates bound to the opioid receptors in your brain and body. They release their artificial endorphins to them, and block the bodies natural endorphins. After a while the neurons that produce the body's natural endorphins disappear. There is no need for them so they just don't rejuvenate like they would normally.

When you stop taking the opiates,  they leave your opioid receptors bare, and they are calling out for your body's natural endorphins, but there isn't any there at first. You body has to repopulate the neurons that make them, and this takes time.

Endorphins like dopamine  control your moods, anxiety, sadness, anger, happiness, pain etc.

You will slowly get your "old self" back as these neurons repopulate and begin increasing their endorphins production. After being off the opiates for a month, they should be about 45-50% of normal, and be back to normal within a year.
So hang in there, you will feel better and better as the months roll by.

Try keep busy and keep your mind focused on positive things instead of dwelling on the depression, anxiety, etc. that are only temporary and will disappear as your endorphins return to normal.

[luckynags]

Your not the only one that has ever felt the way you do, you have come to the right place and will soon realize that you do not have to go through this alone. You will find that the words of encouragement and advice from complete strangers very encourageing. It will help make this tough time a little bit easier!

You can do this, the hardest step is realizing that you have an addiction. Some people go through their whole lives without knowing.

[shamedjunkie]

Thank you all - I pray I can move forward and do this. I can't start until I have off from work. I've never told anyone about this and it's been almost - well more than a decade. I'm scared to death to even try quitting.

[luckynags]

Physically is the easy part of detox.... or for me anyways...the hardest part and the part I notice the most change is how I felt emotionally.  When you feel emotionally better then your body will feel better too.... you will find you have more energy, and more strength.  

The physical part may seem the worse at first, but once you get past the first week then you will have the emotional part..... that's the part that I had the hardest time with...... Remember that its going to be better, going to get better and you will be a better person, just from having gone through this battle and winning.

Please don't hesitate to reach out, I am here to help you succeed!

[littlebit667]

I felt free!  One less nasty thing to worry about.  I woke up thinking about the day and not where are my pills.  I really laughed and enjoyed my friends more.  I no longer felt dull and boring.  I felt alive again.  I guess that is what I mean.  I felt ALIVE!   The w/d are nothing, it is the rest of it that is hard.  But, still worth it.

[shamedjunkie]

Thank you Lucky! This has been the hardest information to find and I need it for encouragement. Everything I read is about how AWFUL wd is...How about physically? How did you feel different once you were through detox etc.

[luckynags]

For me, the thing that I notice the most about being clean is the littlest things......you become more concerned about making others happy other then worrying about taking that pill so you'll be happy.....You feel like you can accomplish anything!! Nothing can stand in your way!!! Instead of, feeling like you have to take that pill to accomplish even the easiest thing.  You will be genuinely happy, instead of taking a pill cause that's the only thing that will make you happy.....

Drug happy and genuine happy are 2 differeent things and believe me, Genuine always feels better! Good Luck