Withdrawl symptoms from Vicodin usage?

[Rose50]

My sister has been using vicodin for the past 5 years for migraine headaches.  I do not know how often she used the drug because she lived in another city and has lived alone.  She is now living with me because she was diagnosed with a very mild case of Multiple Schlerosis.  She is constantly wanting to go to the emergency room and she always requests vicodin.  She has been staying with other family members for the past few months and when she came back to my house she was shaking uncontrollably, confused, disoriented, and has trouble walking without assistance.  Is this withdrawls from the drug.  I have looked through all of her belongings and cannot find any of the drug.  Help, I have no clue what to do because she gets very mad when accused of misusing the drug.  She is blaming the symptoms on the Multiple Schlerosis.

[nursegirl6572]

While some of the symptoms you report COULD be related to the MS, there are several red flags in your post.  It definitely sounds as though she is drug seeking.  I wouldn't be surprised if she is going through withdrawals when she is out of the Vicodin, especially if she has been using it for 5 years.  Unless her usage was TRULY just "occasional", she is likely dependant on the Vicodin, or abusing it....or both.

I would have a sit down pow-wow with her and tell her that she needs to be 100% honest with you about the situation.  Explain to her that a dependency concern, or addiction in combination with the MS diagnosis can be harmful to her. The opiate use can be masking her true level of symptoms related to the MS, or it can mimic MS symptoms when she is having withdrawals.  Either way....it will be hard for her to truly know what is what with the MS if she is using Vicodin regularly, and experiencing w/d's.  Be supportive and caring...yet firm and no-nonsense.  

If she admits to having a problem...perhaps show her this site.  It is a godsend and can really help her.  If she is having migraines, there are plenty of other pharmaceutical options out there.  Actually, opiates are not commonly the best choice for treating migraines.  It could end up causing her re-bound headaches and other problems.

Best of luck to you both.

[troubleinohio]

sounds like those symptoms are more of MS in nature but she could be having WD too and you just dont know it. THe fact that she goes to ER looking for vicodin definitely indicates she is dependant or addicted to it. So i think she has 2 things going on with her. good luck to you both.

[122 Tactical Fighter Group]

I dont believe that I know enough about MS to help you very much. The fact that she wants to go to the ER and then requests vicodin is not good at all. You are not describing a typical withdrawal at all either, though. Best of luck to you and to her. There is an MS forum here I believe. Why were you suspecting vicoden addiction?