addiction to pain killers

[Jay]

What are the long term affect's of abusing pain killers, i.e. kidney damage, liver damage, etc.? Not only is the loved one I am writing about take more than the prescribed dosage, she also mixes alcohol with them. She will get to the point that she looks and act's drunk. She can barely function. Can you give me some advice on how to show that we are concerned about her and where we can go for help?

[Amy Scalise]

Jay,
I totally understand what you are dealing with. My husband abused pain pills and mixed it with herion, cocaine, and crack. He wouldn't get help, no matter what I said. He finally went to rehab to get help. He then in there found out that he had diabetes, and that his organs were damaged. He's a mess. He doesn't feel good most of the time. He gets angry a lot still. I'm sorry, but she wouldn't seek help until she's ready. He didn't either. I hope she seeks help. Pray for her.

[imus3]

To Jeff;;
You can ween your self off of 5 vicodin a day
pretty easily, Do it over a months time so you
wont feal any withdraw, as for going to a
treatment center to get off of vicoden, they
would probly laugh at you all the way to the
bank, vicodin is so minor compared to what most
people go to a"treatment" center for, You might
want to see if you can get just plain
Hydrocodone so your not taking all that APAP,
They say it is very bad for your liver, Im not
sure if they make plain hydrocodone, but I know
they make plain oxycodone, {Percolone} with no
APAP,  If your not abusing them, or acting
stupid, or sleeping all day, and you still have
pain, why do you want to stop takin them?

To carol;.
  you wrote;..;.;i've been taking 2 vicodan and
1 mg. ativan along with large glass of wine on
and off for over ayear.I know i'm numbing
out...

  You are probly geting more of a buZZ from the ativan than you are from 2 vicodin's a day, the
ativan is a benzo, like valium or xanax,  the alcohol and the apap in the vicodin aint g00d,
but it wont kill ya, anytime soon anyway, you should consider your self lucky to be able to feal good on that little bit of meds, you must have a very very low tolerance, 2 vicodin a day woudent even keep me from going through withdraws, nevermind kill any pain or give me a ""buzz"",, you should be able to get off the vicodin with no trouble,, You might have more trouble with the wine though;.;.; good luck;.

[Carol]

I guess I'M ASKING FOR HELP. i've been taking 2 vicodan  and 1 mg. ativan along with large glass of wine on and off for over ayear.I know i'm numbing out...stress,etc. I ALSO WAS RECENTLY DX WITH HEP C...NO LIVER DAMAGE YET. wHAT TO DO WHERE TO START. please respond with anything except thats stupid....I KNOW THAT ALREADY. THANKS

[imus3.]

300 mgs of oxy a day is getting up there, were you biting them?, what was wrong with you? hurt your back or somthin?

[jeff]

I have been taking vicodin for a little over 1 yr. for pain that i have following sinus surgury that resulted in nerve damage.  My physician has been giving me steriod shots in the problem area and this has been working very well.  The problem is i still as for vicodin because i need it and am obviously addicted to it.  I take 5 per day on average and sometimes less.  I am not able to check in to a treatment center and not willing.  How do i stop taking and can i just wean myself off. What would you recommend.

Thank you

[To Jay from Philisha]

I have been there and I am there now. My mother has an addiction to pain killers also, the doctor gave them to her 4 years ago when she hurt her back, the bad thing is that sometimes you can't help them. My family and I have been trying to get my mom help for quiet some time now, but until they are ready to seek help there is nothing you can do. Most of the time when you confront an addict they feel that you are judging them or that you just don't understand, the only advice I know to give you is pray that she will see the light and get help. Unil then let her know that you are there for her and that you love her and that you are willing to help, but don't let her drag you down with her. You will be in my thoughts and prayers, best of luck! Let me know how it turns out.