what to expect from w/d vics

[ckmarilyn]

I have been addicted to vics for over 2 years after I broke my foot.  I take an average of 6 1000mg a day.  Sometimes way more.  I pay 3$ per pill on the street and buy them from a dealer that sells everything.  I hate having to go to that house to buy them and every time I tell myself it will be the last.  I am broke even though I have a reliable job.  My dealer hasn't called me back and I am out of pills.  I have been taking 1 or 2 a day for the last few days.  I am now down to a 500mg.  I am in a way glad to be forced to quit.  I hope I stay strong if she ever calls me again.  I got a prescription for darvocet which has helped me so far, but I do still feel w/d.  I have been taking a unisom and a valium to help me sleep and it has worked with 1 vic a day and a few darvocets.  I am very happy the darcocets have worked pretty well, but I am not sure if that is just prolonging the withdrawals.  My question is that in a couple weeks if I get off of darvocet, will I have to go through w/ds still or will my body be done with vic withdrawals.  I am also concerned about how long I can be on darvocet without being "addicted."  Doesn't this whole mess suck!!!!!

[mart1n]

Yes, I have also wondered about re-dependence after being physically dependent in the past. I was taking Oxycontin for only two months for pain and went through a week of hell even with only doing it for two months. Now I have another medical need coming up to take pain medication and I'm afraid of the withdrawals again. This time I will only need it for about a week...I know everyone is different, but what is the chances of building a physical dependence in a week and is my former dependence going to make it easier this time? I don't have any problems with mental side of addiction. I'm happy without them and like having a clear head!

[flax]

Yes, you nailed it. And thank you.

[ckmarilyn]

So you were on them a couple years and then got off of them for 1 1/2 weeks, went through withdrawals and got back on them for 2 weeks and are now off?  I am glad you are not really having to deal with bad w/ds right now.  

[flax]

I was on the Vics for about 2 weeks. Probably not long enough to get totally re-addicted but I went back on them after about a week and a half after being on them for several years. Today I feel a little sick but nothing like the last time. Last time I had dysentery and it was really hard to go to work and do anything. This time I'm a little tired and a little sick. I would take some if I had them but it seems to be too much of a hassle to get them from the doctor and the online consult services are not delivering right now for some reason.

[ckmarilyn]

So are you still doing fine?  That is great!  I know the psychological cravings are hard. How long were you on vicodin this last time before you just quit?  

[flax]

It seems that I am not having withdrawels now. I worry about the same thing but I kept taking them after the pain was gone for long periods of time. It has been about 36 hours since I had any hydro in my system and I mostly have a physcological craving. Last time I was sick for about a week.

[ckmarilyn]

Are you not experiencing w/ds now?  I always have wondered the same thing.  I am trying to get off of vikes but have foot surgery coming up soon and know I am going to need something for the pain after surgery.  I am afraid that if I am off the pills finally and get prescribed them, I will just start this whole process over again.  

[flax]

How long does it take to get re-addicted. I went through some pretty bad withdrawel (about a week) and then had a gout attack and got 100 7.5mg vics. I ran out yesterday (about 6 a day) and usually I would have the sniffels and fell sick.

Thanks,

flax

[ckmarilyn]

Thanks so much!!!  Have a nice night.  

[FLaddict]

Don't be terrified.. think of it as a really bad flu.. take care of yourself.. it will be over before ya know it.. get some "comfort meds' like i said above and hold on tight.. it may be scary but its so worth it.  I promise you that... give yourself a chance.. if you hate being clean you can always go back. you deserve to give yourself this chance.. we all do.

Good night dear.. i am off to bed. stick around and read some posts.. you are not alone here

XOXO
Stephanie

[ckmarilyn]

I totally understand the "living a lie" thing.  I am only outgoing if I have taken vicodin and sometimes I feel like the nice things I do for people aren't really me being kind but just me being high.  The worst is when I have taken too many in a day and get really agitated and irritable at night.  I have started quite a few arguements with loved ones over stupid things.  I can't wait to be back to normal, but am terrified of wds.

[FLaddict]

I quit because i felt like i was living a lie. I felt like I was leaning on something to get me through my days not only for pain but also for making it easier to cope with stress and life in general. They made me not care.. and for awhile that was good but in the end i started to not care about alot of things that i should have cared more about. it was just time.. now i am learning how to live with pain without opiates.. its hard but getting better everyday.

[ckmarilyn]

I think it would be really hard to get off of them if your doctor would still prescribe them.  I have been wanting to get off of them for a while but am only getting off of them because my connection hasn't called me and I decided that even if she calls me I won't buy anymore. What made you quit?

[FLaddict]

I have been off of them for just over 4 months.,  as far as pain.. I am still trying to figure that all out. i take elavil at night which improves sleep stages and helps pain perception, I also take zanaflex for spasms. As well as some supplements suggested for Fibromyalgia.

[ckmarilyn]

Have you been off of them for a while now?  What do you take for pain now?  

[FLaddict]

no you are not alone by any means.. there are hundreds of us.. just like you..

I have chronic pain if i can quit.. anyone can.. just takes a plan..

Good luck you..

post if you need anything..

[ckmarilyn]

Thanks a bunch. I am sitting here feeling the RLS and thinking about the darvocet in my purse.  You guys are a BIG HELP!!!  I haven't really told anyone about my addiction and have felt all this pressure to do this alone.  It feels like I am the only one in the world having to deal with this but thanks to you guys I  am not!!  

[FLaddict]

Hylands Restful legs helps the RLS and leg stuff as well as potassium.
A calcuim magnesium supplement helps relax muscles
Advil or aleve for the aches
Immodium pills for the diarreah
lots of fluids like gatorade, water, vitamim water
Multi vitamim and extra B vitamin complex
bananas
crackers or something you can eat like you had the flu
Unisom is good for sleep if that works.. Melatonin worked for me i got the ones that melt under your tongue so if i woke up in the middle of the night i took another one.
There are other supplements that help with depression and energy but for right now i would focus on the really yucky symptoms

[ckmarilyn]

what otc stuff do you recomend?  I have unisom to help me sleep, which has been working, but I have been taking darvocet and have had a little vicodin in my system.  I am trying to start this weekend without vicodin.  

[FLaddict]

No that is not the case, any opiate will affect your withdrawals.. it can prolong them and not let the detox happen fully.

you can do this... Detox from vicodin doesn't last too long.. 5 days or so for the physical with the 3rd day usually being the worst.. and it gets slowly better from there.. with some over the counter stuff and a few days you will be over it..

[ckmarilyn]

So darvocet isn't really helping me with my withdrawals?  I am not experiencing them because I am still on an opiate?  I was hoping that because it is a "different" drug that I would take it short term as to not get addicted but while taking that my body would get off of vicodin.  Is that not the case?

[ckmarilyn]

Yeah I meant 10 mg.  Did you do it cold turkey?  How long and bad did it get.  I haven't gone 1 day w/o vics for 2 years and I remember a few times getting low and only taking a couple and not sleeping and being completely restless.  I started only taking 1 a day about a year and a half ago and experienced w/ds but was very determined.  I got back up to first 3 a day after I experienced severe depression.  It is easy to pop 'em it takes 2 seconds of defeat as opposed to 24 of will power.  

[Addicted2Pain]

What is the most important information I should know about Darvocet?
• Propoxyphene may be habit forming. Physical and/or psychological dependence can occur, and withdrawal effects are possible if the medication is stopped suddenly after prolonged or high-dose treatment. Do not stop taking Darvocet suddenly without first talking to your doctor if you have been taking it continuously for more than 5 to 7 days. Your doctor may want to gradually reduce the dose.
• Do not take Darvocet if you suffer from depression or have suicidal thoughts.
• Do not take more of this medication than is prescribed. If the pain is not being adequately treated, talk to your doctor.
• Do not take other over-the-counter and prescription products that contain acetaminophen. Too much acetaminophen could be dangerous. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking any over-the-counter preparations.
• Avoid alcohol while taking Darvocet. Alcohol can increase drowsiness and dizziness caused by the medication which could be dangerous. Also, alcohol may increase the risk of liver problems when taking acetaminophen.
• Drowsiness or dizziness caused by Darvocet may be increased by other drugs such as antidepressants, alcohol, antihistamines, sedatives (used to treat insomnia), other pain relievers, anxiety medicines, and muscle relaxants. Together, these medicines may cause dangerous sedation, possibly resulting in unconsciousness or death. Tell your doctor about all medicines that you are taking, and do not take any medicine without first talking to your doctor.

Also...

What is Darvocet?
• Propoxyphene (related to codeine) is in a class of drugs called narcotic analgesics. It works by changing the way the body feels pain.

[FLaddict]

Ok i think you did the math wrong.. 1000mgs a day would be 100 10mgs pills.. you liver would be toast.. i think you are adding up the mgs of the tylenol not the hydrocodone..

I was taking 8-10  10mgs vicodin a day for over 2 years.. that equals 80-100mgs  I have now been off for over 4 months.. and I feel better.

Taking the Darvoset will probably prolong the detox.. it would probably be best to just stop taking it.
welcome to the forum

XOXO