why does hydrocodone make me feel this way?

[rocketship]

I have a prescription for hydrocodone 10/200 (it's a capsule specially made with 10mg's of hydrocodone and 200 of Acetaminophen) that I can take up to 3 times a day for up to 3 months because of a torn ligament injury - but I tend to just take the medication here or there if I have pain.  I'm interested in this website because I am concerned about becoming addicted and I find it a wonderful resource.

Most of the people I know who take pain medication like vicodin/norco or their generics, get tired from them but I get hyper.  I become a chatter box, I can't sit still, I certainly can't sleep and my heart rate accelerates (my doc knows this).  So, my question is.... why, what, or how does hydrocodone interact with my body to make me hyper when others get tired??

I don't take any weird supplements or other medications. I have always been like this with pain medications all my life.  Heck nyquil makes me hyper too. Even when I had surgery early this year with general anesthesia and they were pumping me full of pain and anti-nausea medication afterwards and had to stay the night in the hospital I only slept for about an hour.  When I had to be sedated for another procedure they had to give me the absolute max dosage of meds they could...I only weigh 140lbs.  Maybe I'm just odd!!

[evamarsden]

These things confuse me. I am still trying to figure out if I even actually fit into the criteria of an "addict". I have been taking prescribed (straight) 30mg Codeine tablets for 3-4 years now, after being put on a looooong waiting list for surgery. I need a LOT of codeine to kill pain. I have been told I have a "low metabolism” for codeine, which apparently means my body is unable to synthesize as much of the codeine into morphine...or something along those lines. So I therefore had a high tolerance from the start and had to be given straight codeine, as taking that much paracetamol was giving me stomach problems. My script says to take no more than 8 tabs p/day, but from the beginning it took at least 10 (300mg) to have ANY effect on pain. I too noticed the extra energy and motivation, which I especially liked, considering my chronic major depression and severe social anxiety. So I DID start using them -now and again- if i needed to get something in particular done, or if I wanted to be able to go to some social gathering, which I would usually only be able to handle if I started drinking beforehand, and my body/liver reacts VERY badly to alcohol! I'm talking 3-day hangovers!! But with the codeine -no bad side effects at all- except if I change my mind and decide to sleep!! After 4 years, and already starting out on a high dose, it takes me a minimum of 20 tabs (600mg) of codeine to get even just a bit of that "nice" feeling. As my set limit is 240 tabs per month, I do need to ration, so I CANNOT take them every day. Is it still considered to be an addiction if I don't NEED them every day, I just LIKE them, and I have a very high tolerance?? I have told the doctor my tolerance is getting out of hand - but not stated exactly HOW many mg I am taking at ONCE. She has said that with people like me, the next logical step is to move me onto Morphine. Anyone had experience with that? Would it be better for me than taking so much codeine? I have no idea if it has any health benefits, or is simply stronger. So.....any idea's? And am I an "addict" - as such? Or maybe just on my way there?

[jad1977]

I have had an addiction problem with hydrocodone too would take up to 120 in less than two weeks of 7.5's- got to the point to one wouldn't work, so I would take two, then after a while, two wouldn't work so I would take three- I am still fighting this addiction and take them when I can get my hands on them- however that has become too difficult- its an addiction that when u need them they are nowhere to be found. I have found that even when I am not on them for over a month I still have no energy to get off the couch and do my household work- I am plum lazy- I have searched for something that will give me energy like this but without all the tylenol in it- I have tried caffeine, energy drinks, b vitamins, eating things that are supposed to give u energy- but none of these things do- it just seems that things that make others sleepy makes me up and cleaning and off my butt- however it does make me irritable with my children and husband.  Just need something natural that will give me energy- any suggestions???

[Nashvilleblondie]

Man, I gotta agree with you..I have been addicted since the Summer of 2006. My best friend is addicted too them also. ALL of our extra money goes to pills. We spend every waking moment looking for pills. Its the first thing we call each other about  in the morning and the last thing we talk about at night. I have NO LIFE!! Like the person said above I am a "slave"..when she and I cannot find pills we use coke or meth to get the "energy" from them, but it's NOT the same. Not even close. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE like Enemy48 said, just flush them!

[GoingToMakeIt]

You also might be upfront with your Dr about being an addictive personality type. There are many non-narcotic pain relievers out there.

[NautyOne]

Yep......Everyone I knew would tell me..." I don't know how you can take the stuff...it makes me feel weird and like cr@p.  Those are the non-addicts.......If it feels good....its probably bad for you.......except for ......you know what?  

That is a bad sign.  I would try some OTC's  aleve, or ask pharmacist what is best.

Good luck, and sorry about your accident.....

luv,
nauty............

[idareyou2]

I was just prescribed hydrocodone a week ago after being in a nasty car accident, and ended up with head, neck and a back injury. I am someone who needs to steer clear of addiction because I get addicted easily. I went 2 days without taking it to see if I could handle the pain on my own...and I can't so I had to take it yesterday. Should I just completely quit taking it and see if my doctor can prescribe a non-narcotic pain releiver? What scares me is, I like how it makes me feel aside from it taking away the pain.