Vicodin addiction HELP

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Hi there, LC,
Your Dr is probably talking about putting you on a different opiate, probably oxycontin, or morphine ER. If you are worried about addiction issues with the norco, please don't let them do this. In my experience, they are alot harder to get off of. Thats just my opinion, but most would probably agree. In your initial post, you sounded like you're really ready to try to get off them entirely. Some people find that after they quit using, they actually have less pain than they thought they had. That happened with me. I still have some pain, but not anywhere near as much as I thought. Whatever you decide, I wish you well.
 
I have been taking Norco for about 3 years now for severe neuropathy pain. I feel now that I have become dependent on them. I take about 6-8 per day. I am new here so I don't want to bore everyone but is there a way to get off of these things? I will just put up with the pain, the addiction is worse. Please help!
lcwizard
 
Hey LC,

I agree with Trailor - If your doc suggests you try something stronger like Oxycontin or Morphine, I would reconsider, as those two drugs would definitely be alot harder to get off of.

Bottom line... If you're worried at all about addiction, perhaps you can try something that is non-narcotic :)

I can also relate to Trailor in regarRAB to pain. I found that my pain was not nearly as bad as I'd anticipated, once I got off the opiates (Oxycontin). Once the opiate receptors in my brain took a break from all the drug use, I was actually surprised at how little pain I had. I still have pain from time to time, which is a result of a herniated disc in my back, but that's only if I'm not careful and do some heavy lifting or pick up my daughters the wrong way.

If you decide to give it a try (something non-narcotic), It would be better for you if you waited a few weeks for great results. When we detox, our bodies trick us into feeling pain, so it's hard to tell if something is not working when our bodies are going through so much in those first 2-3 weeks,

Good luck, keep us posted on how you're feeling :)

RegarRAB,
emsmom
 
Hello wizard and welcome!

Are you sure that you are addictied? A lot of people think that they are addicted when, honestly, they have just developed a tolerance for the drug. Addiction can be defined as enjoying the feeling that the drugs give you, taking the medication even when you don't really need it, and finding the ways and means to get more drugs. This is a short and sweet definition, but is a close enough match to get a feel for the difference between dependence or addiction.

Norco is my drug of choice. When I was at my worst, I was taking between 6-20 pills a day.

Check out the recipe for detox in the sticky column in this board. There is a lot of good advice there. Additionally, think about using methadone or suboxone for chronic pain. They work and can give you your life back. If you don't want to use any opiate, be prepared to suffer chronic pain for the rest of your life. It might be worth it, though.

Good luck,

mk
 
Thanks to everyone for your responses. I really do want to go off the Norco but my Neuropathy pain is so great that I don't know if I can function without them. I would stop taking them for a day or so and the pain greatly increased. Is that just a normal part of the detox? Your responses seem to indicate so. Once again thank you. My wife also wants me to stop taking them because I am just not myself...lazy, lethargic, etc. I don't even get a high from them anymore, they barely make me feel normal but I try not to take more than 8 per day.
 
Hey LC,

"Some" of the pain may be from withdrawals, however you really seem to be in alot of pain regardless. I can see why your doctor would suggest another drug with a longer half-life.

When we use opiates, our body eventually becomes tolerant to our particular dose - that's why the Norco isn't working as well for you anymore. Your tolerance has increased, thus needing more Norco to help with the pain. You said you don't even get high from the Norco anymore. The longer you take an opiate, the higher your tolerance. When I stopped getting high from Percocet, I just took more and more (that's when I realized I was addicted).

So, basically you have two choices...

1. Stop taking the Norco and see if you can manage your pain with something non-narcotic.

2. Talk to your doctor about something stronger - However, if you choose to continue with an opiate for your pain, talk to your doctor about your concerns (addiction).

Hope you had a good weekend :)
emsmom
 
Two drugs that have lone half-lives, are used to treat addiction, and are used to treat pain are methadone and suboxone. There are advantages and disadvantages to each.

Methadone: This drug is frequently prescribed to pain patients that have a history of drug abuse-addiction. It kills pain but blocks the pleasurable feeling that opiates give you. However, it does not block the pain-killing effects of the other opiates like morphine, oxy, vicodin,... Hence, if you are on this med, you can use vicodin or some other drug for break-through pain--but no euphoria. It is the most difficult to detox from because it is a full opiate agonist (agonistic properties include getting maximum relief for pain).

Suboxone: This drug is prescibed, primarily, as a recovery drug. It has pain-killing effects, but not like full agonist opiates like methadone. Additionally, it will block not only the pain-killing effects of other opiates, like vicodin,..., but also will block the pleasurable feeling you get from these opiates. It binRAB very tightly to the mu-opiate receptor in the brain and spinal cord and will even knock methadone off of a receptor site. The disadvantage to this drug is that if you need break-through pain relief, you will not get it because this drug does too good of a job blocking other opiates. The advantage is that it is "easier" to detox from because it is a partial opiate antagonist (has both agonist and antagonist properties)

Correct me if I'm wrong.

Good luck,

mk
 
Hi MK and thank you for the warm welcome. I feel I am addicted because when I have tried to cut down or even stop taking them bad things would happen to my body. My doctor is now talking about putting me on something with a longer "half life" than Norco. Do you have any idea what that might be? One othere thing....where do I find the sticky column that you referred to? Once again, thank you for the reply and advice. Oh, one other thing. Even when I take the Norco the pain is really bad but I find myself becoming very lazy etc. I am also losing my balance and probably look like I'm drunk to peope (due to Neuropathy). I don't know, maybe I should stay on the pills....I just don't know.
LC
 
Hello wizard,

The Sticky you're looking for is called "Sample Home Detox" and it's the second one down on the main page :)

Good luck,
emsmom
 
LC,
Methadone has a long half life but is much harder to come of off should you decide to do so than norco. However, if the norco isn't doing anything then it might be time for a switch in medication. Talk to your doctor and see what your options are..
 
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