Long Term Pain Management - Hydrocodone

I have a question about addiction in pain management. How long does it take to become addicted to Vicodin? What are the side effects of withdrawel?

I've been on 650 MLG since April - every eight hours. I'm really not comfortable with taking a narcotic for this long. It looks like I may be on it for at least another few months - or longer depending on surgery.

Thanks,
Beth

bethannaTN, there's no time limit on when someone gets addicted to any drug or alcohol. Some people can take Vicodin or any pain medication as long as it's prescribed, and take it right, and when it's time to get off the medication, they are able to do so without any problems. Then you have your set of folks (like myself) who have addictive personalities and can be addicted by the first pill, even. You know there's a problem when it says, "take 1 pill every 4 to 6 hours", and you're taking 2 or 3 at one time every 4 to 6 hours... That's when you know there's a habit/addiction starting.

If you're taking them correctly as the doctor ordered and you don't feel as though you're addicted, then you're probably not.

Thank you so much for your reply. Yes I take it only as the doc orders, no matter what, and if I'm not in much pain, I take advil instead. Thank you for letting me know what to look out for.

I am like Bama, I have a very addictive personality. I can get addicted in just a short time. Even when taking some of my physic meds, I know if I took a few more of them they would have a totally different affect on me. So sticking by what prescribed for you is the best way to go. When I was just drinking and not doing the drugs, 1 beer was to much for me and 100 was not enough.

Allan

there are also non narcotic pain meds they can perscribe that work good too if you tell them that's what you want.

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Hydrocodone may be habit forming. Mental and physical dependence can occur, but are unlikely when used for short-term pain relief.

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If you're concerned, ask your doctor about taking half your current dose but at say 6 hours. tc

I don't think you have anything to worry about then if you're even taking Advil instead when the pain isn't as intense. That's a good sign.

I'm much like Allan. Even with my psych. meds, like my seroquel, I know I could easily take more and end up on a trip (have in the past), but I stick to what my doctor says because sobriety means more to me. In active addiction, we don't switch pain pills for Advil. We take the whole dang bottle of pain pills within a matter of days because that's how addiction works... One pill, one drink, one hit of dope is too many and 1,000 never enough. We often times cover our addiction with lies that even we believe, which is called DENIAL, a good saying for denial is Don't Even Know I'm Lieing... Which you don't seem to be doing. So I think you're safe.

I did talk to my doctor about it, he said that the fact that I brought it up means that he doesn't have to worry about me becoming addicted. I thought that was a pretty ignorant statement to make considering addiction is the nature of the drug. I told him I wanted to be switched to an anti-inflammatory, but he said that it wouldn't work with the type of pain I am in. He said this is the mildest thing he can put me on and still be able to control the pain. So, I decided to at the very least educate myself to find out how to recognize it if it does begin to occur and to find out what withdrawl is so that when I begin to not need it any more I don't mistake withdrawl for pain.

It's not often that I've has to go to bat for myself with a physician, but becoming educated in my own med care certainly helps when I need to. It's saved my life twice.

Thanks, Allen

<font color="blue">((((beth)))) but your subject line says long term pain management... is this something forever? There are different philosophies depending upon the expected length of time you will have pain.. and I cherish discussing them with you, as I always have an epiphantic moment in the process. My pain: lifetime so while I'm not addicted, it really wouldn't matter if I were... just like the pain for cancer patients.. addiction, what's your point? heheheh feel better.

We discussed all of the anti inflammatory drugs, he said that none would work with the type of pain I am in. (Though when the pain isn't bad, advil seems to work just fine.) I did ask him if there were any other choices, he said no, this was the only one that would handle the pain I am in with the least amount of addictive reaction. Sooo...

I've been on the pain meds for nearly four months, now. I am due to be in surgery at the latest: October/November, hopefully sooner. There is a chance that my spine is inoperable, but I don't know how large or small the chance is. I won't know until Wednesday after the surgical consultation. If it is inoperable, then it will be life long, and a wheelchair. If it is operable there's a fifty percent chance it will be life long, but fifty percent that it won't be is better than zero.

I think my BIGGEST ISSUE right now is that I can't stand the side effects of being doped. I can't think, I lose track of time, I sleep A LOT. I'd almost rather be in a moderate amount of pain that me doped out of my mind. At least I can think. Right now I'm in pain and not doped. I can think well enough to write this.

But my sister was on long term pain meds and became addicted. I'd rather not go there if I can help it. She was on meds for six months.

So, I'm nervous about it.

Ah I see. If you are able to handle full pain some of the time, and do feel medicated when taking the med, can the doctor allow you to cut the pill or the dose a bit (or in half) ... I do deal with some pain all the time, I do not take so much medication that I feel it.... I'm sorry to hear it's your back. Is there a chance that even with surgery, you will still have pain?

Since you can't stand the feeling of being doped up, I really don't see you getting addicted to pain medication. Those of us who get addicted to pain medication or any drug get addicted because we enjoy that doped up feeling.

On a side note, I'm sorry you're going through a tough time with your health. I do hope it all comes together and works out. Best of wishes to you.

Hi, I am currently being treated for Chronic Pain and is long or life term. I at one point in my younger years was before developing the neurological condition which causes me to have perifial neurapathy and severe muscle spasm's, I was using or abusing Vicoden for recreational purposes (Euphoria).

I stopped abusing hydrocodone years before developing my current condition, now I take Oxycodone and Duragesic, both strong pain medications. I need to say that "Abuse" and "Addiction" are the key factor for me. Taking as prescribed even, anyone who takes opiate based medications on a daily basis will become physically dependant only lack the euphoria or 'high' from the drug. In my experience dealing with Chronic Pain, no Euphoria I have yet experienced as it does not occur in me as even with the Duragesic and Oxycodone I am still in pain. Yet being on it for a year, I am dependant, meaning that if you are on Hydrocodone for daily constant use, anyone would most likely have to be reduced in the dose gradually to stop the body from going through severe withdrawals.

I feel if it is not being abused and taken as prescribed then when the med is tapered down for stopping it, the chances of addiction is not great. I would not worry if there is no abuse or feelings euphoria, then reducing the dose gradually would let you know what point or dose does not cause you the adverse side effects. Your doc may even prescribe an anti inflamitory in addition to a lower dose. Four over the counter Ibuprofen 200mg Tablets are the same equivilant of a prescription 800mg Ibuprofen tablet, just not in one pill form.

Good Luck and hope you are able to have freedom of the pain with surgery. Take Care.