[Rose76]

I guess I've developed a mild opioid addiction. I take Vicodin 10/325. I usually take it twice a day, morning and evening. For a couple of days, I exceeded that to try and get through a bad spell of depression. So today I tried not taking any, so I wouldn't run out of my supply. Well, this evening I started getting what I would describe as a mild bit of Restless Leg Syndrome or akathisia. I'm thinking that was the beginning of some withdrawal. I took a Vicidin and it seems to have gone away.

Over the years I've experienced RLS/akathisia on an assortment of occasions, usually related to drugs. I also got it from anemia. I've had it so bad I've believed I would be suicidal if I didn't have faith it was temporary. I wonder if others here have gotten that symptom with opioid withdrawal.

It's an awful way to feel, as anyone who has experienced it will know. I worry that, if I ever lose my prescription for Vicodin (hydrocodone), that I will suffer withdrawal. My usage is pretty miniscule compared to what true addicts take. But I feel very dependent on the amount I take.

It's not working as well as it used to. Actually, it still relieves physical pain pretty effectively, but I don't get as much of a mental lift as I used to get from it.

I am seriously depressed. I have no thoughts of self-harm. I'm not a danger to myself, at all. But I am frantic to pull out of this tailspin, or my life will unravel. This is the worst I've been in a long time. I will be seeing a psychiatrist in mid-April. I don't know what to tell this doctor.

My main symptom of depression is apathy and lethargy. I've had this before, but never this severe. I am truly frightened. I wonder if taking an opioid has caused this apathy and lethargy. Aren't they tendencies that serious opioid users get?

I'm hoping someone who is more experienced with opioids can enlighten me a little.

I relate. Nothing is worse than running out. The desired result in the end was only the high associated with crushing oxycodone.

Those pills are are meant for short term. This is why they aren't good for long term chronic pain.

I remember saving this:
https://forum.drugs.com/featured-dru...ere-58131.html

Optimistic?

[bizi]

That was tough to read.
thanks for sharing.
bizi

[Rose76]

Thank you very much for the link above. It is relevant to me. I don't know how people addicted to daily consumption of large quantities of these pills ever manage to get off them. I live in mortal fear of ever losing the small monthly prescription that I currently get. Just three or four days without and I get the heebee jeebees in my legs. But people do overcome much worse involvement.

I initially used the pills strictly for pain. My doctor very soon was ordering way more than I was looking for. I was almost going to tell him that he didn't need to prescribe so many. Now what I get for myself is not enough, so I am taking half of my friend's monthly supply. I told his nurse that he didn't need to have his supply increased, but she said, "No, he needs then. I can see the pain in his face." So she had his doctor double his monthly supply. He didn't use the increased quantity and told me to help myself. Pretty soon he had a growing stockpile. I found I felt so much better taking more.

When he went into the hospital and then rehab, the supply dwindled and I ran out. At first I was quite sore, but that eased up after a few weeks. That showed me how taking these pain killers lowers your threshhold for pain. It can go back up a bit when you don't have the pills for awhile. But nothing beats feeling pain free.

When depression gets severe, the best remedy is to get busy doing what needs doing. But I won't even try to do that when I feel sore. I hope I can take hydrocodone longterm, even though I kniw there are strong arguments against doing that.

Enjoy the ride while you can but take it as recommended so you don't end up with more complications from the medication.

Please think about seeing a Pain Management Specialist.

[UpDownAround]

As far as what to tell the pdoc, I would say exactly what you told us. Helping is their job, not judging.

[Rose76]

Thank you 2ISAB. I never thought about seeing a pain specialist. My PCP did send me to a pain clinic run by a doctor of osteopathy. That place basically gave me exercises to go home and do. (My problem is arthritis along my spine. It's not severe, but I am a wimp about any discomfort.)

When I first took hydrocodone, I told my boyfriend, "I can see how people fall in love with this stuff." I felt so much better mentally, and I had so much more stamina to get things done. So, yes, I have enjoyed the ride. It made my quality of life so much better. But I've always feared that there could be a price some day. In my defence, though, I've never gone crazy with this stuff.

Thank you UpDown. I wish I could feel free to level with the pdoc. I know they are not interested in being judgemental. But, if I admit to not taking narcotics as ordered, then doctors are obligated to cancel the prescription, especially now with all the pressure from the feds. Without opioid pain killers, I don't think I could accomplish the things I am responsible for.

[Shazerac]

I take hydrocodone for a herniated disc in my neck. One bottle of 60 can last me for 6 months. Yea I do feel a pretty good and even a bit buzzed when I take them. However I only take them when I’m in pain. I’ve never reached the point where I need more often than 1 or 2 a week. Hopefully I’m not addicted.