I have a question about vicodin. I
started taking it for pain after an
operation. Then I would take it for what
is probably minor pains. I was taking
1000 mg at a time. It helped me relax and
of course feel better. Towards the last,
1000 wasn't having the same effect. I
realized that it was a habit and that I
didn't want to get addicted, so I stopped
taking it. My other concern of course is
when I really have some major pain, will
it even work for me.
So my question is. Does anyone know how
long you have to quit taking a pain
medication like vicodin so that when you
do take it again it will be effective for
pain? I have some upcoming gum surgery
and will probably need it for real then.
Thanks
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lonestarguy
Active User, Really EHEALTHy
Joined: 21 Jun 2007 Posts: 592 Location: , Hoosierland, USA
Thanks: 10
Thanked:1
Posted: 01-13-08 20:06pm
Hi--I took Vicodin and other pain
medications for four years for back pain
and you're exactly right. It gradually
takes larger and larger doses to take care
of the pain and you become dependent on
it.
It took me six months last year to feel
like I was over the effects of the
withdrawal. It was the hardest thing I
have ever done, so I caution you to take
the Vicodin only when you really need it.
If you didn't have withdrawal symptoms
when you quit taking it, then maybe your
body might already be reset.
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BullZye
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 12 Jul 2007 Posts: 112
Posted: 01-15-08 02:41am
First of all, you are not taking 1000mg.
The 1000mg is the amount of Acetaminophen
you are taking in. Assuming you have 5mg
Hydrocodone/500mg Ace pills, you are
taking two at a time correct?
Opiate tolerance develops pretty quickly,
if you are not getting the same effect due
to using it daily and increased tolerance
then just bump up your dose. Or you could
talk to your doctor and get something
different like Percocets (oxycodone) or
hydromorphone if its really that bad pain.
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m120407
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 08 Jun 2007 Posts: 13
To BullZye and Lonestarguy Posted: 01-15-08 07:13am
Thank you for that good information. I am
definitely not taking it everyday. You
are correct on the dosage information. I
guess I would be dead if I took that much
hydrocodine! I guess I just want to be
able to take the medicine ONLY when I am
in pain enough to warrant it. I know that
my definition of enough pain has surely
been exaggurated. I was just curious of
how long it will take my body to respond
and be out of pain with a normal dose.
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CarolDiane
Supporter
Joined: 23 Sep 2007 Posts: 2396
Thanks: 111
Thanked:156
Posted: 01-15-08 07:52am
I am taking Oxycotin and Oxycodone for
severe chronic back pain and I will say
this. The two most worst side effects I
can't stand are the felling of being drunk
but not really drunk and my vision toward
the late afternoon into early morning
start to go crazy. All the letters start
running into each other.
As with any narcotic (take as directed
only) the long your on it the harder it is
to get off without withdrawl. From what I
hear, I'll be on it for a while. The
ehealth gang can come see me in rehab when
the time comes to get off.
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m120407
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 08 Jun 2007 Posts: 13
Posted: 01-15-08 18:27pm
Thank you MsCarrie and I do wish you good
luck with your back. My husband has a bad
back and from time to time his flares up.
My plan is absolutely not to take the
vicodin unless I really need it. I'm
having some implants and sinus lift
surgery in early February and that was
what I was really worried about - not
having the pain pills effective, or having
to take mega doses before they work.
Take Care
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m120407
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 08 Jun 2007 Posts: 13
Posted: 01-15-08 18:27pm
Thank you MsCarrie and I do wish you good
luck with your back. My husband has a bad
back and from time to time his flares up.
My plan is absolutely not to take the
vicodin unless I really need it. I'm
having some implants and sinus lift
surgery in early February and that was
what I was really worried about - not
having the pain pills effective, or having
to take mega doses before they work.
Take Care
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CarolDiane
Supporter
Joined: 23 Sep 2007 Posts: 2396
Thanks: 111
Thanked:156
Posted: 01-19-08 00:51am
Just try and understand not to wait untill
your pain threshold get to high before you
take something. Talk to your doctor about
it and see what he says. Never let you
pain get so out of control the medication
does not work. I usually take my
breakthrough when my pain is about a 3 on
a scale of 1-10. If I'm at a 5, too late.
Your dortor should advice you the best way
to space them out to get the best relief
benifit from a smaller dose.
And yes, the above poster are correct. The
longer you are on any narcotic pain
medication the stronger of a dose you will
need due to the fact you system becomes
immune to the previouc does and says "I
can't help you, I need more".
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BullZye
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 12 Jul 2007 Posts: 112
Posted: 01-19-08 02:58am
Not really "immune".... But yes, you build
a tolerance. Your body becomes adjusted to
such a regular dose that it almost loses
the effect that it had on you at lower
doses.
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m120407
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 08 Jun 2007 Posts: 13
Vicodin Posted: 01-20-08 23:57pm
Thanks - I kind of thought that was the
case. My insurance company has cut me off
of vicodin. Thank goodness I get the
generic so it's not that expensive.
I feel I kind of abused it for a while. I
have periperial neuropathy from the
chemotherapy drug Oxaliplatin that I was
on a couple of years ago for colon cancer.
It causes my hands and feet to feel like
they are being pricked. Even though I
know that nerve pain is hard to treat, I
took the vicodin to try and relax me.
Instead of taking 1 500 mg dose, I took
1000 mg. I used to get pretty sick with
codeine, but this didn't make me sick.
Anyway I guess I really used it for
purposes other than what it is really for
- Pain!!! So now I'm paying for it's
overuse. Hopefully by not taking it much,
when and if I do need it, I won't have to
take mega doses.
