Why am I not experiencing physical withdrawls from Darvocet?

[crk611]

I have been taking Darvocet now for almost one year.  I was prescribed this medicine for fibromayalgia pain, which was also brought on by major life stressors.  I get monthly scripts from my doctor. I am in my early 30's and I would not say that I have an addictive personality.  I have never been hooked on anything.  Darvs are the first drug that I ever liked. I think, or thought I was addicted to Darvocet, as I have been taking them when I don't need to, even when not in pain. They make me feel happy, give me a sense of well-being. The thing is, is that the amount prescribed lasts 2.5 weeks and when I am out of them, I never experience physical withdrawls.  Many people who post mention  flu-like symptoms and I did experience them one time, 11 months ago, when they were initially prescribed.  It has been a week since I ran out and I miss taking them but I read an artice about deathly levels of tylonel, and I was taking at least 8 a day.  Now I am concerned for my health (I am also a wife and mother of a 4 and 7 yr old) and my liver.  At this point I am not sure I am going to try to keep getting them.  What I want to know is why, if I am addicted to them, since my tolerence level is so high from taking them daily, am I not experiencing withdrawl symptoms?  What does this mean?  I have been edgy and cranky during these 7 days, but I also had graduate finals this week.  My days and nights are not consumed with when I am going to get em next, yet I miss the feeling. Am I truly addicted or am I really just a recreational user? Please help me understand...

[christinemm]

I had neck surgery about a week ago and was given darvocet before and after surgery.  About a week after I quit taking the medication because the pain eased up but I was feeling sick to my stomach all the time.  I have been experiencing night sweats, shakes, stomach pains and nausea, a little vomitting and yes, feeling like crying and that I may be losing my mind to some extent.  My mom looked up the symptoms of people coming off narcotic drugs and this helped explain a lot of what I was going through.  I could not sleep at all last night I was wired and my heart was racing.  I wanted to know more and did a search and found this helpful website.  At least we know we are not going crazy.

[worried878]

hydrocodone....same as vicoden really

[phipps68]

what is lortabs no one around my area has heard of them...

[worried878]

Have been wondering about darvacet as they never did anything for me but I do know they are a mild opiate...seems as though you would have to take a bunch to get physically addicted...mental addiction is possible with anything...some people just do not get addicted after years of narcs...few tho and it can happen when u least expect it...i did so i would not play with fire...one day you cross the line...my son worked in a methadone cliic and said they did not see darvacet addiction there often because  usually people will step up to something stronger when they are taking that many darvacets a day...like 8...that is alot of tylenol...and I hope you do not drink on top of that...I was up to 8 lortabs a day and my next step would have been oxy if I had not quit!  only 12 days tho...hanging in there

[phipps68]

Darvocet? I took those after a surgery and they didnt even make me feel high? Ididnt know they could do that I thought they were like t-3's.... I hope it all works out for you!

[tryshmatt]

I stopped taking Darvocet and am feeling such anxity and depression, I want to sleep to make this feeling go away. I have had a headache for 4 days sick tummy and no energy. Im kinda scared. I feel like I am loosing my mind. Could this be all from quiting all of a sudden? Becasue I had no anixity before I stopped. Just depression. How long should I waite before I go see a Dr.?

[amythist2779]

Hello. I am glad you brought this up. I was going to myself but I didnt know how to explain it. I too have fibromyalgia and I take 6-8 10/325 norcos (hydrocodone) and 2-60 mg morphine pills a day. Well last month my neighbor stole a half bottle of my norco. I filed a police report and everything but could not get it refilled because it was too soon and it being a narcotic and insurance, you know the routine. So I had to go 2 weeks without any pain meds at all. And let me stress to you that I have fibromyalgia that has progressed so much in the last year. I   also have cushings disease, a pituitary tumor and bipolar. In the last year I have gone from taking 30 norcos per month to know taking 2 every 4 hours so it varies to about 200 per month. Anyways I was really freaking out because I thought for sure I would go through some major withdrawl just because I have been on narcotics for almost 4 years because of fibro. but I didn't. I didn't have any withdrawls that I noticed anyways. I just had the normal fibro pain that I would have any other day, but I didnt get the sweats, shakes or headaches like alot of other people get. I will say though that I did not have any energy. I could not get out of bed or function much.

So I am not sure if I am addicted, which I dont think I am, or if its just because I have taken them for so long, 4 years that my body is dependant upon them. I don't feel a craving for them when I am out. I mean I do not go crazy because I can not take a pill. Yes I may get irritated when the pain is so unbearable that I can not stand it but I manage to work my way through it. I have never taken asprin before, and during that 2 weeks that I was out I started to take bayer back and body. Oh man don't do that! It tore my stomache up something bad. Im telling you I couldnt eat or drink anything without throwing up thats how bad it upset my stomach.

So in a way we are the same. I don't have any answers for you, I just thought I would share my experience to let you know that you are not alone. If you would ever like to talk about it you can reach me at my screen name at yahoo.com. Take care and have a happy new year!!

[crk611]

Thanks for the post.  I find that no one responds to you on this forum unless you are completely down and out or something.  Almost as if I am "not addicted" enough.  Its interesting that I am one of the only people on this site who likes darvocet as much as I do.  I have taken lortabs and vicodin and I don't like them as much.  Am I weird or what?  I am still having headaches and its been ten days.  I could get some if I wanted to, my doc is only 2 blocks away, but I don't think I am going to.  My kids have been on break for the holidays and I think I would be so much more active with them if I had them but I know that the acetiminofen in them is so bad for the liver.  I miss the feeling though.  Does anyone think I am still having residual mental symptoms?  Should I have my anti-depressant increased as a result?  Still only headaches, no flu-like symptoms. How do I know if the headaches are tension or sinus?  Should I go to a support group?  I am starting a very good job, for which I just took a physical yesterday.  That is also why I am ceasing.

[frommoon]

Headaches can be a sign of some degree of withdrawal and thus physical addiction.  Irritability is one of the most common symptoms.  Like the other poster said, sounds like you might have gotten somewhat of a "free pass" for now.  Get out while you can.  Time will get you back to 100 percent normal.

[crk611]

I am totally new to this forum, so thanks for responding.  What I am trying to say is that I don't have the flu-like symptoms. However, what I have experienced (though now on my 10th day without) is edginess, and been sorta depressed.  I read another post from the 10th of Dec. about someone who took lortabs (750 mg) for 2 years or so.  He or she was not having physical symptoms (like I described) but was edgy, etc. Obviously, the chemical makeup of the pills are different. I don't know. That individual attributes it to g-ds work, (not having bad withdrawl symptoms).  I just stopped cold turkey too, had to, I was out.  I did have really bad headaches for the first 4 days too, and I am not one prone to headaches.  Do you think that is a side effect too?  I wish others would also respond.  No one seems to like Darvocet like I do, people are always surprised that I like them a lot.  They say they are the lowest on the totem-pole, as far as pain pills go.  I used to look forward to taking them each day, after I showered and got ready.  Now I sorta have nothing to look forward to.  I am on antidepressants, have been for 6 years.  I have a nice life, good kids, and since remarrying, a good marriage.  We are very close and he knows all about it.  Do you think I am an addict, even though I don't seek it out illegally, etc?

[matine]

Hi:
I read your post. At that level you should be feeling something; cold sweats, fluey, etc. I have a great deal of expearence with drugs and can not explain except to say you could be that one in a million who is somewhat immune to the drug. Might not conntinue that way. Could change overnight. I once knew a woman when she took cocain she fell asleep...strange since that drug wires you. So go with it if you feel lucky, otherwise there is little to gain in tempting the Gods. They tend to reverse judgement in a heartbeat.