Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

addiction around the corner?

I need advice.  I have bad back pain and yesterday my docotor prescribed me Hydrocodone to take when my back really hurts.  My problem is that I am too scared to take them.  I have heard horror stories about people becoming addicted to pain pills and I do not want that to happen to me.  If I only take 1 or 2 per day will I get addicted?  If I stop taking them will  I go through withdrawl??
Please give me your thoughts.
Thanks
12 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
I hope this helps. In Nov of 2009, I had back issues that resonated to my arm and fingers. I was writhing in pain. Nothing would help. When my general practitioner gave me Oxycontin, I had honestly never heard of it. I took it as the bottle said looking at it as though it were a antibiotic or something.

For me, it helped, it worked, it took the pain away. I wasn't tying my extra energy/euphoria into the equation. Not our of denial, just didn't know enough about drugs or WDs. As I continued through the process of Xrays, epidurals, etc., when I got to the 11 month mark, I started feeling and knowing, I was taking 40mgs of oxy (2 twenty mgs twice a day) for too long.

I stopped CT and went through horrendous WDs... (longer story)

So, I say all that to say, in hindsight, I really wish my doc would have given me 5 minutes of info/warning. If I could rewind, I definitely WOULD have taken the oxy, but only for my writhing/excruciating pain. It sounds like you are going into this cautiously, so my guess is you will be okay. BUT, doctors still make a lot of money, so bug your doctor with your concerns/fears and he or she will know that when you go into get your 3rd refill, that maybe it will be time to cut you off before you hurt yourself.

Stay encouraged and keep posting here!
Helpful - 0
1653969 tn?1390331661
I have known people, and probably everyone else on here to, that can go on and off of these pills with no problems. You should be fine.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hey Friend!

I think you'll be just fine. My philosophy is: "Don't worry about something until it happens!!   That includes EVERYTHING, not just addiction.

I particularly liked what Lesa and Sandstone wrote to you. Read that again...

Remember: you came to an addiction forum ( which is great!) but some responses you receive may be "bent" a little more in that direction. Know what I mean?  

Take the meds for your pain. Just be mindful, as you should be with everything you eat!!

Keep posting!!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
MOOKIE!!!    What in the heck are you thinking???
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
How do you think what you just posted helped radio123? In ANY way whatsovever?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
IF you take them OCCASIONALLY, and doesn't mean DAILY, you shouldn't develop much of a physical dependance for them.  Notice the different word?
Taking opiate or opiate combo pills for legit reasons, not to get high, is not a sin.  Even developing a physical dependence to them is not a sin.
If you need pain control, then you need it, and if the usual analgesics aren't helping, then you don't have much other choice.

Taking them daily, you WILL develop a physical dependence to them. This is normal, and not a bad thing in itself.
What is a bad thing, is when you start popping pills because you like the high.
Hydrocodone is one of the worst for both giving a high, and for you developing a strong physical dependence for them.

What's even worse, is when you take so many that you begin overdosing on the acetaminophen in those pills.

I would prefer taking a single action opiate- thats a pill that doesn't have any acetaminophen, aspirin or ibuprofen in it- myself.

You shouldn't be afraid to take pain meds, as long as you take them as prescribed and not mess around with them to get high.

But instead of asking or taking more when you find they aren't working for you  anymore, go back to your doctor and TELL him you want to switch out to a different  derivative.

If you don't allow yourself to turn into an addict, you won't. Just don't take them outside of what the prescription instructs, and see your doc if or when you are having any problems with them.

Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
HI it all starts out so inacently just one pill every 4 to 6 hr so you do what the doctor says after a wile 1 pill dont seam to have the punch anymore so you up it to 2 pils this is your first sign its getting dangerous2 turns in to 3 3 to 4 and wala your first euphoric hits you.....from here on your chancing the feeling as well as trying to get rid of back pain I just wanted to paint a picture of how it starts for a lot of us for me it got to the point of eating them by the handful and the pills kept getting stronger this went on for 10tr till I was put on methadone then another 6 1/2 yr b/4 I wok up and got clean so if you have to take a pill for pain just know this is where it has lead for many of us for me longer then most it no way to live try your best to do without them non of us ever thought we would wind up addicts good luck and God bless........Gnarly  
Helpful - 0
1200450 tn?1317496867
This will work to your advantage. The same thing happened to me. I was nervous about taking the pills because of the addiction. I took them as needed for about six months. Then I decided I needed more and more. I would run out early. The day I tried to get them off the streets was the day I quit. I looked back at my original thought process and said, remember, this is exactly what you were scared of. So I quit. Being aware that there could be a problem makes all the difference in yhe world. I could have handled the pills. I simply couldn't control my intake. I wanted more. Anywho, write it down if you have too. If I ever run out early, stop. If I ever doctor shop, stop. If I ever lie to my doctor about why I need more pills, stop. If I buy it off the streets, stop.

It's what I did. As soon as I starting doing things on my list, I quit. And now I'm 22 days clean. I don't plan on ever going back. I proved to myself that I had no control over my intake.

Good luck to you.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi and Welcome!
I had a similar problem a few years back.  I was prescribed vicodin for a back injury - 2 10/325's a day.  After about a year and a 1/2, the pain was pretty well under control, but for about 6 months I continued to take them, partly out of habit, mostly out of fear of withdrawal.  I never increased my dose, I was afraid of permanently damaging my vital organs.  I finally decided to stop them and came to Medhelp to find out about what kind of withdrawal to expect.  I mostly took 1 to 1 1/2 pills a day, on occasion, 2 a day.  The withdrawals were there, but not much to speak of.  I'm no hero when it comes to pain and nausea, so it really wasn't too bad - about 3 days of feeling lousy, but not terrible.  Once I stopped taking them, that was it.  I never felt the need to take them again because my pain was gone. I was mostly physically dependent, which will happen after 2 years.  

It's great that you're aware of the addiction possibility, but it really depends on you.  Take them with care and as prescribed and you should be fine.  If you become dependent on them, your withdrawal should be minimal, as long as your doctor prescribes a reasonable dose.  

Wishing you a speedy recovery...

Sandy :)
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
    
            If they are just for back pain then take them as prescribed and you should be all right
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi Radio Welcome to the forum.. I'm very sorry to read of your back pain. my best advice would be to take as needed and if you can help it not on a everyday bases. although there are many that use pain meds responsibly and do not become addicted as in taking more then prescribed loosing friends family money and self they do become dependent That is their body becomes dependent on the meds and when not taken at a regular time our skip a dose they feel the wd. all opiates have this effect if taken for a long period of time. some feel the wd after a short period depends on the person. Caution is what I suggest and include any kind of alternative therapy if you can as in acupuncture massage and so on.. we also have a Pain Management Community you may want to check out they also could be helpful. I wish you the very best. lesa
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi radio, if you take them as prescribed than you should be fine. Now with that being said, do you have an addictive personality? I do and was a hard core Vicodin abuser for two years. Nearly destroyed me. That's not to scare you because if you don't get addicted to substances than I'm sure you will be fine. Vicodin makes some people sleepy and they hate it. Others, like me, loved the high from it and wanted that feeling all the time.
Hope this helps. Glad you asked. Knowledge is power!!!
Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Addiction: Substance Abuse Community

Top Addiction Answerers
495284 tn?1333894042
City of Dominatrix, MN
Avatar universal
phoenix, AZ
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
Is treating glaucoma with marijuana all hype, or can hemp actually help?
If you think marijuana has no ill effects on your health, this article from Missouri Medicine may make you think again.
Julia Aharonov, DO, reveals the quickest way to beat drug withdrawal.
Tricks to help you quit for good.
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.