Vicodin addiction?

Question

I know someone who is addicted to vicodin, and needs help! He was first prescribed vicodin about a year ago for some joint problems. Well, he was on it for so long that he is now addicted. He is no longer prescribed vicodin, so he has to find them in other places. It is taking up all his money, and causing a lot of GI upset. He has tried to quit cold turkey, and even by weaning down, but his body can't handle it. He gets cold sweats, aches all over, and doesn't have the energy to get up and do anything, so he ends up giving in, because vicodin is so easy to find around here. Does anyone else have some advice for what he can do to quit? Or how I can help him? I've told him he should just go to rehab, or tell the hospital about his addiction, but he won't. PLEASE HELP!!!

Answer 1

I weaned down a little at a time. I replaced it with Aleve.. I would take 5 mg. with two advil, then break it down to 1/2 of 5 mg. and two Aleve. Etc, till I was just on Aleve. I found Aleve works best for me but you can try the others
Ps, this was my Docs suggestion. I would cut down more every two weeks.

Answer 2

Well I think that he was truth full in tell you that he had an addiction, and that he took your pills. This narcotic can sometimes be really hard to get away from. But I can't see you leaving him because he has a problem. Perhaps he's ashamed of it and didn't lie to you he just didn't want you to know. I think that now is the time to be supportive for him, like he has been for you and family. If you get more vicodin in the house, keep them under lock and key, but you are going to have to help him quite cold. The alternative is using Methadone to help with the addiction and this is usually a worse problem. And I really don't think that it's fair for you to spy on him just because you work in the say doctors office, this is actually against the law and it makes you a worse person for not trusting him. IF you can't trust him then maybe it's time you cut your tie's. on the other hand if you do trust him, then get behind him 100% and help him get over this before it ruins not only him but your family too. Best Regards!

Answer 3

He has got to want to quit. Those symptoms of withdrawal you mentioned are real and intense...BUT they only last for a few days, maybe 4 or 5 at most.. they are the body adjusting and are not harmful in itself, just uncomfortable (unlike addiction to alcohol or valium) after that, LIFE returns. Being able to feel and enjoy life without the anxiety of trying to keep from getting sick by scoring more vicodin will be quite a relief.

Another option is to wean down, he will still feel like crap but it won't be as intense, and will last much longer, maybe a couple of weeks. The key is his own willingness to get clean and hopefully he will realize that he CAN feel good without them after the initial discomfort passes.


A few things that will help... Advil, Immodium for the GI discomfort (immodium is an opioid that does not affect the CNS), also, a legal herbal product... Blue Lily of the Nile extract (contains aporphine and nuciferine which can help A LOT with the withdrawl symptoms). Good luck.

Answer 4

Give him David's advice. He has to have the desire. He may have an addictive personality and may be have been addictive to other drugs in the past. This seems to be a very common problem for many people that I know. If the suggestions of David don't help and he has the will to quit he should go a doctor and complete an outpatient or in patient rehab. Good luck to him, he's lucky to have a nice friend like you.

Answer 5

The only way I know of is to just quit and resist the urge to do it. The first few days you will feel sick and be willing to take 6-7 Advil or aleve just thinking it might give you somewhat of a good feeling but it won't. Just hold out for a week and get someone that you can trust so that if you feel like taking one they can help you not to. You definitely need to avoid the people that you know have them all the time because it's just to easy to give in. After a full week it gets a lot easier. Good luck

Answer 6

First off I want to say I have personal experience on this subject from 3 people including myself going thru it. This is NOT easy IT'S HELL. But it does only last a few days to a week and after that it's only in your head. So the real question is Is your friend mentally strong enough? Does he really want to quit? Just because he makes it thru the physical side of withdrawl doesn't get him out of the clear. I stayed with mine at home and put up with every whine and was there to totally support them during the process but it's not easy on the support person either. Sometimes a treatment center is better they do offer out patient services or even just a support group. But he will need to stay occuppied after he's feeling better and have a steady flow of support to make it thru it.

Answer 7

Tell him/help him get into counseling to help him. There is a great drug out there, suboxone. It is an opiate blocker and it is very helpful when coming off pain medication. I was on oxycontin/oxcodone for 6 months for chronic knee pain and I just stopped cold turkey. It was horrible...all the symptoms you described. I am back on these medications now and should it be difficult for me to come off in the future, I am going to look into suboxone. Tell your friend about my brother.... my brother is 33 years old and still lives at home with our parents. He split his lip about a decade ago and was prescribed a few vicodin for the pain. He quickly became addicted and loved the numb feeling he got from them. He went from doctor to doctor making up aches and pains in order to get medication. He even went so far as to punching his hand through a window and purposely spraining his ankle just to get pain medication. In recent years he started getting it off the streets. He even went so far as to steal my pain medication on numerous occasions. (I have had 13 knee surgeries, many of which were when I was younger and I had no idea that he was taking my medication.) He took so many one night and drove through our town and he was so out of it that he slammed into a telephone poll and broke it and drove his smashed car with 4 flat tires home. My father called the police on him because he was afraid that he possibly hit a car and could have hurt someone. Other events have happened since and he has had his license taken away and even spent time in jail. My point is pain killer addiction ruins lives...not just the addict's, but friends and families as well. Maybe let your friend read this. If my brother's story can help someone else get off their addiction I know he would be happy. Good luck.

Answer 8

I know of a natural supplement that helps with joint pain and flexibility. It also gives you energy and helps with stress. I have known people who have gotten off of various anti -depressent medications and even some who have kicked the smoking habit with the help of this product. Neither is as severe as your friends condition.
It contains Serenix which is made from baby corn leaves and provides you with a feeling of well being.
It's worth a try.
If you would like more information about the product, feel free to e-mail me through Y!A. I will provide you with the link.

Answer 9

I'm sorry to hear about your friend.

You should get him to a Pain Specialist immediately. There are medications that he can be given to get him off the Vicodin without going through what he is going through. It will make his life better than it is now. And he needs to be monitored closely during this time.

God bless you for being such a good friend and may God help him to accept the help he needs.

Answer 10

Sounds like it's time for an intervention. Have all his loved ones in a room with a rep from rehab to say (or read) how he cannot go on this way. He'll end up homeless or dead. He must go to rehab or he is officially cut off from all his friends and family. It really helps if you've seen the show "Intervention" on basic cable (A&E I think.)