How do you kinow if you are addicted to Vicodin?

Question

I had a serious surgery on my foot 6 months ago and I have been taking Vicodin ever since. I know I still need it because my pain gets pretty bad sometimes when the medicine wears off. But, when the time comes and the doctor says I don't need anymore, what's going to happen to me?

I forgot to tell you that I am afraid to ask my doctor because he will think I need to get off of it and I'm not ready!

Answer 1

If you feel that you need to take the vicodin to live. He should wean you off of it. Maybe you should see a pain management Doctor. 6 months is a long time for u to be still having alot of pain in that foot. Its possible that your body has become dependant on the vicodin. Which is different than addiction.
Addiction hapens when u take it when u dont need it, u take it for the high. Dependancy happens because u have been on it for so long and your body is used to having it. So that is what you will have. your doc. will need to wean you off slowly to avoid withdrawal symptoms.
I personally think u need a pain med that last longer than the vicodin, especially if u are having alot of pain in that foot. Could be u have some nerve damage. I suggest seeing a pain specialist.

Answer 2

If your body is seriously addicted then you'll definitely go through withdrawals when you stop taking it. I had surgery and got hooked on Vicodin without even realizing. When I stopped taking it, my entire body felt like there were bugs crawling under my skin for about a week to a week and a half. It was so miserable. I couldn't stop scratching and couldn't sleep because it itched so bad. I knew I had to suffer through it though, you don't really have a choice. You could relieve yourself by taking another pill, but you'll just postpone having to eventually stop taking it. If you're concerned about not taking it anymore and what might happen... contact your doctor and ask him to tell you what is the best way... maybe you shouldn't stop cold turkey like I did, unless you have high will power.

Answer 3

If you've been taking it regularly for six months, then chances are you have developed a dependency. Talk to your doctor, I'm pretty sure that he wouldn't just stop the treatment. Most likely, he'll just start prescribing you smaller and smaller doses to wean you off of it. It still won't be easy, but just follow his instructions and you won't have to worry about becoming an addict. Believe me, it's not fun.

Good luck :)

Answer 4

You can identify addiction if you find yourself taking your medicine too early, or if you are not in significant pain at the time you take it. 6 months does seem quite long to take the same medicine for foot surgery. Unless you are using your pain medication as a "crutch", for instance.... when you take your medicine, you do more than you should because you can't feel the pain at the time, causing you to not heal at the pace your doctor intended. If you are still in the pain that you say is pretty bad.... then maybe your surgeon needs to know so that he can really check your foot again and make sure that your surgery was successful. There are some delicate nerves in your foot and one of them could have been compromised with out his knowledge and he wouldn't know if you weren't honest about the pain.
If it were me I would be completely honest with my doctor and if he doesn't comply with what you think is needed pain wise then simply ask him to refer you to a pain management clinic so that they can better evaluate your pain. It is good that you are even concerned about whether you are addicted or not so it really does sound like your goal is ....No Pain. When you start lying about or hiding things about your condition in order to still obtain pills is when you have the problem.
Good Luck

Answer 5

Six months seems a wee bit long to be taking Vic's after a foot surgery. NOW, i had a major back surgery and was off everything in 6 months but then had to have another back surgery (they fused my lumber)and i am still on them.........lortab, fentynal patch, etc. but i have severe scoliosis, a disease that is not going to get any better or go away........just be honest with your doctor, if he is any good decent doctor he will know what to do...........but when i feel like it's time to get off and i really want to slow down on them i just stairstep off of them, like take 5 for 3 or 4 days, then go down to 4 for 3 or 4 days and so on...it works! and for God's sake, do not go cold turkey!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 6

you'll be fine,vicodin is extremely addictive,and if you always feel the need for it,you could be addicted,so do be careful with it,you don't need it trust me,i have been addicted to alot of drugs before,and it is so hard to break through,I had to take percosat a while back and almost liked it to much,but then the medicine was gone and so was my need for it,so just fight girl,you don't need it,you can get through the pain!

good luck

Answer 7

Nothing. If begin having withdrawls your doc will find a solution.OK then lets get high together. I use benzos and alcohol along with vicodins. what do you say? BTW i assumed your doc took u off the vicodins since he said you don't need them anymore.

Answer 8

ooo i would love to answer this question fully but i really think you have to discuss this with your doctor.

I have been addicted to several drugs in my time but they were all illegal so i thought i was having a great time on them.
Painkillers can be addictive but once your very specific pain has gone your brain should be able to acknowledge this and you should be able to stop the tablets there and then.

Best wishes

Answer 9

you are going to stop to use it