My sister has a problem. She has been taking vicodin everyday for a year.. and i am starting to get concerned. Is this a real problem The doctor prescibed it to her so maybe I am just worrying. Anyone ever been addicted ?
2007-10-09 06:06:43 · 6 answers · asked by Undecided 2 in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ Pain & Pain Management
One more thing.
My sister my sister has cancer therefor they prescribe this medication because she needs it. But she doesnt need it ALL the time. True she is in pain alot but she pops them just because. They prescribed her Morphine but she didnt want it . She wanted the vicodin. What are the signs of the medication being abused. Physically, and mentally.
2007-10-09 06:26:55 · update #1
She takes 1 1/2 to 2 pills ever 4 hours. She doesnt take like 5 or 6, but I do think that can lead to long term dependency.
2007-10-09 06:29:29 · update #2
WHAT DO THEY DO WHEN U DETOX....
2007-10-09 10:19:09 · update #3
You are right in being concerned for your sister and from what you explain in some ways she is showing signs of addiction. But there is a fine line when you deal with a situation like hers because her pain comes and goes. You have to consider a couple differant things...Is she taking the vicodin every 4 hrs to prevent the pain because she is afraid to feel the pain?....Does she feel like she is in pain while she is taking all of these pills?......Or does she like the way the vicodin keeps her calm and eases the pain.
The last one is the scary one because when vicodin is used for pain like hers for long periods of time they become reliant on it and therefore dependant. Her doctor should have really switched her to something differant at along the 6 month period. Now switching to Morphine is a little extreme and I can understand why she didn't want it and it doesn't make much sense. Morphine is for extreme to severe pain, where vicodin is for mild to moderate.
If her cancer is not terminal then she should really be seeing a Pain Management Doctor along with her Oncologist because they are there just to manage her meds and their effect on her.
I know that this didn't really answer your question, but there really isn't one since she has pain.
Yes, she's dependant and shouldn't be taking the pills every 4hrs, but the circumstances cloud that. Either way she is going to have some pretty severe detoxing when it is time to come off of them and that is when she is gonna need your care and attention to make sure that she can get through it and not turn to any other drugs when she doesn't need them at all.
I hope she is well soon, and you are a great sis for being there and concerned for her. God Bless you guys!!(gals) ;=)
2007-10-09 08:01:37 · answer #1 · answered by DeltaQueen 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"Many persons taking vicodin longer than medically necessary keep using it thinking that if they were to stop taking vicodin, their pain would return. In reality, the fear of vicodin withdrawal can be a strong motivating factor in the continuing use of vicodin, and more importantly, the feeling that more vicodin is needed to combat the same pain. Over a period of time more and more vicodin is needed to have the same pain relieving effects and to ward off vicodin withdrawal symptoms. Many people end up taking more and more vicodin or changing medications and switching to a strong medication such as oxycontin or loritab and taking more and more of these, due to the highly addictive qualities of these medications. "
2007-10-09 06:27:43 · answer #2 · answered by Smartypants 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You SHOULD be concerned. Vicodin is a very short term pain medication as it is VERY addictive. After I had my hysterectomy I took it for a couple of weeks. When my RX ran out I wanted more which they gave me. When THAT ran out I wanted more but they wouldn't give me any. I'm glad they didn't. It's a very euphoric drug.
Some docs will just keep prescribing....
Try to get her some help - maybe even an intervention.
2007-10-09 06:16:06 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
This is a serious problem, but there is help. I was addicted for eight years and went to prison for doing my own scripts. There quite frankly is no other way but rehab. In there they will medically detox her and get on a program of abstinence. I was in ten rehabs before i finally got it. There also is a relatively new med called suboxone. This has kept me clean for close to two years. I also attend A.A. virtually every day, as i dont want to go back to prison. The withdrawl is the same as heroin, and really cant be done alone. Get her help, or i assure you the viscious cycle will go on till prison or death.
good luck
2007-10-09 06:22:25 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I know someone whom is very addicted to vicodin, it ruined there marriage and life!! Everyday for a year is a very serious addiction and you are someone close to her NEEDS to help her before it gets even worse then it already is!! Best of luck to her!!
2007-10-09 06:15:53 · answer #5 · answered by Wendy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, vicoden is very addictive, and yes it hurts coming off it!! Its not a picnic!! But if she has ancer, I'd be more concerned about that!!
2007-10-10 03:56:06 · answer #6 · answered by happywjc 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋