Hi, I'm new to this forum and am hoping someone might be able to answer my question.
I've been taking Vicodin pretty consistantly for the last five months. For the first three and a half months I was taking between four and six 5/500 pills pills per day. Then I had elevated liver function tests, so I switched to Norco which is 10/325. I figured the liver tests were a result of the acetamenophin, so I ceased taking the 500mg pills. When i switched to Norco 10/325 - I was taking about four to five of those per day. Which means I was at around 40 to 50 mg of hydrocodone per day - but only around 1.5 grams of acetamenophin per day (as opposed to 30 mg of hydrocodone and 3 grams of acetamenophin.)
Initially my liver tests turned out better....but then a week later, they spiked up again. So, I've been worried, wanting to stop all pills, but I'm afraid of the withdrawals. Then my girlfriend, who is sick, was prescribed oxycontin 40mg pills. I decided to try taking that "instead" of the norco because there is no acetamenpophin in the pill, and see what it would be like. So, for the last week I haven't touched Vicodin or Norco, but I've been taking one 40mg pill oxycontin in the morning, and one at night. I seem to have a very low level headache throughout the day - but i don't feel too bad at all.
So this is my quesion or questions...
1. Looking strictly at my liver, was it a good move to stop the vicodin/norco in favor of the oxycontin?
2. Am I on the road to "beating" my vicodin addiction since I haven't had any in a week? Is the Oxycontin taking the place of the hydrocodone? Or do I have my hydrocodone addiction beat, but may be getting addicted to oxycontin? Is Oxycontin, since it's a narcotic, virtually the same thing as hydrocodone?
3. Is it better to be taking 5 Noro per day or 2 Oxycontin? Might I have an easy time stopping the Oxycontin since it's only been a week and I haven't gone over the recommended dosage of one tablet every 12 hours?
Originally I was on the vicodin for my back pain. It's gotten much better and i don't need pain pills anymore. But the Vicodin helped me sleep - and the Oxy does as well. I would never break up the Oxy or do any of that insane stuff others have done.
Please feel free to provide me with any input.
Thanks!!!
Jack
Jack, its going to be worse getting off of the oxy than the other stuff. Have you've been drinking at all while taking pills? Alcohol and pills are hell on the liver. The best advice I can give you is to quit all narcotics. There are a lot of good people here who can help you.
Good Luck,
John
Good Luck,
John
No Jon, I haven't been drinking. Not a drink for the last three months. Originally I was drinking while taking the vicodin (but only a drink or two).
So, if i stop the oxy right now, should i take small doses of norco? isn't it dangerous to go cold turkey? i've only taken a total of about 10 oxy's...so i wouldn't think i'd be in great danger of withdrawals at this point. but i've been taking hydro for the last 5 months. is taking the oxy a way of weening myself off the hydrocodone? or is that only making me more addicted?
So, if i stop the oxy right now, should i take small doses of norco? isn't it dangerous to go cold turkey? i've only taken a total of about 10 oxy's...so i wouldn't think i'd be in great danger of withdrawals at this point. but i've been taking hydro for the last 5 months. is taking the oxy a way of weening myself off the hydrocodone? or is that only making me more addicted?
Jack - The maximum daily dose of acetaminophen is 4 grams per day. You were well below that. Replacing what you are taking with Oxycontin puts you on a bad path, especially since you indicated that you don't have "real pain". You should discuss this with your doctor, but stop taking the Oxy. You are just substituting one opiate for a much worse drug. That one Oxy was equivalent to your day's dosage. You have just upped that pot by doubling your opiate intake. Talk to your doctor about discontinuing now. If you need sleep, take a benadryl if absolutely necessary. You are wise to be asking questions while you are not too far into it. You should be ok in a few days if you stop. Good luck.
Jack, I recently developed my own little Vic problem too (3 months 5-6 5/750's a day). However, what I can tell you from experience from meetings (I quit Xanax) is Oxy "seems" more addictive..at least to the people talking about it..this stuff is all addictive, but I've heard a lot of Oxy stories..enough where I would of turned em down had my Dr. offered em..also unfortunately for me, he offered Vic's..others here have way more experience with it. I'm now on a taper for Vic's (God I hope I don't fail!!!), but what I have heard from Oxy people really scares me..
hi, i just read this forum, ok Oxy is a b**** to get off of, vicidion is uncomfortable, but no were near oxy, or methadone that is what i detoxed cold turkey off of, aahhhh, 4 weeks os hell!
I wish you all the best , u need to go to detox!! {{{{hugs to u}}}}}}} all the best!
I wish you all the best , u need to go to detox!! {{{{hugs to u}}}}}}} all the best!
Jack, I detoxed off of Percocet 10/650's (usually 9-10/ day) in 3 days about 3 months ago. It took only 3 full days, and it was at a facility where there was a medical staff just in case. They gave me medications to make the withdrawal tolerable, but it was still hard. I had been using for over a year, and I was extremely surprised that it only took 3 days. So don't worry so much about the Vicodin, as you don't get addicted to Vicodin, Percocet, Oxycontin, etc. You get addicted to Opiates, which includes all of the above. By changing your dosage, you are risking a much harder and more painful detox. You are setting yourself up for a disaster. My advice to you is to stop using, especially since you aren't in any REAL pain anymore. You would be saving yourself a ton of problems in the near future, because one of these days, somewhere down the road, you will have exausted all of your supply, and be left with nothing but a world of hurt because you can't get your drugs anywhere. And maybe you don't think that could happen to you, but it happens to ALL of us. Best of luck Jack, and just try quitting, as I was able to quit for about 7-8 months after I started without having horrible withdrawals. It doesn't hurt to try, and if you find it unbearable, ask for help, someone will give you the help you need.
Jack,
Please stop the oxycontin at once - 40 mg is like taking 4 10mg pills (I believe oxycodone/percocet) at the same time, so like mentioned above, you have actually doubled your doseage and I know for a fact that oxy is way harder to get off of than vicoden. It is a much more powerful drug and you can become addicted in a very short period of time. This I know from personal experience. After taking oxys, I was taking sometimes 10 or more 10mg percocet a day and still didnt feel them, because my body had already become used to the oxy. I didnt obtain them legally (from my dr.) I got them from a friend (at $20 each pill) when I ran out of my pills.Thats what really started me upping my doseage of percocet. I wish I had never taken it. Please quit while you can. I dont know what your girlfriend is suffering from to get prescribed this medication, but in case she is also unaware (which it seems she may be since she gave them to you) I would warn her that oxycontin is one of the most dangerous, addictive drugs on the market today.
I am also beginning to taper off of the percocets and it is alot harder than I thought it would be. I had to give my friend my pills to hold because I couldnot be trusted with them (sad, but true). But I was taking more than double a day than what you were taking- I dont really know if that matters. I think the higher the doseage the worse the withdraws. Thanks for sharing your story. I'm glad I found this board, before this I felt so alone, never knew that so many suffered from the same thing. Wish you and your girlfriend all the best. P.
Please stop the oxycontin at once - 40 mg is like taking 4 10mg pills (I believe oxycodone/percocet) at the same time, so like mentioned above, you have actually doubled your doseage and I know for a fact that oxy is way harder to get off of than vicoden. It is a much more powerful drug and you can become addicted in a very short period of time. This I know from personal experience. After taking oxys, I was taking sometimes 10 or more 10mg percocet a day and still didnt feel them, because my body had already become used to the oxy. I didnt obtain them legally (from my dr.) I got them from a friend (at $20 each pill) when I ran out of my pills.Thats what really started me upping my doseage of percocet. I wish I had never taken it. Please quit while you can. I dont know what your girlfriend is suffering from to get prescribed this medication, but in case she is also unaware (which it seems she may be since she gave them to you) I would warn her that oxycontin is one of the most dangerous, addictive drugs on the market today.
I am also beginning to taper off of the percocets and it is alot harder than I thought it would be. I had to give my friend my pills to hold because I couldnot be trusted with them (sad, but true). But I was taking more than double a day than what you were taking- I dont really know if that matters. I think the higher the doseage the worse the withdraws. Thanks for sharing your story. I'm glad I found this board, before this I felt so alone, never knew that so many suffered from the same thing. Wish you and your girlfriend all the best. P.
