Question by justwondering27: How long does it usually take to be come addicted to Vicodin?
Okay let me first say I have a low tolerance to pain meds and generally refuse to take anything not over the counter. However my pain has become unmanagable for me so I went to the doctor. He gave me the 5′s. The script is take 2 three times a day. That is 42 pills for 1 week! Much less he has given me a refill and I will be recieving another 30 day supply in the mail with 6 months of refills. Mind you I have a low tolerance to this stuff and the addiction issues run rampit in my family. I personally have never done drugs so i dont know how easy it is for me to become addicted. I have 2 kids and do not want to become addicted to a narcotic. They require to much. Any input would be great. Thanks
Okay I have chronic pain. This has been a constant for about 9yrs now. I have been to physical therapy and pain management and what not. I do not abuse things either never have. here is a some of my diagnosis
carpel tunnel both wrist (refuse surgury not time to recoup)
fibromyalgia
arthritis
and the list goes on!
Best answer:
Answer by PooPooLaTrash
Addiction varies from individual to individual. It’s impossible to say it will take x number of days for an addiction to a substance to occur, but generally, the longer you take a potentially addictive drug, the more potential for addiction. Without having access to your medical records and knowing the diagnosis that warranted getting this Rx, it’s even more difficult to give you an informed opinion.
Short term use of narcotic pain medications is usually safe. If you have a condition that warrants long term pain management, you might be better off to ask for a referral to a pain management specialist. They can help you with alternative therapies that may help in your situation. Of course, narcotics may be your only alternative, but either way, you’ll know your options.
Addendum after poster gave more information:
If you have tried other things and the pain can only be managed with narcotics, quit beating yourself up over it and take the meds. There is no shame in needing drugs to control pain in order to maintain some quality of life. The shame should be on the medical community and general public for lumping people with legitimate pain management needs into the same genre as junkies. That’s why so many people in America and elsewhere have to endure pain that otherwise could be controlled. Just be careful since you know your tolerance to such medications is low and your family has a history of addictions. Don’t ever take more than the prescribed dose without your doctor’s ok, and take only enough to relieve your pain.
If at some point, a non addictive medication or therapy is developed that will help you, your doctor can prescribe a withdrawal protocol for ceasing Vicodin that will lessen the physical discomfort often associated with it.
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I am a home health nurse. You don’t have to take 2 pills three times a day, you can take less than that if it is effective for you (just don’t take more without talking to the doctor). As far as becoming “addicted,” I think that would be a different time frame for each person. And there are really 2 different ways of being “addicted.” Depending on what is causing the pain, somc people physically need pain medication to get through the day and that is okay–for example people with cancer or chronic very painful conditions. Other people “need” the pain medication for other reasons and are willing to steal, lie, and break the law to get it–that is not okay. So I would try the pain medication at a lower dose if you like, but if it does not work increase it to the prescribed dose. You could also try other methods of pain relief and talk with your doctor about your concerns–he might be able to give you a different medication (non-narcotic).