Is It Possible To Take Vicodin Long Term & Not Get Addicted?

I have advanced psoriatic arthritis and have had 4 major spine surgeries. Without the drug I the pain would be intolerable. I have taken Hydrocodone for many years yet I don’t feel like I’m addicted. I don’t have any of the symptoms I read others are having. I have had some constipation but that’s controlled. Nausea is controlled easily by just eating before taking the med. No other issues.

I’m prescribed 5 a day but only take 3 most days. Most likely unless the government outlaws the drug i’ll be on this the rest of my life due to the pain associated with this and other diseases. Because of this drug I am able to lead a fairly active lifestyle for a 72 year old. From what you read on the Net if you take this you have to be addicted and I just don’t think I am. It sounds more like scare tactics to keep those that have an addictive personality from taking them. I feel sorry for those that I read about, sounds horrible. I’ve never seen one article written about someone that has never became addicted with long term use and was just wondering if there are others out there that feel like I do.

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Yes of course, but you will probably have some kind of withdrawals when you stop if you take it long term.

Not like what you see in the movies though.

If you mean physically dependent, no. But if you mean addicted to where you’re craving them and selling your stuff to buy more, of course it’s possible to take them and not come to that.

Most people who take pain meds as prescribed are fine but everyone who takes them long term has to wean off them rather than stop suddenly if you don’t want unpleasant symptoms.

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As long as you take it as scripted you should not get addicted ..... that's what I am upset about .... I have been on opiods mostly hydrocodone (vicodin) & fentanyl patch (as strong as 75mcg) always took as prescribed for over 2 decades without an issue ... I was even losing weight ... but when the govt decided to punish those of us that follow the prescription because of those that do not follow directions .... I recieved 6 10/325 hydrocodone a day & a 75mcg patch every 48 hours but now they cut me back to 5 10/325 a day ..... I can barely move my BP has increased drastically as have my diabetes numbers both of which are side effects (caused by) of chronic pain ..... as long as you follow the script directions I would say the chances you get addicted is less than 1/100th of 1% but to be honest it's up to you to remain adamant to holding the line of remaining on the script directions .... if you dont need it dont take it .... be strong & may GOD be with you

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Most laymen don't understand that there is a difference between addiction, and dependence.

Addiction occurs when someone likes the way a substance makes them feel, but since side effects typically wear off as their body gets used to the substance, they have to keep taking more, and more to get those side effects back. That is how addiction starts, they eventually reach the point where they are taking very high doses, and if they suddenly stop, they will likely experience severe withdrawal effects, that may include nausea, chills, fever, vomiting, weight loss, rebound pain, and seizures. There is also a chance of such symptoms being fatal.

However, dependence is much different, it occurs due to our bodies nature of getting used to anything we ingest regularly, and while we may experience some mild withdrawal effects, if we stop suddenly, they are not usually severe, or dangerous. So, there is really no reason to worry, if you are only take a medication as prescribed, or possibly even less than the prescribed amount.

That is why the FDA warning about Vicodin, and similar medications, states that they may be habit forming.

Typical side effects may include nausea, dizziness, headache, dry mouth, and constipation.

Ref: Vicodin Information

Is there anything I can help with?

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Like you my father who is now 85 has been on Norco for about 30 years (at least) and he was given 5mg pill twice a day for 2 1/2 decades. As he has gotten older more terrible things have developed and he is in constant severe pain now every single minute of his life.

So his primary care doctor doctor increased his Norco to the 10 mg dose twice a day. He was basically telling my father that is it because you’re an 85-year-old man and this drug could be too dangerous for you to take or whatever. And first of all when my dad has, he never ever runs out because like you he skipped time doses and what not. That leaves a little extra built-up for when you’re really screaming in pain and can’t take it one more minute. Because he takes them as prescribed.

On the flip side, yes, I believe that anyone taking Norco (at whatever strength) for a very long time period will build-up a physical tolerance to it; although it’s doubtful that anyone won’t feel anything like withdrawal symptoms because he never has an “opiate tolerance” because it's science.

I am also under the strong belief that anyone that has a pain control or is sadly in hospice or at the end of their lives the last 3/4 years were you know everything starts to break down what matter difference does it make if a person gets physically addicted to it? When I say “it” I mean any schedule two narcotic prescribed to elderly people at the end of very long lives and they should be make comfortable PERIOD!! I mean drugs like morphine or whatever… Who gives a crap? People should we not be treated like this as well as actual real long-term chronic pain patients which I also happen to be, because when I was 19 years old I was in a motorcycle accident that nearly killed me and changed my life forever.

His doctor said legally he wouldn’t be able to give more but he also said that he worked at Kaiser so that could’ve just been a Kaiser internal thing… Who knows? They haven’t been able to diagnose him and we’ve been going through this for months and months and it just gets worse and worse.. it’s killing me to watch him like this.

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Re: Lori (# 4)

From what my pain mismanagement person says cdc limit is 50mg a day BUT
What they dont tell you is they can prescribe however much you need all they need to do is add an explanation as too why they are giving the script amount they are giving I have been in pain since the 80s & just suffered (did things like lay on floor & put my calves on a kitchen chair to help relieve the pressure) till 2000 then they started scripting pain meds it took till about 2012 too find a balance that worked & I maintained at that prescription level TILL THE GOVERNMENT THOUGHT THEY KNEW BETTER WHAT I NEED THAN THE DOCTERS .... & my pain mismanagement refuses to prescribe the amount needed .... yes I was still in pain when I was scripted the balance but I lived a life I did stuff & fixed stuff built stuff lost almost 100pounds but since they stopped doing their job I gained most of the weight back (catch 22 lose weight it wont hurt as bad but the eating is a comfort thing)
& mostly sit around watching the boob panel (streaming is nice but I'd rather be living a life .... yes you will develop a need for the meds (BUT NOT BECOME AN ADDICT) an addict just does whatever they need too to get more drugs and does not follow the schedule of when to take them .....I was on the same scripts 4 about 5 years & took as directed with out a problem ... the dr even asked me if I wanted the hydrocodone changed to oxycodone that's a 50% increase over the hydrocodone ..... I said no yes I still hurt but I been hurting since the 80s & I can do what I need to do I dont need more I have a maintainable life so I'm good with the meds I get BUT THE GOVERNMENT LIKE ALWAYS PUNISH THOSE THAT FOLLOW THE LAWS BY MAKING NEW LAWS INSTEAD OF DOING THEIR JOB AND INVESTIGATE & GO AFTER THE BAD GUYS ........ pain six

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