... I got a prescription three years ago for my back and have since been unable to stop taking them. I don't overdo it I never take more than 4 a day most days I only take 1 or 2 I can go weeks without them but it seems like I cannot completly rid myself from them. I am scared my liver is going to stop functioning properly, I've heard they destroy it but didn't know if that was only if you misused it. The pains I get seem to get worse if I don't have them but I feel like my day will be horrible if I don't take them.
Acetaminophen/Hydrocodone - how can I stop taking them?
- Posted:
- 11 Aug 2009 by danah120
- Topics:
- acetaminophen, acetaminophen/hydrocodone, hydrocodone
Details:
| Question is Closed | Report Mark as Favorite |
Answers (2)
mpvt11 Aug 2009
You're feeling the pangs of addiction and you are very close to falling into all out addiction. If you think that you have a problem now then wait for another 5 years and look back at today, you will be amazed at how far down you will have slid. I don't say this to be nasty but I say it because it's the honest truth about opiate addiction.
I think you have a good chance to stop and if you can rehab would definately be a good option. Unfortunately I don't believe that methadone or buprenorphene (suboxone,subutex) are a very good idea for someone in your position.
Rehab will give you the tools you need to quit and stay quit. I very rarely offer this as a option but you take so little and are able to stay clean for weeks at a time.
You're also right about the tylenol not being good for not only your liver but kidneys too.
barbles24131 Dec 2009
I had the same concerns as you I was taking percocet 10/325mg and asked my doc to change me to something without the tylenol. I am now on morphine Sulphate 15mg. Maybe your doc will change you. My doctor was happy to make the change . Percocet is a street drug and morphine is not. from what my doc said the only difference is the tylenol and the buzz that percocet gives you. I never knew I was getting a buzz I guess the reason for that was I was taking it for pain and not the buzz. I also did not have a hard time making the change. I hope this was helpful good luck.
mpvt
1 Dec 2009
Actually oxycodone when taken by mouth is stronger mg for mg then morphine. For some reason there is a stigma towards morphine and not so much towards percocets. They are both street drugs and both are highly sought after. It doesn't matter what opiate you take it's all the same to your brain and body. Some people like my wife are able to take morphine for a couple years on a daily basis and when the pain was resolved she stopped the morphine with out any problems at all. Now she never showed signs of addiction which is taking more then prescribed, doctor shopping, buying from friends or off the street, stop working and communicating, depression ect. There are people like this and according to studies, the chances of addiction is not great when we have legit pain. The addiction comes when we take the opiates to feel better even though we don't have physical pain... Dave
barbles2413
1 Dec 2009
Dave Is the dose of morphine I am on equal to the percocet I was on. If not that is probably why I am still in pain all the time. I did some reading and I thought the 15mg was kind of a low low dose. Maybe my doc since I am a new patient is feeling me out. My goal is not to have to take break through pain meds at all. So do you think that what he said about the percocet buzz was just bs? I could have stayed on percocet but I wanted off because of the tylenol I was taking it way too long. But the morphine is doing nothing not even taking the edge off. Any suggestions?
Search for questions
Still looking for answers? Try searching for what you seek or ask your own question.
Similar questions
What is the difference between hydrocodone/acetaminophen(wts) and hydrocodone/acetaminophen(mkr)?
what is the difference between hydrocodone/acetaminophen(wts) and hydrocodone/acetaminophen(mkr) and where can i find a listing of medications with ...
2 answers • 27 Aug 2009 • 
Acetaminophen/Hydrocodone - why should I tell a doctor if it stops working and why does it give me?
... energy now and not slugish?
1 answer • 11 Sep 2009 •
Acetaminophen/Hydrocodone - I want to stop taking hydrocordone. I take between 3-6 a day and it's?
... getting in the way of my life. I need to discuss with my doctor what drugs can ease withdrawl. Any suggestions?
2 answers • 24 Apr 2010 •
Acetaminophen/Hydrocodone - Why does Hydrocodone have to contain Acetaminophen? Do the two?
... ingredients together make it work? Is the Acetaminophen a bonding agent? I ask because I am much more concerned about the intake of Acetaminophen ...
4 answers • 26 Apr 2010 •
What is the difference between oxycodone/acetaminophen and hydrocodone/acetaminophen?
I've taken oxycodone/acetaminophen before and it worked for the pain at that time. Now (years later) I pulled some muscles in my back and the ...
4 answers • 27 Apr 2010 •
"So do yourself a huge favor and get off this stuff while you can because believe me, once you go past a certain point your body and brain begin to chemically change and you're in a whole new ballgame. Good luck to you... Dave"
What do you mean chemically change? I would seriously like to speak with you as I am new and in desperate need of help and support.
Your brain produces endorphins which makes you feel happy and "normal". Morphine and morphine like opiate molecules are much the same as endorphines. What happens when you abuse this stuff for a long time is that your brain stops producing endorphins and you begin to feel depressed. The more you take the worse you tend to feel. I felt pretty good on demerol for the first 4-5 years and then nothing I took made me feel well.
When you produce enough endorphins you usually release enough dopamine and serotonin and other protiens that make us feel and function normally.
So this is on of the big problems with opiates, I thought at first that they made me feel bettter then I had all my life as I had always had depression of some sort.
Expand this post...
I became a total pig with opiates, trying to feel good about myself and it was doing the opposite. The other problem was that I was never going to go through withdrawls and I never have. I was abusing for almost 25 years and I damaged a lot of friendships and jobs. You become impulsive and then the next day you wonder what the hell you were thinking. You also become a recluse and stop communicating with everyone.
So if you are taking opiates for post op pain or a broken arm then you shouldn't worry to much as you will stop them when the pain is gone. If you are taking them for the high then you already have a living problem and need to get off them asap... Dave
WOW, I am at a loss for words!!! This could have been my story, but what grabbed me the most is your descriptions of the behaviors you get during addiction. I knew I had done these things, but to read those same behaviors in someone else really got to me.Barbles, he is giving you some good advice about RUNNING from the addiction while you can!!! If you don't, it will control your life. Best of luck to you!!! L.
If you haven't quit taking them yet ask your doctor to prescribe you Tramadol, if you take 2-4 of these every 3-4 hours for 3-5 days you will be able to stop taking anything without any withdraws. If you continue taking the medication you are now your tolerance is only going to get stronger and pretty soon you will taking Oxycodone which is what I am currently trying to get off of, and trust me the withdraws from this are far worse than when I was taking the Hydracodone. If you don't want the Tramadol, start taking smaller and smaller portions farther and farther apart until you can stop with minimal withdrawls. If you don't now within the next year you will spending all your money to support your habit and when you can't buy them get ready for diarrhea, stomach and muscle cramping, vomiting, your arms and legs will no longer just tingle they will feel like your veins are boiling and you will go as far as pawning your most prized possessions just to stop the pain. I wish I was still taking Hydracodone because believe me it was nothing compared to now.