What are the long-term effects of Vicodin Use?

It's pretty easy for people to talk about how others should not be taking Vicodin.. I am in so much pain in the morning I can't function. I lose sleep at night as well.. I have (had) ruptured discs and degen discs.. I know the Vicodin isn't good for me but i'm seriously doing other things to make myself better. I just saw my spinal doctor a few days ago and he said there is nothing he can do and I will simply be in pain. He didn't want to give me anything but a low dose of some anti-depressant.. Now, I can appreciate a doctor not wanting to prescribe pain meds but it's a lot easier for those to take that position that are not expreriencing the pain some of us are in.. And yes, it sucks that so many abuse it an make it harder for those of us that need it.. I have had internal bleeding and cannot take NSAID's .. This puts me in an especially difficult position.. I would drop Vicodins in a day if I didn't need them for pain. I'm certain of it.. I may be physically addicted but i'm certainly not mentally addicted..
I came here because I am very concerned about the long term effects. I take 4-5 500's a day and very rarely drink alcohol. Probably less than 5 times/year. . Prior to my back pain i've never taken a pain killer before in my life and never desire to. I agree totally with those on here that caution others about passing judgement. My blood pressure is up because of the pain as well.. I'd never had high blood pressure before this.. I've spent dozens of hours researching this chronic back pain can see it's quite like the "hair regrowth" or "diet" markets that offer hundreds of solutions, none of which actually work!

I have fibromyalgia and herniated disk and degenerative disk disease- I am allergic to almost every med my Dr has put me on- He will not give me vicodin cuz he says its addictive- well duh!!!! but i look at it this way- I can not take aspirin- allergic to it- can't take ibprophen cuz i have ulcers- am i addicted to vicodin- yes I am !!! i take 6-8 750 a day- my body has got use to them but i have to do what i have to do- My body gets hurting so bad i just want my life to end !!!!! I would rather be addicted to those than to live with the hellish pain for the rest of my life- It is something that helps my pain so I take it- And vicodin was originally prescribed for depression so it also helps that problem-

Hi,
I am sorry to hear about your years of suffering. It sounds like you have developed a tolerance to Vicodin. Unfortunately, long term use of a narcotic leads to tolerance. So when in pain, you need a higher dose to get relief.
Maryann

I had a car wreck in 1998. I broke C4-5, T7-8, my right clavicle, left hip, both big toes, 3 ribs and my skull. The only real pain I have now is my neck, back and hip. I also have back spasms 4-5 times per week. I have had lumbar epidurals, coddles, pain management, physical therapy and been on Vicodin. I am now on Vicodin and have been for years. I am only 37 years old. I have never had my liver tested. I have had 7 surgeries and need surgery on my back for Degenerative and herniated discs. I sometimes feel like I hoard my medication for fear of running out and then hurting badly. I, at one point, had to take 3 10mg Vicodin to help the pain at all. When this happens I deal with the pain (Except for taking Ibuprofen which doesn't help) for about a week and then i can go back to a normal dose. Does this mean I am addicted or just have a tolerance built up?

I've been on and off both vicodin and oxycodone for the past 6 years.
When I am off them,it was always MY choice to stop taking them. (5-6 times in the past 6 years)
I have fibromyalgia from multiple car accidents,the last one in Sept 09 is what led me to start taking vicodin again. I was using darvocet,but it has since been pulled from the market. It took the edge off but didn't fully kill the pain like vicodin does. My problem now is I have gotten used to it and have to take it more often then I am prescribed. I do not take a higher dose,just 1 or 2 more a day then what I am allowed. I have good days and bad days,I have had days I have only taken 2-3 and been fine but there are days I have had to take 6 just to be able to sit up or get things done. I do not get a buzz off them and don't even want to.I did the first few doses and it kinda made me sick to my stomach. I don't like feeling stoned or buzzed.
There are people out there that do rely on pain meds to live a normal life.Do I like it? Hell no. I wish I never had to start taking them and wish the pain would subside enough to where I can take OTC meds like I was before the accident in 2009.
So my point is,not everyone who takes it long term suffers from side effects if they go without.I have went cold turkey enough times that it doesn't bother me to do it,I just have to suffer with pain and adjust to staying in and not working. I refuse to go on disability and have continues to work 2 days a week.It's rough but I do make enough in 2 days time to take 5 days off to recover,lucky for me. I do worry what this stuff will do to me in 10-15 years of using it if I have to use it for that long.Will it effect my organs in a negative way and eventually kill me? I know with hard drugs (illegal ones),even if a person stops using,they can still have a massive heart attack later in life. I have close friends who have been through it and not even 40 years old yet.

Who are you kidding? You are destroying your liver mixing acetaminophen and alcohol together. And, you are the kind of person that makes it hard for someone like me, who has a legitimate need for the pain relief, to get the pain relievers I need.

Don't come here telling me about how wonderful your illicit act is. I don't want to hear it.

Anonymous,
What you are describing is called a physical dependance, not addiction. Two very different things but often used incorrectly used interchangabily. Think of addiction as driving force that consumes the individual and causes them to do things they may never have done like rob and lie to people. It destroys the person and their families. A person with a physical dependenance with take their medication as perscribed and go about there activities. The medication allows them to function. They do not spend all their time thinking about their medication or about taking more of it. And the majority of them never get high off their medication.

Diabetics are also physically dependant on their insulin. But no one gives them a hard time. And yes, people do abuse insulin too but you rarely hear about that.

I have taken pain medication daily for the last 4 years. The majority of people would never know this because I am to function well. But they do not see me early in the morning or late at night when the levels are low when I move like a 100 year old woman. My pain medication allows me to be in the world and to sleep at night.

The majority of pain medication related deaths are caused when the medication is adjusted, usually increased, not because we are abusing it.
Reta