What are the long-term effects of Vicodin Use?

But how is this different from someone who HAS to have their coffee in the morning to wake up? Isn't that addiction as well? If a person needs the medication because it takes their pain away, shouldn't they be allowed to use it for as long they need? Don't get me wrong, I know people don't cause havoc in their lives because they've stolen or neglected for their caffeine habit. But, if the narcotic is prescribed and the patient takes it as prescribed effectively relieving their pain, isn't that a good thing?

And no, I don't take narcotics on a regular basis. :)

I had gastric bypass about 5 years ago. From many years of being obese both of my knees should be replaced. I also had a stroke prior to the gastric bypass. Due to not being able to take most of the over the counter medications of aspirin products and advil etc because of the bypass I was placed on Vicodan. Vicodan allows me to have some quality of life for which I am grateful. Not every case is the same for prescription pain users and should not be judged by those who don't have the information.

I am 32yrs. old 4ft.8in. and 75lbs. I have had cronic pain all of my life, and for the first 26yrs. no one knew what it was.When I was 26yrs. old it was discovered that i have chrones disease. Chrones does not effect every one the same way. Now at 32 I have along with the chrones: austioporosis, acute pancreantitis, ciatica, and border line diabties. I am in pain every day of the week and sometimes the chrones flares up to where i cannot sleep. As far as my heigth and size --that was caused from the chrones NOT LACK OF EATING DUE TO TAKING VICODEN. I eat more than most do i am always hungry. I have to take the vicoden to be able to physically do anything. I would personally like to thank the drug addicts and drug dealers though for making it harder for people who need the medicine to get it due to your BS. JUST BECAUSE SOMEONE HAS TO TAKE A NARCOTIC DOES NOT MAKE THEM A DRUGGY OR A LOOSER----FOR ME CHRONES IS THE LOOSER.

Thank you for your post, Reta. It is very important to have liver function tests when using medications. Thank you for sharing this valuable information and your own experience using Vicodin.

I hope to hear that your pain is better controlled in a different manner.

Missie

I really get upset when people use the terms addiction and dependance interchangably, they are polar opposites. Addiction is a psychologically condition where you crave the drug, use it in increasing amounts and will do anything to get it. Dependance is where you body has become accustomed to the medication. You do not crave the drug and you may not high from it. Many medications cause physically dependence and must be reduced slowly.

I have taken vicodin for several years for chronic pain. I have never gotten high off it and in fact it gives me a headache and hungover feeling. What it does do for me is allow me to sleep at night and live a somewhat normal life. I can function, be a wife to my husband and a mother to son.

If your friend's doctor is prescribing this medication, they should be monitoring your friend's liver with a liver panel every 6 months.

Remember any medication poses a risk, that is why it is supervised. And many OCT medications contain acetaminophen and this is why you read all labels and tell you doctor about all OTC medication you use. Note: acetaminophen can also be listed as APAP.
Reta

I take 10 mg of Vicodin a day and I could care less if I'm addicted. It greatly reduces my OA and makes life worth living. I have been on and off pain killers for years for OA and life is always much better when I'm on. I can enjoy work, I can excercise, I can enjoy going to a movie. Don't feel guilty about it. We will all die and I will happily die with a bottle of Vicodin in my grasp.

My husband had spinal surgery 7 years ago and was on quite a high dose of Vicodin for many years. Unfortunately he falls in the 10% of redheads who have a very HIGH tolerance to any sort of medication so he has to take a higher dose. At any rate about 2 years ago he started having severe problems with bloating & constipation. Severe to the point of needing to go to the ER. He has since however brought his dose down to half a pill a day but I fear the damage is done. His intestinal tract & bowels just don't work the same anymore. So please keep this in mind. And on a side note saying that someone needs to go to rehab over 2 Vicodin a day is LAUGHABLE! I actually think the rehab would laugh you out of the place! And I don't recall the question being is my friend addicted to Vicodin so why would you even say that? Good grief!

i am 27 yrs old and have been on pain killers since 2007 , that yr i gave birth to a 11 lb baby and broke my tail bone. the doctors did not beleive me and would not even do an x ray they said it was normal pain after birth keep in mind i had 2 10 lb babies prior i knew there was something wrong. any ways i always had back pain my hole life, i delt with the pain but couldny handle this so therefor i startred buying pain killers in order to even get out of bed and function with being a mom and a full time job, i went to my doctor one day and told him this , he finnally sent me for a mri,, that day the doctor called me told me to come in , my diagnoisis was unreal, fractured tail bone scoliosis, degenerate disk disease ostio sites and 2 bulging disks sitting in my siatica!! that day i got a epideral injestion and a huge bottle of percoset,, the percoset led to doulbling up on it,, then to a fentynyl patch,, i got myself off the patch because i needed to be a mom not a drug addict i went to my doc told him i felt i was turning into an addict and to stop precribing me pain killers,, here is the point 2 weeks went by i was rite back in the doc office in excrusiating pain,, so i went for the weaker narc. vicodin. i been on 4 vic per day for 14 months now, im able to work play with my kids clean my house,, but so very worried everyday that my kidneys and liver are being more and more damaged and is it going to sghorten my life! ???? do i want to be able to live and not be miserable everyday on vicodin or do i want to damage my body ,,,, very hard and frustrating,, sory that was so long felt good to talk about it thx

I have fibromayalgia, degenerative disk disease and a herniated disk in my neck- the only thing that keeps me going every day is the vicodin. i understand it is very habit forming. i have been taking it for over a year now everyday. my doctor will not give me any so i have to find it else where, yes i know this is ilegall, but i can not deal the pain every day of my life. i have no insurance. my doc wanted to send me to a pain clinic water therapy and i can't afford it. it is so stupid u can afford something eats your liver all up but not afford something that woould have a positive affecct.like i told my doc, i would rather be addicted to the meds than have to deal with this pain, there was days i just wanted to die cuz the pain is so bad. i am not one to just sit around, i get up and i volunteer and 2 different places, and the only thing that help me to be able to do this is the vicodin.
anyway that is the short of my story.