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What are the long-term effects of Vicodin Use?

By Anonymous December 25, 2008 - 11:12am
 
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I was at a friend’s house recently and noticed that she was taking Vicodin twice a day for several months to help with arm pain. I know that any narcotic used over a prolonged period of time is bad. What are the long-term effects of Vicodin usage besides the obvious: addiction?
Are there alternatives?

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Taking Vicodin for several months for arm pain is wrong, if the pain doesn't go away then Vicodin is not the solution. As you already said, addiction is one of the main side effects of Vicodin and I think your friend is already addicted. Unless she realizes this she will only go down from now on and I think her doctor should be aware about what's she's doing. Good luck to your friend!

May 8, 2009 - 10:36am
(reply to Karen32)

nice

December 19, 2011 - 2:47pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous (reply to Karen32)

Wow, did you even consider any option other than addiction? Good thing you got all the relevant information such as: "What is actually wrong with the arm?" or "Does the patient in question need surgery,but just isn't able to schedule/afford it right now?" or "If a MD keeps prescribing the pills, don't you think they know better what is going on than you do?" Thank God you are not a doctor. Or at least not mine!

February 27, 2010 - 2:47am
(reply to Anonymous)

Amen to that! Anyone who feels worthy to judge others for use of prescribed pain medications -(and Vicodin, btw is the second lowest form of narcotic pain medication frequently prescribed in the US) -for any amount of time obviously has either no knowledge about pain management, disease processes, the true definition of addiction versus tolerance. Many uninformed people only contribute to the stigma that chronic pain patients have thrown upon them. I have been an RN for almost 20 years. I think I know a thing or two between the difference of a "drug seeker" and a person with true medical issues requiring a controlled and reasonable dosage of, for example, Vicodin or Codeine, etc. In real life, these chronic pain patients are TIGHTLY monitored, do not have any increases in dosage (unless there is absolute short term need such as postoperative pain), and most certainly do not take these for a "high". You simply don't experience a high or euphoria after using this long term at fixed dosages. If people worry about acetaminophen related toxicity, there is always the choice of Vicoprophen, which adds ibuprophen to the hydrocodone rather than acetaminophen for increased anti -inflammatory action. Chronic pain patients don't need to burn a hole through their GI tracts with pure ibuprofen at the high dosages they would require for pain management! Nor do they need huge quantities of acetaminophen. In reality, If a patient takes two to three Vicodin per day they might actually DECREASE their chances of renal & liver toxicity because they are less prone to throwing tons of OTC meds -unregulated- at their their painful conditions. In my experience as a nurse, I have seen MANY more patients that have issues with renal/liver toxicity and of course, the risk of GI bleeding because of the belief that OTC meds are a "harmless" alternative to a low, maintained and monitored dose of a mild narcotic agent. People need to stop watching House and Nurse Jackie to form their opinions about legally prescribed opiate pain meds! Do more research before you sit in judgement. There are MANY causes of chronic pain, not just low back pain. I care about my patient's pain. I know the difference between someone who wants to get high and a person having tried everything available to them under a pain management physician's monitoring of liver function tests, vital signs, and periodic urine tests to make sure the patient is actually taking the prescribed dose and that they fall into the range. But usually, at least in the region I live in, before they are even GIVEN the option of long term opioid pain relief, they are started on Physical Therapy, (a wonderful option that has helped a lot of people), encouraged in weight loss/nutritional modifications, started on antidepressants that have been found to diminish pain perception in some patients with certain conditions, (certainly not all), they attempt steroid injections if appropriate, even try prolotherapy (a controversial treatment done by some in desperation). Sometimes, what is found is that they function best on a controlled dose of drugs such as Vicodin, etc in direct relation to their medical needs. Obviously a person with any type of cancer will be prescribed more than someone with fibromyalgia or some other musculoskeletal conditions. It is up to the expertise of the physician who views the results of their x-ray, MRI, or other imaging studies, labs such as autoimmune panels, ESR rates, vital signs, complete history and physical assessments, etc. In this litigigious society, most docs I know are very (maybe TOO) conservative with prescribing.

There is no sane reason besides a true issue of addiction and loss of control over the use of their medication (not tolerance-tolerance is a natural physiological occurence that occurs with many drugs, narcotic and non narcotic!) that people should have to work hard and live constantly being reminded of their pain.
Please understand that there are many people with not only chronic, but progressive autoimmune, carcinogenic, musculoskeletal injuries that have not responded to known alternatives. Most people I know are not shooting up morphine, stealing their friends' pain meds, itching to take more than prescribed (besides post-op periods, and that's not always even the case!) In fact from what I have seen and read, most people are conservative enough in their use because they know what addiction has done to people around them. I'll be bold enough to say that in MOST cases, in AND out of hospitals, nursing homes, subacute rehabs (I have worked in all three and more areas of Nursing) people are UNDER medicated due to the ongoing stigma and fear associated with these drugs. In no way would I condone overmedication, pain meds used in a recreational or purely mood altering manner, or perpetuating a true, destructive addiction. Yes, there are people that ruin their lives, families, careers with uncontrolled drug use. Guess what? I believe there are more out there destroying their livers with alcohol because it's so much more acceptable in our culture. I drink a glass of red wine with dinner and am not against alcohol use in moderation unless you have no control over it. So why is it any different with Vicodin? Some people are drinking more and more to dull their physical pain when they could be doing so much less damage to their lives, bodies, and families.

Thanks for listening , from your compassionate RN.

March 2, 2012 - 6:59pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous (reply to Anonymous)

It seems as though everyone who is condoning her vicodin use, are people who take vicodin. Hmm. How convenient. My mother has been taking vicodin (prescribed) for about 7 years for a back injury. While no one is disputing her pain, we are disputing her drug use. And, perhaps "addiction" is not the correct word for some of you out there. However, long term vicodin use DOES create a physical and psychological dependency. I'm sorry, but if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it's probably a duck. Really it's comes down to semantics. So to the woman who originally posted a question about vicodin use, be a good friend and talk to her now. There is nothing worse than watching a family member become dependent on this drug. Eventually, their entire personality changes, and their whole world revolves around getting more pills to take away their pain. I'm sure I'll get many nasty responses to this, but I don't care. I can't justify "candy-coating" the use of vicodin. While it can help people short-term, it does nothing but hurt them in the long run.

February 9, 2011 - 7:35pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous (reply to Anonymous)

Us that take Vicodin are of course going to condone the use of it...because we TAKE IT! If you haven't taken it, then how can you possibly know how it would affect you or any other person?? Each person's body is different with any kind of prescribed drug. Keep that in mind. If your mother has been taking it for 7 years though...wow...I would have to assume her doctor tried physical therapy, pain injections....surgery???...before settling her into taking Vicodin for so long..

April 27, 2012 - 3:28am
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous (reply to Anonymous)

Wow! I can tell you have never had long term pain that was completely debilitating before. My mother has two herniated disks in her back and developed fibromyalgia because of it. she has been on vicodin for over a decade now. Your whole personality does NOT change after long term use . She is able to function more norally because of drugs like vicodin, gabapentin, and lyrica. have seen her in tears for hours and heard her almost scream when she tries to turn over! When you watch someone you love live like that and you feel helpless to fix it, you will understand how much good a drug like vicodin can do. The fact is, until they come up with an effective pain reliever for those that SUFFER because the level of their pain is so high they are stuck usint what is available that works. which in our times, happens to be vicodin! You wanna gripe about it, why not write to the FDA and tell them to release Zyconotide for chronic pain instead of only terminally ill patients? Its derived from the toxin exuded by sea snails. Fifty times more potent than morphine, yet NOT addictive. My mother and i have been following the clinical trials almost holding our breath for the drug to be released for wide spread use. complaining about vicodins bad side is not the answer. Being proactive in finding a comparable but safe replacement is what you SHOULD be doing!!!

March 30, 2012 - 6:51am
(reply to Anonymous)

I also have fibromyalgia, though not the back issue that Anoymous' mom has and agree with her! After the merry go round of finding the right combo of meds to keep the pain from ruining my entire life and having been basically branded a drug seeker by a few specialists (my pcp always believed me and finally got me to a good specialist and on the right path) I know that meds like vicodin can be a lifesaver at times. I take vicodin hp for breakthrough pain. I have never felt 'high' when taking it as directed. When I'm in so much pain that anything that touches my body, even putting my feet on the floor, has me crying and wanting to scream I need something strong or I will go crazy from it. Even if it does not take the pain fully away once in a while it does, because of it's effect on the brain, take the mind off it for long enough to give me a much needed mental break. That's what it is supposed to do and also why it is addictive. If taken when not in pain you get the false sense of euphoria that drug addicts seek. If I could find a med that helped me be pain free as well as vicodin hp but was non narcotic I'd jump to get it! So far none are out there. Anyone in real, chronic pain that is totally debilitating knows how hard it can be to not only get relief but to find the right docs to help. And because of some people abusing narcotic meds it makes it very hard for those of us who need them to get them. No one can truly judge anothers pain. Chronic pain can fully stop a persons life and make them feel insane for days, weeks and even years if untreated. To label someone an addict when they take these meds is unfair and totally wrong. When taken as directed, even over long peroids on and off it is safe if you and your Dr discuss it and you use them only when needed. Seems these day as soon as people hear the name vicodin (or the other meds like it) they automatically decide the person taking it is some kind of junkie. And, to whomever said a persons whole personality changes on vicodin- yes, mine does, I go from being a crying pain wracked mess who can't function at all on the worst pain days I have to being able to get out of bed without falling to the ground in total agony and walking around. And because I can do those things I tend to be happier all around. But it is because I get pain relief and can mostly function again rather than because of any drug 'high'. Until someone has walked a mile in the shoes of anyone with severe chronic pain they have no right to label them. Sorry to have gone on so long but this is a topic I feel strongly about.

April 25, 2012 - 5:14am
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous (reply to Anonymous)

It's easy to criticize the use of Vicodin when you live a cushy life with no pain. It's easy to sit back and criticize people when instead you should be thankful you don't have any chronic pain. Sure there are people who abuse this drug... there are also people who have tried every other form of treatment and even after surgery, this drug is needed so they don't have to live every day with pain. So maybe the next time you criticize someone who is taking pain medication for a medical condition, you should thank your lucky little stars there isn't anything wrong with you because guess what: one day you may need that medication. And then what?

November 17, 2011 - 12:36am
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous (reply to Anonymous)

Perhaps the reason the users of Vicodin respond as they have, is because the drug DOES have legitimate therapeutic uses and isn't necessarily a "gateway" into the hell and spiraling down of addiction. I have used it for chronic pain for 3+ years; it has allowed me to continue working and maintain the quality of my life, I'd otherwise lose. Judge not, lest you have been down the path. Sheesh!

October 3, 2011 - 2:37pm
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