House (TV show) and vicodin addiction

[Beltane]

Did a search and didn't see anything on this.

Anyone watch that show House about the doctor "addicted" to vicodin? SWIM knows a bit about vicodin, tho he's more of a binge user taking 3-6 Norco 10/325's at a time for a couple days and then running out.

Are there really people who are "addicted" to vicodin who take 1-2 pills at a time throughout the day? They once showed his prescription and it was for the 500's. An addict would be eating a lot of those I'd imagine.

Also, it seems irresponsible to show a doctor eating that many vicodin, not because vicodin are bad but because vicodin at that those dosages is very harmful to the liver because of all the tylenol (APAP.) Surely if a docor was addicted to hydrocodone they would be eating Norco 10/325's instead of 5/500 or 10/1000 vicodins. Then again, Norco probably just doesn't have the rep that vicodin has and it _is_ a TV show.

Also, for a while they had him shooting morphine occasionally. Might one do that and still bother with hydrocodone?

Great show by the way.

- Beltane

[~lostgurl~]

Great Show!!! Here is a clip on youtube of House's drug taking its called Vertigo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBK7W4RoE4g

[geezaman]

House is ace , only 3 series though , SWIMs favorite was the one where he dropped acid.

[Sklander]

I agree that they shouldn't portray such casual usage of vicodin. Like Beltane said, its not the Hydrocodone, it is the tylenol that is so dangerous. If House is eating three or four 5/500's on the show and is addicted to them and has been eating them like he is shown to eat them then he would have had liver failure long ago... you'd think him being a doctor he'd get the good shit...

Cool show, though.

[Beltane]

Originally Posted by Sklander

... you'd think him being a doctor he'd get the good shit...

An interesting thought. I once met a Physician's Assistant (almost a doctor-- they can prescribe) who was into vicodin. He said he took 20 - 40/day, we can only hope they were only 5/500's. Anyway, I asked him why he didn't step up to oxycontin or something and he said he didn't like them as much. Like you I'd think if someone was into prescription opiates at high dosages, for safety and other reasons percs or oxys would be the way to go.

- Beltane

[Shiacmkmleer]

Not directly related to this topic but did anyone see the last episode? He took 280 mg of oxycotin in less than a day... not to mention he was drinking. I cant be said to be an expert on that sort of thing but a quick google search seems to show that would kill you.

[Forthesevenlakes]

Originally Posted by Shiacmkmleer

Not directly related to this topic but did anyone see the last episode? He took 280 mg of oxycotin in less than a day... not to mention he was drinking. I cant be said to be an expert on that sort of thing but a quick google search seems to show that would kill you.

If one didn't already have a monster tolerance from upwards of years of use, that kind of dose would be the "last episode" for anybody! SWIM is surprised that a show like this would portray such casual recreational use of narcotics, and really hopes that nobody gets their dosage ideas from this show...280 mg...wow, thats a lot.

[blinkKDX]

swim thinks most people are not dumb enough to do such things... plus few people could get the goods TO do such things.

its a great show and swim thinks it should not be bashed.

[Beltane]

Originally Posted by blinkKDX

... plus few people could get the goods TO do such things.

its a great show and swim thinks it should not be bashed.

Agreed it's a great show. But with the availability of prescription meds, vicodin in particular, over the Internet to name just one source, lots of people can "get the goods" to do such things to themselves.

- Beltane

[drugsrbad]

a lot of people are addicted to vicodin and not opiates. SOme think oxy's are too strong. i think vicodin is crap. 280mg oxy is a lot. swim has a couple of friends that used to be into oc's and took that much oxy. you need quite a bit of tolerance though. the most swim ever did was 200 over the course of a day. Why doesn't house get some morphineor something injectible. Thats probably what the next episode is going to be. Are maybe he will smoke the dangerous "marijuana" or drink a lot of tussin. haha

[Riconoen {UGC}]

Gateway theory in reverse?

[drugsrbad]

It is as belivable as the theory itself. Once he comes down off the pills he is going to have to smoke a nice j to help him sleep.

[thegoodfight]

Originally Posted by Shiacmkmleer

Not directly related to this topic but did anyone see the last episode? He took 280 mg of oxycotin in less than a day... not to mention he was drinking. I cant be said to be an expert on that sort of thing but a quick google search seems to show that would kill you.

That will not kill if there is a decent tolerance for opiates. If a high tolerance is involved then 280mg oxycodone over a day will def not kill. Swim knows a person that takes more than that every day. Swim couldn't believe this and still is in awe of the tolerance..

[thegoodfight]

Swim wanted to edit message above to add more, but can't. Does Swim need to do something to be able to edit messages?

Swim wants to say that House is an Excellent show. Swim thinks that the only reason that Vicodin is used is because of the public recognition of the name. Eminem made Vicodin a household name for "that" generation in his songs. I'm sure there are a lot of other shows, movies and songs that mention vic's.

Also, Swim does think that it is a little irresponsible to show House popping pills all the time, in front of colleagues and patients. This makes it look like he is an addict. Swim can empithize with House with the chronic pain issue and the need for medication.

Swim think that this is a good show to bring the issue of chronic pain to the public and hopes that the show comes to the conclusion that he is not an addict. Unfortunately it also could add fuel to the already over fueled fire of narcotic abuse. In some sense this could be just another cheap hollywood ploy to get good rating trashing good people who actually need to used pain meds to have anything close to a normal life.

Swim did not see the 5/500 script ever in the series. If that is true, this just makes the whole series STUPID! I guess swiy could say that that fact alone could be the determining issue that makes this show FICTION and not a mirror of reality. What genius doctor would take vicodin and damage his liver. It doesn't make sense at all. Except that small issue, it is the best show on TV now.

Cuttey is HOT!!

[mickenator]

Swit needs to be a silver member to be able to edit there posts, so all you have to do is make a good contribution to the forum and it shoulds't take long to get a silver membership.

[oxalot]

This show is great. watch all the time but the drug use just pisses me off. Idon't know where thery are going with it. of course he would be in a pain management program. he's a dr. and he's really far from stupid. APAP kills. they would be a little more realistic if he at least addressed this issue. makes some of look bad. As far as tolerance SWIM does not think 280-mg is bad that is SWIMS daily maintenence dose. 1000mg might be a bit high for someone years in severe back pain (maybe!!!) No opiate newbie should try anything like that though.

[oxalot]

I guess Hugh Laurie is due another big set back as I believe he was once the Prince of Wales LOL (old blackadder days)this drop in status should not be so bad to take.

[Dissociative]

This is one of my favorite shows, and If I ever thought I would want to be a doctor, this would be why. The vicodin part, is probably because it is a recognizable name. Don't pick at, just watch the damn show.

[blinkKDX]

there's no way a person could go through a entire bottle of oxy's in one day(this shown on the most recent episode)....swim does not care who you are and what type of tolerance you might have.

[Dissociative]

Yeah, its impossible to do, but is a television show, they aren't doing it to attract drug users. Plus, it would of been far less dramatic if he picked up a bottle that still had pills in it.

[blinkKDX]

swim just though that was quiet funny...but also serious.

on a good note, its a damn great show. swim's top choice for a "tv series"

[Dr.Jones]

Hey blink, swim was on 1.5g of oxy a day for weeks and weeks at a time. A bottle of 90 wouldnt last him not even a week. Opiate dosages can be increased indefinitaly. Look up the 'highest opiate tolerence ever'. Some chick was getting pumped full of LITERS of fent.

[Beltane]

Did a quick search here and on Google and couldn't find anything relating to the 'highest opiate tolerance ever' subject mentioned below. That sounds less than credible to me. Any chance of a link?

Thanks-

- Beltane

Originally Posted by Dr.Jones

Hey blink, I was on 1.5g of oxy a day for weeks and weeks at a time. A bottle of 90 wouldnt last me not even a week. Opiate dosages can be increased indefinitaly. Look up the 'highest opiate tolerence ever'. Some chick was getting pumped full of LITERS of fent.

[Dr.Jones]

pubmed it.


Pure opiate agonists have no celing dose and can be increased INDEFINITLY. Try checking that out, its one of the first things they teach you in pain managment. no, medicine 101

[Dr.Jones]

I wish the edit button was enabled.

You shouldn't have to look further than your local newspaper to see an article about a doctor taking 30 oxycontins a day. All you should have to do is type up 'opiate' in pubmed and you will find doses like mine. THere was a doctor on trial not too long ago for RXing one guy 2.5grams of OC a day. DEA pressed charges after a couple of stiffs were found OD on oxy. First day in court they got a doctor up there and asked him questions like, do tolerence exist, how high can the dose go, can you justify this? The guy, albiet was probaly a scum bag, was a poor fucking whose bones where rotting away. You can't tell someone they are not in pain. Fuck just a few months ago the AMA listed pain as the fifth vital sign. Pain lets you know you are alive.