Opinions - Hydrocodone

[Master_Khan]

So SWIM knows this fella who was prescribed Vicodin ES (7.5/750) for a case of the shingles. That guy took them as prescribed for about six weeks and then stopped with a little difficulty but not too much weeping or gnashing of teeth. He had a nice little rainy day supply left over when it was all said & done and sure enough those rainy days seem to pop up two or three days a month. This fella has done an awful lot of reading here & other places and has seen opinions about opioid use run the gammut from run don't walk to relax & enjoy. SWIM is no kid & is in no way naive about drugs but he is interested in hearing what others have to say about what he is thinking. And here is what he is thinking: SWIM has occasional pain both physical and existential just like all of us and SWIM thinks he can limit his use of aforementioned Vicodins to a once or twice a month excursion from pain as well as the vicissitudes of life. SWIM wants to know if anyone is actually capable of keeping it between the lines, or is this the same kind of self delusional BS and folly that every soon to be junkie tells himself at the beginning of the end?

FWIW, SWIM gets all the warm & fuzzy he needs from 1 vicodin. Because SWIM spaces his episodes out by at least a week, he has no tolerance issue to deal with. SWIM doesn't rail shoot CWE or insert obviously. Apologies to any of the heavyweights out there who might get annoyed by this kind of post from someone who still has his training wheels on, lol.

[ganjahero420]

well swim would say that this is how most junkies start out. if swiy plan do do this, the number one thing is when you increase your dose AT ALL or do them more often AT ALL you know you are losing control. at the time you will find a way to rationalize either but really all your doing is going closer to addiction. swim thinks it is so hard to do this with opiates but it IS possible it comes down to the individual.

[dark_faire18]

Swim doesn't need to worry as much as above reply indicates. The Little Dark Fairy has been doing a similar exploratory mission with Vicodin as well for many years and has never had a problem with addiction. The Little Dark Fairy has increased her tolerance over time and everything and has NEVER become addicted. As long as Swim keeps a nice gap (like a week or so) in between usage, Swim won't have any problems. Oh and if Swim is lucky enough to only need 1 of the 7.5's then that is awesome.

[thebige]

Swim has to realize its not the Vicodin he will have a problem with it is the Hydrocodone in the vic's that is the culprit...
Swim hinted around to using for the existential pain,fair enough
also for physical pain,a valid reason........
Like ganjahero420 said.....it is possible it comes down to the individual.Swim knows of someone that has used or better to say experimented with all kinds of substances during a lifetime(72 years) and currently uses none of them or has a addiction problem with any of them.........could be because of this persons age,how they were raised,the era that they were raised in,this persons own moral beliefs..............
Or to boil it down.......the persons genetics,environment or lifestyle.



So, will swim be on the streets panhandling,stealing,not showering,sharing needles,selling their anus for their next fix.......thats up to you,please do not kid yourself and blame it on "way back when,It all started with those dam Vicodin.....sniff,sniff.
Ya' hear what swims gettin' at?Oh and Happy Easter!

[returntozero]

Originally Posted by thebige

Swim has to realize its not the Vicodin he will have a problem with it is the oxycodone in the vic's that is the culprit...

sorry not sure what you mean but there is no oxycodone in vicodin.

[Master_Khan]

Very nice range of responses so far and thanks and Happy Resurrection Day! Yes, I'm sure most people at one point in the beginning of their journey knew the luxury of being able to enjoy a single vicodin, and that is the way SWIM intends to keep it. As Ganga says, increasing dosage and or frequency is sort of like the bilge pump alarm going off in the middle of the Bering Sea. We want to believe we are playing in the shallow end of the pool, but the shore is never close enough once the boat starts taking on water.

[trannyboy]

Okay you want a fair answer, we don't know if you will become addicted. Damn near every addict said they wouldn't become an addict when they started and well look at them now. In addition though many people have done what you are describing, said they wouldn't become addicted and didn't. The difference is twofold, what are you trying to escape and do you have an addictive personality or a paranoid controlling personality. If you have an addictive personality then run don't walk away. If you see the drug for what it is and refuse to allow it to control you i.e. never be willing to do just a little more etc and always make sure that you have at least a week between doses (2 weeks is better) and have periods where you choose not to have any just because then odds are good you won't become addicted. If you ever need more then your starting dose you are addicted in some way no matter how it is rationalized.

The other problem is what you are running from. If you use it because you can't deal with your life you are addicted even if you never abuse it. You just have a psychological addiction instead of a physical one. You can have both or only one but addiction is addiction. Your adage is very apt.

So to answer yes you can use it responsibly but it isn't easy to do and you must always be paranoid of the risk of addiction no matter who you are and be able to recognize the signs so you can stop taking it for a few months at the least while you still can. If you think you can then go ahead if the idea of constant vigilance scares you or you think that is too much effort don't bother because there isn't that much of a difference between you/ me and the addict on the street. If you are willing to be responsible and want to do this then go ahead with my blessing. However I still can't say whether you will become addicted or not, that is entirely up to you.

trannyboy

[Master_Khan]

Good stuff tboy, constant vigilance is the insurance policy no one should do without. I think the fact that SWIM is concerned enough about the risk of addiction that SWIM is seeking the collective wisdom of this group shows that SWIM has a very healthy respect for the substance. It's always the lies, the lies, and the GD lies that sweep you out to sea, and swim knows that he is no different from anyone else in that there are things that he is running from. SWIM has a great marriage, a solid history of employment, great children (grown), in short much to be proud of; but swim works in a physically demanding industry (construction) that is much better suited for someone half swims size and half swims age. sigh.

Reputation Comments on this post:

talking thru the issues that may be upcoming, sure prevents the unkown from catching you suprised.

[thebige]

OK returntozero.............going with the Hydro...
Hydrocodone,the active synthetic opiate,is what will lead some to physical and or mental/psych addiction.