How long do you have to be off the vidodin before 1 pill 7.5mg will be effective again, because now I need 3?

Question

1 pill a night was perfect for my pain. Then after several months I needed 1 & 1/2 to feel the effects, then 2, and now 2 1/2 is what I need to feel what initially 1 pill did. So I built up a tolerance. I want to stop. My question, if anyone knows, is how long do I need to completely be off this medicine so that when I need it down the road, 1 pill will be effective again. I do NOT want to go with more potent pain killers because addiction will become uncontrollable. My pain sucks but is manageble at times.

Answer 1

First of all, there is a lot of misinformation here that I'd like to clarify:

1. Just because you're developing tolerance does *not* mean that you're addicted. When people take opiod medications (like Vicodin) for pain, it doesn't affect them (mentally) in quite the same way. The chance for psychological addiction is low. Yes, it's possible that you may have withdrawal symptoms if you were to stop taking your meds immediately. However, unless you've been obtaining them illegally (without a prescription) this shouldn't be a problem, as your doctor can help design a plan to reduce usage safely.

2. It sounds like your pain isn't being managed appropriately. This could be for a lot of different reasons, not just due to tolerance. Perhaps the pain is getting worse? Perhaps there are other factors that add to your pain (stress, other illness, etc.)? What you need to do is keep a pain "diary" describing how you feel throughout each day for a week or two. Then, bring it in and talk to your doctor about it. If your doctor is unwilling to help, ask to see a pain specialist.

3. The best pain management is constant pain management. Often times, it's not how *much* pain medication you need, it's *when* you take it. If you're in chronic pain that comes and goes, you may be waiting too long to take your medication - leading to a yo-yo effect. There are lots of ways to go about adjusting this that don't actually increase your pain medication. Sometimes switching to a weaker, but longer-acting medication, while taking it spaced throughout the day can be more beneficial than treating your pain with one large dose.

You need to bring up all of these concerns with your doctor. But relax a bit. Unless you're using your medication when you are *not* in pain (to relax, feel, good, get high, etc.), addiction is probably low on the list of concerns. Keeping your out of pain is much more important.

Answer 2

Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but if you are using vicodin daily for 3 months, and the dose is increasing, then you are already addicted. the pain is the least of your worries now.

When I was injured and was prescribed vicodin, I was given something like a 10 day prescription, 2 or 3 per day, I forget. I took them for one day - they killed the pain alright, but I was high in the sense that "all was right with the world". I had heard how easy it was to get addicted to that, and once I had it, I saw how true it was. So I sucked it up and did without after a day.

As an addict, you are going to be disinclined to believe me, but you can google and find out how addiction to vicodin happens and how long it takes from a zillion sources I have nothing to do with for sure.

Talk about this immediately with your doctor and pharmacist. If they tell you it is OK in the least, get a new doctor and pharmacist because they are just drug pushers. Then report them each to their licensing board because you are not the only addict they created.

I have heard, and you can research, I might be wrong, that Vicodin is not something you want to stop cold turkey, but withdrawal needs to be managed carefully.

Once done, you will never be able to take Vicodin again in any amount, just like an alcoholic can not drink even a drop. Your doctor wil be able to explore other pain management techniques with you.

Bottom li

Answer 3

I have the same problem, but I don't take the pill at once, I cut them in half I think you mean vicodin?  vicodin is addicted, an soon or later you require more and more, instead of taking 1, cut them in half and reduce the amount.  Talk to your doctor, since is not a good idea to stop all at once withouth the doctor advice.  I hope this help.  Ga

Answer 4

I took Percocet and then methadone tablets for about 2.5 years for a severe back injury.  I definitely built up tolerance and would begin to suffer withdrawal symptoms if I missed a pill(s).  When it came time to quit, my doctor worked out a careful schedule of how many pills I could take each day and only prescribed one week at a time.  If I took them too soon, then that was too bad for me until the next week.  Eventually I took less and less until I was clean with only very mild withdrawal symptoms (no nausea or vomiting, just mild sweats and hot flashes).  A year later my back began to bother me a great deal again, and I take Percocet once in a while now--just not all the time.  It is unethical for a doctor to refuse pain treatment to a patient in pain.