Is it possible to be resistant to vicodin?

Question

I've been given vicodin after having surgery to reattach a tendon in my thumb that was severed with a kitchen knife at work.

I was told to take 1-2 for every 4-6 hours of pain, but It doesn't seem to do anything.

I've taken three at once before, and that didn't seem to do much more either.

Is it possible to be resistant to vicodin?

How many is safe to take max?

(PLEASE SPARE ME "THE DRUG'S ARE BAD" SPEECH, I am fully aware of the addiction possibilities and damage to my liver I may incur, but I want to know these answers)

Answer 1

my mom took these for pain, she wasn't an addict or anything but after taking so much for a long time she grew resistant. you should tell your doctor that its not helping.

Answer 2

the pdr says 5 max es no more sounds loke you need oxycontin your injury was severe no speeches here i am a chroinic pain and to top it off i was just in a car accident , so good luck i hope i heled truly.

Answer 3

The main problem with taking 3 at one time is the Acetominophen- amounts to too much to take safely. Tell your doctor the medicine is just not strong enough to control the pain. Everyone is different- what knocks one person out may not faze another,( and neither are addicted or tolerant from abuse).  Get something without the acetominophen.  Sounds like a pretty bad injury.  I don't think the surgeon will object to changing meds if you are still having a lot of pain. American doctors often undertreat pain, but that is slowly changing.  If you stop the drug when the pain is gone, no problems with addiction, no matter what you have been taking.

Just take a narcotic for physical pain, not stress, not to sleep, not for nerves, nothing else.

Answer 4

Yes, having had that procedure done, you need as much pain med as it takes.  You might have tolerance, but that is usually built up.  The prescribed dosage is right on the border line of too much APAP (tylenol).  Each regular vicodin contains 500 mg and 4000 mg is max 24 hour dose.

Get your doc to switch you to hydrocodone 10/325 or oxycodone 5/325.  Phenergan (promethazine) is a good thing to add for post-op recovery.  It counters narcotic side-effects, enhances their strength and makes you sleepy.

Answer 5

yeah, it's called tolerance.

I was taught something in a pharm class that stuck.. " it's not the drug that chooses the reaction, it's how the body chooses to react to that drug." and since everyone's genetic makeup is different, different ppl react differently to different drugs.

Answer 6

i dont know but i think i am, i can take 7 and feel nothing, it sucks when your in pain and it doesnt work :( hope you get your answer