addicted to vicodin

From what I know about Vicodin (and pretty much all the opiates and opioids for that matter), you cannot just quit cold turkey or you will have massive withdrawal symptoms and get really sick. Start by cutting whatever dose you are currently taking in half and then halve it every day until you get down to nothing. That handles the purely physical side of it. However, as I am sure you know, addiction is also a psychological thing as well and you need some type of support network that you can depend on to help you get through the quitting process. Somebody already mentioned Narcotics Anonymous, and you may find this very helpful. They also have a program called SOS which is like NA or AA or whatever except it is secular (some people are uncomfortable with all the god stuff in the Anonymous meetings). You don't necessarily need to go to meetings if you can devise a sort of informal support network with your friends and family. But you definitely need to have somebody that will help hold you accountable and that you can call when you feel strongly tempted to take another Vicodin, because those urges will come and they will be strong and you will need someone to help distract you and put your mind somehwere else other than craving. It would also be good for you to develop some other habit or ritual in your day that will take the place of the Vicodin-taking. Some people get into exercise or meditation or some type of creative activity like writing, drawing, art, etc. as an outlet for their energy and to give them something to do. Of course, there is also the issue of addressing what led you to be addicted to Vicodin in the first place. Ask yourself if there is any issue in your life that you are having trouble dealing with--were you using Vicodin to help you escape from any sort of emotional problem (depression, anxiety, etc.) If this is the case, and it often is for those of us who develop addiction problems, you need to address that underlying issue. That can be done in formal therapy or with a lot of soul-searching and self-help. Hope this helps! Good luck, you can do it, you just need the right tools and to follow the right steps. If you mess up and relapse, it doesn't matter, just pick up and start again quitting. Most people relapse a few times before they quit for good. It's part of the recovery process.

Slow and steady wins the race! Thanks!!!

Well do not try to do it cold turkey, if you can discuss with a doctor or perhaps yu can ween yourself off from it. Withdrawal will be VERY hard to deal with, you will sweat and hurt and want to be on it. Do not try oxycontin because that is EVEN worse for withdrawal symptoms. My husband had been put on oxycontin awhile back as a break thru pain medication he has chronic pain and must be on pain meds daily, and he had taken it three days straight and then it still was a week of having to go through withdrawal symptoms because of only having three pills of oxycontin if you can believe that. How long have you bene taking vicodin and how much do you take in a day? you can always try to just take it down a notch!

I will tell you that it will be one of the hardest things you will ever do. You need to find a support group such as Narcotics Anonymous. These groups are confidential and you will be able to find people who have experienced the same problem. You need to remember it is one day at a time and 12:01 AM is a new day!