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Vicodin Addiction

answered 11:01 AM EST, Thu December 19, 2013
anonymous anonymous
I am so confused.. I have been taking 5mg vicodin 3 times sometimes 4and a few times 5 times a day for 4years or so. I am able to get to two a day.. but the final total get off it is not doable. Would suboxen helpme? Or is it worse than a low dose vicodin addiction. I feel the vics have helped and then hurt my already unstable moods.. I am in treatment for depression and talk therapy and on lklonopin and an antidepressant all my life. anyone on low dose vicodin who went to the drug subox?

Anna Deeds Says...

Anna Deeds A. Deeds
MSED, NCC, LPC

Thank you for your question. Your question does not make it clear why tapering off Vicodin isn't working for you. It could be psychological, in that as you decrease you have mental cravings and obsession or it could be the physical withdrawal that makes you unable to taper. Your therapist can teach you coping skills to help with the psychological withdrawal. 12 Step groups or other addiction support can also help with the psychological aspects. For the physical withdrawal, your doctor can help by prescribing non-addictive medications for withdrawal symptoms. However, the best course of action would be a medical detox. You can go inpatient to a hospital for about a week so they can monitor you while you are detoxing from the opiates. The other thing I'd like to address is that you are on Klonopin. Klonopin is a benzodiazepine. It is dangerous to take in combination with opiates like Vicodin. It is also addictive and highly abusable. To properly treat your addiction, you would need a detox from this medication as well. It is important to stop taking any addictive medication for addiction treatment to be successful. Otherwise, you are more likely to abuse the other medication even if you never have in the past. This is just how addiction works. An addict will switch to another addictive drug if it is available. 

Suboxone can be used to detox you from opiates but I do not suggest Suboxone maintenance treatment. If you go to a hospital detox, they may use Suboxone for a few days to help taper you. But if you go to Suboxone treatment ( from a clinic or doctor), these programs are designed for more long term treatment. Since you are on such a low dose, I don't think long term treatment is warranted. I recommend trying complete abstinence from all addictive drugs before going to a long term treatment like Suboxone maintenance. 

Whatever you choose, do not try to do it on your own. Addiction is a difficult disease and you need the help of professionals to overcome it. You also need support from people who understand what you are going through. This is why I suggest 12 Step groups in addition to professional treatment. 

I hope this answers your question and you get the treatment and support you need. 

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Page last updated Dec 19, 2013

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