Anyone else tried vicodin?

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rthom
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Anyone else tried vicodin?

Post by rthom »

Anyone else tried vicodin? What if anything did it do for the WED symptoms? Did it last? Side effects, etc...? Thanks

ViewsAskew
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Re: Anyone else tried vicodin?

Post by ViewsAskew »

It has acetaminophen in it - not a good choice for daily use, unfortunately.

I think all opioids work, but it's all related to how strong your symptoms are. Strong symptoms are not likely to be covered by this moderate opioid.

Searching on Vicodin (or misspelled as Vicoden), Lortab or Norco will net you many results of people who've used it.
Ann - Take what you need, leave the rest

Managing Your RLS

Opinions presented by Discussion Board Moderators are personal in nature and do not, in any way, represent the opinion of the RLS Foundation, and are not medical advice.

sfleishman
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Location: Lancaster, PA

Re: Anyone else tried vicodin?

Post by sfleishman »

I have used Vicodin for 15 to 20 years with no side effects and a sustained symptom relief. It was originally prescribed by Dr. Earley, a researcher and sleep therapist at Johns Hopkins. I take three (3) 5 x 500 hydrocodone daily and it has worked consistently for as long as I have had the problem. I too was concerned by the acetominophen but my pharmacist said that I was well under the daily limit of 3000 mg. As I said....NO side effects. For occasional bachache I take Tylenol....go figure!

Lately, however, my symptoms have become severe and the Vicodin is only marginally effective. (I have been up since 4AM.) Dr. Earley does not return calls and I am very upset. I am looking for another doctor within 100 miles of my area...Lancaster, PA.

In reading another post, I did remember that a current Doctor stopped my Klonapin a few months ago. Yes I took that also and wondered why I did so. Now I realize that it may have been important. I will request a renewal prescription. But, I am actively seeking another physician in the Baltimore / Philadelphia area. If anybody has a recommendation, please respond.

badnights
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Re: Anyone else tried vicodin?

Post by badnights »

The Klonopin can help maintain sleep. To determine what type of medication you need, you have to first determine if you're awake because of insomnia or WED (RLS) symptoms. If the former, the Klonopin would help (but I would suggest you ask about a gentler sleep med; one of the newer, non-benzodiazepenes). If you're awake because of WED, maybe your hydrocodone isn't enough, and you may have to switch to a higher-potency opioid.

That all is for your doctor to determine. But s/he will ask you, so you should be prepared to answer, what is keeping you awake. If you don't have the urge to move and the sensations that go with RLS(sorry, WED), it may be insomnia. If you feel you can't lie still, it may be the WED.

I am so sorry Dr. Earley is not returning calls. He must be losing touch with real-life patients and concentrating on research. I am also sorry to say I don't know of any WED/RLS specialists in your area, but hopefully someone will!
Beth - Wishing you a restful sleep tonight
Click for info on WED/RLS AUGMENTATION & IRON
I am a volunteer moderator. My posts are not medical advice. My posts do not reflect RLS Foundation opinion.

ViewsAskew
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Re: Anyone else tried vicodin?

Post by ViewsAskew »

Earley is at Johns Hopkins, yes? There are two or three others there that also do research, but I don't know if they take many patients or new patients. There is a good support group in the area, IIRC. I was there for a regional meeting a few years ago and met several people in the support group. The main RLS site would have the name of the group, I'd think.
Ann - Take what you need, leave the rest

Managing Your RLS

Opinions presented by Discussion Board Moderators are personal in nature and do not, in any way, represent the opinion of the RLS Foundation, and are not medical advice.

Joanie60
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Re: Anyone else tried vicodin?

Post by Joanie60 »

After doing a clinical trial with Dr. Allen (who works with Dr Earley), Dr. Allen recommended Dr. Salas, who passed me along to Dr. Seema Gulyani. Dr. Gulyani is a PhD nurse practitioner in the Johns Hopkins Sleep Center. On a scale of 1-10, Dr. Guylani gets 1000. She takes so much time with me, returns emails within the day, and seems really interested in me as a person. I absolutely cannot recommend her highly enough. I have learned so much from her, and feel like I am in caring, understanding, and sympathetic hands. Hope this helps!!

jy13131
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Re: Anyone else tried vicodin?

Post by jy13131 »

I used vicodin in the interim between tramadol and methadone while my dr and I evaluated the best next step. Obviously we decided on the methadone but I found that the Vicodin had a short duration of effectiveness and a strong feeling of euphoria at the peak. (not good for me as I have a history of addiction). The methadone, while not free of side effects, does not have the same euphoria and provides a much more consistent coverage for my WED symptoms. It can take a lot of experimenting with your medication to get the right combination. Having good communication with your doctor is key for folks like us.
jy13131

Pairodocs
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Re: Anyone else tried vicodin?

Post by Pairodocs »

I've been on vicodin since 07. I was on requip for a year and then augmented. Only when I stopped it did I realize it was causing random pain all over my body. Then I tried mirapex and was on the ceiling. I realized that vicodin worked after hip replacement surgery and begged my Dr to allow my to continue it for a while. He relented only because I have widespread OA and the vidcodin does double duty. I've had no side effects on it, no feeling of euphoria and it's been very effective. I take 7.5,7500, one when I get up (for OA), one at 5pm before my commute and one at bedtime. for 4 years, it's been very effective. But about 9 months ago I noticed it wasn't as effective, the rls kept getting worse to now I can say the vicodin isn't effective except for the OA. I even tried doubling it, but no use. So now I'm back to only sleeping from 2 am on and I have to get up at 4:30am for my commute. I'm desperate for another option.
I don't appear to be addicted to the vicodin, which is the norm for those taking it for pain.

badnights
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Re: Anyone else tried vicodin?

Post by badnights »

Pairodocs , sounds like you need a more potent opioid. Maybe your doctor will be sensible enough to look at your history, look at the RLS/WED literature, and take the low-risk option of prescribing you something stronger. I hope. You should definitely bring it up with him, and if you like, try what a number of us have done: print the RLS Foundation's bulletin for medical professionals http://www.rls.org/Document.Doc?&id=2112, and bring it in to him. First, read it yourself, if you haven't already. Then, highlight Table 5, the Refractory RLS section; and on page 6, the four different strategies for dealing with refractory RLS, before you bring it to him. He may need some time to digest it, and it's best to present it to him with a question, asking if he'd be interested in this information written by some physicians for the RLS Foundation.

Some doctors need to see that prescribing opioids for RLS is standard accepted practice and need to know that opioids actually alleviate the symptoms of RLS, which is why they're so effective.

I hope your doctor is reasonable about this.
Beth - Wishing you a restful sleep tonight
Click for info on WED/RLS AUGMENTATION & IRON
I am a volunteer moderator. My posts are not medical advice. My posts do not reflect RLS Foundation opinion.

charles
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Joined: Wed May 09, 2012 2:58 pm

Re: Anyone else tried vicodin?

Post by charles »

rthom wrote:Anyone else tried vicodin? What if anything did it do for the WED symptoms? Did it last? Side effects, etc...? Thanks


Ive had WED going on ten years. the last four yrs have been taking hydrocodone 10/325. The "325" is the amt of acet in the pill . 325 is the next to the lowest amt in vicodin. I"ve had great success with no side effects.

barbaraschneider611
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Re: Anyone else tried vicodin?

Post by barbaraschneider611 »

I am currently on mirapex which helps somewhat. I did have vicodin with my knee replacement and noticed it no WEB symptoms. I live in a rural area of central Texas and my dr will not prescribe vicodin for my WEB symptoms. So I sometimes am up all night.

Polar Bear
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Re: Anyone else tried vicodin?

Post by Polar Bear »

Barbara: You are entitled to as much relief as possible for your symptoms and although some doctors are reluctant to prescribe opiods for WED there are some at the lower end of the scale. You could supplement your mirapex with Tramadol. Or with one of the anti seizure drugs. Please check the link in my signature which will contain relevant information and which you could use to discuss more effective treatment with your doctor. The RLS Bulletin in my link is from the RLF Foundation.
Betty
https://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/a ... 0/fulltext
Opinions presented by Discussion Board Moderators are personal in nature and do not, in any way, represent the opinion of the RLS Foundation

badnights
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Re: Anyone else tried vicodin?

Post by badnights »

barbara
Can you download and print things? The link in Polar Bear's signature should open a document that was written by doctors for doctors (but you and I can understand it too), and if you print it and bring it to your next appointment, and ask your doctor what he thinks of it, he should take it seriously.

First mark the sections you think are relevant to your situation, and direct him to those, because all he will have time for is to scan it, and you want him to read the right things during that quick scan.

No matter what your doctor says or implies, you have a real disease with debilitating symptoms. Chronic lack of sleep severely impacts quality of life and physical health. Many physicians are un-informed or mis-informed about WED, but most are willing to become informed with a little shove in the right direction. Go ahead and shove a bit. You're every bit as valuable as the next person, and should not suffer merely because a physician is ignorant of the solution.
Beth - Wishing you a restful sleep tonight
Click for info on WED/RLS AUGMENTATION & IRON
I am a volunteer moderator. My posts are not medical advice. My posts do not reflect RLS Foundation opinion.

bucji01
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Joined: Wed Jul 11, 2012 4:17 pm

Re: Anyone else tried vicodin?

Post by bucji01 »

Vicoden and oxycodone (without the tylenol) work the best for me, hands down. However, my dr is hesitant to prescribe it because of the potential of addiction. You'll probably run into the same problem. I'm a working mother with 2 toddlers, never drink or do drugs, and have never been addicted to anything. I'd be ready to start buying narcotics off the streets if I knew where to go in MA. It improves my life tremendously.
NOTHING kills the sensations like these drugs.
Others I've tried:
Mirapex and Requip-insomnia, and I have a heart condition
Neurontin-total morning confusion and lack of balance
Klonopin-makes it worse
Tramdol-terrible-up all night

ViewsAskew
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Re: Anyone else tried vicodin?

Post by ViewsAskew »

Oh - Massachusetts? You're not too far from Johns Hopkins. Very good RLS/WED program there. Dr Earley is usually well respected. Have you tried there?
Ann - Take what you need, leave the rest

Managing Your RLS

Opinions presented by Discussion Board Moderators are personal in nature and do not, in any way, represent the opinion of the RLS Foundation, and are not medical advice.

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