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Opitate and leg pain

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Posted 7/26/2008 12:18 PM (GMT 0)
I've been taking vicodin 10/660 3 times a day for the past few years for pain and severe IBS. I've never taken it at night because it keeps me awake. The past 11 months I've been having horrible leg pain that continously wakes me up. I was reading something interesting on the interent about leg pain from opiate withdrawl. Is it possible that my body is experiencing withdrawl symptoms at night? I have no diagnosis for the leg pain other than "fibromyalgia" and the doctors are trying various meds for nighttime to no avail. My next question would be, if I tried taking a vicodin at night and I have no leg pain, would that give me the answer? Although I'm not psychologically dependent on the vicodin, I think my body is. I can go 7 hours without taking Vicodin and except for the IBS kicking in I've not experienced leg pain during the day.   Your comments are appreciated.

Thank you

Kimb

Posted 7/26/2008 6:06 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, Kimb,
As you probably know we're not doctors, so I'm not sure how to answer your question. I think almost anything is possible when it comes to our bodies and medications! I certainly think what you're proposing sounds reasonable. Have you asked your doctor about it? Vicodin is short acting, but I'm not sure what the half life is. (roughly how long it takes to completely leave your system) You could try asking a knowledgeable pharmacist - starting with your own. Also, if you go to the actual website for the maker of vidocin (not sure if you've got a generic or the brand name - and that could make a difference) you may find out by reading that long, long detailed list of info about the drug.

For example, the half life of caffeine is 5 hours. That means five hours after you've had caffeine, half of it is still in most people's systems. It can vary some, but it's often why some people can't sleep at all even if they've had coffee in the afternoon. So look for the drug's half life. But it's probably easier to ask your pharmacist and doctor. It certainly wouldn't seem hard to do a little experiment, but I'd do it with your doc's approval so it doesn't look like you're taking more meds than prescribed.

Let us know how it turns out.

PaLady
Posted 7/26/2008 6:30 PM (GMT 0)

PaLady,

Thanks so much for your reply. I have an appt with my neurologist next week and so I can ask him. I will research the website for Vicodin and see what I can learn and check with the pharmacist. I don't take any vicodin after 7:00 PM and so it's a good 12 hours before my next dose. I will experiment anyway because I have enough in each day where I don't go over and actually always have extra.

Have a good day and thanks again!

Kimb

Posted 7/26/2008 9:44 PM (GMT 0)
Hello Kimb,
As usual PaLady has an excellent reply. I agree with her about talking to your pharmacy about half life of the medication your taking. I have been through withdraw and it did not start until 3 days after I stopped taking morphine. But I was on it for five years. You could also ask about therapeutic blood levels with the med your questioning. I started taking Trazodone at night to help with sleep, so when I got the spasm's I was knocked. I now take a flexeral and have stopped the Trazodone.
Good luck!
Cloe
Posted 7/26/2008 10:35 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Cloe,

Thank you so much for your input. I just wish I had a more definitive answer from the docs as to what is causing the night leg pain. I only know that I wake up constantly during the night crying in pain sad . Once I'm up and about they feel better and it doesn't start until I've been sleeping on them for a few hours. Probably has nothing to do with the med's but, you never know.

Have a good night

Kimb

Posted 7/26/2008 11:40 PM (GMT 0)
Kimb,
It could be restless leg syndrome? I have never researched it but might be something to address with you doc.
Cloe
Posted 7/27/2008 12:05 AM (GMT 0)
Cloe,

That was there initial thought; only I'm not describing it the way one typically does. I get no creepy crawling sensations then again everyone is different. The next med the doctor is going to try is the one for restless leg and see if that does the trick or not. By the way I researched the half life for the vicodin and it said 3.8hrs; I'm not sure what that means.
thanks
Kimb
Posted 7/27/2008 12:28 AM (GMT 0)
Kimb,
In a general sense, it means that roughtly half of the drug will still be in your sytem after 3.8 hrs. So you'd still have half of the drug left in your system at say, 11pm, if you take your last dose around 7pm. Are you waking up around (roughly) 3am?

PaLady
The "roughly" is very important, though, because each person metabolizes the drug differently. Some people may metabolize all of the drug in 5 hours; others may take 8 or 9. Variable. Best thing you could do would be start keeping track of when you wake up (time). And then maybe either adjust your night dose to later, or, as you said you have extra and could still be within your doc's orders, maybe take one at bedtime and see what happens.
Posted 7/27/2008 5:18 AM (GMT 0)
Kimb,
You state you have taken Vicodin for years for pain and severe IBS. Then you mention the pain in your leg(s)? at night. ARe we talking about the same pain here or is the first been you mention caused by something else altogether? I'd like a bit more info if you don't mind to look at the broader picture. I know a lot about Opium and its derivatives but I can't give detailed advice without precise information.

Please drop us a line.
Posted 7/27/2008 6:05 PM (GMT 0)

Hi All,

I wake up different times. Last night I didn't wake up until 4:00 am; that is a first. I did take 1/2 vicodin and was able to fall back to sleep until 7:00. Other nights I wake up 2-3 hrs after I go to sleep. "Go to bed at 10:00pm". The vicodin was given to me for both the IBS and neck injury from car accident. Also I suffer with migranes. The leg pain started 11 months ago. I read so much negative stuff on the internet last night about vicodin and I feel as if I'm in a catch 22. I hate the fact that I take this med and yet, it gives me a better quality of life. What does one do?  I can change the dose to later as you said and that may be better. I think I'm driving myself completely nuts. I swear my mind needs a rest from my body I spend way too much time thinking.

Thanks

Kimb

Posted 7/27/2008 6:38 PM (GMT 0)
Kimb,
I thnk Morgoth has some good points. I was only suggesting that what you were thinking might be an explanation, but there are so many other factors that need to be explored with your doctor. One thing is that maybe you can start working on learning to relax a bit and i know that's easier said than done. Almost all of us here (myself included) struggle with some depression and/or anxiety whether it's ongoing on periodic. That's normal. I don't know if you do anything to relax but you said it yourself - your mind needs a rest. Calming music, guided imagery CD's, a walk on the beach, a warm bath, your favorite tv show... and maybe even some meds. on a prn basis.

I know you don't like the thought of taking the vicodin. Again, the overwhelming majority (I'd say pretty much all of us!) on this board don't WANT to be taking the meds. we're on, but we're struggling to make peace with the choice that it's the meds or the pain, unless you're lucky enough to find another resolution. And those people probably aren't posting here. So join us not only for information, but for support as you struggle with the psychological end of this, too, because we're right there with you.

PaLady
Posted 7/27/2008 9:32 PM (GMT 0)
PaLady,

Thank you for your kind words. I can use support. Depression does come with chronic pain as I'm learning. My problem is that I keep looking back and comparing the quality of life I used to have to now. It saddens me and yet I'm thankful that it's not cancer. I know it can be much worse and I'm truly grateful that its not. I'm still adjusting and its taking me time. I'm an active person with a demanding job. I excercise at least 5 days a week. I write when I have free time. I find writing a wonderful way to express myself and my feelings. I'm seeing that I have good days and bad days and I'm trying to remind myself on the bad days that its just that "a bad day" without adding secondary factors. I know stress makes the pain that much worse. I'm a work in progress. The lack of sleep makes everything harder to handle. Last night was the first night I slept until 4:00 and then after taking the 1/2 vicodin slept another 3 hrs; physcologically I felt so much better when I woke up :).

Kim
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