Over The Counter & Prescription Drugs / Question
Published: October 31, 2006
Dear TeenHealthFX,
I'm 15 years old and it’s august. The last school year I was taking my dads vicodin every day for about 4 or 5 months up to 7 20mg pills a day. One day I was looking in the medicine cabinet for Advil because I had bad cramps but we were out and the Vicodin bottle said take for pain, and that’s what I had so I figured it would work and it did that and more. After that I started taking on average 4 a day it would make me feel confident and all over good but then later in the day I would severely tired and have to sleep and couldn’t stay awake for those classes. But if I stopped taking them I would get really sick. Then in June my dad didn’t need them any more and his prescription ran out so I was forced to quit taking them. I was really sick for about 2 weeks after I stopped taking them. I’m fine now but still crave them and wish that he would need them again. Could taking as many as I did affect the way my health is now? (Ps. I understand that taking anyone elses medication is illegal)
Signed: Craving My Dad's Prescription Pills
Dear Craving My Dad's Prescription Pills,
You stated in your letter that you know that taking someone else’s medication is illegal – and that is certainly something to consider and be aware of in a situation like this one. However, TeenHealthFX also wants you to be aware of the risks people face with their physical and emotional well-beings in taking any kind of prescription medication that has not been prescribed directly for them. Taking medication that has been prescribed for someone else, and trying to play doctor for yourself can be a dangerous and risky game. It is critical that a trained medical professional be prescribing medication for a person, as a doctor will not always recommend the same type of medication, dosage, and length of time to take the medication depending on a person’s presenting problem, as well as his/her medical and mental health history. It is also very important to have a doctor who is monitoring a person as they are taking their medication so that changes can be made to the medication regimen in the event that problematic side effects or addictive behaviors should occur in connection to the medication.
After reading the information that has been presented below on Vicodin, you will probably have a better understanding as to why you reacted the way you did while taking the medication, and why you find yourself still craving this particular drug. And since you are finding that you continue to have cravings for Vicodin, TeenHealthFX is concerned that you are at risk to abuse the drug again, whether it is in your home again or you try and find Vicodin for yourself elsewhere. Therefore, FX thinks that it is very important for you to tell a trusted adult – your parents, a teacher, school nurse, therapist, school social worker, or guidance counselor – about your experience with this drug so that your parents will be aware not to keep Vicodin or similar medications in the household, and so that you can get the help you need to deal with your current cravings. While there is a part of you that may want to take this drug again, by writing into FX we know that there is obviously a part of you that is worried about this possibility and that knows it is not in your best interest to be taking the Vicodin (or any similar drug) again. So let that healthy part of you guide you in seeking help for yourself about this.
Information on Vicodin:
Vicodin is a prescription pain killer that is most commonly prescribed for people experiencing any kind of intense pain or pain after surgery.
There are some specific interactions and contraindications to be aware of with Vicodin. MAOI’s should be avoided when taking Vicodin, as should Acetaminphen to decrease the chance of liver damage. Alcohol use, and the use of any other drugs that induce drowsiness (i.e., antidepressants, antihistamines, pain killers, muscle relaxants, etc.) should also be avoided when taking Vicodin as it increases the drowsiness already caused by Vicodin and could result in a person becoming unconscious or even dead. Taking Vicodin is also not recommended with certain medical ailments as it could worsen the condition, such as with Addison’s Disease, kidney disease, gallbladder disease, liver disease, complications with the thyroid, severe head injuries, asthma, an enlarged prostrate, epilepsy, or alcohol abuse. Vicodin is also not recommended for people under 18 or over 60, as there is a greater chance of experiencing the side effects of this medication. It is also not recommended for women to take Vicodin during pregnancy, as the impact on newborns is unknown, or while nursing, as the drug can pass into the breast milk and have adverse effects on nursing babies.
There are various side effects that can accompany Vicodin use. These include an allergic reaction, weak breathing, seizures, clammy skin, severe weakness, dizziness, unconsciousness, yellowing of the eyes or skin, unusual fatigue, bleeding or bruising, constipation, dry mouth, nausea, vomiting, decreased appetite, muscle twitches, sweating, itching, hearing loss, decreased urination, and decreased sex drive. Vicodin also has depressant effects on the central nervous system and has been linked to causing stomach ulcers. Symptoms of a Vicodin overdose may include slow breathing, cold and clammy skin, dizziness, weakness, loss of consciousness, confusion, small pupils, fatigue, coma, nausea, seizures, vomiting, sweating, and death.
One important thing to be aware of regarding Vicodin use is that, particularly when taken outside the parameters of how it has been prescribed, there is a significant risk for addiction and dependence. This is because Vicodin contains hydrocodone, which is a derivative of an opiate. The addiction to Vicodin can therefore become similar to other powerful addictions, even to a point where the craving for the drug takes hold of the person to the point where it supersedes his/her need for food or water. And like many other addictions, withdrawal symptoms will be present when people who have become dependent on Vicodin stop the drug use. These symptoms can include diarrhea, vomiting, cold flashes, muscle pain, bone pain, and restlessness. Because of the strong possibility of addiction and withdrawal symptoms is a person does become dependent on Vicodin, it is extremely important not to take a higher dosage of what has been prescribed or to take medication for a longer period of time than has been recommended by a doctor – and it is definitely not recommended that someone take this medication without being monitored by a doctor.
General Information on Abusing Prescription Medication:
Prescription drugs that are abused or used for non-medical purposes can pose a definite threat to a person’s physical and emotional well-being as the drugs can end up altering brain activity and leading to dependence. Commonly abused prescription drugs include opioids (generally prescribed to treat pain), central nervous system depressants (usually used to treat anxiety and sleep disorders), and stimulants (prescribed for narcolepsy, ADHD, and obesity). The long-term use of opioids or central nervous system depressants can lead to physical dependence and addiction. And, taken in high doses, stimulants can lead to compulsive use, paranoia, dangerously high body temperatures, and irregular heartbeat.
Adolescents are among one of a couple of groups of people who are most vulnerable regarding the abuse of prescription medication. According to the 2003 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 9.2 percent of teenagers’ ages 12-17 had used a prescription drug for nonmedical reasons in the past year and 4.0 percent were current users. Prescription opioids are a particularly serious problem with teens in this age range. In 2004, the National Institute on Drug Abuse conducted a Monitoring the Future Survey of 8th, 10th and 12th graders. This survey found that 5.0 percent of 12th graders reported abusing OxyContin in the past year, and 9.3 percent reported abusing Vicodin – making Vicodin one of the most commonly abused prescription drugs in this population. Another very concerning trend amongst adolescents is the practice of “pharming” where teens mix prescription medication and ingest some or all of them at once, unaware of the potentially severe drug interactions that could lead to lead to various serious complications and problems, including death.
If an adolescent is abusing prescription medication and needs help in dealing with his/her drug dependence, TeenHealthFX recommends that person talk to a trusted adult as soon as possible so that an effective treatment plan can be put in place to deal with the problem. Whether you go to your parents, an extended family member, your primary care physician, or a school staff member – notify an adult immediately so that adult can intervene on your behalf. Addressing the abuse of prescription medications will usually involve behavioral treatments. Behavioral drug abuse treatments, such as individual counseling, group or family counseling, contingency management, and cognitive-behavioral therapy, all aim to teach the person who is abusing drugs how to stop using the drugs, how to handle cravings, how to prevent relapses, and how to handle a relapse should one occur. Behavioral treatments can also help people to improve their personal relationships and ability to function at work and at home without the need for drugs or illicit substances. While Pharmacological treatments (the use of medication) are used to address certain types of drug dependencies, such as opioid addictions, it is unclear as to whether or not this type of treatment is effective for people abusing prescription medications.
If you live in northern
You can also contact the National Institute on Drug Abuse & Alcoholism at 1-888-644-6432 for more information.
Signed: TeenHealthFX
The teen pregnancy rate in the United States is the highest of any industrialized democracy, nearly twice that of Great Britain and 10 times that of Japan. 
