I have itching, pain in the abdominal area, sometimes panic attac...

Sounds like withdrawl effects. Stay away from them for anything other than pain if you have an addictive personality. These are lesser forms of heroin, morphine released in the brain. The effects you are describing are absolutely withdrawl. If you take them for extended periods of time, you will find the withdrawl symptoms getting worse and worse. You will NEED to have a pill to get out of bed, when you SHOULD be otherwise healthy. Tolerance to the drug will build and you will quickly become addicted... If you have problems with alcohol, you are at hightened risk of opiate addiction, so stay away from it. (family history, substance abuse problems.)

If you are currently addicted to opiates, Vicodin/percocet/ ect. There are treatment options available. If you are feeling down after a short period of use, these symptoms will subside and you will be back to normal in a little time. If you keep taking them, it will only get worse and you may require medical treatment, IE: Suboxone/Subutex , methadone. Paths you don't want to go down. The high, eventually will NOT be worth the HORRIBLE, UNBEARABLE, withdrawl symptoms. You will have to take huge ammounts of pills to feel 'normal.'

If your addicted to painkillers, get help. They retard your life IF your using them for recreational 'high' OR to maintain or avoid the withdrawl symptoms, post addiction. If you have legit pain, they are a life saver. But really unless you have a CHRONIC condition, you shouldn't take these any longer than your pain is present, until you are healed, or advised by your doctor.

Get with god, drink water and get alot of sleep. Some people find anti-anxiety medication helpful for the mental discomfort (don't get abusive of that too, those withdraw symptoms can be fatal.) The addicted brain is damaged by the drug and MUST HEAL. If you believe you may be addicted to painkillers, there is ALOT of help these days. There is no excuse for taking opiates to 'maintain' normality.

Good luck, hang in there!

Hello. Thank you. I believe you are correct on all levels. I have been trying to just cut back and wean myself off, but get pretty uncomfortable at work, I do have anti-anxiety meds I've been taking for years, and have been weaning off them under a dr/s care, but they do help. I may try the "cold-turkey" method with the help of the anti-anxiety meds, and just take a few days off and tuff it out. If that doesn't go well, I suppose I will need to contact an addictions specialist and see what they have to say. This is just ridiculous. I'm just afraid, but I know i have to stop the roller coaster ride here and get back on track. Thanks again, yo've given me good information.

Get with god, drink water and alot of sleep? what a crock. here's the facts. pay attention to the basic class 101 pychology of human actions. any addiction no matter what medium we use, pain killers, alcohol, god, etc... are simply crutches. the medicine we take to get by is fine in and of itself, but when we start to debate with ourselves or anyone, to justify why we do these things, that is usually the first indicator that an addiction is developing. First and foremost cure is this: get rid of the crutch mentality which is most prevelant in our American society. The pioneers that forged this country simultaniously displacing its inhabitants would barf at the tenderfoots we have come to be. Want to stop be addicted, quit crying and whining, come to terms with the truth of your station in life, the facts and truth of the source of your pain and reality that you have to work extremely hard in physical thearapy, assisted from professionals or done privately; understand the fact that you will have to live with limitations and you must adapt to survive. Most of all, stay away from religious idealism, because it is the greatest 'responsibilty ducking', crutch enabling gambit out there next to A.A. You speak of the pain killers 'retarding your life.' Well, guess what, so does pain! you see, you are to wrapped up in the simplicity of the black and white this is good and this is bad. There is no such thing. Life is a bitch, it's hard. But it can be fun and pleasing. Anyone who has children knows of the dichotomy of this truth; its hard but you wouldn't ever go with out it.I spent 3 months living on my livingroom floor and when my girlfriend got off work she would bring me food, change my 'pisspot' and give me a back massage before she had to shoot out and pick up her kids. That was 8 years ago and I am still with her today; she is a beautiful person in all aspects. My strife and dibilitating pain was a test, a challenge, a reason for me to keep on fighting. And yes, i became happily addicted to painkillers especially when mixed with rum or LI Iced tea's. Today, I control them, they dont control me. I make no excuses for taking them and i don't hide the fact that occassionally i do take them when certain excertion or chores end up in painful results. That is just fact and i deal with it. painkillers, like my shovel or screwdriver is a tool i use only when it's neccesary to use them. In the day, i had all sorts of excuses for taking them. Hard core fact todays is, get tough and deal with it. Don't hide or depend on others to get you by. Go online and learn about pychology and how addiction plays its role in our minds. This is the CURE for it. You can have all the support groups you want but you'll never be cured until you personally come to terms with the facts and truths of your weaknesses and pains and insecurities. Do NOT go to AA or to church; they only teach you that your responisibilties are to him and not to yourself; you will never find a cure.