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.