[chickenbeansoup]

Hi, I am addicted to vicodin and recently told my doctor. I'm going to get help. HOORAY FOR ME. Anyway, I am 27 years old and have been taking vicodin on and off for the past three years. I take 6 to 8 pills per day. I want to know if I have done a lot of damage to my liver? In all likelihood, have I done a lot of damage? I know that it's variable from person to person (i.e. genetics, family history). I know that human organs are very resilient, but I'm just wondering because I'm scared. I feel like I'll be okay because I'm still young. It's not like I've been abusing the stuff for 15 years. I exercise a lot and I am otherwise a healthy, young man. Any advice is greatly appreciated. Oh, the strength of the pills I take is 5 mg of hydrocodone and 500 mg acetaminophen (tylenol). And, yes, I am aware that the tylenol is what mostly causes liver toxicity.

[cinney]

I am just answering to congratulate you on getting help. So yes...HOORAY FOR YOU. I do know the tylenol causes liver toxicity cause I tried to o.d. a looooong time ago. Ask your counselor or maybe google it. Each person's body is different though. You could also ask for a liver function screening blood test to determine the extent of any damage. Good luck to you.

[oldtimekid]

Okay, chill out... you've asked this question 6 times already in various areas. Yes, Congratulations on getting off the drugs! That's an AWESOME first step! It takes time to get answers, but moreso, something like this would be better discussed with your doctor (which is why most people aren't answering).If you would like help for the actual damage to the liver, I make a couple suggestions. Assuming you've taken it long enough to hurt your liver, you may have only done some damage, which it could heal from..... but if you have hurt it more than that, you may want to take some natural herbs or supplements to help it get the nutrients it needs. There's Milk Thistle, Dandelion, Yellowdock, Burdock, Parsley, Black Radish Root, N-Acetyl-Cysteine (NAC), Trimethylglycine (TMG), and Alpha Lipoic Acid. Any of those can help with general liver health. Good luck, and Congrats again!

[Russell L]

You actually aren't as bad off as you think.I have a friend who takes 8-10 10mg hydrocodone/650 Tylenol a day and drinks 10 12 beers a day.It took him several years to do moderate damage.It differs from person to person and taking them w/ alcohol will really get your health screwed up.

[natluvr]

Once you stop taking these meds your liver will recover. You can speed up the process with milk thistle which you can get at any health food store, pharmacy or even supermarket. The bigger worry is will you have the self control to stay off the drugs once you're detoxed. Please know that there is NO better feeling than knowing you're healthy and are living life proud of yourself. Your loved ones and friends will be proud of you too . I firmly believe that the pain you were trying to chase with the drugs is now caused by the drugs. Your body has to last a long time so treat it well and you could live long and be prosperous. Set a great goal for yourself and stay focused on it . You can do it , one step at a time. (That sounds cliche but lots of people have proven it to be true.) Good health to you.