I have been taking vicodin for over10 years as a pain medication while under doctors care. I had to change doctors because of insurance problems. my new doctor does not approve of this medicine and is reducing the strength to half what I have been taking. My strength was 5/500. What s is your opinion .
Vicodin contains hydrocodone. Though it is a good pain reliever, it is a habit forming drug. Further on prolonged use the effect of the drug will be reduced and it can depress the respiratory system. Hence it is preferable to reduce the dose of the drug gradually and then stop and then substitute with safer pain relieving medicines such as high dose paracetamol or anti inflammatory drugs such as aceclofenac. Of course if the pain is not reduced with the these medicines, then you have to take the risk and continue tablet vicodin only.