My mother is trying to withdraw from 4+ years of vicodin abuse. Her doctor (back surgeon) prescribed methodone and an anti-anxiety medication to help her. She was supposed to take 2 methodone tablets a day. She took 8. She started hallucinating and acting weird. Set a fire (accidentally) and opened the front door and the garage door saying she was trying to scare off "two guys." I took her to the emergency room. They released her in six hours saying she was fine. I gave her her dosages of meds for the rest of the day and she took them all at once. I called and told her back doctor about the problems and he said he will not see her again, because she is going to make him lose his license. I was supposed to go away for two weeks for my job and I asked him to give her vicodin to tide her off for the next two weeks until I come back and then we will address the addiction. He said he would do it if I took the methodone back to the pharmacy. I tried to do that, but they refused to take it. I'm not sure what to do. I cannot give her the methodone and depend on her to take it as prescribed and without that she will go through severe withdrawal. Both her doctors told me to take her to the emergency room and they will admit her after a psych eval. I did, but the hospital didn't do it. They don't think she is suicidal, because she said she is not. In December she took 27 of ambien (which were prescribed to me) and she told my sister she was going to kill herself. That was in December though and they don't take that into consideration. She can manage to sound reasonable to the doctors. They don't believe she is suicidal. I don't think she is suicidal. I think its more passive. She doesn't care whether she lives or dies, so she will push the limit with the drugs. It's the actions. Most people that care about their well being will not just down 10 narcotic drugs not knowing how they will handle it. I feel like I will be comitted before her. This situation is stressing me so much. Anyone have any advice?

Can you feel safe and trust your mother on the Vicodin when you are away for 2 weeks? This is just my opinion but, if you feel comfortable with your mother on the Vicodin while you are away, let the Dr. give them to her. You could somehow get the Methodone away from her and hide it in a place she would never find it or give it a trusted friend or family member to hold on to it until you come back. If the Dr. agrees with this idea. If not you could just flush them or and get rid of them.

Don't mean to sound rude but your mother is an adult and should be taking care of herself right now instead of relying on her children. You are acting in the mother capacity right now. I know exactly how you are feeling. I went through this with my mother and I finally couldn't take it anymore so my brother and I called her parents (my Grandparents) and we told them everything. They were great, they came right over and ordered her to pack and she stayed with them until she dried out. I was always scare to leave for fear of her bburning the house down ( falling asleep w/ a lit cigarette in her mouth) or choking (falling asleep w/ her mouth completely stuffed with food).

In some states there is a law that lets you commit a family member against their will. I know in Wi, it take 3 family members or close friends to do this. Check with a attorney and maybe he/she could point you in the right direction.

Good luck. Keep us posted, we are here for you.

Paula

you poor soul, this is a most difficult situation, trying to care for a chronically addicted addict and in many ways you are actually enabling her to continue her ways; ultimately in a non direct way she's abusing the love and care you're showing her and taking advantage of it. Left to her own device’s God knows what will happen, but you have you own life to live and it sounds like you have nothing of the sorts at the current time. It's so difficult I imagine; I remember when my brother kicked me out of his house on my last few days of my drinking career, we were so close growing up and running a business together, I was shocked! And yet I sensed that he was doing the right thing, that I'd pushed him too far and that I had to do things on my own for some reason. Actually I nearly killed myself, but really it was I personal cry for help and I got myself into treatment and AA after that and it was the best thing that could have happened to me.

From yourself they say, you’re as "Powerless" over your mother as she is over there pills and it would probably be a major help to your sanity if you tried Alanon and some form of counselling, you deserve the support, it's about time to take care of yourself.

Best wishes with everything.....

Thanks both of you for your replies. I did ask the doctor about letting her stay on vicodin for two weeks until I return, but he is scared of losing his license after writing a prescription for methodone. She is in a psych ward. Everytime I think that I want to cry. No telephone, no television, no radio and worse for her...no smokes. This is sad, but I feel luckily she is so out of it, I don't even think she realizes where she is. When she does, she will hate me. I'm crying so much, I think I will be in a psych ward next.