addicted to prescription pills

I have a friend who is addicted to Vicadin. He quit "cold turkey" the other day. Is this good to do?? Should he see a Dr. for help on quitting? Someone told me that he needs to wean himself off slowly.

By all means your friend needs to see a Doctor. I went through the same thing. I too stoped cold truket. I went through horrible withdrawals. James

thank you for your message. I talked to my friend yesterday and he insists that he is fine. Says he is not feeling bad at all. I am trying hard to convince him to see a Dr. Would a GP be the right doctor to go to??

Never, NEVER stop certain prescription medications cold turkey! This is particularly true for painkillers, anti-anxiety medicines such as Xanax, blood-pressure medicine like Toprol, and ANY antidepressant. You must be weened off the medicine by a doctor who knows what he/she is doing. I had a bitch of a time getting off Xanax. Withdrawals! The shakes! Extreme nervousness! Dizziness! And I was being tapered off the drug by a psychiatrist who specialized in addictions. He took me off Xanax and put me on Klonopin (a drug in the same class) and weened me off Klonopin. He said getting off Xanax is harder than getting off heroin. So that's why he put me on Klonopin. It was my methadone, which they give heroin addicts to ween them off heroin.

He does need to wean off them slowly or see a Dr. for help. Because I am also an addict And, I am scared to death to quit cold turkey it can be done but they say it feels like your so sick it will make you feel like you want to die but you won't. That is why it is best to see a doctor or go to a rehab. Tell your friend not to be ashamed to go. It is better than getting sick they can help. I know it is hard because i havent asked for help yet because i have chronic pain and have had two back surgeries in two years. I hope you can help your friend if not just support him and give good advice.