Vicodin is the most common brand name for Hydrocodone or Hydrocodine (not quite sure which). It is a member of the opiate family, which also includes codeine (found in Tylenol 3 and as a standalone drug), oxycodone (commonly known as percoset), and opium.

Vicodin is perscription-only in the USA. It is a monitered substance, as is percoset and other menebers of this drug family, which might, I think, include morphine too (not sure on this one).

It is possible to purchase it in other countries - some countries it is available over-the-counter, most places it's a black-market thing. Codeine is much easier to find; for example, in New Zealand and Canada it can be purchased over the counter cheaply. It's also a LOT weaker than vicodin, and seems to be harsher on my stomach but that might just be the amount I have to take.

Vicodin is addictive. It is also possible to build up a tolerance to it over time - trust me, I'm THERE.

When bought in persecription form, I can get 20 vicodin tablets for $8, 40 for $11, going through Kaiser hospital.

When it's black-market, a single pill can cost as much as $20 dollars.

Vicodin is no more harmful than any of the other 'heavy duty' painkillers - less harmful than some. I have been told that too much vicodin is linked to deafness and I know from experience that long-term use affects memory, particularly short-term memory. However, I have no proof or confirmation on the hearing loss thing, and frankly, my past and my life in general sucks enough of the time that I don't usually mind loosing the bits of it where I'm on vicodin. Those are usually the most unpleasant ones.

I have found that for my pain, the BAD pain, the perfect dose is 2.5 vicodin tablets, one percoset tablet, and 2-4 advil. This seems to maximize the effectiveness of each form of painkiller, without any complicated cross-dose side effects. It also is strong enough to knock out even the worst of my pain to a level where I can deal with it.

Vicodin and percoset combined are the ONLY things that I have found to be effective for serious pain. Advil, tylenol, even alieve... it's like taking childrens' asprin, particularly if I take the 'recommended dose'.

I have had bladder infections since age four, other illnesses that resulted in pain interspersed with them including an ovarian cyst, serious throat and respitory problems, and of course kidney stones. Because of this my tolerance for all painkillers has increased to what is pretty ridiculous levels.

The standard vicodin dose is 1-2 pills every 4-6 hours, not to exceed 8 pills in one day.

My standard dose is 2-3 pills every 3-4 hours, fuck the exceeding limits. My stomach CAN handle it and WILL handle it, and I would rather deal with mild stomach irritation than intense, mind-wracking, excruciating pain.

I have been fortunate enough to have occasionally bummed a few things off friends, and twice was gifted with a generous supply of codeine (it is that codeine that is enabling me to get through this at ALL, without it I would be quite literally in screaming agony - I have been using it to suppliment the vicodin when I have it, and as a stopgap measure when I do not have it. Unfortunately, I am running low on codeine as well). However, this is neither reasonable nor legal - if my friends have these medications it is because their doctor knows THEY need it.

This makes it both a guilt-trip and a bit of a legal issue when I accept such gifts... although I do accept, because frankly, it hurts too much for me NOT to.

Incidentally, the way the bedroom is set up, there is no practical way for me to put the computer by or even on the bed. Trust me, I've tried. *sighs*