Is There an OTC pain reliever that works as well as Vicodin?

You should NOT consume Acetaminophen (Tylenol) with alcohol. This will damage your liver.

Be good to your body. It is a sacred temple.

Have suffered from chronic pain/inflammation for a number of years. Steroids help but only for a time, then it's back. Narcotic pain relievers help somewhat, but knock you out and have diminishing results.

Here's what I have found that has been remarkably effective:

1) Mega-doses of Vit D3 (approx 10,000 - 20,000 or more units 3x per day every day when in crisis, reduce by half for maintenance),

2) Tumeric (Curcumin) capsules, approx 2 - 3, 3x per day,

3) Ginger capsules, approx 2 - 3, 3x per day. Take Ginger capsules with lots of water and on a full stomach.

4) Yoga 1x per day.

After beginning this regimen, I experienced about 90% reduction in inflammation in about 48 hours. So much so that I could begin to feel the pain.

The actual pain/injury takes much longer to reduce, but until the inflammation response is under control there is little chance for the body/herbs/vitamins to begin to effect the pain.

Good luck.

You sound like you know what you speak of ! I am sure keeping this info and shopping for stuff this weekend ! Thanks.OP, what say you?

I don't particularly want too say this as its not something you should need too do as I believe the doctor shouldn't be able to bail on you with narcotic meds before your condition has gone. BUT, if you are in terrible pain and I dare say that if you have been taking vicodin for a while, you will have a tolerance and possible a dependence.
I take dihydrocodeine to address 3 symptoms of a condition I have and know what its like when the doc says 'no more'. I tried too source them myself but I and didn't like the people I had too go through (very dark scene). Anyway, before the doctor acknowledge the problem and put me back on them, I used a method I got on an opiate newsgroup for removing the paracetamol from an OTC medicine 'Paramol', It has 500/8 mix of paracetamol/dihydrocodeine and I used the 'cold water extraction method' to get rid off the paracetamol as it is not soluble in water when the codeine is. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS/STUPID AND ONLY IF IN SEVERE PAIN.
The only reason I mention it is because I have been in the same situation.
I only tried it once and it was very effective but it is costly in the UK.

I don't know if you will have a small dependence to the vicodin, possible just a mental dependence but once you stop taking them you will find that talking to the pharmacist and they will suggest somethings too you but it really depends on what your condition is.

The "handle" I have used on this forum for the last six years should show you what i do in part; but have you tried any "left field" therapys such as frequency generators? Another trick I use is baths in magnesium sulfate[epsom salts]AND hydrogen peroxide[about a 1/3rd of a 12 ounce bottle of 3%]. This works for quite a few hours on my pain.

Someone mentioned "Kratom" This herb is remarkable, at least for me. It's legal, a little expensine for the really good stuff, and you can only order some over the internet. All info. you need is at www.kratom.org you can also buy from them. For myself, I use "maeng-da" or a resin extract. If won't hurt you to take a look.

How long have you been using the Kratom? A few months, yrs. or ? Have you had any side effects? What about thinning the blood-does it do that? How often do you need to take it for pain relief? And how much do you take?

SORRY I AM FULL OF QUESTIONS ON THIS--have not tried this yet- but probably will. I try to rotate all the things I take--including vitamins--as it gets so it does not work as well--so how have you done on this Kratom--does it loose it's effectiveness after using for a while? It is safe to use with other pain helps???? THANKS IN ADVANCE --I MAY EVEN HAVE MORE QUESTIONS LATER--GRIN.

Yes another--does it tend to keep you awake like the narcotics?

Last Edited by B4DAWN on 09/21/2010 02:09 AM

FOR OTHER INFORMATION: My grand daughter and now my daughter - bad fibromyalgia--they are both on this "BUPRENORPHINE" They put part of a pill under their tounge about 5 times a day. The way I understand this pill is --it is a narcotic--but they have changed the formula so that people don't get that high feeling--but it does work on the pain--so far. Thought I would mention this for others--to ask their Dr. And they set their own doses per day--when they get the relief they need. So different.

I use aspirin with codeine. We can get that over the counter here in canada, but I don't think you can in America. It works great.

We had a similar thread earlier and I'll give you the same advice my dentist passed on to me:

800mg ibuprofen, if that's not enough, add 200 mg tylenol incrementally every 20 minutes until you get the formula correct for your pain.

I have used this method with great success.

Pain sucks!

I was interested in this "Kratom" too and checked out the link Invisible posted.

I didn't like the possible side-effects (all of them if taken in high dosages for "long periods of time").

Apparently this herb may create addiction.
Darkening of skin if high dosage/long time.
Agression
Lose of Libido
Constipation

...not looking good for me. I didn't find anything on that link that explains which is the right dosage. Apparently if taken in small dosages, it is an stimulant. In higher dosages it is a relaxation effect.

It is also called: "The Workers Plant" because workers in Asia used to take it (chewing the leaves, or in teas) to feel energized.

I think this plant needs more research, at least for western markets.

People in Health/Nutrition circles rave about Phenocane.

Actually, some are on the right track, part of the problem with pain is that of inflamation...

However, the body develops tolerance to tumeric and also curmucin... so eventually it won't be as effective...

also on doses above 5,000 mgs of Vitamin D daily, you need to have your liver checked periodically....

part of the reason, it's good to use natural anti inflamatories, is to prevent sepsis... sepis has always been a big killer....

Sepsis is a massive inflation response generated by the body, in response to lysis of mitochonria into the blood stream on a large scale, which it mistakes for a massive invasion of bacteria, Sepsis will disolve your muscles and kill you, so by controlling inflation you half way there....

Asprin and tylenol, will destroy your liver, but if necessary you can take NAC, to detox the liver..

The best thing for pain, is Clove tea... grind it yourself from whole cloves, then infuse tea with it, drink as needed throughout the day...

I know people who've gotten off morphine prescribed for bone cancer, with this, it's used by lots of healers...

CLoves, is the most potent antioxidant there is....

So, you can mix, Cloves, Tumeric, and Cinnamon, with black strap molases, on steel cut oats... a great way to start the day...

QUOTE----
The best thing for pain, is Clove tea... grind it yourself from whole cloves, then infuse tea with it, drink as needed throughout the day...

I know people who've gotten off morphine prescribed for bone cancer, with this, it's used by lots of healers...

CLoves, is the most potent antioxidant there is....

So, you can mix, Cloves, Tumeric, and Cinnamon, with black strap molases, on steel cut oats... a great way to start the day...

THANKS--THAT IS INTERESTING---first time I have heard of that for pain. Do you have a link with more info?

OP what is your pain?

[link to www.quick2you.com] ---phenocane information.

I had some oral surgery this spring, my doctor proscribed OxyContin, the stuff made me sick to my stomach. I ended up going back to simple Advil & Cannabis, try it.

Yes, it does work.

Take care...it can be addicting.

Advil Liquigells works better than Vicodin, oh, but sorry no euphoria for you just excellent analgesia.

Get a different doctor. You have the right to get relief from your pain. Most doctors will give you vicadin if you don't abuse it.

Nothing works I have chronic neck pain and the onlything that worked was vicodin and a certain tens unit

my otc drug of choice is...(drum roll) ibuprophen softgels; usually just one. if it doesn't seem to work, try excedrine; store brands are fine. i've scrapped tylenol/acetaminophen.

NO Vicodin is king(when used in moderation)It can be safely used long term(if your don't have an addictive personality).Ibuprofen and alieve have given me serious ULCERS.Do not use them long term.Without Vicodin my quality of life would be shit.Find a new doctor and get your vicodin.My current doctor has been giving me vicodin for 4 years.I only take a quarter of what is prescribed.I have a thousand in reserve in case of SHTF.Good luck.

what does not kill you makes you stronger. pain is not a horrible thing. it gives you important messages.

Bump for Vicodin,Xanax,Valium.These are true life savers when used correctly.

You Sir don't know pain. I live with daily pain, some times it makes me to the point I can't even get out of bed in the mornings, or I have to go strait from class to bed. Yes pain tells you things, but all my Dr. told me was I get "complicated migraines" and the next Dr. called the first crazy, but did nothing to change the meds, as if true, a change could cause me to stroke. Stadol (R.I.P.) and Vicodin are great to help deal with this pain.

So to most people here, I call this: :bsflag:

Naproxen, prescription strength Alieve. Will get rid of a headache very effectively. Take it from someone whose bones are really messed up. It works.

DO NOT GET HOOKED ON KRATOM, it's only sold online, it's expensive, you have to take ALOT of capsules to the equal of one dose of Vicodin and withdrawals are the same as Vicodin, IT'S TERRIBLE SND NOT WORTH GETTING IN TO. TRAMADOL IS NOT WORTH IT either, the side effects are the same as coming off of Vicodin and does not help with pain AT ALL unless you take in heavy doses then you are at risk of SEIZURES!!! You're best bet is to just stick with Aleve or Tylenol and if you're worried about withdrawal symptoms of the Vicodin talk to a pain management doctor and get help and get Suboxone!!!!! Please!!!! It's the best thing you can do for yourself :)

Kratom. Its a leaf from Thailand. Very popular in the legal high crowd. The effects you feel vary on strain. Some are stronger than others, some have a bit more of a kick, akin to having a cup of coffee with a few vicodin. Other strains have a mellow vicodin high.

You can order it from various websites. They have to include the label "not for human consumption" for legal reasons. Just research it and you'll see why it's so popular.

I'm going to have some right now, actually. Oh, and the hangover is a breeze. And that's only if you eat way too much. It's crazy that more people don't know about this stuff.