Reply to an Answer

I would have to say what you are noticing is not because of her vicodin. Vicodin is an opioid mixed with basically tylenol. The opioid ,hydrocodone I believe, causes minor feelings of euphoria and a relief of pain, if she has become dependant or addicted to it as Darcy obviously has then yes it could be adding to the antisocial tendancies of depression. But, in truth I would say that you should be more worried about her if she did not seem to change drastically. You must remember she just lost her daughter, a child she loved and raised since a baby, this kind of loss is rediculously damaging to a persons psyche. If you have ever lost someone dear to you, multiply that feeling by four to ten times what you felt and that is somewhere abouts how she feels.   If anything the Vicodin is probably helping her if she is taking it in a non-abusive manner. Anyways removing it from her would not really help, unless you want her to not only be in emotional pain but also physical pain from her disease. I would advise just giving her some time, and make sure she knows you are there to support her when she needs it. I would suggest treating her as if she is just massively depressed, because her symptoms seem more in line with that than with vicodin addiction. It is "normal" for the severely depressed to lock themselves away and even to refuse food or sleep for days on end. It is a possibility that she may start abusing her medication in order to get an opioid high, but I doubt that will happen. Vicodin is relatively well watched, being a schedule III controlled substance, so if she is abusing her medication her doctors will notice eventualy.   In short, dont worry about it, just be there for her when she opens up. She is depressed not an addict, and vicodin is more likely to make her feel BETTER than worse, atleast until her body develops a tolerance or dependancy on the medication. Just try to keep in touch with her and let her know its not the end of the world and that she has family that loves her and that she is important and needed. Dont be so quick to blame everything on the pills the doctors prescribe, depression can make you do things that few outside chemicals can achieve. Locking yourself away from friends and family is not out of its reach, and neither is suicide, substance abuse, and a score of other things.