Dear Lesa, Vicodin has Tylenol in it. This is bad for your liver and kidneys. Straight opiates are better for you than combinations that contain other substances that over the long term can really mess you up. I take oxycontin. I've just started with it and I love it. I'm not sleepy, the pain is loads better and I can function pretty well. I still need to lay down a lot, but It's better. I know what you mean about not really caring as long as some of the pain goes away. I used to be so mcuh worse mentally, because 24/7 pain is just too much. All my love and sorry to be so blunt. Good luck. Sally