Will taking only one Norco a day lead to dependence and withdrawal?

When used as an anti-depressant, low dose, e.g. 1/2 in a.m. and often 1/2 in afternoon, Vicodin-Norco can be used virtually forever. When used as an anti-depressant, getting high is not the goal and depression patients find that feeling woozy is a serious negative. Hence, there is a negative-feedback loop that stops the depressed patient from increasing his/her dose. Also, there is no indication that the depressed patient increases the dose because it becomes less effective over time. Very low dose Vicodin-Norco makes one feel normal and taking more than enough is as unpleasant as not having any.

After several years constipation can be a side effect. The patient needs to weigh the constipation side effect against falling into a morbidly suicidal down hill free fall. There are a number of ways to handle the constipation so that it is not a serious side effect.

If Vicodin-Norco is an effective anti-depressant for you, I suggest thinking about it like Insulin. While Insulin is a drug, the need to be on insulin for a lifetime does not make one a drug addict. As with Insulin, there is no rational reason to stop taking the Vicodin-Norco.

One can stay at 1/2 Vicodin-Norco twice a day for decades with no serious side effects. Since humans are not fungible, I am certain some depressed patients need one full pill twice a day. Also, there will be a lot of depressed people for whom Vicodin-Norco will have no impact on their depression.

In closing, Vicodin-Narco for physical pain and for depression are two separate worlds. This note is only about low dose over years or even over decades for depression.

Even with the residual 24/7 pain in my leg that leaves me longing to take just one Norco to relieve it (I haven't), the world looks so new and beautiful and the air here in Southern California smells like perfume to me after being free from opioids and I increasingly have more energy.
If unbearable pain drives you to take opioids, take them. Just never forget their evil (yes, evil) flip side.

but there was a very strong craving and a strange anxiety (very strong).

I told myself as there were no physical withdrawal symptoms I was not addicted. I started taking them again - just 1 pill per day at night for sleep. I am now in my seventh month and the pain in my ankle is to a point where it is bearable. I am stopping the Norco now. Please note... there are strong physical withdrawal symptoms for me at this point. I am on day two and I have very strong body aches as well as horrifying restless legs. I also have very bad headaches and nausea - but the nausea isn't that bad though it adds to the overall discomfort. Finally, the anxiety is through the roof.

So the short answer is that even one pill a day can lead to physical dependence and difficulty if taken long enough in my experience. From what I understand you are fighting a long term terribly painful syndrome. I would warn against taking them longer than 3 months.

I also want to address the fact that even though you may not have a "physical" dependence and not experience physical withdrawal symptoms - your brain has already made the connection that this drug makes you feel good. Your brain will do everything in its power to reproduce that "high" as it's gotten nothing but positive reinforcement when you take it. This means when you stop, it will make you feel depressed, anxiety will be strong, and you will want to desperately run and take a pill knowing that the "magic pill" will make it all go away. Your brain will come up with excuses to take it. For example, I want to show my family how much progress I made so I'll take one to make it look like I can walk more normally than I can (because there's less pain). Another good one is I have an important meeting at work - so I better take one so I can concentrate with my boss and not deal with the pain. This is bad and shows mental dependence. This mental side can last a very long time from what I'm understanding. We're talking months not days.There's a name for it but I don't recall what it is.

I don't know what I would have done differently at this point as the pain really required me to take the meds. But now I have to come off them and it is really, really hard not to reach for the "magic pill". Just know that the pill is dark magic.

During this period, I can't sleep next to my wife because I am up and down all night. My sleep is all thrown off. Hard to concentrate due to the body aches and I hate restless legs - not to mention I always feel like crying.

All this for 1 pill a day at night for sleep for 7 months.

I really wish you luck as I empathize with what you're fighting and how terrible it is. When people say it's terrible - there's simply no debate... it's really really bad. As a person I just pray you get better. Do what you need to do, but avoid the terrible pitfalls. And lastly don't let your mind fool you into "needing" to do something you don't.

Of course if you're only going to be taking one pill a day there will probably be one day where you completely forget to take it, that day and the next will pretty much show you how bad your withdrawals will be. There's a good chance you won't even notice a change.

If you have pain , take your medications. Dont worry about addiction and dependence. If you do become dependent and you no longer need the medicine, you can taper off the medications to avoid unpleasant withdrawals.