Ultima modifica: 12 Dicembre 2024

Hydrocodone Addiction: Signs, Effects, & Treatment

vicodin addiction

Seeking help is part of the process of returning to a positive, healthy road and successful recovery. For Vicodin addiction, getting help is paramount to ridding you and your loved one of this affliction. Zohydro was the first purely hydrocodone medication approved by the FDA in 2013. The agency approved the medication against the advice of its scientific advisory board, which voted 11-2 to deny Zohydro’s approval. The addition of acetaminophen is thought to lower hydrocodone’s risk of abuse, causing many to question the FDA’s decision to approve Zohydro.

Response and effectiveness

It is often used to treat moderate to severe pain, but it does have the potential for dependence and addiction. Vicodin withdrawal can produce a Sober living house wide range of physical symptoms which can occur when someone stops or dramatically reduces their use of the drug after heavy or prolonged use. Opioids are safest when used for three or fewer days to manage serious pain, such as pain that follows surgery or a bone fracture. If you need opioids for severe pain, work with your healthcare professional to take the lowest dose possible, for the shortest time needed, exactly as prescribed. Also, be sure to ask if drugs other than opioids are available or if other types of treatment can be used instead.

vicodin addiction

Vicodin Addiction Treatment

Vicodin is currently labeled as a Schedule II controlled substance by the Drug Enforcement Agency after being changed from Schedule III in October of 2014. Abuse of Vicodin includes any type of use without a prescription or use other than directed by a doctor. All opiate-based drugs can become habit-forming and cause physical dependence. Once you develop a Vicodin dependence, quitting or cutting back suddenly can cause withdrawal symptoms.

Treating Hydrocodone Addiction

Rather than be taken orally, the powder is snorted into the body by the user. Doing this allows the Vicodin to permeate the system in a short time compared to being swallowed, but it also puts individuals at a higher risk of harm and powerful side effects. Addiction is a complex psychosocial phenomenon, and many factors contribute to a Vicodin addiction. However, some Vicodin-specific factors can increase the likelihood of an addiction forming. These include Vicodin overprescribing and the drug’s powerful effects on the brain. Medications for opioid use disorder are safe, effective, and save lives.

vicodin addiction

Treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy teach clients the underlying causes of their substance abuse problems. These therapies also help people avoid triggers and find ways to enjoy a drug-free life. The drug is the active vicodin addiction ingredient in many popular opioid brands, including Lortab, Lorcet and Vicodin. It is often combined with acetaminophen in medications prescribed to relieve moderate to severe pain. Health professionals look at a person’s withdrawal symptoms and tolerance level, among other factors, to determine if a person has an opioid addiction—a severe opioid use disorder.

Risk Factors for Hydrocodone Overdose

vicodin addiction

The number of deaths from using heroin has gone up since more heroin now contains fentanyl. It’s common for individuals with a Vicodin addiction to have a tolerance to the opioid painkiller, which means they need higher doses of the drug to feel the desired effects. This can be dangerous, as taking higher doses of Vicodin can increase the risk of overdosing. People who use hydrocodone should know the potential dangers of the substance to use it safely and avoid addiction or overdose. Rehab treatment also uses behavioral treatments to help people overcome hydrocodone addiction.

OIH is a rare phenomenon and most often occurs in those taking opioids at a higher level than prescribed and for longer periods. If you find yourself taking hydrocodone for longer than prescribed or taking it in larger doses despite any negative consequences, you may have an addiction. Your doctor may have you reduce your use slowly rather than stopping it suddenly. Hydrocodone is an opioid in a class of drugs known as narcotic analgesics. These drugs connect to proteins in the brain and spinal cord called opioid receptors.

vicodin addiction

Hydrocodone addiction symptoms and signs

  • But it’s impossible to tell who could become dependent and misuse opioids.
  • If you think you can’t quit on your own, there are many programs available to help you.
  • In addition to Vicodin, other brand name versions of hydrocodone include Norco® and Lortab®.
  • For example, mixing hydrocodone and weed can lead to respiratory distress or coma, while mixing hydrocodone and Xanax can depress breathing and induce sleepiness.
  • Even when you take it as prescribed, you must be aware of its dangers.

Physical dependence is characterized by the body adapting to the drug over time, requiring more of it to achieve desired effects. This can occur even when you take the medication exactly as prescribed. Addiction and frequency of use also affect how long hydrocodone stays in your system.

  • Taking hydrocodone in high doses or using it illicitly can lead to opioid addiction.
  • The misuse of opioids — legal, illegal, stolen or shared — is the reason 90 people die in the U.S. every day on average, according to the American Society of Anesthesiologists.
  • Vicodin is a prescription opioid that comes with many warnings, potential interactions, and side effects.

vicodin addiction

In addition to undergoing a safe Vicodin detox and recovery, this will help you know that you are not alone and give you the opportunity to learn from others who have been in similar positions. The slippery slope of Vicodin abuse to addiction is often followed by an overdose. As an overdose is common after the beginning of Vicodin abuse, you may, unfortunately, have to keep these symptoms in mind if somebody you know is abusing Vicodin. Below are a few symptoms and signs of Vicodin abuse that will help you identify whether or not your loved one is suffering =https://ecosoberhouse.com/ from this ailment. The symptoms of Vicodin addiction will largely depend on your loved one’s personality and how their behaviours are changing. While keeping the below symptoms in mind, it would be best to observe your loved ones’ intake of Vicodin as well as their ability to refrain from taking the drug.