Hydrocodone Addiction What Is Hydrocodone & Is It Addictive?
When an addiction to Vicodin forms, it is highly recommended to seek help from an accredited facility or work with a medical professional. Most people believe they can ease themselves off the drug on their own, but this is not the safest way to clear the body of Vicodin. Kelly Osbourne is one of the most well-known celebrities to share her story about her battle with Vicodin. Osbourne wrote in =https://ecosoberhouse.com/ her book Fierce that her Vicodin addiction started with a prescription. As her tolerance level rose, she was consuming up to 50 pills of Vicodin a day.
Treating opioid use disorder
- Quitting cold turkey is also not guaranteed to be successful and increases the chance of setbacks.
- If attending a treatment center offered by The Recovery Village is not an option, try looking through our online facility locator to find a center closest to you.
- The withdrawal process reduces your tolerance for the drug, so if you return to taking Vicodin at the level you previously took it, you have a high risk of overdose.
- Hydrocodone is an opioid in a class of drugs known as narcotic analgesics.
These are typically prescribed to manage moderate to severe pain on a short-term basis. People often abuse hydrocodone repeatedly for its euphoric effects, which can increase their tolerance to the substance. As their tolerance grows, they need to take increasingly higher doses of the drug to achieve the desired effects. However, the prescription opioid can cause addiction and a host of dangerous side effects when used in excess. If you or a loved one is struggling with an opioid use disorder, AAC is here to help—and to listen to your unique story. Take the first step by speaking with an admissions navigator at or by verifying your insurance benefits online.
Signs of Hydrocodone Misuse
It is a prescription tablet of hydrocodone and acetaminophen (the active ingredient in Tylenol). The hydrocodone in Vicodin is a synthetic opioid, which activates the same neurotransmitters as opiate drugs such as heroin. Professional care from health providers can help ensure that your withdrawal symptoms are carefully monitored, but you can also go through this process at home. Let your doctor know that you will be withdrawing so that you can talk about any medications that may be helpful for treating possible side effects.
Pain Sensitivity
According to the 2016 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, approximately 6.9 million people had misused hydrocodone products like Vicodin during the previous year. One of the negative complications of Vicodin abuse is liver damage or failure caused by the acetaminophen in the drug. Typical cases of liver damage involve doses of 4,000 mg or more a day of acetaminophen. If you need help quitting Vicodin or another opiate-based drug, discuss your options with your doctor.
At The Recovery Village, patients can work one-on-one with a treatment team to determine the best route of action to assist them the most efficiently. During a thorough and detailed medical detoxification process, doctors and therapists evaluate the severity of the addiction and establish a plan to rid the body of the drug safely. Withdrawal symptoms for each person will vary, but doctors can prescribe medication to ease the severity of those symptoms. If someone chooses to treat their addiction, working with medical professionals will allow them to analyze the patient’s situation to determine the best way to wean them off the drug. During this alcoholism treatment process, doctors will decrease the amount of Vicodin taken weekly to ease the body off the drug.
- Detox programs at inpatient hospitals give you access to medical doctors and nurses around the clock.
- Contact a treatment provider to find out more about available options.
- Combining hydrocodone with other drugs can exacerbate the effects of the drug.
- Addiction is a complex psychosocial phenomenon, and many factors contribute to a Vicodin addiction.
- As the most prescribed painkiller in America, hydrocodone belongs to a group of medicines called narcotic analgesics.
- Hydrocodone addiction isn’t a reflection of your character or willpower.
- We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals.
It’s important that you know what is covered prior to attending a rehab. Treatment for prescription opioid addiction starts with a detoxification phase. During detox, addiction experts assist you in dealing with painful withdrawal symptoms until hydrocodone is cleared from your system. To avoid hydrocodone addiction, only take the medication as prescribed. If you believe you are addicted to the drug, seek professional assistance.
Also used for treating alcohol use disorder (AUD), naltrexone reduces cravings and also blocks the effects of Vicodin in the case of a relapse. By Buddy TBuddy T is a writer and founding member of the Online Al-Anon Outreach Committee with decades of experience writing about alcoholism. Because he is a member of a support group that stresses the vicodin addiction importance of anonymity at the public level, he does not use his photograph or his real name on this website.
How opioid use disorder occurs
While it is effective when used properly, misusing Vicodin can be harmful. It can lead to physical problems such as stomach pain and mental health issues that can linger for years. If you are addicted to Vicodin or think you might be, seek professional treatment.
Additionally, the combination can cause drowsiness, dizziness, confusion and slurred speech. Please consult your doctor — even if they prescribed both together — before ingesting Vicodin and Valium. The emergency and referral resources listed above are available to individuals located in the United States and are not operated by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). NIDA is a biomedical research organization and does not provide personalized medical advice, treatment, counseling, or legal consultation. Information provided by NIDA is not a substitute for professional medical care or legal consultation. Pregnant people with untreated opioid use disorder who do not receive appropriate prenatal care are at increased risk of serious and potentially fatal pregnancy complications.