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The first step in overcoming a Vicodin addiction is medically detoxing from the drug under medical supervision. Vicodin withdrawal can be difficult and may require medications or therapy to alleviate withdrawal symptoms. A medical detox provides a safe environment for detoxing from Vicodin. Vicodin addiction stories usually start with being prescribed Vicodin after surgery or a serious injury left you with severe pain. At first, taking the medication helps you manage that pain effectively, allowing you to get on with your daily life. However, as days turn into weeks, you find that the same dose no longer provides the same relief.
What are the symptoms of Vicodin abuse and addiction?
The drug is the active 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. This involves using Vicodin for non-medical reasons, primarily to experience euphoria or “high” that results from the drug’s potent effects on the brain’s reward system.
This means that unlawful supply is punishable by life in prison and possession, up to seven years. This classification reflects the government’s acknowledgement of the extremely high potential for abuse and dependency despite the potential medical benefits. Vicodin is the best-known brand name for a combination of hydrocodone, a powerful opioid pain reliever and paracetamol, a non-opioid pain reliever. The best way to prevent hydrocodone addiction is to take the drug exactly as your doctor prescribes.
In a prescription setting, Vicodin is an antitussive and a narcotic analgesic. A narcotic analgesic means Vicodin and other products with hydrocodone are reserved for treating moderate to severe pain. Other medications can affect the removal of hydrocodone/homatropine from your body, which may affect how hydrocodone/homatropine works. Huntington Creek Recovery Center has been a trusted provider of comprehensive addiction treatment services, with an emphasis on experiential therapies, for more than 40 years. Our personalized programming promotes true healing in mind, body, and spirit. It’s the quickest way to determine if you or someone you care about should connect with a mental health professional.
Now is the time to focus on your recovery.
Patients attend structured programs five days a week for 6-8 hours daily. PHPs offer group therapy, individual therapy, medication management, and education about addiction and recovery. Physicians may also provide methadone or buprenorphine during detox. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, these medications relieve drug cravings and prevent other withdrawal symptoms. As a Schedule II drug, hydrocodone has a high potential for abuse, physical dependence and psychological addiction.
Vicodin Withdrawal
It may slightly increase the risk of birth defects if used during the first two months of pregnancy. Also, using it for a long time or in high doses near the expected delivery date may harm the unborn baby. To lessen the risk, take the smallest effective dose for the shortest possible time. Babies born to mothers who use this drug for a long time may develop severe (possibly fatal) withdrawal symptoms. Vicodin is a prescription painkiller that doctors use to treat acute or chronic pain. It is widely prescribed and contains a mixture of hydrocodone and acetaminophen.
Withdrawal symptoms for each person will vary, but doctors can prescribe medication to ease the severity of those symptoms. Individuals battling Vicodin addiction are also susceptible to long-term mental health problems such as depression. If you are experiencing co-occurring disorders, both diseases can be simultaneously treated at rehab.
Effective Vicodin addiction treatment starts with a medically planned detox, which provides you with a safe environment to rid your body of the drug. After that, opioid rehab includes tailored therapy sessions, peer support and activities that promote what is alcoholism healing and self-discovery. To ensure lasting recovery, you should look for a programme that provides aftercare services and relapse prevention plans.
- To lower your risk, your doctor should have you take the smallest dose that works, and take it for the shortest possible time.
- If you or someone close to you has already crossed that line, this page will give you the knowledge you need to take the first steps towards recovery.
- We provide compassionate care and support throughout the recovery process.
Find Help for Oxycodone Addiction: Treatment Options Explained
When used recreationally, people may use other routes of administration, including snorting or smoking Vicodin. These routes cause the drug to be absorbed into the blood more quickly, allowing the person to feel its euphoric effects faster and increasing the risk of an overdose. These routes are dangerous, and Vicodin should never be taken this way. In the United States, it’s the most frequently prescribed pain medicine. When someone takes Vicodin, it works by binding to opioid receptors in the central nervous system.
Individuals with prior experiences of substance abuse or drug addiction, whether to opioids or other substances, are more vulnerable to Vicodin addiction. Mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, or trauma can heighten susceptibility. Vicodin might be sought to self-medicate emotional distress, intensifying its usage and potential for dependency.
You start taking more, thinking it’s necessary to cope with your discomfort. Rehab treatment also uses behavioral treatments to help people overcome hydrocodone 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.
- A person who uses a drug for the euphoric effects rather than the prescribed pain-relieving effects or who craves the drug for these effects may be addicted to hydrocodone.
- Vicodin is a prescription painkiller that doctors use to treat acute or chronic pain.
- Rehab treatment also uses behavioral treatments to help people overcome hydrocodone addiction.
- These will offer the tools and support needed to navigate life without relying on Vicodin.
- Medications like methadone or buprenorphine may also be used to ease withdrawal symptoms and cravings.
People addicted to Vicodin may experience withdrawal symptoms when they stop taking it. Hydrocodone withdrawal symptoms include mild effects such as yawning and a runny nose. But they can also include more serious symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting. MAT is meant to be used with behavioral therapies and counseling as a holistic approach. Medications for opioid use disorders can include buprenorphine, naltrexone and methadone.
They include drowsiness, frequent sedation, nausea and vomiting, constipation, diminished appetite and unexplained changes in sleeping patterns. The more you know about hydrocodone, the better your chances are of avoiding addiction. Organizations such as Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous may help you avoid relapse with hydrocodone or another drug. Knowing the possible symptoms is another reason seeking professional help can benefit recovery. If you think you or someone you know has overdosed on Vicodin, it is important to seek medical attention immediately.