Vicodin Addiction What Is Vicodin & How Addictive Is It?

Tapering is typically the safest method used to detox from drugs. Depending on the severity of the addiction the person may require medically supervised detox, and then once that occurs they can begin the treatment process. Since Vicodin is a combination drug that includes an opioid and acetaminophen, there are other side effects as well. Acetaminophen can be harmful to the liver in large doses, when combined with alcohol or when taken regularly. Vicodin side effects in the long-term can include jaundice, urinary problems, liver damage, or liver failure because of the acetaminophen.

1. Vicodin is a combination drug that contains hydrocodone and acetaminophen, and overdose is possible because of not only the opioid component of the drug but also the acetaminophen.
2. Opioid medicines also can play an important role in treating pain from cancer.
3. As the most prescribed painkiller in America, hydrocodone belongs to a group of medicines called narcotic analgesics.
4. The public perception of addiction is changing, and more people understand that it is a disease and not a choice.

From Mayo Clinic to your inbox

If you’ve successfully tapered off opioid medicine in the past, taking opioids for a brief time — with guidance from your healthcare professional — may be OK. But ask about all nonopioid pain medicine options to treat your pain, including the benefits and risks. You may be tempted to take more opioid medicine than your taper recommends. Do not start taking any opioids you have at home that you received from other health professionals or visits to the emergency room.

Signs and Risk of Addiction

There is a high risk for addiction, but there are many treatment options. Once a successful medical detox is complete, patients may be recommended for one of the unique teetotalism wikipedia treatment programs at The Recovery Village. Such treatment plans can include inpatient, outpatient, intensive inpatient or partial hospitalization programs.

Is Vicodin an Opioid?

The severity of a hydrocodone addiction depends on the person’s genetics and history of drug use. Some people who abuse hydrocodone do not become addicted, while others can develop an addiction rapidly. It should only be used when prescribed and closely monitored by a healthcare provider. Even at recommended doses, it can cause an overdose if not taken as recommended. 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.

If you do not have access to a phone contact Colorado Poison Center for online assistance. Crushing it up and snorting it or taking it any other way than how it’s intended to be used is one of the Vicodin addiction symptoms. Whether you take Vicodin because of a prescription, or you take it recreationally, you may experience certain side effects.

When Vicodin is taken over a lengthy period of time, you can build up a tolerance to the medication. This means you have to take increasingly larger amounts to achieve the same effect. This drug activates the same receptors in the brain as Vicodin, releasing dopamine and relieving withdrawals.

Most people get through the most uncomfortable symptoms within a few days or a week. Many people who used the medication only therapeutically and as prescribed, sometimes do not even realize they are experiencing withdrawals. Get professional help from an online addiction and mental health counselor from BetterHelp. 9 best online sobriety support groups 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. Vicodin is a combination of acetaminophen (an over-the-counter analgesic) and hydrocodone (an opioid).

Addiction and frequency of use also affect how long hydrocodone stays in your system. It takes longer for the drug to be cleared from the bodies of people who are addicted to the prescription opioid. As a Schedule II drug, hydrocodone has a high potential for abuse, physical dependence and psychological addiction.

Other drugs may interact with acetaminophen and hydrocodone, including prescription and over-the- counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Your doctor may recommend you get naloxone (a medicine to reverse an opioid overdose) and keep it with you at all times. A person caring for you can give eco sober house review the naloxone if you stop breathing or don’t wake up. Your caregiver must still get emergency medical help and may need to perform CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) on you while waiting for help to arrive. People who are addicted to opioids still may hold down jobs and seem stable at work and home.