vicodin addiction

Hydrocodone intake may lead to life-threatening respiratory depression, especially if taken together with benzodiazepines or other CNS depressants. In case of overdose, the first step is to protect the airways and place the patient on invasive ventilation assistance, if needed. The opioid antagonists, nalmefene or naloxone, are specific antidotes for respiratory depression.

  1. Vicodin withdrawal can produce a wide range of physical symptoms which can occur when someone stops or dramatically reduces their use of the drug after heavy or prolonged use.
  2. 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.
  3. This prescription painkiller is a combination of hydrocodone and the active ingredient in Tylenol.
  4. If you have this type of reaction, you should never again take any medicine that contains acetaminophen.

Endocrine System Damage

They can recommend one of several regimens used to help with the detoxification process. Most Vicodin overdose deaths happen for people who have recently gone through detox and withdrawal. Overdose can occur even at a much smaller dose than previously taken. 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. This is designed to help you get to the root of your addiction, focus on recovery, and learn healthy coping mechanisms to change your relationship with hydrocodone.

Is Vicodin Addictive?

Opioid antagonists should be avoided in the absence of clinically significant respiratory or circulatory depression. In addition, there is a high risk of precipitating https://soberhome.net/alcohol-use-disorder-diagnosis-and-treatment/ acute opioid withdrawal in an individual who is physically dependent on opioids. Treatment for prescription opioid addiction starts with a detoxification phase.

More common

If possible, aim for a treatment plan that allows you to enjoy your life without opioids. If you use narcotic medicine while you are pregnant, your baby could become dependent on the drug. This can cause life-threatening withdrawal symptoms in the baby after it is born. Babies born dependent on habit-forming medicine may need medical treatment for several weeks. Acetaminophen is a less potent pain reliever that increases the effects of hydrocodone.

However, physicians and therapists do not recommend this practice for several reasons. When quitting the use of Vicodin suddenly, the body goes through withdrawal and experiences forceful and uncomfortable side effects rather quickly. Quitting cold turkey is also not guaranteed to be successful and increases the chance of setbacks. Hydrocodone can be a safe and effective way to treat severe pain, but it can be addictive. It can affect relationships, employment, your health, and other parts of your life.

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Other safe choices are available to help you make a change and keep feeling well. Don’t stop opioid medicines without help from a healthcare professional. Quitting these medicines suddenly can cause serious withdrawal symptoms, including pain that’s worse than it was before you started taking opioids. Your healthcare team can help you gradually and safely reduce the amount of opioids you take. Someday you may face a sudden, short-term health problem such as surgery or an injury.

vicodin addiction

It can also increase the risk of sudden death for individuals who suffer from sleep apnea or lung diseases. People who crush and smoke hydrocodone can also damage their lungs by smoking the harsh chemicals. They can harm a person’s physical, psychological and social health. The side effects of hydrocodone can be mild or severe, and prolonged use can increase a person’s risk for significant health problems.

Once a person is addicted, there is not much difference between the two beginnings. It eventually becomes more important to get the drug than just about anything else in life. Care of oneself, one’s business or family take a backseat to acquiring the drugs needed.

While Vicodin withdrawal can be unpleasant, there are things you can do to help relieve many of your symptoms. Vicodin also became very popular within Hollywood, giving individuals more incentive to try the drug since they knew celebrities utilized it. Fortunately, many members of the Hollywood elite came forward with their struggles to warn others regarding the dangers of global news: busting myths on alcohol and covid-19. 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.

Over time, this can lead to a compulsion to take the drug even when not medically necessary, paving the way to an addiction. After an intense surgery or injury, many doctors may prescribe a narcotic painkiller called Vicodin. As a Schedule II controlled substance, Vicodin has a high risk of being misused. Misusers can quickly become dependent on it, paving the way for addiction to develop. If an individual feels that Vicodin is essential to function during everyday life, an addiction may have developed.

Vicodin withdrawals can be intense and painful, and many people will continue using Vicodin just to avoid them. 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 https://sober-home.org/sobriety-strategies-13-tips-for-staying-sober/ of acetaminophen. The opioid antagonist Narcan (naloxone) can block the effects of opioids and reverse an overdose. Your doctor may recommend keeping it on hand if you are at risk of a Vicodin overdose. Hydrocodone addiction may be difficult to overcome, but with the right support, it is possible.