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. Vicodin can be a dangerous medication alone, but combining it with other drugs or alcohol can make it even more dangerous. As a result, it is important to be cautious when taking other medications with Vicodin. Before taking other medications, it is important drug addiction treatment to check with your doctor or pharmacist to ensure they are safe to take with Vicodin.
- Studies show that consuming more than 4,000 mg of acetaminophen in one day can cause acute or chronic liver injury – including cirrhosis and possibly liver failure.
- Unlike natural opiates morphine and codeine, hydrocodone is a semi-synthetic opioid.
- While Vicodin withdrawal can be unpleasant, there are things you can do to help relieve many of your symptoms.
Mental Health Resources
People who crush and smoke hydrocodone can also damage their lungs by smoking the harsh chemicals. Opioids like hydrocodone produce a euphoric effect by activating the opioid receptors in the brain. The sedative effect of hydrocodone makes it highly desirable for many people and contributes to misuse and addiction. Hydrocodone addiction is clinically referred to as an opioid use disorder (OUD). Oftentimes, maintaining a full recovery requires ongoing medication-assisted therapy to prevent relapse. You may be prescribed medications — https://ecosoberhouse.com/ such as methadone or buprenorphine — to help you safely and effectively recover from hydrocodone addiction.
Adverse Effects & Health Risks of Hydrocodone Misuse
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Vicodin addiction and abuse symptoms
If you stop using it, you may also feel withdrawal symptoms, which is why doctors recommend tapering off the drug. Since Vicodin contains the opioid hydrocodone, it has a chance of causing neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome. This condition occurs with the prolonged use of an opioid while pregnant and is very dangerous. If a woman is pregnant and considering taking Vicodin for pain, she should speak with her doctor about the possible risks involved. People who take Vicodin as pain medication may experience uncomfortable side effects, especially if used other than prescribed. Some people may misuse Vicodin for the euphoric feeling it can cause.
Symptoms of Vicodin overdose include chest pain, bloody urine, trouble breathing, extreme drowsiness and changes in consciousness. If you or your loved one is experiencing any of these symptoms, call 911 immediately. 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.
Vicodin Withdrawal Timeline
- Hydrocodone brings much-needed pain relief and, for some, a pleasurable sensation of warmth and euphoria.
- 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.
- The U.S. is the world’s largest consumer of prescription painkillers, and this staggering increase in availability has helped to promote widespread abuse of these medications.
- Paracetamol is a well-known over the counter pain-relieving medicine found in countless shops around the UK.
- Learn more about Vicodin, what it’s used for, its effects, and what the risks of addiction and abuse are if you start using it.
This results in needing longer periods of time to recover from an injury or surgery and experiencing intense cravings to use hydrocodone to relieve chronic pain. Because pure hydrocodone has a higher risk of abuse than Vicodin, Norco, and Lortab, it is generally only prescribed for severe pain. This medication is designed to treat individuals with severe, chronic pain who are opioid tolerant and have not found relief with alternate vicodin addiction treatment options.
Hydrocodone addiction recovery
As with acetaminophen overdose symptoms, signs of acetaminophen overdose may develop over the course of a few days. Long-term oxygen deprivation will also result in damage to brain structures. There is also risk of irreversible brain damage due to lack of blood flow after an overdose from hydrocodone due to respiratory failure. Chronic, heavy use of hydrocodone decreases hormone levels in the body.
