Vicodin Side Effects and Addiction Signs

Addressing these underlying issues holistically increases the likelihood of a successful, long-term recovery and reduces the risk of relapse. Be assured, though, that Vicodin is generally considered safe to use, or it would not have been approved by the FDA, nor would your medical professional be recommending its use. With this understanding, please know that any potential side effects or risks of the medication can be easily managed with proper medical oversight. 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. Prior to the FDA lowering acceptable levels of acetaminophen in medication, Norco had the least amount of acetaminophen.

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If you undergo detox at a treatment center like one of The Recovery Village’s professional facilities, your doctors and staff will attend to any physical or mental discomfort during this time. Before it was discontinued in the UK around 2012, it was regularly prescribed by doctors. Vicodin is a combination of two medicines, Paracetamol and Hydrocodone. Paracetamol is a well-known over the counter pain-relieving medicine found in countless shops around the UK. Meanwhile, Hydrocodone is an opiate in the same family as Codeine and Heroin. Hydrocodone’s function is to block pain receptors in the brain is vicodin addictive and the spinal cord to disallow the feeling of pain in the user’s body.

• If the proper Vicodin dosage is taken, Vicodin is safe and liver damage or failure will most likely not occur.
• 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.
• Some people enjoy these effects so much that they begin to crave hydrocodone and use it to cope with everyday stresses.

Vicodin addiction and co-occurring disorders

• Drug interactions may change how your medications work or increase your risk for serious side effects.
• To help prevent withdrawal, your doctor may lower your dose slowly.
• The symptoms may include restlessness, joint pain, increased heartbeat, sleeping problems and anxiety.
• Ongoing use of the medication can cause physical dependence, increased tolerance, and an increased risk of addiction.

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. Hydrocodone withdrawal symptoms occur when people quit using the amphetamine addiction treatment opioid suddenly after prolonged use. The symptoms may include restlessness, joint pain, increased heartbeat, sleeping problems and anxiety. The severity of a hydrocodone addiction depends on the person’s genetics and history of drug use.

• Hydrocodone is an opioid cough suppressant (antitussive) that works on certain centers in the brain to stop the urge to cough.
• Ask your doctor or pharmacist about other ways to relieve cough and cold symptoms, such as drinking enough fluids, using a humidifier, or saline nose drops/spray.
• Your doctor may want to reduce your dosage gradually and have you stop taking it sooner than expected.

Recreational Vicodin abuse

Plus, AAC has facilities scattered across the country, each of which is filled with highly trained professionals who provide evidence-based treatment interventions. This prescription painkiller is a combination of hydrocodone and the active ingredient in Tylenol. There is a high risk for addiction, but there are many treatment options. Because Vicodin already contains acetaminophen, combining it with other acetaminophen-containing products is extremely dangerous and toxic to your liver.

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Vicodin abuse can also create psychological dependence, characterised by a compulsive desire to use the drug for its pleasurable effects or to avoid the discomfort of withdrawal. It is this compulsive desire, often in the face of obvious negative consequences, that is the hallmark of Vicodin addiction. This combination works to create a potent opioid analgesic characterised by its ability to alleviate moderate to severe pain effectively. You should seek medical help if your withdrawal symptoms become severe or if you begin to show signs of severe dehydration such as sunken eyes, disorientation, rapid breathing, or extreme thirst. Vicodin is a commonly misused and addictive prescription opioid pain… If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction to hydrocodone, now is the time to get help.